| Title | : | The Chocolate Mouse Trap (A Chocoholic Mystery, #5) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0451216350 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780451216359 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 240 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2005 |
The Chocolate Mouse Trap (A Chocoholic Mystery, #5) Reviews
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I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set in western Michigan near Lake Michigan in a small town of Warner Pier. The MC, Lee McKinney is the business manager at TenHuis Chocolad, a family owned chocolate business. She is in a group of other similar small business owners called the Seventh Food Group - wedding planner, florist, B&B owner, caterers. One of their members is found murdered and all their computers are either hacked, stolen or the e-mails wiped out. Lee noses around and tries to help find out what happened.
I really liked the characters, and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything jumping right into the series on book #5, which sometimes happens with cozies. I also loved the little chocolate sayings and quotes and facts scattered throughout the book. I plan to read more in this series. -
This cozy mystery is the 5th in the series and it's the first one I've read; however, I didn't get the sense that I missed anything from previous books. If there are characters or other aspects of previoius books it isn't evident. I do this all the time due to challenges.
The story takes place in Warner Pier, Michigan, a small town of 2,503. Locals are well-known and there are quite a few who have formed a group called the Seventh Major Food Group. Lee McKinney is the MC/narrator and shop owner of TenHuis Chocolade and she's engaged to Joe Woodyard. Lindy Herrera is a caterer at Herrera Catering. Jason Foster owns a new restaurant at Warner Point. Carolyn Rose owns Hoses of Roses flower shop. Margaret Van Meter is a cake decorator (and mother of six). And Julie Singletree who ends up murdered prior to the reader meeting her.
Once all of the people in the Seventh Major Food Group find out about Julie's death, they begin to realize that they are possibly next. And, in fact, another member of their group is murdered. The story revolves around Lee and another person trying to figure out who the real killer is. There are quite a few other characters in the story other than those in the close-knit group.
I am not sure why but I wasn't super engaged or curious about the whodoneit in the story. I liked the story and I thought the narrator of the audiobook was really good. Lee had times (possibly too many) where she'd use the incorrect word, almost like malapropism, that was funny but I did think it felt contrived after a while. But I did still laugh. -
A good, light, read and a fun mystery ... plus I'm really enjoying the characters. A good variety, yet all seem to be "real" people. A little danger for building tension, but no people throwing themselves needlessly into harm's way.
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I have little to say about The Chocolate Mouse Trap. It's slightly better than the last book in the series but not as good as the first two. The title no longer bears on the actual case. Chocolate is not one of the active actors of the mystery. The romance between Joe and Lee has bloomed. They are planning their wedding, which means - and there is a clue to that as well - they are having sex at last. I must say that the murderer's intent is hazy. He seems to commit murders in panic attacks, yet it almost took the extinction of the seventh food group for the police to solve the case. The identity of the murderer was a satisfaction to realize. The book's style is similar to many cozy mysteries and it doesn't veer off in frowning readability, if you know what I mean.
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This was your typical cozy mystery. The mystery wasn't too simple to solve but wasn't overly complicated either. The characters were ok but not overly interesting either. However, the book does show us that sometimes you don't really know your friends. Overall, a great way to spend a few hours.
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This book didn't move along as well as the previous in the series and I just didn't enjoy it quite as much. I expect to try the next one and depending on how it pans out, it may be the last.
That being said. I do like these characters a lot. They are funny and quirky and just what one might expect to find in a small quiet town that is mostly resort. I certainly recommend giving the series a try if you haven't already. -
From the moment I started reading this book, I was sure that I had read it before, most likely three to five years ago. I couldn't remember the whole story, but it was all very familiar. And since I couldn't remember whodunit, I figured I'd go ahead and read it again. It was a decent bit of brain candy, but I am making sure that I log this one and give away my book. It's not destined for a third go around!
new word: porte cochere -
If you love culinary cozies, you'll love this one. Lee McKinney works at her family's chocolate shop. When she discovered that someone killed Julie Singletree, a member of her Seventh Food Group online group, she becomes intrigued by Julie's secrets and her family. A little too close for comfort, someone's targeting her friends and stealing their computers. And before she knows it, she's next on the list, while planning her second marriage. Great suspense.
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I love, love, love these chocolate mysteries. This one was satisfyingly creepy as far as wondering who the murderer was. JoAnna Carl never fails to disappoint with one or two exciting chase scenes in her stories. I love her main character, Lee McKinney. She's the blond bombshell with a backbone of steel.
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Interesting.
From other reviews, it is obvious that what appeals to me are books that I don't know the answer halfway through laying out the puzzle. This was one of those! Truly a good book (and its about chocolate!) -
Do you like chocolate?? Once you read this you will. Comes with chocolate trivia and some facts about chocolate. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
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This installment provided the details of making true iced tea. Now that's yummy to me!!!
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Thoughts to come.
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This novel was enjoyable, but I think it had a lot of potential that wasn't used. When the premise was introduced (a friend of Lee's from another city is killed), I thought this was going to be one of those books in a cozy mystery series where we see the protagonist outside their normal, small town atmosphere. However, most of the suspects and people involved in the mystery end up basically traveling down to the chocolate shop to see Lee. I did like all the complex characters and continuing stories of the normal characters- learning about Lee's wedding issues, Lindy's family, and Jolly Dolly's advancing chocolate knowledge. I just think this novel could have been the one to deviate from the normal formula in the series.
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This is a series that makes me smile, a series that I keep returning to over and over. Having initially started in the middle, I’ve been enjoying going back and reading the earlier books. In this adventure, Lee finds herself pulled into an investigation when a member of her email group is killed and others start having computer problems. Per usual, her sleuthing gets her in some hot water but that doesn’t stop her. I always appreciate the chocolate references and trivia as an added bonus to the mystery. It’s also fun to see how the various character relationships started and have continued to grow. I always get a chuckle out of Lee’s word mishaps and enjoyed this fun read.
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I really enjoyed this fifth book in the Chocoholic mystery series. Romance abounds and not just because it's February.
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A while ago, local party planner Julie Singletree put together a mailing list containing people working in any sort of party-related fields, including Lee who's had about enough of Julie's constant annoyingly cutesy emails. Then Julie turns up murdered and subsequent incidents involving missing computers or content thereof of others on the mailing list suggests that Julie's death might somehow be related to it.
More of the same - entertaining, but predictable. -
I like this series. There’s no one completely obnoxious. They’re totally harmless and feel good and gooey. I did find it strange that they named this one after the mice as they played a very minor role in the book. Julie’s family were all ofd and quirky and not very likable but I’m sure that was the whole point. Strange, too, how I recall a number of other cozy series where the live interest was called Joe!
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I listened to this on Audible and actually didn’t love the voices, so that tainted the book a little. I have enjoyed this series: very much a cozy, simple mystery series with the added bonus of chocolate tidbits and imagery. This book was a little too simple and predictable though. I might continue with the series, but it’s not a priority.
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the ending trap was predictable.
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Fun quick mystery that includes chocolate. What's not to like? I would definitely recommend this book.
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A sweet bite of a cozy mystery.
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Great read and a truly great series. I love the characters and the plot of each book. Will continue reading it.
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Love this chocolate series!!!
