Chocolate Puppy Puzzle
A Chocoholic Mystery, No. 4

By JoAnna Carl

    The lakeside town of Warner Pier, Michigan has one traffic light. Each year on the Tuesday after Columbus Day the Warner Pier Street Department changes the light to a flashing yellow to signal the departure of the summer residents and the tourists. This year the town celebrates this event with RinkyDink, a fund raiser for the high school drama club. It is the idea of Maggie McNuttt, the high school speech and drama teacher. The merchants will contribute goods or services. The proceeds will help the drama club take students to the state competition.

  Lee McKinney, business manager of her aunt's Ten Huis Chocolate, is on her way to deposit a tray of their chocolate confections to the dessert table when she is almost knocked down by a chocolate Lab puppy who has escaped from his owner. The puppy is carrying a beat-up brown leather folder containing antique bills. The owner is revealed to be Aubrey Andrews Armstrong, claiming to be a Hollywood producer. He intends to make a movie based on the romantic novel written by local writer, Maia (Mae) Michaelson whose personality has changed dramatically since her novel was published. Armstrong charms the people of the town, promising parts in his movie and fame for the town. Lee is very suspicious of him and dubious of his intentions. When Maia's uncle, Silas, is found murdered Lee takes things into her own hands to find the murderer and to unmask Armstrong.

   This is a light-hearted quick read story of a small town and its town people. The atmosphere of a small community and its people are successfully evoked, portraying the undercurrents in their lives. The chocolate Labrador, Monte (named for Montezuma, the Aztec ruler who loved chocolate) is a delight with incidental hints included on how to train a puppy. The descriptions of the various chocolate confections are mouth watering, and will send the reader to the nearest candy counter. In addition to a well plotted, well written story there are numerous facts about chocolate that are edifying.

    A pleasant story with little violence, much intrigue and suspicion to help pass a few hours.