Although I enjoyed the premise, there were just so many characters that I was having difficulty getting invested in the story. Having too many characters can be a common issue in first books for cozies. I think the sweet spot is around 10-13 named characters (including victims). This book had more than twice that, and (except the horrible stereotyped divorcée, Penelope), they all had very similar personalities- which made it even harder to keep the people straight and be invested in their motives. I’m a character based reader, so if I can’t get invested in the people, I can’t get invested in the story. I will definitely give book two a chance since I’ve read better book 2s from series with this issue, but oh man this was a hard one to get through.

This is the first book in the killer chocolate series. Alex and Hanna are sisters who run a myste4ry book shop that sells killer chocolates that are named after poisons used in murder mysteries. One of Alex's friends asks Alex to come over and watch a true crime tape as she thinks the person wanted for 3 murders is now living in their town. When Alex arrives in the morning, she finds her friend dead. Alex becomes one of two suspects in the crime and has to prove her innocence. I thought this was a really great first book. The author developed the characters well enough and made me want to learn more about them. The mystery was well done. I was trying to figure out the killer and I figured it out just before the Alex did. There were a decent number of suspects that I was kept guessing until the end. I am excited to read more in the series. I received this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a voracious reader of Cozy Mysteries, and I was delighted to read an advance copy of A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril. This story has some of my favorite aspects: it’s set in Montana, in a bookshop filled with mysteries, and the shop owners make their own chocolates. And the cover is to die for!

Twin sisters Alex and Hanna own Murder and Mayhem bookshop and candy store in Montana. It’s Christmas time, and they are busy selling mysteries and making their popular poison-themed Killer Chocolates, which are selling like faster than you can say POISON. Alex’s good friend Jane tells her after book club that she needs to discuss something she saw on a True Crime show - she believes someone in their town is a cold-blooded killer. Alex isn’t able to get to Jane’s house until the next day, but alas, she’s too late. Jane has been stabbed to death, and Alex and the town handyman are the lead suspects.

I enjoyed this first book in the Killer Chocolate Mystery Series. The opening was a little slow to build up to the action, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I would have liked for Alex to feel more emotions at finding her friend dead, but later in the book she did have intense feelings about losing Jane.

The mystery definitely had several plot twists, and multiple red-herrings. I would have bet money on who the killer was, but I was surprised at the end when the real murderer was revealed! The author definitely did a good job of writing a plausible mystery. It makes readers wonder what would happen if they saw someone on a true crime show that they suspected was a neighbor or friend.

Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read the ARC!

This is a promising start to a new series. True, for me it was slow going at first but as I got deeper and deeper into the story and began to get the characters sorted in my mind, I found it intriguing. Twin sisters Alex and Hanna own Murder and Mayhem, a combo bookstore and chocolate shop that specializes in Killer Chocolates, candies named after various poisons. In this, the first of a new series, a mystery debut for the author, some time was spent introducing us to the various characters, and characters some are, and their relationships with each other and others. There are even hints of romance, or maybe even romances, but the focus is on Alex's efforts to find out who killed her friend Jane, a true crime fan. Alex has the misfortune to be the one to find not just Jane's body but that of a mutual friend, Netty, so she feels personally involved and somewhat of a suspect. Despite her awkward questioning, which clearly lets the entire town know she's snooping, er, indulging in gossip, as she tries to frame it, and dangerously impulsive actions, Alex (and the circle about her) come off as likable. I'm going to be interested to see how their stories evolve as the series continues.

So, who killed senior-citizen Jane, who had the annoying habit of accusing others of being serial murders she'd spotted in the television series she religiously seems to tape. She's sure she is right this time, however, and plans to tell Alex what she's learned the next day. The next day is when Alex discovers her bloody body. Did the handyman do it? He was seen on the scene and knew where the key was not-so-well hidden. How about the snoopy neighbor, well, several snoopy neighbors? What secrets are hiding behind their closed doors? What family issues are worrying Alex at the same time she is so focused on the murder? Why is ... oh, never mind. I'm not telling. You're just going to have to read the book. As with many new series, yes, it started slowly, but was an easy, enjoyable read with likable characters and lots of potential. A three star that worked itself up to a four star by the finish.

Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me to check out Murder and Mayhem. How did you know I'm a chocoholic? Those recipes sound yummy.

thoroughly enjoyable cozy read, perfect for a weekend. In true cozy style it is a little predictable and fluffy but that;'s why we love cozies

I found this book perfect for a good holiday read. The story and characters made this book fun to read. I also enjoyed reading how the protagonist solved the mystery. If you're looking for a cozy holiday read to head to your holiday list, I recommend checking this out. The book also includes recipes and tips on creating your own chocolates.

I thought this was a cute fluffy mystery. A good amount of it was predicable though, at least for me. Like the candy Jane found on her doorsteps as well as the gift Alex found on hers being poisoned. I was rolling my eyes when Alex didn’t make that connection on her own and ended up serving it to Drew. Despite the predictability I would probably read another book by this author.

