Mint Chocolate Murder

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I especially love this cozy and I can't wait to read more about the wonderful characters and amazing setting.

Former CIA librarian and current manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop, Riley Rhodes is thrilled to land a job supplying ice cream to an event at Moy Mull Castle hosted by former supermodel Maud Monaco. Moy Mull has an interesting history, as does Maud herself, including with Adam Blasco, the photographer who is highlighted at the event Maud is hosting. When Blasco is found dead, there are plenty of suspects, and Riley can’t help but do some behind the scenes investigating. She needs to be careful or her sleuthing will put her in very real danger.

“Mint Chocolate Murder” is the nicely done second book in Meri Allen's Ice Cream Shop cozy mystery series. While I like the Ice Cream Shop setting, what I really like about this book is the Moy Mull Castle setting – it is a good one and I really enjoyed reading about it – both the current day events and past events before Maud moved in. I like Riley as a character – even if the former CIA Librarian thing doesn’t ring quite true – I love her intrepidness in trying to solve the mystery. As for the mystery – it is a nice one with plenty of twists and turns, with plenty of suspects and a nicely done (if sad), side mystery. Speaking of suspects – my one complaint about this book is that there are far too many characters to keep track of and I was a bit confused about who owned what in town. Hopefully that will fall into place as the series continues.

“Mint Chocolate Murder” is a nicely done cozy mystery.

Ice cream and a Scottish castle (in America). It's a mystery of a different flavor. A famous former model still making good money, a fiendish photographer with a slick persona; still making enemies, and a creative ice cream shop manager trying not to upset the police, but determined to find out what happened.

The model's major demo (not a butler at all), Prentiss, may be her best resource, or the killer. But my money is on someone else.

I liked that the policeman wasn't closely accessible. But not that the secretary was a loose cannon--and they supposedly didn't know. She must have spilled the beans to someone else in that much time.

The general setting of a story is important to me as well. I enjoyed picturing the green hills and occasional cow across from the ice cream store.

This was a fun mystery; a bit out of the usual trends lately, so refreshing. And I especially liked Prentiss.

There's just one question. Why doesn't the book mention "mint" or "mint chocolate"? (See title.)

4/5 Stars Fun; I loved the castle and cottages!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.

#MintChocolateMurder #MeriAllen #NetGalley
#StMartinsPress #CozyMystery
#CozyCulinaryMystery
#AmateurSleuthMysteries #RileyRhode
#IceCreamShopMysteriesBook2
#MysteryThriller

A quirky, fast paced, exciting story that keeps you turning pages. It was great to not be able to predict who it was.

Back to the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop in Penniman, CT. This is the authors second cozy in this series. An art exhibit is taking place at the Moy Mull Castle located in Connecticut's colorful rolling hills as part of an Autumn Arts Festival. Riley, the Manager of Underlying is preparing some special ice cream treats for the Opening Night Exhibit. Opening night highlights the work of a famous photographer, Adam Black who has a tumultuous past with the Castle s owner, Maud.Adam is found dead after the first nights festivities, in the Castles locked door dungeon. Riley, again,uses her past CIA experiences to do some sleuthing.

This was a great locked door cozy mystery read.I immediately reconnect ed with Riley and also enjoyed seeing some of the returning characters. The location and the castle itself gave the book a nice ambiance. The castle itself held secrets as castles often do. I went back and forth on who I felt the murderer was and while I deducted correctly, the ending was still intense and expanded from what my thought had been. Very satisfying. I also enjoyed the side story regarding the 2 cats. And I am still craving some pumpkin spice ice cream which was a flavorite of many in the book. .....and yes there is a very tasty recipe for it!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press an the author Meri Allen for the opportunity to read and review this book which publishes on 7/26/22

What a delicious cozy mystery! Riley Rhodes, a former CIA librarian, channels her best Miss Marble as she sets off to solve a murder mystery. Currently managing in the Udderly Ice Cream Shop, she is hired to develop some unique ice cream desserts for a party at the local castle, home to the famous former supermodel Maud who is hosting an Arts Festival featuring an art showing for her former husband, Adam. Adam is a photographer who really thinks a lot of himself. However, Adam is found dead in the dungeon which was locked. Riley seems to have been everywhere, hearing this argument and partial conversations, witnessing suspects sneaking around, discovering thefts and searching for hidden tunnels. As a lover of Agatha Christie, she truly embraces being an amateur super sleuth.
Having a whole host of characters with plentiful motives and secrets galore, this made for a delightful read. It also seems as if everyone wants to know whodunit and has an opinion. Some red herrings and madcaps as well, similar to what you find in an Agatha Christie novel. To top it off, there is another mystery within a mystery. I enjoyed this yummy cozy mystery which was a quick read. As an added bonus was the recipe for pumpkin spice ice cream at the end. I look forward to reading more ice cream mysteries from this author.

Many thanks to #netgalley #mintchoclatemurder #meriallen #st.martinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Chocolate mint Murder
This is the first book I have read by author Meri Allan.
I enjoyed the light read of the book and enjoyed the main character Riley as she is asked to attend a function at Moy Mull Castle. The story is well written and characters are strong and well developed
I enjoyed the book and think I will look for more of these books in the future.

Castles with rumors of a weeping ghost, locked door mysteries, ice cream, royalty, bees, and, oh, yeah, a murder. In the locked room. And that somehow just scratches the surface. There's also ice cream.

Riley Rhodes may be the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop but she's also a former CIA librarian, one who did the occasional covert mission. I found her rather nervous and a bit impulsive to have had such training but, shrug, what do I know? Anyway, hired to create a Scottish inspired dessert featuring ice cream for an art show, she finds herself at Penniman's Moy Mull Castle when the pretentious, manipulative photographer appearing at the show is murdered. In a locked room, no less. The only known key was still tucked away in the cabinet it is stored in. Security cameras show no one entering the dungeon, er, conference room, other than the victim. Nor do old blue prints handed over to the police show any hidden rooms or passageways. Who killed Adam Blasco? Equally puzzling, how?

The whys seem to be numerous. His photographs are unsettling and he seems to treat everyone with scorn....unless he sees a way to use them. Riley's young friend Willow is seemingly targeted, which is upsetting to not just Riley but Willow's boyfriend Luca. Could Luca have killed Adam in a fit of jealousy? What evidence is found that puts him on the suspect list? Why does Adam's assistant Vye go missing when the body is found? What are Max and Bree up to? What happened to the missing photo called Dallas? Again, how? Could the castle, made from stones brought from Scotland, really be haunted? Is the Weeping Lady real or just a figment of imagination? And, can jovial, personable Prentiss be hiding a secret? Like, he killed Adam? What startling discovery is made about hostess Maud's brief marriage to Adam? And, oh, so much more. Seriously, the twists and turns had twists and turns. Multiple suspects, so many in fact that I had difficulty keeping who was who straight, and surprises at every turn.

Despite my initial confusion keeping the multiple characters straight, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Once we got past the initial background introductions, the pace was quick and I found it hard to put the book aside. Okay, who am I kidding? I stayed up way too late reading last night. Like Riley, I wanted to know "whodunit" and how. Locked room mysteries are a favorite of mystery readers and this one did not disappoint. And, oh, did I mention that there is a spoiled diva of a cat, Sprinkles, who gets her own side story? Lots to like as well as ponder. I'm betting you'll like this one but, well, don't stay up to late reading.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for giving me an all access pass to Moy Mull Castle. Having Riley as my guide was intense but fun.

This was such a fun mystery! Merci Allen is a new author to me and I enjoyed this book! Loved the characters and the mystery along the way had me guessing! Hope there are more books in the series, can't wait to read more!

Perfect cozy: food, a castle, attractive people and locked room mystery. Nice fun romp. I liked that this worked as a stand alone since this is the first one in the series that I read.

This book was the second in the series and although I never read the first book, I did not have any trouble keeping up. There were a few references made to the previous book, but nothing that really seemed to matter. Having an ex FBI agent working in an ice cream shop was certainly a different approach to things. I have always loved castles, so to set the murder in one was interesting to me. There were lots of possible assailants and several red herrings to make the plot hard to figure out. If anything, my one complaint was that it had a slow beginning and seemed a touch too long, while reading on my KIndle. I have never read anything by this author before, so have nothing to compare it too. Thanks for the opportunity to read this.

I feel I’ve been waiting forever for this second book in the “Ice Cream Shop Mysteries” by Meri Allen. Riley investigates the murder of a famous photographer, Adam, who is hired to take photos for his friend, Maud, for her newest cookbook. There are many people who would want Adam gone. I loved the castle setting and the mini mystery of Oona who was the wife of the builder of the castle. Ms. Allen writes the perfect cozy mystery. No obscene language, light on romance and a fun but not easy to figure out mystery. My only complaint is the time I have to wait until the next book in the series. One of my favorite series.

More ice cream delights in the next installment of Rileys adventures!

When catering an art event at a notorious castle, Riley gets drawn into another murder mystery when the man of the hour, the photographer, turns up dead, she utilizes her sleuthing skills honed as a Librarian for the CIA to dig deeper before she become the next target.

I loved the return of Riley and the gang, but I wish there was more interaction with Rocky and Caroline. But otherwise was really good!

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Riley is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle which is designed in a gothic pile by an eccentric rich supermodel as an art colony. As part of the fall festivities there will be an exhibit by a well-known photographer with a fantasy ice cream social which Riley is hired to provide special treats.

Things quickly melt away when he is found dead. Rumors of his obsession with his subjects run rampant. Could the killer be one of his models or are there other people he pissed off?

A fast paced cozy to enjoy.

Riley manages Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop. She gets the opportunity to cater her specialty ice cream treats for an event being held at Moy Mull Castle celebrating the opening of an art exhibit by Adam Blasco. As a former librarian for the CIA, she can’t help but put her former research and sleuthing skills to work when Adam is found dead behind a locked door. There are several suspects, twists and turns, and secrets revealed. Meri Allen is a new-to-me author and I enjoyed the storyline and trying to figure out whodunit.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A castle, secret passage, bees, thefts, murder and ice cream- what is there not to like about this cozy mystery. Likable characters and the murder of an unlikable character make this a cozy mystery to enjoy with your favorite cup of tea or maybe some ice cream. A great read for cozy mystery lovers everywhere.
#MintChocolateMurder#NetGalley

After leaving the CIA, Riley Rhodes took a job in her hometown running her friend Caroline's ice cream shop, Udderly. This fall she has been asked to make a special ice cream dessert for former model and Princess, Maud Monaco as she is hosting an art festival. The star artist is murdered, his most famous piece is stolen and everybody is a suspect.
As former CIA, Riley is nosy, but doesn't want to step on the toes of the sheriff, who is Caroline's new beau. Plus, one of her employees is a suspect. She has to sneak around the estate and try to question people and find clues while trying to avoid law enforcement and, of course, the murderer.
This is a really fun read (with recipes!). Everybody has a secret and someone may be blackmailing one or more of the suspects. The victim was so unpleasant and caused so much harm to so many people that it is hard to develop any sympathy whatsoever for him. (Never an excuse for murder though!)
This was my first book by Meri Allen, but I will be looking for her other books. Thoroughly enjoyable!

The second book in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries, Mint Chocolate Murder, brings us back to the world of Riley Rhodes, former CIA librarian, current ice cream shop manager. I liked that this one is set outside of the shop/farm, at an artist's retreat, Moy Mull.
Readers get a delicious mix of ice cream flavours that they'll crave alongside Riley's persistence in looking into the murder of a photographer who was being feted with an exhibit at the resort. There's no shortage of suspicious characters to investigate, which works well until it starts to drag towards the end. At that point, readers have enough info for it to move towards the conclusion and it starts to feel like the story is meandering to delay the conclusion.
It's a good contemporary cozy mystery regardless, and will particularly appeal to those who like history mixed in with contemporary intrigued, as the haunted estate may have its own story to tell.

Cozy mystery fans will find this book a treat! Unlike many mysteries I’ve read, you’re several chapters into the book before someone dies. This added suspense because you read along not only wondering who did it, but who’s going to die. Much of the story takes place in a castle, (fun setting), and the author does a nice job of setting the scene. Although I like fewer characters in a story, I thought the plot was believable and well thought out. I’ll be looking for more in the series. Thank you #NetGalley and #St Martins Press for the book! #MintChocolateMurder

Plot: 4.6
Characters: 4.6
Writing Style: 5
Cover: 4
Enjoyment: 4.6

Thank you to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for the Advanced eARC of MINT CHOCOLATE MURDER. This is the perfect cozy mystery set in Scotland. I loved the premise of an Ice Cream Shop in Scotland. I loved the references to Agatha Christie novels.

Riley Rhodes owns Udderly Delightful, an Ice Cream Shop, and she is catering for an event at Moy Mull Castle. Before her current job, she was a librarian at the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) in the USA. It was interesting that even though she escaped from the small town in Connecticut, which resembled an English village, she lives in a village in Scotland.

A former Model, Maud, who is now a widow owns the Castle. She is a Black woman who is six feet tall. She sounds like a delightful character and I liked her character. She hires Riley to put together an Ice Cream social as part of Moy Mull's Fall Arts Festival. There is also an opening of an exhibit by a malicious photographer Adam Blasco who is obsessed with models. When Adam's dead body is found in the castle's dungeon, Riley discovers that there are many suspects who wanted to kill Adam.

This is a new to me author and a new to me series. A novel set in the British Isles and delightful characters and ice cream sounds like a perfect combination for a summer cozy mystery.

