Customer Reviews

The Chocolate Cupid Killings: A Chocoholic Mystery

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Chocolate Cupid Killings was a quick read a nice update on the characters of Warner Pier. The mystery is more involved in this entry and there are a number of interesting side mysteries as well. Lee was likeable and kept the tongue twisters to a minimum; however, her husband, Joe was slightly irritating in this book. By the end of the book, I hardly cared what his secret was since I was so annoyed at how he excluded Lee. Overall, this isn't my favorite Chocoholic book, but I didn't have the mystery completely figured out until the very end and I still really enjoyed the book.

Lee McKinney Woodyard is the business manager of TenHuis Chocolade owned by her Aunt Nettie; who is harboring an abused woman in her home. Her friend Sara Jane Harding, owner of a B & BB, is involved in the underground railroad that helps women in danger of being killed by an abuser to obtain new identities, homes, and money in order to start over elsewhere. Currently Christina Meacham who uses the name Pamela Thompson is staying with the aunt and niece until they can find a place for her to begin anew.

Pamela's husband Harold ran a chop shop that had mob connections; he released his stress by beating her up. She testified against him in court leading to his sentencing of five years in prison. Now he is free and hunting his spouse. Private Detective Derrick Valentine visited TenHuis asking for Christina; Lee lies, but also knows her ward must leave town immediately. That night Nettie finds a dead Valentine near the dumpster; the women conclude Harold is involved. Pamela leaves town escorted by another woman on the railroad, an underground conductor, but when they assume they are finished with Christina, she returns.

Readers should not taste this amateur sleuth on an empty stomach because of the mouthwatering descriptions of chocolates, which lead to snacking. The plot is cleverly constructed with false leads and intriguing twists leaving the mystery unpredictable, plausible and entertaining. JoAnna Carl provides a terrific thriller.

Harriet Klausner

A fun, fast read, my first foray into this series. As with many "cozy mysteries" it is the characters, not the puzzles, that are center stage, and that is the case here. These are fun people, ones you would like to know. And once we learn we have all been misled, we feel a real kinship with them. I surely will want to sample another piece from this chocolate box in the future.

I have always enjoyed reading JoAnna Carl's books because they are not overly terrorizing and they are entertaining. She does a good job with character development and plot without being too wordy.

The Chocolate Cupid Killings is a chocolate mystery permeated with chocolate trivia and fun as it tells of Lee Woodyard, who finds her own liquer bottle was used as a murder weapon. Add in a romance for Lee and a P.I. determined to help her sand you have a fine story of intrigue and humor perfect for culinary mystery holdings.

I have read all of Joanna Carl's Chocoholic Mysteries. They are "sweet"
and satisfying. Lee is a likable heroine and her family and friends are
as well. The chocolate factoids sprinkled throughout her books are also
enjoyable. Curl up with these and a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy winter day.

This ninth offering in the Chocoholic Mystery series finds Lee McKinney Woodyard, owner of TenHuis Chocolade, up to her elbows in chocolate. She and her Aunt Nettie are also hiding an employee who is involved in a secret underground railroad-type organization that helps protect abused women.

Detective Derrick Valentine is hot on the trail of the missing woman. When he ends up dead on their back doorstep, Aunt Nettie is holding the murder weapon. Throw in a Detroit mobster, a sneaky CEO under investigation, secretive cops and husband or two, and you will find a fascinating tale.

When another body is found, Lee turns to online research to help her figure out who everyone is and what, really, is going on around town.

Fans of this series will not be disappointed. The writing is fast-paced with plenty of characters to keep track of. In the end, the ending is pretty much a surprise, and, as many of us know, family always sticks together.

The Chocolate Cupid Killings: A Chocoholic Mystery

JoAnna Carl has become one of my favorite authors and anxiously awaiting the next mystery. The character development from book to book in the series has grown and so has the interest in their lives. The stories never seem to disappoint and this was no exception.

I guess I'm in the minority so far. I just didn't care for this book. The characters just seemed so "out of character" and the whole story just dragged on forever. Hopefully, I'll like the next one better.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner at Warner Pier and the "hairnet ladies" of TenHuis Chocolade are busy making candy cupids and other delicious treats for the holiday. There is a new employee, Pam, working in the kitchen. A woman, Aunt Nettie has agreed to employ for the short time she will be in Warner Pier. Pam is being helped by an "underground railway" that assists abused women escape from their old lives and start over fresh away from their abuser.

A private investigator shows up with a grainy picture that looks like Pam, but both Lee and Aunt Nettie tell the investigator they have not seen her. After he leaves they realize Pam will have to be moved, secretly and quickly. Before the "underground railway" even has a chance to move her Aunt Nettie discovers a body in the alley behind the shop, and it seems he has been killed with an empty Amaretto bottle, that Nettie just happens to be holding when the police arrive.


Chocolate and cozy mysteries just go so good together!!! JoAnna Carl is an expert at writing them too. Once you start one of these stories you can't stop. There are swirls of more than just chocolate in these mysteries. There is intrigue and suspense twisting and turning throughout the whole adventure. The characters are lovable, relate-able, and sometimes truly funny. The setting is completely visible in your mind's eye, but while it makes me want to visit I definitely don't want to move there because Lee and Nettie are always stumbling into or on top some kind of crime that usually involves dead bodies. Fans of this series will be curled up eating bonbons and devouring this mystery.


This was a book from my private collection which was the hardcover edition. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."