I tried hard to finish this and simply couldn't. While aspects of the story were charming i.e. the descriptions of the chocolates to name one of a few, I found the central character vapid and unemotional which did not compel me to continue to follow a story told from her viewpoint.

this was a really fun book to read as soon as I started the book it wasa all encompassing and I was hooked and could not put the book down. This is a new author for me but I am truly happy to find her because now I will be looking for more to read. The characters are amazing and well written.

🌺🌺 A Christmas Candy Killing (A Killer Chocolate Mystery Book 1) by Christina Romeril 🌺🌺

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5


***Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with the eARC version of this book for an honest review.***

A Christmas Candy Killing is the first in a new cozy mystery series set in Montana. Former banker Alexandra Wright left Michigan to move to the village of Harriston, Montana to open a bookshop and chocolate shop, "Murder and Mayhem: Killer Chocolates and Bookshop. Her twin sister Hanna soon joins her there and part of their success is hosting the monthly Sleuth Book Club and making "poison chocolates" in conjunction with a mystery novel. After the December presentation Jane Burrows tells Alex she has solved a cold case she saw on a television show, and she thinks the killer is a resident of the village responsible for four murders. Jane asks Alex to tea the next morning, but Jane finds Janes body instead. When Alex becomes suspect number two and she thinks suspect number one is innocent, she sets out with some help to find the killer when the sheriff seems inflexible and stubborn.

I loved the twin sisters conection and their chocolate/book shop with the murder theme. I mean, books and chocolate what is there not to love?! The story itself was twisty with lots of clues and suspects. I didn't really figure who the killer until almost to the very end, and that rarelly happens.

This was an enjoyable read with very likeable characters, a captivating plot and plenty of suspects, not to mention mouthwatering chocolate recipes (some recipes are included at the end of the book).


**All of my reviews will be posted on Instagram (@booksta_mommy) and my Goodreads page (@adna_fazlibasic) **

Thank you NetGalley, Christina Romeril and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of A Christmas Candy Killing. This is my personal review.
I love a good new cozy series, and this was a great debut for new series.
A book based on Christmas, a candy and bookshop set in the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming! And to top it off the owners of Murders and Mayhem- Killer Chocolates and Bookshop are identical twin sisters makes it pure joy to read.
The murder is one to be solved and they will do just that.
I can not wait to read the next book in the series.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read and review this title.

I chose the book cause the title A Christmas Candy Killing sounded really cute. I was hooked from the very beginning of the book.

When a older lady was found dead in her home with a box of killer chocolates next to her The owner of a mystery bookshop that also sells killer chocolate candies becomes one of the main suspects, but tries to prove she did not do it. A friend of hers was also suspected cause he was seen leaving the house.

I felt like I was a part of the story and wanted to taste all the chocolate's that were made.. There was a small scene of animal abuse so if this is a trigger for you be cautious when reading this book. I really enjoyed how the story progressed.

#Achristmascandykilling #netgalley

Christina Romeril did a fantastic job capturing my attention with this cozy mystery novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development. She had me guessing right along with the MCs the entire time. Hope there will be more stories from Alex and Hanna.

Loved reading this book. I wish it had more of an ending, but overall was pretty good I hope the next book is out pretty soon. I would suggest others read it

Cozy mystery? Sign me up. This is a very entertaining book with likable characters. Also, anything Christmas has my attention. I finished this book in one sitting.
Thank you so much for my ARC. It was an enjoyable read.

Very entertaining. A highly readable cozy mystery. The main character is likable, and the candy references and recipes are wonderful!

When their close friend is murdered by poison chocolate, twin bookshop/Candy shop owners Alex and Hanna know where the blame will fall. After all the theme of their bestselling chocolate is all the poisons used in murder mysteries. So it's a given that the best way to keep the finger of blame pointed in the right direction is to identify the killer themselves.
First in a new series , A Christmas Candy Killing is a great cozy mystery read. The characters are interesting and likable, and the candy store's 'poisoned chocolate' premise was intriguing. My only issue was the lack of communication between the sisters at points but it was resolved satisfactorily by the finish. I read this story in one sitting and look forward to the next in the series.
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review. #netgalley

I love the idea of a book about the owners of a mystery book store that sells murder-themed chocolates! Twin sisters, Alex and Hannah, run the Murder and Mayhem book shop. When their aging neighbor is murdered, Alex becomes one of the suspects.
Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations. While I am sure many people read the book and enjoyed it, I felt the characters were flat and the prose was uninspired. I did not finish the book. Maybe if I had held out longer and just kept reading it would have grabbed my attention, but I did not. If this book turns into a series I will give the next book a try because I really like the idea of this world.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before its release.

A Christimas Candy Killing, is the story of two twin sisters Alex and Hannah, both have a passion for Thriller books, True Crime and chocolate, so they have opened their own themed bookstore called Murder and Mayhem, where they also sell poison themed killer chocolates.

Little do they know that on Christmas Eve, a series of murders occur and they set out to find out who the murderer is. All this before Christmas Eve arrives.

I really liked this novel, it is a super cozy read, highly recommended for thriller and Christmas lovers.

I love me a good cozy mystery when I need a break from the hard core thrillers and this book was a great read.