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A Food Festival Mystery #2
Death of a Chocolate Cheater
Food truck vendor Darcy Burnett unwraps a murder at the San Francisco Chocolate Festival in this mystery from the author of Death of a Crabby Cook …
At this year’s chocolate festival, Darcy and her Aunt Abby hope to win the $10,000 prize in the chocolate contest with Aunt Abby’s taste the chocolate raspberry whoopee pie. A little friendly competition from Darcy’s sometime-beau Jake Miller, who plans to enter with his chocolate cream puff delight, only sweetens the deal. But things get sticky when one of the judges, Polly Montgomery, is taken out of commission—permanently.
The suspects include every contestant with reason to believe Polly wasn’t too sweet on their sweets, including Aunt Abby’s high school friend. Now Darcy must pick through an assortment of secrets to catch a killer before someone else gets a bittersweet finish.
At this year’s chocolate festival, Darcy and her Aunt Abby hope to win the $10,000 prize in the chocolate contest with Aunt Abby’s taste the chocolate raspberry whoopee pie. A little friendly competition from Darcy’s sometime-beau Jake Miller, who plans to enter with his chocolate cream puff delight, only sweetens the deal. But things get sticky when one of the judges, Polly Montgomery, is taken out of commission—permanently.
The suspects include every contestant with reason to believe Polly wasn’t too sweet on their sweets, including Aunt Abby’s high school friend. Now Darcy must pick through an assortment of secrets to catch a killer before someone else gets a bittersweet finish.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 2, 2015
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June 24, 2017
The author placed the storyline right on my lap. I couldn't miss it. The introduction to the main players of this tasteful tale was warm and welcoming. The storyline finished in Grand Style with an ever hoped for Walt Disney ending. Solid - Simple - To-The-Point. That about wraps up the writing style of Penny Pike. Thanks for the sweet ride.
Darcy Burnett stopped over to see her aunt Abby. Actually, all she did was walk from her aunt's RV in the driveway and plop into the most popular part of the house - the kitchen. Not much of a trek. One thing they had in common; they both loved chocolate. But then again, doesn't everybody? Abby signed them up for the San Francisco Chocolate Festival competition scheduled just around the corner. First place claimed a $10,000 purse. Now that's what I call incentive. Her aunt was no rookie to preparing culinary delights - chocolate a specialty. In fact, she had a food truck, "The Big Yellow School Bus", that offered, wouldn't you know, comfort food. It was a hit with people who yearned for "Mom's" home cooking." She was joined with her twenty-five year old son Dillon. He had been kicked out of college for hacking. He was more than grateful to pitch in.
One of the judges for the contest, George Brown, had been killed, the result of a hit-and-run. Somehow, Darcy considered it might have been deliberate. She wasn't exactly sure why. At least not yet.
The night before the "big day" a party was held by the MC of the festival. All competitors were in attendance. Everything had been going great: the music was playing, the wine was flowing - until a body was found in a large vat of chocolate that had been proudly displayed. Talk about a buzz kill. It had been one of the judges for The Chocolate Festival, Polly Montgomery. Two down. Who would have known the dangers of being a judge of a chocolate competition?!
Lead Detective Wesley Shelton was called to the scene. Witnesses were questioned, fingerprints were taken and the ME was called. It was a scene right out of CSI. Although not considered a homicide yet, no evidence pointed to a killer. It's one thing to dip strawberries...
The merry trio arrived at the festival and set up shop in the school bus. Affectionately, they referred to it as a "busterant". Cute. While getting ready to open, Abby's close friend Wendy Spellman and fellow competitor had been arrested for the murder of Polly. The chocolate vat at the party had been drained leaving evidence of Wendy's personalized chocolate samples. One less competitor. And friend.
Abby refused to believe that her good friend was capable of such a dastardly deed. To that she was certain. Rumors flew everywhere. She enlisted Darcy's and Dillon's help in tracking down the ruthless killer. The sleuth and the hacker.
Shortly after the activities of the festival had gotten underway, it was learned that the videographer at the party, JC, had been the victim of a hit-and-run. He survived yet lay in the hospital in a medically induced coma. His prognosis was poor. There were no doubts that this was now beyond circumstantial. Three down.