What could be a better combo - a dreary & rainy day, a cozy mystery featuring a former librarian who just happened to have worked for the CIA, a gorgeous but spooky castle, the murder of an unlikable photographer, a delicious ice cream shop that will make you want a cone (trust me) and two adorable felines - well, one adorable cat and one car who is slightly homicidal! Mix that together with greed, broken promises and anger and you have a perfect cozy mystery!

Riley Rhodes, former CIA librarian and now ice cream shop manager & flavor developer, is a relatable and slightly mysterious character. At the CIA, Riley also worked as an "asset" and has a unique skill set. There were "red herrings" all over and I fell for each one! The felines have such different personalities but you'll love them both. The mystery was fast-paced and I enjoyed it!

I had not read the first book, but had no trouble keeping up with this book. Settle in for a cozy mystery you'll love! I'm hoping the next book comes out soon!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Utter delight to read this action packed fun ad. Great characters. Good solid story plot. A fun enjoyable cozy to curl up with! Thanks #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

"Mint Chocolate Murder" is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries series, but easily reads as a stand-alone book. Everyone is excited when Udderly Delightful Ice Cream, the shop run by Riley Rhodes, a former librarian for the CIA, is asked to provide ice cream desserts at a fine arts event at the Moy Mull Castle in town. Former supermodel, Maud Monaco, the owner of Moy Mull Castel, asks Riley to provide not only desserts for the festival, but to also create some Scottish-themed ice cream desserts for the opening of a photography exhibit that she is hosting at the castle by renowned photographer, Adam Blasco. When Adam, who is allergic to bees, is found dead in the locked dungeon of the castle from an apparent bee-sting, Riley sets about searching for answers on who might have wanted Adam dead, and discovers that Adam was well-known for his questionable behavior, in addition to his photography skills, and that there is no shortage of people who might want to see him dead.

Overall, "Mint Chocolate Murder" was a fun, and fast-paced read, and I would definately be interested in reading any future books in this series. There was a good number of twists and turns, and just when you thought you might have an idea who did it, something else came up that had you questioning your guess again! Given the theme of ice cream, this book is a perfect summer read!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/St Martin's Paperbacks for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest re3view. "Mint Chocolate Murder" is scheduled to be released on 7/26/22.

t’s such a delight to be back with Riley, the Udderly Delightful crew and two cats with tons of personality. Allen has written one humdinger of a head scratching mystery with plenty of twists and turns that will leave you guessing till the end. And let me just say don’t read this book if you’re even a little bit hungry because all of the ice cream flavor descriptions will have a craving a gallon or two to dig into. YUM! I very much enjoy this series and can’t wait to see where it goes from here. This is the second in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries series, so be sure to check out The Rocky Road to Ruin and get caught up.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It's well-written, the pace is good. I figured out who the murderer was early on, but there were enough red herrings to make me doubt myself here and there. The primary thing that bugged me was Riley's murder solving technique. Every theory she had panned out. She never guessed wrong. I realize that she used to be CIA, but no one's instincts are 100%. Even a couple of times where it seemed like she might be reaching a bit... it's okay! She's right. But if you can overlook a couple of things that are just too perfect, the book is a good read. The characters were interesting, the pace is good, the setting vivid and real--plus, there's a cat that may or may not be evil. What's not to love?

I found myself unreasonably annoyed at the title (and by extension, the cover). The main character manages an ice cream shop--great! That was one of the things that drew me in. But the flavor that is mentioned like every three pages? Pumpkin Spice. Not mint chocolate. It's weirdly confusing.

A huge thank to St Martin's Press for the invite to read Mint Chocolate Murder via NetGallery!

Well paced, action packed adventure, or should I say whodunit story! It really keeps you in the dark til the end and was not what I might of expected. I've not read Meri Allen's work before but I will be now.

I look forward to reading more from this series...especially to see if Sprinkles behaves ;)

Chocolate Mint Murder is the first book I have read by author Meri Allen. The setting for this cozy mystery worked well. Instead of a creepy English/Scottish castle, the setting is a not-so-creepy Scottish castle rebuilt in a small town outside of Boston. This setting providing the locked room mystery. And this setting helped to feed the two additional mysteries of who committed the murder and who has been stealing valuable items from the castle.

Although the castle is a wonderful character, as is the ice cream shop to a lesser degree, the real characters work together especially well in solving these mysteries. Mostly, though, it is ice cream shop manager, Riley, who solves the murder, the locked room mystery, and the thefts. However, Riley has a number of interesting secondary characters to feed her information. The two cats have starring roles, as well. Thankfully, I have dogs, since after meeting Sprinkles, I don't believe I have the energy for a diva cat like sprinkles.

There were many red herrings, which made this mystery especially compelling. I solved a couple of the mysteries pretty easily, but the thefts took a bit longer. It did take me a while to really get into this book, but once the mystery began, I had a difficult time putting down Allen's novel. I want to thank the author and publisher for providing this ARC for me to read and review. These comments are my honest opinions. Thank you also to NetGalley for introducing me to another wonderful author, whose books I will want to read.

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second wonderful book in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by Meri Allen. This book has everything I like about cozy mysteries. The characters are friendly, likable and interesting. The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing, although my suspicion was correct. Riley Rhodes was a former CIA librarian but now manages Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop. The people who work there definitely add to the story. Riley is asked to provide unique flavors of ice cream for an Ice Cream Social at Moy Mull, the local castle owned by Maud Monaco. Maud has an interesting past. She is hosting famous photographer Adam Blasco's exhibit. Adam has some secrets plus he isn't well-liked. He misses the opening of his exhibition and is found dead. In the dungeon of the castle in a locked room. With Riley's background with the CIA, she is very curious about Adam's death and wants to keep her friend Willow's boyfriend Luca from going to jail for Adam's murder. I liked that Riley's best friend Caroline is dating Detective Jack Voelker.. There is quite a bit going on in the story besides the murder which kept it interesting and the book was hard to put down.! #NetGalley #MintChocolateMurder #StMartinsPress

** spoiler alert ** [Warning: Some spoilers, though not the killer's identity] Theft, murder, bees, a castle, ice cream, fashion models, and more. I like this book overall, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The one issue for me is that I'm never made quite clear on what exactly the victim, Adam, did to incite the suicide that eventually leads to Adam's murder. Yes, he's a jerk and has a history of toying with and degrading women. But it's assumed he caused this woman's suicide? I don't know. I just feel like it's well plotted and all hangs together so nicely, EXCEPT for the fact that the actions that led to his murder are never actually revealed. The lack of this info makes the story stand on somewhat shaky ground.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This exciting, fast-paced, cozy mystery is so much fun to read! I enjoyed the castle setting and all the characters, and the art show theme. I'll be looking for more work by Meri Allen and the next installment in the Ice Cream Shop cozy series. I'm not sure where the title came from, though - I did not see Mint Chocolate mentioned in the story.

I absolutely LOVED this cozy. Mint Chocolate Murder brings us back to Riley Rhodes, ice cream maker and purveyor extraordinaire and CASUAL FORMER CIA AGENT. WHO ALSO NEEDS NO MAN. I love Riley so, so much, and Sprinkles! This book brings us to the local castle, where Riley will be catering a photography event. However, when the sleazy photographer turns up dead, everyone is a suspect. The scottish stuff? loved it. The friends? love them. The ice cream? please send it to me. This is the perfect fast-paced cozy with a heroine who comes off as smart, independent and content with her life. Definitely pick it up.

I love this series from Meri Allen! Not only do I love cozy mysteries but ice cream is one of my favorite treats! So really, it's no surprise that I feel like this is the perfect series for me! And for those who enjoy a charming series!

What a great Cozy Mystery! Loved the characters, the plot, and of course the description of all the delicious ice cream!!
When Adam, the photographer for an even Riley is helping to cater with her ice cream, is found supposedly fatally stung by a bee. But things just don't add up for Riley. There are a few people that would have liked to see something happen to Adam, and lots of motives. Can she figure out the real suspect before its too late?
Great story, thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to another in the series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I found this book to be a great addition to the series. I read the first book Rocky Road to Ruin, and couldn't wait to read this book. A note to readers: reading this book will definitely make you crave ice cream. The story, plot, and characters made this book a fun read . The book also includes recipes for readers to try as well similar to the first book. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, I also recommend that you check out the first book in the series as well.

You'll enjoy reading this story and wishing to sample all the ice creams. The characters will intrigue you and the clues will keep you guessing.

When a former CIA librarian who now manages an ice cream shop finds a body after a festival at a haunted castle, the intrigue deepens. There's plenty of suspects and the local police has their hands full. Riley uses her skills and likability to investigate. I enjoyed this cozy suspenseful mystery.

I did not read the description for this before I requested it on NetGalley, or before I started to read it, beyond finding out that it was the second in a series, following The Rocky Road to Ruin (which I teased on Friday). I'm opting to not include the usual Amazon Description because I discovered that I kind of liked not knowing ahead of time who the victim was going to be. I wasn't surprised but, really, it could have gone in a number of ways and I kept thinking to myself "ooooh maybe it's going to be her/him/whomever." If you really want that bit spoiled, go ahead and read the description or go to Amazon ... but I'm not going to be the one to spill the beans.

This story still takes place in Riley's hometown of Penniman, Connecticut, but we see very little of the ice cream shop and farmstead and spend most of our time at Moy Mull -- the castle-turned-artist colony. It's a reproduction Scottish castle with all sorts of history and outbuildings and a dungeon-turned-conference room and I have loved reading about all of it (especially the potential hauntings). It does kind of make me sad because I'm at 60% right now and we have yet to see two of the side characters from Rocky Road who had been staying there, but there's enough going on that I'm only kind of sad -- not completely devastated. Besides, there's still 40% left for them to suddenly appear and there's still a little matter of who killed ....... someone.

This is the second book in this mystery series. But this book can be read as a standalone. This was a fun mystery and I enjoyed the cast of characters.

This is a great cozy mystery. I've had hard days at work recently, so wanted easy read. This is the second I've read recently and would definitely recommend it to a friend for a quick/easy read.

An Ice Cream Shop Mystery #2

Riley Rhodes returns in the second delicious cozy set in a New England ice cream shop, Meri Allen’s Mint Chocolate Murder!

We are back in New England with Riley Rhodes of Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop, which she manages for her best friend.

Riley is surprised to be asked out to Peeniman’s Moy Mull Castle. The famous Maud Monaco, former supermodel, and wife of a very rich man. She has turned the castle and the extensive grounds into an art colony and she is hosting an art show and an ice cream social. Bitsy will be catering but Riley will provide the luscious fall flavors of ice cream she has dreamed up. And they sound dreamy!

The featured artist is photographer Adam Blasco. He has a rather dark reputation and sounds like a creep, so when he is found dead in a locked room, Riley ( a former CIA Librarian), figures out that more than one person had an ax to grind with Blasco and motives abound!

The biggest mystery is the locked room. How did someone kill him and get out without unlocking the door? Was it the famous Weeping Ghost? Or did this Scottish castle come with a secret as well as a ghost?

The food descriptions had my mouth watering! A book series about ice cream? Yes, please! I can’t wait for the next one.

NetGalley/ July 26, 2022, St. Martin’s Press

Book 2 of a series but still can be read as a stand alone.
Too many series feel the need of doing a recap of the previous books and take 3-5 chapters to do so. In this book a few comments are a nod to the previous story without delving into it.

It was enjoyable, light and a good mystery. I highly recommend this cozy mystery series!

This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone, I will be going back to read the first one as I would like to see how Riley ended up back home running an ice cream store.

Mint Chocolate Murder was a really fast-paced mystery, set in a super cute small town. Riley is catering a gig with some specialty ice creams when someone is found murdered... The guy Adam, was kind of a skeevy tool who definitely gives off some bad vibes so there was no end of people who would have wanted him dead. Riley is definitely curious by nature and ends up in the right place at the right time to get some juicy tidbits that fuel her desire to figure out what's going on... I really like that whenever she finds something new she has no problem sharing it with the police. Even if he is a little bit hard to get a hold of at times. The mystery part was really great, every time a new piece of evidence was revealed I changed my mind about who the killer was...
I can't wait to see what Riley and her friends will be getting into next!

There is also a kitty cat named Sprinkles, a diva who definitely stole the show... I can't wait to see more of her and Rocky...

Also if you like pumpkin spice ice cream there is a recipe at the end!

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

I hadn't read the first book in this cozy mystery series, but I had no trouble slipping into this cozy New England setting with ice cream galore and a man found dead in a locked room. Lead character Riley is a former CIA librarian who comes across as smart, savvy, and compassionate. When she's hired to cater ice cream for a nearby art exhibit opening at an imported Scottish castle, she finds a lot of drama among the guests, and soon, the dead guy--the man whose art was on exhibition. He was a creep, and a lot of people have reason to want him dead.

What sets this apart from other recent cozies I've read is that there are layers here. There's more going on that the dead dude. The ending had several twists I didn't see coming, and I loved that. I'm definitely curious about reading more from this author!

