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. ( )

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. ( )

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! ( )

Book #2 in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I have got to give it to Meri Allen, I had no idea who the killer was until that last clue was dropped. I love the idea of a Scottish Castle in Confection, Oregon. I also love how popular the ice cream shop flavors are becoming at events. I love Brandon's ice cream inventions, they sounds disgusting but my daughter would have ordered them for sure.

This is a fun and interesting mystery series and I am looking forward to reading more of these books in the future. ( )

"Mint Chocolate Murder" contains elements of both gothic and cozy mysteries. The gothic part includes rumors of weeping ghosts, secret passages, locked rooms, and disappearing wives. The cozy part revolves around the owner of an ice cream shop and her sleuthing to try to solve a mysterious death in a locked room. The ice cream treats sounded delightful, although there was no mention of the mint chocolate (found in the title). I had a hard time keeping up with the many different threads of mysteries, although some readers might like this kind of novel.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )