Another Review at MyShelf.Com

The Chocolate Falcon Fraud
Chocoholic Mystery #15
JoAnna Carl

Berkley Prime Crime
November 1, 2016/ ISBN 978-0-451-47381-3
Mystery/Cozy/Amateur Sleuth

Reviewed by Laura Hinds

 

Warner Pier, Michigan is hosting their Annual Film Festival, and this time, it is called Tough Guys and Private Eyes and features The Maltese Falcon. Lee Woodyard and her Aunt Nettie run TenHuis Chocolade, and they have had dark chocolate two-inch replicas made of the bird made famous by the film.

When Lee’s ex-husband’s son, Jeff Godfrey, arrives in town, she’s happy to see him. But when he vanishes while searching for memorabilia from the movie, and then events happen which seem to mimic the movie, Lee’s desperate to put the clues together and find her ex-stepson. Especially because a person is shot on her doorstep and falls dead on the porch right in front of her and her husband, Joe.

I love the twist of having a noir mystery movie within a cozy mystery book. As usual, Lee’s getting tongue-tied and mixing up her words is hilarious. It’s comforting to revisit characters from so many previous books, as well as be introduced to newcomers and visitors and try to figure out who the bad guys or gals are.

This was a really fast read for me, which is a good thing when time is limited, and you just have to know whodunnit. It is appropriate for teens on up and would be good for a book club.

There are several“Chocolate Chat” pages throughout the book. and within them are several yummy chocolate filled recipes. You might want to browse through the book before you read it and make sure you have the necessary ingredients for one or two on hand.

Reviewed 2016
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