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book. It was really well written and it just had you trying to solve the mystery. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

The first thing you will notice when you start to read this book is that the author does a phenomenal job of describing every detail. I found that by her doing so I felt like I was watching a movie. A movie filled with friends, ice cream, bees, castles, festivals, and of course - MURDER!
I found the book a tad bit hard to get into but I kept at it and was sucked right in. If after you start to read this book you are also finding it hard to track characters (there are many) please stick with it. Remember good things happen to those who wait (or in this case a good book happens when you get over the hump ;) )

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy to read. This is my honest review.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, in return for an honest review. While the second book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Riley Rhodes, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) librarian, now runs an ice cream shop and is invited to cater a special art exhibit at local castle, Moy Mull. With quite a few resident and visiting personalities, it’s no wonder when tempers flare over old and new encounters. Is the death in the dungeon natural or unnatural causes? Riley puts her expertise to work in unraveling all the mysteries. Be warned, this book will leave you craving ice cream!

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second in this wonderful New England ice cream shop series by Meri Allen. In this one, Riley is now running Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop when she stumbles upon a murder at the nearby Moy Mull Castle during an event. The New England setting and the Castle provided an excellent backdrop for the murder and introduced us to more of the characters in Penniman. The mystery itself was great and provided lots of red herrings along the way!! This is another great cozy mystery to add to your list!

This is a charming second in series and a perfect cozy escape for summer. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley. My review opinion is my own.

At the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop in Penniman, CT business is good. Riley is making treats for a art exhibit at a local castle. Part of the exhibit is a local photographer who does not get along with the owner of the castle. The owner of the castle is found dead in the Castles dungeon. Riley and friends step up to investigate as Riley has proven to be a smart savvy problem solver and has a background in the CIA. ,

The receipes for ice cream are divine, the castle is a worthy setting and majestic throughout the story. I like the smart protagnist and the supporting charcters. A enjoyable read and I look forward to the next in series.

This book was a blast! After reading the description and knowing a lot of hoity-toity character types would be in the book, I'll admit I was a little leery about picking this up. BUT IT WAS AWESOME! Meri Allen brought all the characters to life, and the murder mystery was so gripping. I found myself unable to put it down!

Through the narrator, the author paints such a vivid picture that you truly feel like you’re walking in Riley’s footsteps.

Riley is the manager of Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop in Penniman, CT. As part of the opening night of an art exhibit, scheduled to be held in a local castle, Riley is busy prepping some delish ice cream treats for the event. The night seems to be going well just as a body is found. Riley’s CIA background clicks into gear as she works to unravel the truth.

This is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries and I loved every minute of the twists and turns the author takes you on. Book one was such a great introduction to Riley and the town, that I felt immediately connected with the cast of characters when I dove into book two. This is the perfect cost mystery to spend a weekend with!

📌 Pub Date: July 26, 2022

I was given a copy of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press @stmartinspress for the chance to read this book!

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by Meri Allen.
I absolutely LOVED the first book in the series, and was so EXCITED for this second book.

I love the setting of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop that is located in Connecticut.

There is an art exhibit at Moy Mull Castle. Riley is doing some wonderful ice cream treats for opening night. There is a great mystery here, and this is a fantastic locked door cozy mystery.

I LOVE locked room mysteries. The setting was fantastic and the mystery kept me guessing.
Absolutely loved this story and left me craving ice cream.

There is a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream. I live in New England and we love pumpkin spice everything an I am excited to try this!

What’s better than a cozy mystery about ice cream for summer? Add in a Scottish castle, a rich hostess & of course murder. I think I enjoyed this second book even better than the first. The fact that Riley used to work for the CIA is a fun addition & lends itself to a clever protagonist. This was a great mystery, lots of interesting suspects. I loved all the descriptions involving the castle & the history, I’m a sucker for when a mystery delves into the past & this one does an excellent job at that! This is a really promising new series, one I look forward to reading more of. Definitely read these two books they are a perfect beach/summer read.

Warning, you may start to crave ice cream when reading this! ☺️

This was an amazing sequel, it was so nice to return to Penniman New England and rejoin the Udderly Delightful cast of characters. The pacing was very good and I enjoyed following Riley Rhodes as she tried to solve the murder at Moy Mull. The interactions between the different characters and their evolution from the first book was well crafted.
I enjoyed the use of the cats within the story and glad that they made frequent appearances, it is always fun to see those interactions.
If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery with a great cast of characters I highly recommend this series.

This double mystery featuring ice cream and a Castle set in Penniman New England was a nice summer read. Former CIA Librarian and current manager of Udderly Dellightful Ice Cream, Riley Rhodes, gets drawn into the murder of, Photographer, Adam Blassco, after she discovers his body in the locked dungeon of the castle. I enjoyed Riley’s investigative style. She uncovered lots of information without being nosy. The victim, Adam, had lots of people who didn’t like him which made for a variety of suspects. It seemed like everyone was holding onto a little secret and Riley sorts through them to find the killer.

Be warned Mint Chocolate is not mentioned in the book, BUT there are plenty of delicious ice cream flavors that are. YUM!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eArc. This is my honest review.

If the background of an ice cream shop doesn't capture your attention, a New England mystery based in a castle will! Mint Chocolate Murder continues the story of Riley Rhodes, former CIA librarian, as she manages Udderly Delightful ice cream shop wile solving mysteries and murder at Moy Mull castle in a small town in New England. Riley has been asked to provide ice cream for the Fall Arts Festival being held at the castle, where the photographer, Adam Blasco, whose work is being featured, is found dead in a locked room that used to be the dungeon. Riley's CIA-background kicks in and she finds herself trying to figure out how Adam was murdered in the closed room and by whom. Suspects abound, as Adam was not well-liked and mis-treated past models, including his current assistant and the Festival's host. By using her research skills, considerable deductive reasoning, and putting herself in danger, Riley is able to figure out who killed Adam.

The mystery in Mint Chocolate Murder was well-developed, however you could pretty much assume from the start who the victim would be. What took time to develop was all the connections people at the festival had to the victim, how the murder could have possibly been committed, and who the actual culprit was. Each character, their motive and connection to the victim was was well-described. The full complexity of the castle was slowly revealed as its tragic past and mysterious passages were discovered. Extremely well-written and engaging book!

Of course the characters we met in the first book were present - Riley's friend Caroline, Detective Jack Voelker, sisters Flo and Gerri, Pru and Willow - and feel like old friends. Best of all, cat buddies Sprinkles and Rocky continue their antics and add to the enjoyment of the book.

I highly recommend book 2 in the Ice Cream Shop series and will look forward to many more!

I received an advance copy from net galley. I did not know there is a 1st book. But I enjoyed reading once I got everyone figured out who each person is and trying to find out who killed was amazing. Riley stumped me with all the twist and turns in the book. The setting of the castle sounds amazing I will have to read the ist book soon as i can.

"Riley Rhodes returns in the second delicious cozy set in a New England ice cream shop, Meri Allen's Mint Chocolate Murder!

When Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle, it's the cherry on top of a successful summer season. The Gothic pile built by an eccentric New England Gilded Age millionaire has been transformed into a premiere arts colony by Maud Monaco, a reclusive former supermodel. As part of Moy Mull's Fall Arts Festival, Maud is throwing a fantasy ice cream social and hires Riley to whip up unique treats to celebrate the opening of an exhibit by Adam Blasco, a photographer as obnoxious as he is talented.

As Penniman fills up with Maud’s art-world friends arriving for the festival, gossip swirls around Blasco, who has a dark history of obsession with his models. Riley’s curiosity and instincts for sleuthing - she was a CIA librarian - are piqued, and she wonders at the hold the cold-hearted photographer has over the mistress of Moy Mull.

But when Adam is found dead behind the locked door of Moy Mull's dungeon, Riley realizes there’s more than one suspect who’d wanted to put the malicious photographer on ice."

Yes, the Gothic pile and Gilded Age mansion are all well and good but I can't be the only one willing to kill for that ice cream on the cover can I?

📖My Thoughts📖

Who doesn’t love ice cream? Throw that in with a cozy mystery and what a sweet treat you have! This was the second book in the An Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I didn’t read the first book, but it was more than descriptive enough that it was fine to read as a stand-alone. I had a little bit of a hard time with this one keeping me completely enthralled. There were some parts that were very descriptive, which is fine, but for me, I feel as though it takes away from the reader using their imagination, and that’s something I like using when I’m reading. I still really enjoyed the story and will be looking to read the next book in this series. Thank you Netgalley, Meri Allen and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, give this one a go! 3.75/5 ⭐️

When Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle, it’s the cherry on top of a successful summer season. The gothic pile built by an eccentric New England Gilded Age millionaire has been transformed into a premiere arts colony by Maud Monaco, a reclusive former supermodel. As part of Moy Mull’s Fall Arts Festival, Maud is throwing a fantasy ice cream social and hires Riley to whip up unique treats to celebrate the opening of an exhibit by Adam Blasco, a photographer as obnoxious as he is talented.

As Penniman fills up with Maud’s art-world friends arriving for the festival, gossip swirls around Blasco, who has a dark history of obsession with his models. Riley’s curiosity and instincts for sleuthing – she was a CIA librarian – are piqued, and she wonders at the hold the cold-hearted photographer has over the mistress of Moy Mull.

But when Adam is found dead behind the locked door of Moy Mull’s dungeon, Riley realizes there’s more than one suspect who’d wanted put the malicious photographer on ice. (Goodreads synopsis)

I hadn't read a Meri Allen novel prior to this one, but it was a lovely introduction.

I felt the novel was good but was missing something. I think part of what makes a mystery a cozy mystery is the hints of romance or romantic relationship, and that wasn't present in this novel. Caroline's beau Detective Jack Voelker had maybe 3 appearances but he didn't really interact with Riley. Then there was only one scene with Riley's dad and stepmom. I guess I just wanted more of an emotional interactions with Riley.

I LOVED the castle setting and how the history was interwoven throughout the plot. I was an art major so having ice cream at an art show was a new concept, one that I would have thoroughly enjoyed. The gossipy bits to the mystery were a bit too much for me, and I would have liked to have seen more concrete evidence/connections.

Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book. The setting and characters were all interesting, especially Sprinkles. The locked door mystery came to a plausible conclusion. We were given the clues at the same time as Riley which was nice. The ice cream recipe at the back was a good bonus.

If Riley Rhodes thought leaving her career as a CIA librarian to run an ice cream shop in her hometown would be quiet, she’s in for a surprise. In Mint Chocolate Murder, the second in her series, Riley is embroiled in a murder at an arts festival hosted by a former model. It occurs n a Scottish Castle improbably placed in New England. I think I suspected nearly every character in the book of the murder at one point or another – not an easy feat to pull off! I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Mint Chocolate Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mint Chocolate Murder is a cozy mystery with a heroine who specializes in speciality ice cream. Like basil, mint chocolate with lemon pieces. The story is about a great gig she gets to supply the ice cream for and unfortunately someone ends up dead. It was a great little story but one where I didn’t care enough about the characters. Which doesn’t diminish the story it just wasn’t one that kept my interest. I will definitely be looking at other books by Meri Allen because the story was good.

This is an enjoyable murder mystery with interesting characters. I like the ice cream business as a back drop for the main character, Riley, who was formerly a librarian for the CIA. The author provides readers with several suspects. I like to try and figure out who the culprit is and did puzzle it out early on. It was fun to take in the clues as Riley cracked the case.
This is a clean murder mystery with no gore or foul language and is a stand alone story. I would enjoy reading more in the series. I received this advanced reader's copy from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my personal opinion.

Riley Rhodes owns an ice cream shop who has been hired to provide her specialty ice creams for a festival at the local castle in New England. When a murder occurs at the festival, she cannot help but look for clues to solve the crime. This is a charming cozy mystery perfect for summer afternoon reading.

This is a great continuation of Meri Allen's series. If you're looking for a lighthearted, fun cozy mystery, this is the book for you - and it even includes ice cream recipes!

Riley, former CIA librarian, is now managing an ice cream shop, the Udderly Delightful. Always developing and testing new and unusual flavors of ice cream, the ice creams made there seem to fly out of the freezers with great regularity. Riley and the shop have been asked to provide dessert for a big event hosted at Moy Mull Castle. Maud, the owner of the castle, is being photographed by Adam Blasco and his assistant. His photographic exhibition opens without him being in attendance. Later his body is discovered in a locked dungeon. The police are investigating but Riley can't resist "assisting."

There are many community members who wind up as suspects. So, really, whodunit? Lots of red herrings, false leads, and beautiful descriptions of the castle. And don't forget about the cats!

A delicious cozy mystery. Good pacing and a well crafted whodunit.
I recommend you read the previous book to fully enjoy the characters.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

When our son moved to Massachusetts for grad school, he lived a few years in a small town outside of Boston. One of the fun things to do is get ice cream at the local "dairy bar." This is the type of establishment I picture when reading the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by Meri Allen. This new cozy mystery series features Riley Rhodes who has returned to her hometown, a small village in New England. She is running her best friend's family business - Udderly Delightful Ice Cream while she rests from her time as a librarian (and undercover operative) for the CIA.. The supporting characters are further developed this second volume and new ones are introduced. I like that Riley's relationship with the CIA is a promise for future adventures and she has little romantic entanglements so far. Cozy mystery series often use all of the intrigue and romance in the first few books. Looking forward to book number three!

This is the second novel in “The Ice Cream Shop Mysteries” and I’m really enjoying this series. I don’t think it’s necessary to read the first book in order to understand this one, but I highly recommend reading it just because of how enjoyable it is. These are fun and lighthearted murder mysteries ( such an oxymoron!) that can be read quickly.

Our very likeable protagonist Riley Rhodes gets an offer to cater an event at Moy Mull Castle, A huge gothic estate, it has been turned into an artist haven by a former model. When someone is found dead inside the locked dungeon, Riley uses her sleuthing skills to uncover who did it and why.

