A Midsummer Night’s Fudge (A Candy-Coated Mystery) by Nancy Coco #Review / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @nancyjcoco

This book will be released on Tuesday!

A Midsummer Night’s Fudge (A Candy-Coated Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
10th in Series
Setting – Mackinac Island, Michigan
Kensington Cozies (May 24, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496735536
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496735539
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09FFYSHTJ

After a summer celebration on Michigan’s Mackinac Island ends in murder, hotel and fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy puts on her sleuthing hat . . .
 
THERE’S NO SUGARCOATING A KILLER’S SCHEME
 
During the Midsummer Night’s Festival, Allie decides to take her bichonpoo, Mal, home to spare her furry little ears from the sounds of fireworks. But on her way back, Allie spots a body in the lake. Just minutes ago, Winona Higer was crowning the event’s Queen—could the competition have really been that deadly?

While she ponders the mystery the next morning, Allie prepares her favorite dark chocolate cherry fudge recipe. But she’s soon recruited to sub for the late Winona and serve as parade float judge, among other duties. As she hears rumors and gossip, and learns of mean pranks and threatening notes, her instincts kick in—despite her boyfriend the cop’s disapproval. Now, between managing a new hire and keeping the tourists filled with fudge, she’s dealing with a case that’s boiling over . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back on Mackinac Island just in time for the Midsummer Night’s Festival. There is a variety of events including an outside masquerade ball, a beauty pageant, a bonfire on the beach, plenty of food and drink plus a pig roast, with a fireworks finale.

Like most dogs, Mal is not a fan of fireworks so after the queen has been crowned with a bit of drama Allie takes her pup home. On her way back she sees a body floating in the lake, a woman wearing a white dress with rainbow hair. Allie dives in to save her but it is too late. Winona Higer, the woman in charge of the festival is dead.

Allie can’t get the woman’s death off her mind and is very surprised to be asked to fill Winona’s position on several committees. She realizes by taking her place she may get some information on who could have killed Winona so she accepts. Rex is not happy with her decision especially when he learns of some pranks and threatening notes. He doesn’t want Allie fudging up his investigation and he sure doesn’t want her to be a target for the killer.

It is always a pleasure to visit Mackinac Island and all the wonderful characters Nancy Coco has created. They are some of my cozy mystery favorites. Allie is a very strong protagonist, confident, smart, with a huge heart but this time she made took some super risky moves. She just wasn’t listening at all to Rex’s warnings or at least not taking them seriously. It would have been a terrible shame to have her die so close to home because she ventured out when she shouldn’t have. It did make for some exciting moments though.

Ms. Coco gave Allie and readers a nice selection of suspects to sort through with some twists trying to misdirect everyone’s thinking. I found myself focused on one individual quite early in the story. Something just felt off. There were clues that should have pulled me away from the person but I stuck with them and the story played out in a fantastic way that confirmed every element of my theory. That is something that rarely happens but it is so much fun when it does.

Again, the setting of Mackinac Island and all its uniqueness make the story special. The island is a place where the horse is king, and where the streets have been car-free for over 100 years. Sadly, I have never been there but have seen plenty of pictures. Those along with the author’s descriptions bring each shop, hotel, restaurant, pier, and horse-drawn carriage alive in my mind’s eye. A trip there is on my bucket list but until then I have to settle for the virtual trips the books in this series allow me to take.

A Midsummer’s Night Fudge is a delicious cozy mystery set in an idyllic place filled with delightful characters, an interesting mystery, and recipes too. I really enjoyed my visit and can’t wait to return.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Nancy Coco is the byline chosen by popular author Nancy J. Parra for use exclusively with the Candy-Coated Mysteries series. With degrees in engineering, journalism, and a MA in Writing Popular Fiction, Nancy has published in cozy mystery, romantic suspense, and sweet western historical romances.

An Air Force veteran who rose to the rank of sergeant, Nancy is a member of an online group of female veterans who are authors—“Military Women Who Have Turned Sword to Pen.” The group’s website is www.romvets.com.

Nancy is also a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She has given workshops on a number of writing topics and enjoys doing author panels at fan conferences such as Malice Domestic and Bouchercon. She lives in California with her dog—a bichonpoo affectionately known as Little Dog on Nancy’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

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