A charming island setting, a likable amateur sleuth, and a mystery that wastes no time getting started.
Release date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Synopsis:
Welcome to the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop—where life is sweet, revenge is sweeter, and murder is here to stay. . .
You Can’t Fudge An Alibi
Allie McMurphy is up to her neck in renovations at the grand old hotel that’s been in her family for generations. With its quaint Victorian charm—and world-famous fudge shop—the place is one of Mackinac Island’s most beloved landmarks.
Sure, every family has a skeleton or two in the closet. But Allie didn’t expect to find an actual corpse inside hers, especially one Joe Jessup, who had a long-running feud with her dear departed grandfather. Which makes Allie the number-one suspect.
Can she sniff out the culprit before another victim checks in?
Review:
One thing I really appreciated about All Fudged Up was how quickly the mystery got going! Rather than spending a ton of time building up to a murder, the crime has already occurred when the story begins, so we’re thrown right into the action. I loved that approach, especially for the first book in a series where there’s already plenty of groundwork to establish. It made for an engaging introduction to the Candy Coated Mysteries.
Allie McMurphy was an easy character for me to like right from the start. She’s taken on the enormous task of renovating her family’s historic hotel and fudge shop, only to find herself caught up in a murder investigation. I enjoyed her personality and appreciated the brand of humor throughout the story. There’s also a little romantic intrigue happening, with some definite love triangle vibes, and I’ll be curious to see where that particular thread goes as the series progresses.
The setting was easily one of my favorite parts! Mackinac Island is such a charming backdrop for a cozy mystery, and I loved the unique atmosphere, especially the fact that cars aren’t allowed on the island. It gives the whole story a slightly different feel and adds another layer of charm to an already appealing setting. Between the historic hotel, the fudge shop, and the island itself, there’s so much potential for future mysteries.
Overall, I thought All Fudged Up was a really enjoyable start to a series. First books have the tricky job of introducing characters, establishing relationships, and setting the stage for everything to come, and I think this one handled that balance nicely. It was charming, entertaining, and had just the right amount of humor to keep things fun. I’m definitely looking forward to spending more time with Allie on Mackinac Island!
Overall rating: 4/5
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