This series has a lot of interesting characters, both new and returning from the first novel, but I didn’t have a difficult time keeping them straight because they’re all so different and interesting. The plot was a little slow to take-off, but once the murder happened I couldn’t put it down. There are so many twists and turns and possible suspects that I was kept guessing for most of the story. As soon as I thought I knew what happened, something else happened to make me realize I was wrong. I was really entertained! I hope the next one delves more into Riley’s CIA past because I’m really intrigued by that.

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second Riley Rhodes mystery. Riley is a former librarian for the CIA, now the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop in New England. In this installment, Riley and her employees are catering a fancy Ice cream social in Moy Mull castle - a gothic monstrosity built during the gilded age by an eccentric millionaire. Maud Monaco, a former high-fashion model, transformed the castle into an artist colony and the social is for the opening of an exhibit by irritating, but talented Adam Blasco. As the festival opens, gossip and rumor abound, mostly centered around the photographer who has a history of obsession with his models. Of course Riley and her friends are curious and begin looking into the artist's background. It is not surprising that Blasco is found dead in the castle dungeon. Riley's skills turn up more than one suspect in this fun, delicious mystery. Mint Chocolate Murder is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries. Fans of alliteration will adore Allen's New England story - Moy Mull, Maud Monaco are only the beginning. Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Meri Allen and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Mint Chocolate Murder. This is my personal review.
Mint Chocolate Murder is the second book in the series AN Ice Cream Shop Mystery series.
I loved this book as much as the first one.
Riley Rhodes is the shop manager at the ice cream shop Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop.
She is asked to cater an artistic event and she jumps at the chance to make some one-of-a-kind recipes for it.
When a murder happens, Riley is all set to find out who is the killer. This book had the twists and turns, and everything needed to keep me guessing who was guilty of the crime!
I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

Riley Rhodes is the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop in the small New England town of Penniman. Riley is excited to be included in the art festival being put on my Maud Monaco at Maud’s castle, Moy Mull. The festival centers around the work of famous photographer Adam Blasco. When Adam is found murdered in the dungeon of the castle, Riley uses her sleuthing skills to figure out what happened. Adam’s reputation soon comes to light and Riley discovers that several of the people attending the festival had reason to want Adam dead – including Maud.
I found the book enjoyable. There were several side stories going on that kept me interested. I’m not sure, however, why it is Mint Chocolate Murder. I don’t remember anything about mint chocolate ice cream in the book.

I find Riley Rhodes a very likeable protagonist. She has an incredibly interesting background (as a disgraced CIA librarian) and has a very practical personality. Her background means that she makes a solid amateur sleuth as you would except someone to have worked for the CIA to have some relevant skills. But she has some weaknesses – which was evident when a thief took advantage of her in italy, resulting in her “hiatus” from the CIA. However, I think her failings make her more human and more relatable. Even Jack Voelker, the new Penniman Police Chief, is tarting to respect Riley’s detecting skills (albeit begrudgingly).

Several of the supporting characters that were featured prominently in the first book (including Riley’s best friend Caroline, and farm managers Darin & Pru) are pretty much MIA in this book but it gives others that were just introduced in the first book to get more involved this time around, including Willow (Darin & Pru’s daughter), and sisters Flo & Gerri.

Plus, there are lots of new characters to meet, including retired model Maud Monaco, Luca (a farm intern from Italy that is romantically involved with Willow) and Maud’s assistant, Prentiss Love. I really liked Prentiss – he’s a bit over-exuberant, but he seems like a lot of fun and I felt like we were able to get to know him (and the other new characters) fairly well considering they’ve only appeared in this one story. I do hope several of them appear in future instalments.

Of course, the ice cream could count as a supporting character on its own. There are lots of traditional flavours, but as someone who has often made her own ice cream, I absolutely drooled over the inventive ice cream flavours that were mentioned. My favourite flavour was the “Cherry Vanilla with Luxardo Cherries Poached in Bourbon and Cinnamon”. YUM. And I DEFINITELY want to try to recreate the Cranachan (a traditional Scottish dessert) that Riley gave her own twist to.

Since I read mysteries pretty carefully and with an eye on trying to figure out the perpetrator, I did figure out who did it very early on, HOWEVER, the motive was a lot harder figure out. There were several viable suspects and lots of red herrings and it was a really enjoyable ride to watch the story play out.

The only thing that would have made the story even enjoyable for me was that I wanted to hear more about the beekeeping aspect as I find bees and beekeeping fascinating. Since two of the suspects were beekeepers, I thought we’d spend more time on that subject.

This is quickly becoming a favourite series of mine. While the ice cream gig is currently temporary for Riley, I obviously hope that it will be something she decides to do on a longer term basis. There hasn’t been any romance for her yet either and, while I don’t need a lot of romance in my mysteries, I feel like this is an area that could be developed in the future.

Oh, and by the way, I know some of you will vehemently disagree with me, but I’m totally with Riley – there are so many amazing flavours out there, but so many people seem obsessed with the flavour that I often lament “What was it with Pumpkin Spice?” as she does. LOL. I may not be a fan of of Pumpkin Spice, but I’m huge fan of this series and I’m looking forward to the next scoop!

*** Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Second in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series by Meri Allen, this cozy mystery has it all: diverse characters, gothic elements, twists and turns, yummy foods. Riley Rhodes provides custom ice cream to an art event featuring the works of a very unlikeable photographer, who ends up dying in suspicious circumstances. A murder investigation gets underway with everyone being a suspect, causing Riley to do an investigation of her own.

What I loved:
Riley Rhodes - our lead, former CIA librarian, I mean how cool is that! Best of both words - books and intrigue, and current manager of an ice cream shop
Maud Monaco - former supermodel, royalty, supporter of the arts, owner of Moy Mull castle in New England, apiarist
This ridiculous name for the ice cream shop: Udderly Delightful Ice Cream
Moy Mull Castle - a castle with a dark past, hidden rooms, delightfully dark and gothic, imported from Scotland

What I missed:
Romance - most cozy mysteries have some romantic aspect to them
Mint Chocolate - did I miss it? There was a lot of reference to pumpkin spice ice cream (which I can't imagine being good at all
The first book - I did not read it. I think I missed out some of the critical back story here to make sense of all the characters.

My recommendation: if you like cozy mysteries, check this one out - but read the series in order, I'm going back to the first book to fill in some of the details.

Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress fo read and review this book.
Look for this book July 25, 2022 - you won't be dissappointed.

This is my first time reading this author. I really enjoyed this book and looking forward to more. Wonderful characters and a story that kept me guessing right till the end.

Maud hired Riley to make a special ice cream dessert for a party at her castle, which was imported stone by stone from Scotland not to find out who killed Adam, a hateful photographer, but that's what happens! Adam is found dead in a locked dungeon (love the idea of a dungeon) and, of course there are multiple suspects. Riley is a former CIA librarian (the rest of her back story is not plausible, btw) who uses her research skills to find the killer. Big quibble- while there's lot and lots of ice cream, never is there mint chocolate! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Second in the series but fine as a standalone for cozy fans.

Riley Rhodes, former CIA librarian (and occasional operative), is ow managing an ice cream shop. She's preparing for special occasions including an art festival at an actual castle right there in Penniman, Connecticut. When someone does, she has seen and heard enough clues to start digging into the mystery.

This is the epitome of a fall read. It made me want to go to nearby farms for apple picking and pumpkins. And I started craving pumpkin spice ice cream and local honey.

As with most cozy mysteries, there were lots of possible suspects and motives for murder. Nevertheless, I found the mystery quite easy to guess (even before the death, I was pretty sure who the killer would be). But it was a fast and fun read.

Although it's the second in a series, I felt fine jumping in without having read the previous book. It stands alone well.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up

This is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries and this time Riley Rhodes has created several custom flavors for a wealthy customer who is hosting a summer art festival. While investigating a murder that occurs on the grounds of the festival, Riley also ends up finding information about a crime from long ago. This secondary mystery is interesting, but takes a back seat to the current murder case.

This is a fun-to-read cozy series with a unique main character. Like a lot of cozy heroines, Riley has returned to her hometown after a failed romance and a career setback. However, Riley has a unique background. Her prior job was as a librarian and occasional undercover operative for the CIA! She doesn't need that experience to run her best friend's family ice cream shop, but it does come in handy when investigating a murder.

So far, the emphasis is on Riley’s sleuthing, ice cream, and friendship. However, there is a man in town that has caught her eye, so there could be some romance in the future. Riley is so busy with the demands of the festival that she has less time to spend in the ice cream shop. I missed that aspect, but I still really enjoyed the book and am interested in continuing to follow this series.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin’s Press. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Murder in a New England castle? Yes please!

Riley Rhodes is a former CIA librarian, a ice cream shop manager, and an amateur sleuth. Between concocting delicious ice cream treats and hobnobbing with the local elite, she manages to find herself embroiled in a scandal. She must untangle the clues to solve three stymying mysteries - including one that is as old as the castle itself.

There's something for every cozy fan to love in MINT CHOCOLATE MURDER: quaint New England town, lots of suspects, a castle filled with secrets, 2 cats, a fun supporting cast, a library, and of course - ice cream!

Nicely written standard cozy mystery. Two thumbs up for a good read. 2nd book in the series but at no time did I feel I should have read the first book. But now I WANT to read the 1st book. I'm hoping it will give me more background on the main character, Riley Rhodes. But I suspect that will be revealed in future installment. Her little tidbits of a past with CIA really drew me in. There are many more layers to be revealed of Riley. And I, of course, want to hear more about Sprinkles, the cat. Sprinkles little diva reactions are a fun addition to the story. Thank you #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC. I've really enjoy this book and I'm already looking forward to the next in the series.

This was a fun second installation in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. This time there is a locked door murder up at the Mull Moy Castle during a photography exhibition. There are plenty of suspects and a really interesting location.

I also like, as I did in the first book, that this series isn't also juggling a potential romance with the local cop or a love triangle with two town vendors. Instead the local cop is dating her best friend so she still has a connection without a conflict of interest.

I hope in future books Riley gets to use more of her CIA training besides reading upside down and hiding in bushes.

However, I don't know why this is called Mint Chocolate Murder when the ice cream featured throughout the story is Pumpkin Spice. Riley's eye rolling at the obsession with everything Pumpkin Spice did make me laugh.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

When I first saw the cover and title of Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen, I expected a cozy mystery full of ice cream shop sweetness. But this book surprised me, in a good way! The foodie references are there, but the story is perhaps a smidge darker than many cozies, not in terms of gore, but in the storyline surrounding the murder victim. He is a total creep in his treatment and exploitation of young women trying to get their start in modeling or art careers.
Riley Rhodes, a former librarian for the CIA, makes for a capable and likable amateur sleuth. She recently returned home to small-town Connecticut after a botched assignment derailed her CIA career. She is now reconnecting with family and friends and running a local ice cream shop, but her investigative skills keep coming in handy in this quaint small town.
This installment has Riley asked by a reclusive former supermodel to provide ice cream treats for an art festival at her home, which happens to be a castle built by a Gilded Age eccentric, and is now an artist's colony. The castle was brought from Scotland stone by stone, assembled by Scottish artisans, and holds its own secrets. When a famous and controversial photographer obsessed with young models is murdered on the grounds, in a locked room no less, Riley's investigative skills are tested.
I found this quick-paced, well-written, and layered, with multiple criminal subplots, including one twist I did not see coming. Riley is an engaging MC, her back story is interesting, and I think her character will become even more interesting as the series progresses. There are several interesting secondary characters, and the author casts suspicion in multiple directions. And I was invested in whodunnit and how. The gothic elements surrounding the castle were fun. We also get some adorable animals, yummy food references, and a delicious pumpkin spice ice cream recipe in true cozy fashion. Meri Allen is the pen name of the Agatha Award-winning writer Shari Randall, and this delightful new series of hers is one that I will be following! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this ARC. I very much enjoyed it!

Former CIA librarian-turned-ice cream shop proprietor Riley Rhodes is happy to accept a big catering job as the New England summer draws to a close, padding her coffers for the inevitably leaner winter months ahead. The owner of the nearby Moy Mull Castle, a grand estate patterned on actual Scottish architecture that was later turned into a hotel before its current incarnation as an arts colony, is throwing an end-of-summer ice cream social in honor of the acclaimed photographer Adam Blasco. Blasco, coincidentally, will be taking all the photos for Moy Mull’s next cookbook, featuring its glamorous if reclusive patron, Maud Monaco. Riley is a little thrown by what she sees as the contrast in styles:

QUOTE
I recalled a long-ago visit to an edgy art gallery in New York City. Blasco’s work had been exhibited in one of the galleries. I had vague memories of unsettling, life-sized images of half-naked models. His work included many techniques, like unusual exposures or the addition of painted highlights to create one-of-a-kind works. I recalled a particularly disturbing work that included slashes made by a box cutter.

Why on earth was an <i>avant-garde</i> photographer like Adam Blasco taking photos for a cookbook?
END QUOTE

Blasco turns out to be as obnoxious as he is talented, in stark contrast with the serene, collected Maud, whose modeling career was launched by his photos of her as a teenager. She later went on to marry a European crown prince, though retired back to her country of birth after becoming a widow some decades later. Now she spends her money supporting artists – including, apparently, Blasco and his small team – and indulging in rare but well-attended parties that she’s happy to spend generous sums on.

While Riley’s number one priority is earning her lavish paycheck, she’s also happy to be charmed both by Maud and by Moy Mull’s majordomo, Prentiss Love. They sweet talk her into doing extra work – all paid for, of course – but also prove to be excellent neighbors, offering her the run of the gardens and use of the archival library after a short tour of the fascinating premises. The castle even has a dungeon, though its use has been heavily modified since it was originally built:

QUOTE
“That is one disappointing dungeon,” I said.

“They did keep the chains!” He pushed aside a rolling white board revealing rusted chains, attached to the wall with iron fittings. I smiled at Prentiss’s excitement, but remembered colleagues in my previous workplace who’d undergone interrogation training–and worse. The low ceilings, lack of windows, and restraints–even though antique–gave me a less-than-pleasant sense of claustrophobia.

“I saw pics of the original room, it had wonderful rough brick walls. But when it was a hotel, they transformed it into a conference room,” Prentiss said. “Well, still used for torture as you can see.”
END QUOTE

Riley’s newfound knowledge of the grounds will come in handy after Blasco disappears overnight, only to be found dead in the locked dungeon the next day, apparently from a bee sting. While the scene was carefully set up to look like an accident, it quickly becomes clear that the photographer was murdered. When one of her employees is implicated in Blasco’s death, Riley will have to use all the skills she picked up while working with the CIA in order to find the real killer, before she becomes the next victim herself.

I really enjoyed the many little mysteries wrapped around the main plot of Blasco’s murder, and how entertainingly Meri Allen constructs and presents them all. There wasn’t a dull moment as Riley uncovered the truth behind these conundrums, even as my heart hurt with hers when she realized who was behind a string of seemingly unrelated thefts. Riley is a wonderful heroine, with lovely friends and charming pets. The scenes with the spoiled feline Sprinkles were a hoot, even if she’s the kind of cat I’d rather read about than live with.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of this fun series that’s loaded with both humor and smarts. This installment also included a recipe for pumpkin spice ice cream in the back: perhaps by the time the next book comes out, I’ll be brave enough to try making ice cream at home using one of Ms Allen’s delicious-looking recipes!

I loved visiting Udderly Delicious and Penniman again! This time we are off to an art festival at Mount Mull. The castle that a rich guy built for his Scottish wife back in the day. Now a retired supermodel and current businesswoman owns it. She has Riley coming in to provide ice cream for the festival and there is even going to be a cookbook.
We meet Adam, the photographer, and learn so much drama that surrounds him. It is obvious that he is the victim, but who is the murderer? Vye, his talented and underrated assistant? Maud, the ex/supermodel? Prentiss, Maud’s long suffering assistant? Luca, Willow’s new love interest who didn’t trust Adam’s intentions? Or someone else from Adam’s past? And how did his body get locked into the dungeon/conference room?
I picked out the important clue, but I didn’t know what that clue meant. Of course, I think I picked up on some unimportant clues as well. So I wasn’t that great of a sleuth.
Oh! And Brandon made another monstrous ice cream creation. It was green with marshmallows and some other stuff in it. Of course you know Riley made some good ones too. Primarily pumpkin spice. I don’t think she made a Mint Chocolate one even though that is the title of the book. That however is the biggest complaint I could make about the book.
The mystery was great. The characters were great. The setting was great. The book was great.

I really enjoyed this book! I love the quaint town setting. The theme is fantastic, and the author does a great job of fleshing out the characters. The story was well-paced, and I had so much fun trying to solve the mystery. This book also made me crave all the ice cream.

When I got this book to review and realized it was the 2nd book in the series I had to go back and read the first book first. I like to read series in order :) I really enjoyed the book, Riley is a great character and is not only a great ice cream maker, but is also a great sleuth. I love the descriptions of the New England town - Penniman, CT - makes me feel like I'm actually there. The ice cream recipes at the end are great, I'd love to make one of them some day. I'd love to visit a farm like Fairweather Farm, fruits, vegetables and homemade ice cream what could be better? The castle, Moy Mull, where everything takes place in this book sounds wonderful! All the hidden places would be so fun to explore! I did not even come close to figuring out who was guilty, but it was fun trying to figure it out with Riley. Great read for a day at the pool or in the A/C!

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Fun, enjoyable murder mystery. Locked room murder with a gorgeous setting and characters. The reader gets to know the character of the house and so many unknowns!! I loved reading it!!

A perfect cozy mystery! Riley's background as a CIA librarian is very cool. She has so much knowledge in her brain. The mystery is a locked room murder with so many suspects. The characters were fun and entertaining. And the ice cream sounded so good that I wanted some while reading! It's a quick read and moves at a good pace. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review. Meri Allen is a new author to me but I will definitly be looking for and reading her books. Riley Rhodes is hired to create and provide ice cream for an eccentric castle owner and of course murder is involved. This was a fun read.

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second Ice Cream Shop storefront cozy mystery by Meri Allen. Due out 26th July 2022 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Small town shopfront cozies full of whimsy, easy to read, and with a puzzle to solve, are my favorites. This is the second book in a promising series with a self-contained mystery, fun eccentric local characters, a disagreeable murder victim who turns up dead and a stable full of potential suspects for former CIA librarian (and spy)-turned-ice-cream-shop-manager Riley Rhodes to untangle.

It's well written with light, non-intrusive (if not overly realistic) dialogue, and with a plot that moves along at a good clip. It's the second book in the series, but the necessary backstory is written in, and the mystery is self contained in this installment, so it's fine as a standalone. The language is clean (very light PG level with a single "damn" and nothing else to scandalize anyone's auntie).

This one also includes a tempting looking recipe for no-churn pumpkin spice ice cream.

Four stars. Definitely one for fans of shopfront cozies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second in a cozy mystery series by Meri Allen. Riley Rhodes is a former CIA librarian who has returned to her hometown to run a local ice cream shop for a friend. In this installment, a murder at a historic castle connects the worlds of Scottish castles, photographers, models, and beekeeping in a whodunit that kept me guessing until the final reveal.

Having not read the first book in the series, I was able to easily jump into the world of Penniman, CT and appreciate the variety of characters that live and work there. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

I love cozy mysteries and really enjoyed the first in the series. This one was even better! It felt like this time around the characters were already established so we could just dive right in to the fun mystery!

So I'm not usually a cozy mystery kinda girl. With the silly titles and cats and dogs having a starting roll, usually I pass them up. I gotta tell you, I might have been cheating myself out of some good books! Mint Chocolate Murder? The mint chocolate didn't murder, it's just a theme in the book, so serve me up a scoop please! I was hooked within the first few chapters with all the cute names and don't get me started on the descriptions of the ice cream, I wish these flavors were real! If you're like me and haven't given cozy mysteries a try please pick up Mint Chocolate Murder because it will change your mind.
Riley Rhodes works as a manager at Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop and helps come up with the most delicious flavors. The company is hired to serve unique treats at a party that turns into an offer to host an even bigger event at Moy Mull Castle. The demands are high but so is the payout. So Riley agrees to suit up and come up with a Scottish flavored treat to impress her high class clients.
Everything is going as planned and Riley's dessert is a hit, but what wasn't on the agenda was someone dying or were they murdered? Photographer Adam Blasco is set to speak at the festival when minutes for his time on stage he goes missing. At first no one suspects foul play but when the body is found Riley and the police have a different opinion. Adam definitely gives off creepy vibes, but who would want him dead? Temporarily Riley will switch rolls from ice cream creator to investigator!

This was a cute cozy mystery. I didn't read the first in the series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I might go back and read it now since I thoroughly enjoyed jack-of-all-trades, CIA-turned-Icecream-maker Riley and the cast of characters. There were some mysteries within the mystery, which kept me on my toes, and I liked all the descriptions of the castle, the town, and the two resident cats. Definitely recommend to cozy mystery fans.

It was fun spending time again in Penniman, CT with Riley and all her ice cream crew and friends. I'd forgotten what a stinker that cat of Caroline's was, but someone in this story managed to tame the beast or at least make her more tolerable, lol. There were sure plenty of suspects, so I honestly never settled on just one but had random reasons myself for different people.

I really enjoy the Fairweather sisters' characters! They're both so different but I like both these ladies who're fun and crazy in their own ways. Vye was an interesting character introduced and I did find myself hoping she'd stick around town, although you'll have to read for yourself to see if she did!

The castle setting was so cool with all its rooms and creepiness but not super creepy since Maud was trying her best to get it looking nice again. From reading the author's newsletter, I know there's a castle in Connecticut she based this from and of course added some extra fun of her own to it. But it was totally picturable. Now I wouldn't mind going to see that castle she used for inspiration!

I loved how Riley came to the answer she did and the showdown was as Flo put it, very worth of a Mission Impossible movie! The ending was just so very Riley and now I'm eager to see what happens next! This book releases tomorrow, July 26, 2022.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a NetGalley ARC!

Pub date: 7/26/22
Genre: cozy mystery
Series: Ice Cream Shop Mysteries, book 2
In one sentence: Ice cream shop owner Riley Rhodes is whipping up delicious treats for an arts festival - until a photographer winds up dead.

Riley Rhodes' ice cream shop is called Udderly Delicious, and these mysteries are utterly delightful! The story took place at Moy Mull Castle, and Allen wove the castle's history into the narrative well. Riley is the kind of sleuth you'd like to be BFFs with - I loved her snark about pumpkin spice and her cat sitting adventures. I'm excited to see what she does next and get to know her employees a bit more! Make sure you read this one with ice cream handy - you will be craving it!

Riley Rhodes is asked to cater dessert an event at a local estate where an art exhibit is being held. With her special flavors just for the event, Riley not only serves up some delicious ice cream, she gets the scoop on murder that takes place when she finds the famous artist dead from what appears to be a bee sting.

While the artist was deathly allergic to bees, Riley can’t help but wonder how the man died in a locked room with a bee. With only one key to the room, found where it is normally kept, it’s a mystery for sure. One that Riley is going to keep at until she solves it…even if it kills her.

The second book in this series is just as good as the first one. I love that Riley has a background that others don’t know about and she uses that to help her solve mysteries. A great series for any cozy lover! PS check out the ice cream recipes at the end. A delicious bonus, for sure.

Reading this book was the perfect way to pass a Sunday afternoon. Riley, an ex CIA librarian, and current manager of Udderly Delights Ice Cream Shop is hired to create custom flavors for an art event being held at Moy Mull castle. Not only does the ice cream sound delicious, but they mystery had me hooked from the beginning. I loved the castle and it's history, the legend of the weeping woman, and the new characters that were introduced to the story. This was a locked room mystery that kept me guessing. I can't wait for more books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Riley is an ex-CIA librarian and now manager of Udderly Delightful an ice cream shop. She’s part of an event at a local castle turned art colony. When a well-known but not well-liked photographer goes missing, Riley becomes involved. The body is found in a locked room creating the perfect murder mystery . This is a great fast moving mystery with some very interesting characters.

A solidly good book! I loved the duel mysteries! I could not put this book down & read it quickly. I was invested in the characters and the mysteries. The characters were well written and flawed like true people. The mysteries were engaging and kept me invested. I highly recommend this. Even though I didn’t read the first book, it was easy to pick up the plot and I enjoyed what I read.

I loved this cozy mystery about the murder of a well known artist during a gallery exhibit at the Scottish style castle owned by a wealthy socialite. It features an ice cream store manager with a passion for mystery and an unwavering determination to get her man (or woman). Surrounding our intrepid heroine is a cast of quirky and interesting characters, most of them suspects at one point or another, and the plot is complex and multi-layered. Ms Allen carefully reveals the clues with an Agatha Christie like flourish and made the story seem real and believable.
I highly recommend this one to cozy murder mysteries.

This is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series but can be read as a standalone. There is enough backstory given so that new readers to the series don’t feel lost. The castle setting for this installment is very interesting with its hidden passages, runaway wife and rumors of it being haunted by a weeping lady. Add in a modern locked room murder mystery and you have the recipe for an entertaining read.

When Riley, ice cream shop manager, is summoned to a castle, she can't resist the temptation. She is having a good time, until Adam, an obnoxious but talented photographer, is found dead in a locked dungeon.
This cozy mystery is book 2 of the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series, but the first one I read. The locked room mystery contains a lot of characters but runs at a quick pace, with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. I love a good cozy with recipes! I will go back to read the first book of the series.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Riley Rhodes loves her job managing Udderly Delight, an ice cream shop her best friend, Caroline Spooner, recently inherited from her late mother. Riley often works with Betsy Bittman at Creative Caterers to make delicious desserts.

When contacted by Maud Monaco, a wealthy, former model, who asks Riley to provide dessert at a special exhibit at the medieval castle, Moy Mull, where Maud lives; Riley becomes involved in a locked room mystery with layers of twists revealing in the author’s plot.

Skillfully using eclectic characters and clever clues, Author Allen dishes up a cool plot with a hard-to-figure-out killer and surprising twists and turns. I was impressed as the different suspects were brought front and center in scenes, then shuffled around as their alibis led away from the main murder mystery; however, there is more than one mystery at stake in “Mint Chocolate Murder.” Riley and her employees are fun and likable. Cozying up the storyline are two cats, Rocky—Riley’s rescue, and Sprinkles—Caroline’s diva cat who provides humor in the story! There are great ending action scenes, plus all loose ends to the mysteries are wrapped up nicely. I highly recommend this cozy mystery.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

September has fallen, and the crowds have dropped off from their summer peak at Udder Delicious, but manager Riley Rhodes is finding life isn’t slowing down yet thanks to the art festival that former supermodel Maude Monico is hosting at the castle she’s purchased just outside of town. Riley is catering the opening night ice cream social, and that allows her to observe the weekend’s guest of honor, Adam Blasco, a controversial photographer. He fails to show up for his talk the next day, and he is soon found dead, locked in the castle’s former dungeon. Now Riley has to figure out not only how he came to be there, but who wanted him dead.

Yes, there is a reason that this castle (and a Scottish castle at that) is in the middle of Connecticut. That adds a fun layer to this mystery, but it does require a bit of set up at the beginning. Between that and meeting the victim and suspects, we are able to ease into the story. Since we have a locked room puzzle and in addition to figuring out who the killer is, there is plenty to keep us engaged, and the pages flew by until I reached the end. I enjoyed meeting the characters last year, and they were just as charming here. Meanwhile, the suspects were strong. While there actually isn’t much mention of mint chocolate here (a favorite flavor of mine), pumpkin spice proves to be a popular ice cream flavor in the story, and we get a recipe for it in the end. Whether you love ice cream or not, you’ll find this book a delicious sequel that you’ll enjoy.

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop cozy mystery series by Meri Allen this latest installment was as delightful as the first where we met Riley, the manager of the ice cream shop in a small New England town. Riley‘s former job was with the CIA as a librarian but that is a secret that no one knows and helps Riley investigate. While catering an ice cream social at a local artist retreat Riley stumbles across the dead body of the featured photographer. Not a well liked person, and with mini guests at the event, there is no shortage of suspects for this crime. Though the local police are investigating Riley fears they are focusing on the wrong person, a young man close to Riley.

I enjoyed the story very much and was kept guessing all the way to the end. It was a fun, light read and I enjoyed the wide cast of characters. There are also a couple of cats who try to steal the show. You can’t go wrong with ice cream and cats! I recommend this book highly for lovers of cozy mysteries. It promises to be A very entertaining series.

A foodie mystery prominently featuring a delectable selection of ice creams makes this a perfect summer/beach read. All the flavours sound scrumptious, so be prepared to have some ice cream cravings while reading.

Ultimately, this book put a big smile on my face. The town and cast of characters of Penniman, Connecticut stuck in my mind and I kept catching myself thinking throughout the day how I wanted to check into this world and immerse myself back into this world.

While this is the second book in the You don’t need to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one. That being said, I’m definitely going to check out the first one because I want to hear more about Riley history as a CIA librarian and how she came to be the manager of an ice cream shop.

Plus, who can resist a book that has hilarious cat characters and includes a little recipe at the end! You best believe I had to read this book with some mint chocolate ice cream in hand (which also happens to be my favourite flavour).

Mint Chocolate Murder is book two in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I did like the first book a little more, but this one was pretty good. There were a couple aspects keeping it from a 4 star read for me. I loved the mystery and had no idea who the culprit was until the end. I loved the castle setting, meeting new characters, and learning a bit more about Riley's past. The one thing that bothers me the most is the title. I like it to tie into the story, but this book mentioned pumpkin spice ice cream so many times that I think a different title would have suited it better. (There was no mention of Mint Chocolate ice cream at all.) Overall, it's a decent series, but I won't be in a hurry to pick up the next.

This was my first book I read in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by Meri Allen and it was such an enjoyable experience. There were castles, interesting and quirky characters, humour and of course, ice cream.

The second book of the series, Mint Chocolate Murder finds ice cream shop manager Riley hired to cater an art show at the town’s castle owned by a former supermodel and widow to a royal. Unfortunately, the main photographer who’s work was being celebrated is found dead the next day in the castle’s dungeon, and Riley’s friend is the main suspect.

Riley getting involved with the help of some nosey neighbours provided a revelry in the plot and the pace of the mystery was perfect. Although I figured out who the killer was probably mid-way through the novel, the little nuggets of clues throughout the story, along with the red herrings made this a fun cozy mystery.

But where was the mint chocolate chip ice cream in the book? My favourite ice cream flavour was a missing element and it would have been natural to assume that that would have been included in the story. There were a lot of references to pumpkin spice ice cream so my only criticism would have been the title changed to reflect that. Other than that, this series has some of the best cover art, though!

Thank you St. Martin’s press for the arc and finished copy. Thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fun mystery novel that kept me guessing until the end! The book setting was unique and added some great twists to the story. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with one another. I wasn’t really sure about the cat storyline and it felt a bit unnecessary. Riley is very clever and I was rooting for her to solve the crime! The ice cream flavors sounded delicious and made me want a scoop for myself! Perfect for a quick summer read!

This is a quite sweet (pun intended!) cozy mystery that is a pleasant read. I found the overall story and all the characters a little messy and convoluted, often having to re-read sections thinking I missed something. I enjoyed the creative ice creams, and the overall creatives that run throughout this book. Its quite fun and lighthearted, which fits the cozy mystery genre very well. I liked Riley, her character was unexpected to me and found her quite quick and smart. Overall this was a good read!

After reading this book I want all the ice cream!

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series my Meri Allen, and just like the first the story it combines mystery, humor, and ice cream to create a great story with an amusing cast of characters.

Riley is summoned to Moy Mull, a castle in Penniman. Maud wants Riley to create flavors unique to a celebration Maud is hosting for the art gallery being hosted at the castle. When Maud's friend Adam is found dead, there are many possibilities of who could have killed him. The problem is Adam was killed behind a locked door, so the possibilities are narrowed even more. Or are they?

This story takes many twists and turns and left me guessing. I love this series and cannot wait for the next one.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All views are simply my honest opinion.

MINT CHOCOLATE MURDER by Meri Allen
The Second Ice Cream Shop Mystery

Autumn may have arrived in Penniman, Connecticut, but the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop is still doing brisk business. Riley Rhodes, shop manager, is also joining forces with caterer Bitsy Bittman to provide ice cream for the Fall Arts Festival at Moy Mull Castle. Maud Monaco, the former super model who owns the castle, has brought controversial photographer Adam Blasco in as the featured artist. His edgy photography is not everyone's cup of tea and neither is the man himself. Missing his own presentation the second day, the errant artist is eventually found dead, in the locked dungeon. Was it an accident or murder?

A pretentious artist whose predilections are even more heinous is ripe to be murdered and we have a unique method in the second Ice Cream Shop Mystery. We also have a great setting within the charming Penniman environs. Moy Mull Castle and its grounds provide atmosphere and history too. What better place for a murder victim to be found than a dungeon? Rather fitting as well.

I enjoyed meeting the new characters and getting to know those from the previous book better. I commiserated with Caroline over Sprinkles behavior, laughing at the exit of the cat therapist while picturing my own Calumet doing something similar. Sigh.

MINT CHOCOLATE MURDER serves up a delicious mystery sprinkled with colorful characters, funny moments, and mouthwatering ice cream.

Cute story and keeps the reader entertained. Riley is a former librarian for the CIA and she seems to be in the right place at the right time to solve a murder. A famous photographer Adam is murdered and she is on the hunt for who did it and why.

How does a award winning photographer die behind a locked dungeon door? Riley Rhodes, manager of Utterly Delightful Ice Cream, is on the case. Hired to provide ice cream treats and flavors for the Fall Art Festival at Moy Mull Castle, Riley's former CIA librarian's mind must work out who wanted him dead. With too many suspects and not much time, Riley must find out how someone got into the locked dungeon, killed Adam, and got out without leaving a clue.
This series is so much fun. Throwing ice cream and mystery together makes for a great tub of deliciousness. I love reading about the different flavors offered at the Ice Cream Shop. Riley and her crew are so relatable and would make working with them entertaining. The Castle became an integrate part of the story with its secrets. Who wouldn't want to explore passages, rooms, nooks and crannies? Although not sure why it was called Mint Chocolate Murder since Pumpkin Spice was the flavor of the story, I look forward to the next installment. What will Riley be investigating and inventing next? I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

This is book 2 of the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries. When Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle, she's curious, but thinks this is a great opportunity for her and the shop. Maud hires Riley to whip up a bunch of special ice cream treats to celebrate the art opening of Adam Blasco. When Adam turns up dead, Riley has to figure out who did it and discover the dark past of the murdered man.

Min Chocolate Chip Murder was a delight! Better than an ice cream on a hot summer day! This time Riley has an ice cream catering gig at a castle. Doesn’t that sound divine? Everything is going well until a photographer mysteriously dies in a locked room. Riley isn’t fooled and starts investigating this perfect crime.

This book was sweet and made me crave ice cream! I was actually surprised by the twist ending which is a bonus!

Mint Chocolate Murder, the second book in the Ice Cream Shop mystery series by Meri Allen/Shari Randall was released yesterday. Main character Riley Rhodes, CIA librarian and now ice cream shop manager, doesn’t just solve one mystery in this book, she solves three. All of which were satisfying for the reader and also reminding us that in every crime there are more victims than perpetrators.

I love Meri’s/Shari’s secondary characters, and in this volume, another secondary character came to life that seemed worthy of more appearances, but we’ll see if that comes about in further books.

Please congratulate Meri Allen/and WWK blogger, Shari Randall on the publication of this very relaxing and intriguing read!
E. B. Davis


Thanks so much for interviewing me, E.B. I always enjoy our chats.
Rocky doesn’t sleuth with Riley in this book. Why is Rocky on the outs with Riley? Rocky has just been neutered and has had to suffer the indignity of wearing the cone, so he’s not happy with Riley at all. Plus the other cat in the house, Sprinkles, has been acting out, and Rocky wants to escape the drama.

Is the title of this book a red herring? Why not Pumpkin Spice Murder? I’d originally titled this book The Cold Art of Murder, but the publisher decided to go with flavor names and loved the alliteration of Mint Chocolate Murder. All the references to Pumpkin Spice grew out of the character’s dialogue – so many people are obsessed with the flavor it becomes a running joke, but it didn’t play a role in the plot.

When people meet Riley and know she’s the manager of Udderly Delicious Ice Cream shop, what do they say to her? Everyone greets Riley by announcing their favorite flavor. She’s gotten used to it and enjoys it – it shows how much she’s been embraced by the Penniman community.

Prentiss Love is a likeable character. Will he stay as a secondary character? Everyone loves Prentiss! Isn’t he wonderful? I want him for a best friend. I promise to never kill him off.

Riley brings custom ice cream for the event at Moy Mull: Cherry Vanilla with Luxardo cherries poached in bourbon and cinnamon; Rhubarb Crumble, Pumpkin Spice, Amaretto laced with bitter chocolate with almond biscotti crumble; Pear and Stilton, and Unicorn—a bubble gum flavor. What are Luxardo cherries? What does Riley have against Pumpkin Spice? She’s selling a ton of it. Luxardo cherries are a special type of cherry preserved in a liquor made by processing the pits, leaves, and stems of Marasca cherries. This gives them a touch of flavor similar to amaretto or almond. It’s a far cry from a typical maraschino cherry. Riley’s pumpkin spice ice cream is so popular that she spends a lot of time making it, time she’d like to spend sleuthing!

What is cranachan? What is Riley’s take on it? How is the word pronounced? Cranachan (CRAN-a-kan) is a traditional and decadent Scottish dessert, similar to a trifle, that layers raspberries, cream, and toasted oats (that can first be soaked in whisky). Honey -- heather honey if you can find it -- is incorporated in the cream. Riley first encountered the dessert in a snug pub near Edinburgh Castle, and makes her own version for a very special Scottish themed dinner at the art colony’s castle.

How are ice cream rosettes made? It’s easy? I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard the key is keeping it cold. Here’s a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxvT63vULqg


Why does Sprinkles, the former pedigree show cat, need therapy? How does she flunk therapy? Let’s just say that Sprinkles is having trouble adjusting to all the changes on the farm and at the ice cream shop. Sprinkles feels rejected and Riley and her best friend, Caroline Spooner, are eager to try anything to get Sprinkles out of her funk. The scene with the therapist was a hoot to write!

How does culinary-grade heather taste? Where do you get it? Is it pretty? You can buy it from specialty culinary shops online. It’s light purple and has a flavor similar to chamomile.

Due to her failed CIA assignment with the culprit, Paolo, Riley second guesses her instincts. Understandable, but at the end of her assessment, Riley knows she didn’t misread Paolo, she fooled herself into believing in him. Why did Riley do that? Riley, who is usually so level headed, was swept off her feet by the handsome and magnetic Paolo. I think the romance of Italy probably played a part, too.

Is the allure of genius what attracts fans and groupies? Does it apply to artists as well as tech/business tycoons? This is such a good question. Many books have been written by people who fell under the spell of a “genius” (thinking of Loving Frank about Frank Lloyd Wright, Pablo Picasso, Hemingway). Who can understand what attracts one person to another? Frankly I’d run as far away from Adam Blasco, the odious “genius” photographer in Mint Chocolate Murder, as I could, but somehow many models flocked to him.

What flavor is Bloody Mess ice cream, and why is that its name? A fun subplot in the book is the arc with Brandon Terwilliger, one of Riley’s teenage employees. Brandon creates flavors that baffle Riley and the other adults at Udderly, but prove to be hugely successful with Penniman teenagers because it becomes a dare to eat them. Bloody Mess incorporates coconut ice cream, white chocolate covered pretzel pieces, raspberry jam, and marshmallows. His creations prove the wisdom of the old saying “to each his own.”

Flo and Gerri are opposite, but they also have common interests. How do they differ and what do they share? Sisters Flo and Gerri are retired educators (Flo Kindergarten and Gerri a high school principal), work part time at Udderly Delicious, and are knowledgeable genealogists, so much so that they’re referred to (behind Gerri’s back) as the Graver Girls. Apart from these similarities, they couldn’t be more different. Flo is a sunny free spirit who prefers bright primary colors, and Gerri a battle axe who is president of every club in Penniman and favors jewel toned, dramatic clothes and accessories.

What is a Gretna Green marriage? In the 1700s, laws regarding marriage in England were tightened to require couples to be 21 and marry in a church. In Scotland, the law required only that the couple declare themselves free to marry and undergo a less formal ceremony called “handfasting.” Gretna Green is a small Scottish town right over the border with England where many of these so-called “runaway” marriages took place.

Riley considers Tilly, the police dispatcher, the devil. Why? Riley considers her relationship with Tilly O’Malley, the police station secretary, a devil’s bargain. Riley knows that for every tidbit of inside information she gets from Tilly over tea at Lily’s Tearoom, she’ll have to give something back to “the loosest lips in Penniman.”

A pamphlet at the castle “The Story of the Weeping Lady” was written by S. W. Randall. Did you ever write such a thing? I did so much work researching haunted Scottish castles, I decided to treat myself to a cameo appearance in the book!

How did Riley train to read text in any direction? Can you do that? I can. I’ve heard of several other writers who can read upside down text, too. Riley has found this particular small talent useful.

I was surprised to learn that color photography started in the 1890s. Why did it take so long for it to be mainstream? Inventors had long understood the science of color and light, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that a process was developed that made color photography commercially possible – possible but still cumbersome and extremely expensive. Before that, photographs were hand tinted by miniaturists.

When Sprinkles has a temper tantrum, she really is vindictive, isn’t she? Sprinkles has such a, shall we say, operatic personality? She’s so much fun to write.

If someone is in this country on a work visa, can they really be thrown out just by being questioned during a police investigation? Not for being questioned, but being convicted of any crime will put their immigration status in jeopardy. Luca, the student beekeeper, is working on the farm and is very attached to Willow Brightwood. Riley cares deeply for both Willow and Luca, and is driven to help prove Luca’s innocence.

What is a Morganatic marriage? How do you know this stuff? Nothing like falling down the genealogy rabbit hole! Throughout history, royals have fallen in love with and wanted to marry commoners. Their families and royal courtiers didn’t want any real power to transfer to these spouses, but a caring royal could give a commoner spouse substantial gifts of real estate or jewelry in order to give them financial security. This gift would traditionally be given the morning after the wedding (“morgen” in German).

Is there a word for a woman bigamist? Not that I know of. Readers? Actually, I think there’s been a movement toward a gender-free use of the word “bigamist,” though it is more common for men to marry while still legally tied to a female spouse.

Was it fun writing this book? Absolutely! I’ve been eager to write a locked door mystery, and to incorporate a mystery in a castle. One of my favorite places is Gillette’s Castle in East Haddam, Connecticut, and it was my model for Moy Mull. Also, developing recipes and treats for a fantasy ice cream social was a dream come true.

What’s next for Riley? I just wrapped the third, as yet untitled Ice Cream Shop mystery. Riley’s next adventure will take place at a historic inn on the Penniman Green, during a Halloween-themed wedding. I can’t wait for you to read it.

If you will allow Poirot to offer you a piece of wise advice: the pursuit of revenge is rarely a good idea.

Another murderous visit to Penniman and Udderly Delicious Ice Cream shop run my former CIA librarian Riley Rhodes. We venture up to Moy Mull Castle, now an artist retreat, owned and operated by America’s Princess Maud. When Maud’s ex husband ends up dead in the dungeon Riley’s former operator’s cap goes back on before a new friend of hers can be framed for murder. Thoroughly enjoyable!

This is a great summer read. There’s an artist’s festival, ice cream, a murder mystery, and numerous suspects involved. Meri Allen’s writing reminds me of Joanne Fluke, because she keeps you guessing and wondering right up to the suspenseful end when the killer is finally revealed. And best of all, it’s a cozy mystery so there are no gory details.
I received a copy of this story to read and give my honest review.

Maud Monaco, a former supermodel, has turned Moy Mull, into an artist colony with state-of-the-art security.
The castle, built by Ben Clitheroe, a Gilded Age millionaire so enamored of Scotland, he imported both materials and craftspeople to complete what some called “Clitheroe’s Folly.”

With the annual arts festival approaching, Maud hires Riley, manager of the ice cream shop Udderly Delightful, to create delectable treats for the opening reception of an exhibit by photographer Adam Blasco, whose disturbing images of women seem to reflect the rumors that he becomes obsessed with his models. When Adam fails to show up at a lecture the next morning, they find him dead, locked in the castle’s dungeon—with the security tapes showing no one but him going inside the room.

Riley, a former librarian with the CIA, can’t help but ask questions, finding that almost everyone staying at the castle that night had a motive to kill Adam. Her queries take her to the earliest days of the castle as she enlists the help of the Penniman Historical Society. Her research reveals the keys to more than one crime.

Riley is a likable main character, and though she’s an amateur sleuth, her background gives her a reason to be interested in mysteries and skills to contribute to investigations. Small town Penniman with leaf peepers and locals obsessed with pumpkin spice ice cream is a charming setting, and I enjoyed the secondary characters, including Sprinkles, the destructive cat who was booted from the cat show circuit.

Although there is no issue reading this as a stand-alone , I wished I’d read the first book in the series to have a better understanding of the characters. I liked that there wasn’t a lot of romance in the book. But Adam’s body wasn’t found until about a quarter into the book, and I wish that the scene-setting had been condensed. Conversely, the ending felt a little rushed. Overall, I thought this was a fun cozy mystery, enjoyed the castle scenes, and was hungry for ice cream the entire time I was reading. Includes recipe for no-churn pumpkin spice ice cream.

What a fun and Udderly Delightful cozy mystery. Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing whodunit. I enjoyed meeting Riley and the other characters at the ice cream shop. They seem interesting and like people I'd want to know. And Sprinkles the diva cat is a hoot!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Not sure why the title has Mint Chocolate in it when it seems like the Pumpkin Spice was the flavour of the month in this story. Riley is hired to provide ice cream at a pseudo Scottish castle. The guest of honour is a rather nasty photographer who has a thing for young and innocent girls. Maud, the ex-model, was one of the first and he may have set his sights on the next one, much to the chagrin of the current one. The fact that he is murdered is no mystery. The means with which he was murdered and how that murder was executed however are. Death by bee venom is not unexpected when the victim is highly allergic. But he is in a locked dungeon in the bowels of the castle when it occurs.

There are lots of good suspects from both Maud’s camp of followers and his own camp of followers. Riley cannot resist a locked door murder and she does figure out the motive and the means. It does take her into some very dark and scary places. But no scarier than trying to handle Sprinkles, the spoiled psycho cat who belonged to the deceased mother of Riley’s best friend and room-mate. But it turns out that Vye, one of the suspects, has the special torch that turns Sprinkles from a maniac to a princess..

This is a series that is quite delicious although some of the ice cream flavours they come up with are a bit too daring for my tastes. Still, it is good summer reading. Four purrs and two paws up.

Typical cozy - a quick read. The hook is that main character, Riley Rhodes, manages an ice cream shop, so there is lots of discussion about ice cream.

There’s some fun characters - Maud Monaco, Riley (the main character) - and a few twists in the plot. I liked the inclusion of the room that was impossible to get a cell signal in. My one complaint is that it was set in the fall, and I read it during the spring when I’m not thinking of pumpkin flavors.

Recommended.I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and voluntarily chose to review.

Riley Rhodes is back to investigating in Mint Chocolate Murder, the second book in Meri Allen's Ice Cream Shop Mysteries.
Fall is here and Riley is still happily managing her friend Caroline's ice cream shop Udderly Delicious in the scenic destination town of Penniman, Connecticut.
Riley is busy creating new ice cream flavors for an event at Moy Mull, a Scottish Castle that has been converted into an art colony by former supermodel Maud Monaco.

The author spends time developing the new characters and the history of Moy Mull which cleverly sets the scene for the mystery. I love a good gothic castle setting, even when its a reproduction built in the Connecticut countryside. It's no surprise when an unlikable character is found murdered, but I never guessed the correct culprit until close to the end.
Riley's past working in research for the CIA makes it easy to believe she'd be unable to resist investigating a local crime and unearthing every possible secret of the list of suspects.

Much like Riley's ice cream flavors, there are so may layers to the mysteries in this series. We learn about the castle of Moy Mull and its various secrets, the artists who occupy the retreat and their careers in photography and modeling. Beekeeping also plays a role in the story.
I enjoyed the depth and detail in the story, and felt as if it still moved at a satisfying pace.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an advance ebook copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for review.
All opinions are my own.

Riley Rhodes is creating unique ice cream flavors for an event at Moy Mull Castle owned by Maud Monaco, a former model. As part of the Moy Mull Arts Festival, there will be an ice cream social. Maud is also featuring Avant Garde photographer, Adam Blasco at the festival. When it is time for Adam’s talk on the first day of the festival, he is MIA. Adam is later found dead in the castle’s locked dungeon. Riley can think of several individuals who were disgruntled with the insufferable photographer. Unfortunately, one of the suspects is Willow’s boyfriend, Luca. Riley dons her sleuthing cap and works to expose the killer. Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen is the second novel in An Ice Cream Shop Mysteries. It can be a standalone if you have not read The Rocky Road to Ruin. I like Riley Rhodes who is a former CIA librarian (and spy) who now managing Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop in Penniman, Connecticut. Riley creates ice cream flavors that have lines out the door at the ice cream shop. The setting of Moy Mull Castle is unique. An eccentric millionaire recreated a medieval castle in Connecticut. It was a hotel for a time. Maud has brought back the Scottish charm and the antiques found in the attic. The festival seemed like it was fun with plenty of delicious treats. I did feel the pacing was slow. We follow Riley through her day-to-day routine leading up to the festival. The author’s detailed descriptions further bog down the story (do we have to know what each person is wearing along with hair color). The murder does not occur until almost a quarter of the way into the book. By the time the victim was killed, I already knew who would die and who committed the crime. I am baffled as to how the title tied into the story. Mint chocolate ice cream is not a flavor mentioned in the book (pumpkin spice is mentioned several times). There are a number of characters in the story. It is challenging trying to keep track of all of them (just like in the first book). There are delectable ice cream flavors including the colorful unicorn ice cream (you will find yourself heading to the freezer for a pint). Mint Chocolate Murder is a colorful cozy with a fun fall festival, a modish ex-model, a disrespectful photographer, appetizing ice cream, a curious crime, a striking castle, and a sharp-eyed sleuthing librarian.

Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen is the second in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. Riley Rhodes, former CIA asset and librarian, is now the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop in Penniman, a small New England town. When reclusive, former model Maud Monaco want to create a fantasy ice cream social at her summer art festival on the grounds of her home, Moy Mull Castle, Riley is thrilled to have her handmade specialty ice cream feature. When the featured artist Adam Blasco, a photographer with a darkside, is murdered, Riley can’t help but delve into the locked room mystery.

I found this mystery well-plotted and complex, with many characters and red herrings that kept me changing my mind about the identity of the murderer. The locked room aspect was intriguing and the bits of information about beekeeping very interesting. I wish that Caroline and Jack had factored into the storyline more and, as others have said, I couldn’t figure out what the title had to do with the story. Pumpkin spice was talked about constantly but to my knowledge mint chocolate was never mention. So the title was a miss for me. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). Overall, a solid entry for this series.

When a world famous photographer is murdered at a local castle/arts colony, former CIA agent and current ice cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is thrown into the midst of things as she tries to discovered the culprit as well as solve the disappearance of the former owner's wife. Another fun Ice Cream Shop Mystery from cozy author Meri Allen (aka Shari Randall), Mint Chocolate Murder was a refreshing treat to read on a hot summer's day! A+++

Mint Chocolate Murder is fun escape. A small New England town with a glamorous model turned philanthropist living in a castle/estate hires Riley, the amateur sleuth and ice cream entrepreneur, to craft specialty desserts for her artist retreat event. Meri Allen takes us to Maine and a fascinating home full of delicious treats. An exploitative photographer is found murdered in a locked room.

Riley turns out to have retired from the CIA. Her investigative skills help her to uncover clues that even the police couldn't find. She is daring, unafraid and creative in her investigation. Mint Chocolate Murder is full of pumpkin spice ice cream and a delightful murder mystery!

What do you get when you have ice cream, a castle, and a former CIA Librarian??? You have a good time, that’s what you do.

I had another great time with Riley and her sleuthing ways. We were introduced to a few new characters that hope to see again and of course the diva, Sprinkles, upstages everyone.

Although a Cozy Mystery, I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys the more soft boiled side of the mystery genre.

This is a perfect series, whether you are in the heat, with your favorite ice cream, or curled up with a blanket and a cuppa, you will not be disappointed.

Creating delicious new ice cream flavors for a catered party is atop Riley Rhodes list of Riley favorite things. Unfortunately there are undercurrents and tensions tarnishing the event, especially when a body is found the next morning. A lively cozy, full of well drawn characters. An captivating addition to the series.

Thank you to Meri and St. Martin’s for an advance copy of Mint Chocolate Murder.

The second book in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series picks up with Riley Rhodes and her successful ice cream shop, Udderly Delightful, being featured at an art festival held at the historic Moy Mull Castle. The owner of the castle, Maud, has invited high profile artists and art gurus to celebrate a new exhibit by Adam Blasco, a photographer who is as talented as he is obnoxious. But once Adam turns up dead, Riley can’t help getting herself involved in another murder mystery, knowing there are several people (the mistress of the castle included) who could’ve wanted Adam taken out.

One of my favorite things about cozies is that you can just hop in anywhere and feel right at home. I have not read the first book in this series (and now having read the second, I can’t say I will go read the first, but I will definitely keep an eye out for subsequent installments) but I easily connected to the characters and had the impression that I have known them for years.

I love books that feature art and I love cozies centered around food, so when I was offered an arc of this one, I couldn’t pass it up. I was not disappointed. Riley is lovable, as well as most of the side characters – although I don’t feel as though I got to know most of whom I would assume will be recurring faces very well I did enjoy meeting them and want to learn more about them going forward.

I thought the setting was unique – most ‘shop’ mysteries center directly around the shop itself, but the castle setting was a nice change up that offered something different than we typically see in cozies. I did find it a little strange that the title referred to mint chocolate, but the core flavor of the story was pumpkin spice 🤔 However, it didn’t bother me or turn me off from the story. Truth be told, I don’t care for mint chocolate chip ice cream anyway!

I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to finish this book, the second in a new-to-me cozy mystery series, but the story picked up about halfway through, and then I enjoyed it enough to finish it. The story takes place in a small town in Connecticut, and the main character, Riley Rhodes, is back in her home town, running the local ice cream shop. It seems she’s there temporarily, helping out her friend whose mother had recently died and left everything to the friend. Riley is on leave from her job as a librarian for the CIA and a sometime operative - it’s not made clear exactly why she’s on leave, but it has something to do with a “job” gone wrong in Italy. Perhaps it’s explained better in the first book, which I haven’t read. At any rate, the book felt really slow to me, with the murder not even happening until quite a ways into the book. The author spent too much time describing the decor of everything and what everyone was wearing, which slowed down the pace for me. I wound up skimming some of that and it didn’t seem to impact the mystery aspect at all. Essentially we have a locked-room mystery and the solution is pretty clever. Riley does some things that I hate about amateur sleuths, including being overly nosy and putting herself in danger.

There’s very little about the ice cream shop in this book, with most of the action taking place in a nearby castle, one that was built by bringing over stones from former castles in Scotland. In addition to the murder, there’s a subplot about a series of thefts.

I’m a former runner (injuries!) and I found it extremely annoying that the author kept calling Riley’s running “jogging.” For runners, that’s a bugaboo; most people won’t care. On the positive side, I loved the two cats, one of whom, Sprinkles, is a haughty former show cat and her antics are pretty funny.

I’m still puzzled about why the title of the book is Mint Chocolate Murder, as there is absolutely nothing in the book about mint chocolate! Perhaps it should have been called something like Pumpkin Spice Surprise, because there’s a lot of talk about pumpkin spice ice cream.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The setting just added so much to the story. There were a good amount of characters/suspects to keep you guessing. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

Riley Rhodes cannot believe her luck - she is getting to cater a fancy to-do at Moy Mull, her small town's art colony. As part of the festivities, renowned photographer Adam Blasco will be showcasing his newest work. As with the usual cliche of artists, Adam is aloof, rude and somewhat of a loner. Unfortunately, his abrasive personality catches up with him and he gets killed. In a castle dungeon no less.

While the authorities are thinking natural causes, Riley suspects foul play.

Fall flavors abound in this delicious installment of the ice cream shop mysteries. I am always disappointed when these end and I have to wait for the next. Hopefully it won't be too long!

This was a fun book and makes me want to read the first one as well. Riley has the opportunity to provide fancy ice cream treats for an art show at the famous Penniman Moy Mull castle. The host is a well-know model named Maud and the photographer is Maud's ex-husband. Things take a wrong turn when the photographer is found dead in a locked room--the dungeon.

This book was very entertaining and easy-to-read. I love the animals as well. This story kept my attention and was such a nice escape.

Just finished reading the second book and the ice cream shop mystery series by Meri Allen and have to say I loved loved loved it. I loved how Riley and her local friends do their own sleuth thing to solve the murder of a local photographer, loved how the barn cats Sprinkles and Rocky get into various antics around the farm and enjoyed the mystery itself that left me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend to all ice cream fans and cozy mystery fanatics.

Having not read the first book in this series I was worried I'd feel left out. Instead, I was delighted by the sweet town charm and eccentric characters. This was a fun, cozy, mystery that kept you guessing until the end. Im excited for the next book in the series.

In short: Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop is asked to create several signature flavors for Moy Mull’s Fall Art Festival, which is featuring the photography of Adam Blasco. By the end of the festival, he is found dead in the castles dungeon.

What I liked:
🍦The main character Riley. She’s a former CIA librarian turner ice cream shop manager. I love that she’s so inquisitive.
🍦All the ice cream flavors. So creative! “Cherry vanilla with Luxardo cherries poached in bourbon and cinnamon” Yum! Serve me some.
🍦The secondary characters, especially those at the castle like Luca, Maude, Vye. Fascinating, quirky and compelling.
🍦The mystery from a victim who was not like able to all the suspects in a locked room environment to the ties to the past.

Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this book, the castle setting and more glimpses into Riley’s past. The only thing I wish were different is the book title. There is nothing to do with mint chocolate and it really should have been called Pumpkin Spice Murder.

Ice cream! Castles! Murder! All can be found in Mint Chocolate Murder. Who can ask for anything more? A nice addition to the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series starring former CIA Librarian Riley.
Riley and her friends are helping to cater a dinner at the castle for a brooding, mean, well-known photographer. You’re probably way ahead of me here, but a murder does occur at the castle. The real question is how? The victim was in a room where there is only one key and the door cannot be accessed, in or out, without it.
A nicely paced story worth the read if you’re a cozy person like me. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the digital copy of this ARC.. All opinions are my own. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page..

The second in this fun mystery series. I like Riley and the ice cream shop she runs in the quaint New England town of Penniman. The supporting characters (especially the cats!) ;-) are fun and the mystery was good and had a few twists that kept me guessing. If I have one complaint about this cozy mystery, it's the title. Call me picky but if you are going to title a book after an ice cream flavor, said flavor should at least be mentioned in the book. Instead, the flavor mentioned most often including in a recipe in the back was Pumpkin Spice (and I loathe pumpkin spice). Otherwise, it's a light fun read and I suggest you start with the first, The Rocky Road to Ruin.

This was such a fun cozy mystery! It had a great mystery at its core, which is always important! Added to that, it had a great cast of characters with a fantastic setting and ice cream!!! I’m really looking forward to more in this series.

Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen
I have recently concluded that I don’t like cozies as much as I used to but this one was really good. I have not read the first book in this series so it took a bit to figure out who all the characters were. There seems to be a small town full of people the reader needs to know and I must admit that once in a while I had to stop and think about how someone fit in. But it really wasn’t a major issue.
I had someone else pegged for the murderer even though there was kind of a big clue early on so that was my fault. Still it was an enjoyable story and I like the cats. There seems to be a bit of an upcoming romance and that is okay too. The little mystery from a hundred-ish years ago was not a big surprise but it made a good little side story.
I might go back and read the first book but the TBR list is already pretty long. I have to agree with the person who said that mint chocolate ice cream doesn’t really figure into the story but the title is alliterative and frequently it’s the publisher and not the author who makes that kind of decision.
Thanks to Netgalley.

Riley Rhodes, formerly a CIA librarian, has settled in Penniman, CT and is running the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop…and she has scored a summer coup. Former supermodel Maud Monaco now owns Penniman’s Moy Mull castle, built by a Gilded Age millionaire. It’s an authentic Scottish castle, but Maud has transformed and repurposed it into an arts colony and is hosting a Fall Arts Festival. Udderly has been tapped to provide the unique treats for an ice cream social. Riley is looking forward to the festivities and the publicity for Udderly.

Things are going great until Adam Blasco, who has a featured exhibition at the festival and a complicated history with Maud, turns up dead. Blasco has made many enemies along his path to fame and there are plenty of suspects to choose from.

Riley gets involved and finds herself in real danger when she comes face to face with the killer, who has no qualms about killing again.

Author Meri Allen has created an interesting cast of characters, a mystery with plenty of twist, turns and suspects enough to keep you turning the pages to see if you’ve figured out whodunit. And there’s even a no-churn ice cream recipe to tempt your taste buds. Although, given the book is set in the fall and Riley spends a lot of time making pumpkin spice ice cream, maybe the title should’ve been Pumpkin Spice Murder!

Thank you to St Martin's and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book! Apologies for the delay in sharing a review.

I enjoyed this mystery, though I think I preferred the first one and its world-building. The highlight of the book continued to be the inventive, delicious-sounding ice cream flavors, and my biggest complaint is that mint chocolate was not, to my recollection, one of the featured ones so I am confused about why it would be the title of the book.

Thanks so much to the author, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the gifted advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog

TW: murder, discussion of potentially predatory behavior

Y'all, is there anything better on a dreary day than a cozy mystery starring a former librarian? I really don't know that there is. There is just something about a cozy mystery this time of the year - especially one that talks about pumpkin spice ice cream as often as this one, and then gives you the recipe in the back of the book! I know what I'm doing on my next weekend.

This story was really fun, and a really easy mystery to jump into and feel invested in. It's got everything - eclectic characters, small town feel, cute pets, people who aren't all that they say they are, and a murder that ties them all together!

Overall I would absolutely recommend this book to folks who are looking for a cozy to help get them into the spirit of fall! But maybe stay away from it if you're afraid of bees. Lots of bees in this one. I would say that the best way to read this book would be somewhere where you can see the leaves changing, and with a hot glass of apple cider or mulled wine. Just really lean into the autumn breeze!

I really like this series. This plot was good and the characters were likeable. I look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was the first book I've read in this ice cream inspired mystery series, but I'm sure I'll be licking - I mean looking - up the first book in the series soon. Riley is hired to provide ice cream to two events at the local castle. When a murder happens, she is determined to find out how and why.

Things I liked a lot:
1. The descriptions of the ice cream and other food were fantastic. I loved all of the flavors and the mixtures
2. Riley isn't a clueless sleuth - she used to work for the CIA so she knows how to investigate.
3. The atmosphere at the castle was neat and I could picture it.
4. No love triangle!

Note: I kept waiting for mint chocolate chip ice cream (one of my favorites) to show up, but the only place it does is the title/cover. But pumpkin spice was a hit the rest of the book.

This is book 2 in the Ice Cream Shop cozy series and it can be read as a stand alone. Riley has be hired to create ice cream desserts for the local rich celebrity who is opening an art retreat in town. When the photographer Maud hires is found murdered the locals are all suspects. I like Riley and her rescue cat and her interaction with the small town locals who make her feel so welcome in the community. A good cozy with lots of suspects.

This book was a fun, and entertaining cozy mystery! I loved the characters and the storyline was interesting! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!

Riley Rhodes the proprietor of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop is summoned to Penniman's Moy Mull Castle. Riley and her best friend inherited the ice cream shop from her late mother and they enjoy running the shop. When Riley is contacted by Maud Monaco, a former model and a very wealthy one to provide dessert at a special exhibit at the medieval castle Riley is thrilled but things take a horrible turn when Riley becomes involved in a murder mystery that is like a locked room scenario.

This was such an enjoyable read that I could not put it down once I started and finished it in one sitting. It moves along at a pace which made for an easy and relaxing read. It has characters that you want to know better and you cannot help but love them, no matter what happens. The story will grab you and keep you reading until the end and then you are wanting more. This book needs to be on your TBR list, no doubt about it.

I thought this was a great cozy mystery, that I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

The humor in Meri Allen's writing style is instantly noted such as meeting Riley's dog as he's facing the "indignity" of a cone around his neck, following getting neutered. The writing is very playful in describing him as not having forgiven her yet. This tone continues throughout the story and contains fun details that create whimsical (and humorous) visuals such as Bitsy waving a spoon in a way that is compared to how a fairy godmother "would magick a pumpkin" and Sprinkles' high opinion of herself, thinking "every side is her good side." This type of style makes it very easy to get interested in this series, especially this early on. I predict a humorous and zany journey to come for Riley, and can't wait to read it all.

Book two in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries. This sequel had a fun setting and an intriguing case to solve.

The majority of this book takes place outside of the ice cream shop, Udderly Delight. Instead, it is set at a nearby estate that is made up of beautiful gardens, several quaint cottages and an elaborate castle that holds all sorts of hidden secrets. I enjoyed exploring this location. The mysteries surrounding this eccentric build definitely added to the murder case. Don’t worry, there is still plenty of chatter about frozen treats, especially Pumpkin Spice. Riley and her crew cater an ice cream social for the Princess of the estate, Maud Monaco.

The mystery part of the book was captivating and full of plausible suspects. I pegged the culprit early on and how they managed to get to the victim, even though the scene of the crime took place in a locked room environment! There were plenty of red herrings thrown in to make you second guess everyone’s motives. There was also a second side story involving the disappearance of an original resident of the estate. It tied into the big reveal perfectly at the end.

The furry felines, Sprinkles and Rocky definitely added some fun comedic relief and easily stole the scenes they appeared in. The book concluded with the author explaining how she was inspired by a ghostly Scottish legend. She also included a recipe for No Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream. I look forward to continuing this series with Fatal Fudge Swirl, set to publish this summer.