Darcy, persistent as she was, went from food truck to food truck asking some tough questions about any of their involvement connected with the murders. As expected, she made no friends in doing so. Then to her utter dismay, she had crossed the line. Quite unexpectedly, she uncovered evidence that revealed the true identity of the killer. Too bad though that it happened to be in the presence of the armed killer. She was trapped. Nowhere to Run.
Darcy Burnett stopped over to see her aunt Abby. Actually, all she did was walk from her aunt's RV in the driveway and plop into the most popular part of the house - the kitchen. Not much of a trek. One thing they had in common; they both loved chocolate. But then again, doesn't everybody? Abby signed them up for the San Francisco Chocolate Festival competition scheduled just around the corner. First place claimed a $10,000 purse. Now that's what I call incentive. Her aunt was no rookie to preparing culinary delights - chocolate a specialty. In fact, she had a food truck, "The Big Yellow School Bus", that offered, wouldn't you know, comfort food. It was a hit with people who yearned for "Mom's" home cooking." She was joined with her twenty-five year old son Dillon. He had been kicked out of college for hacking. He was more than grateful to pitch in.
One of the judges for the contest, George Brown, had been killed, the result of a hit-and-run. Somehow, Darcy considered it might have been deliberate. She wasn't exactly sure why. At least not yet.
The night before the "big day" a party was held by the MC of the festival. All competitors were in attendance. Everything had been going great: the music was playing, the wine was flowing - until a body was found in a large vat of chocolate that had been proudly displayed. Talk about a buzz kill. It had been one of the judges for The Chocolate Festival, Polly Montgomery. Two down. Who would have known the dangers of being a judge of a chocolate competition?!
Lead Detective Wesley Shelton was called to the scene. Witnesses were questioned, fingerprints were taken and the ME was called. It was a scene right out of CSI. Although not considered a homicide yet, no evidence pointed to a killer. It's one thing to dip strawberries...
The merry trio arrived at the festival and set up shop in the school bus. Affectionately, they referred to it as a "busterant". Cute. While getting ready to open, Abby's close friend Wendy Spellman and fellow competitor had been arrested for the murder of Polly. The chocolate vat at the party had been drained leaving evidence of Wendy's personalized chocolate samples. One less competitor. And friend.
Abby refused to believe that her good friend was capable of such a dastardly deed. To that she was certain. Rumors flew everywhere. She enlisted Darcy's and Dillon's help in tracking down the ruthless killer. The sleuth and the hacker.
Shortly after the activities of the festival had gotten underway, it was learned that the videographer at the party, JC, had been the victim of a hit-and-run. He survived yet lay in the hospital in a medically induced coma. His prognosis was poor. There were no doubts that this was now beyond circumstantial. Three down.
Darcy, persistent as she was, went from food truck to food truck asking some tough questions about any of their involvement connected with the murders. As expected, she made no friends in doing so. Then to her utter dismay, she had crossed the line. Quite unexpectedly, she uncovered evidence that revealed the true identity of the killer. Too bad though that it happened to be in the presence of the armed killer. She was trapped. Nowhere to Run.
May 7, 2023
This was book 2 in the
"A Food Festival Mystery"
series. Darcy and her Aunt Abby hope to win the $10,000 prize in the chocolate contest with Aunt Abby’s taste sensation: the chocolate raspberry whoopee pie. Darcy's boyfriend Jake also plans to enter the contest with his own chocolate cream puff a little friendly competition never hurts. Things start taking a turn for the worst when Aunt Abby finds out a judge for the competition was run down and killed who happened to be a friend of Aunt Abby, then if that's not enough another judge Polly Montgomery is found dead in a giant vat of chocolate. This was a pretty good read I love the characters in this book. When a another contestant, named Wendy who owns the Chocolate Candy Land food truck and friend to Aunt Abby goes to jail for the murder of Polly. Darcy not wanting to see her Aunt Abby hurt so with the help Jake and her cousin Dillon who is a hacker start to investigate who could possibly have wanted these judges dead. I guessed the killer. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
June 2, 2015
Anyone who knows me knows I love chocolate. So how was I going to pass up a cozy mystery that has chocolate in the title? I didn’t. Especially not when that book was the second installment of the Food Festival Mystery series!
Author Penny Pike has a wonderful style of writing. Her books read as though the words flow effortlessly from her fingers. She has a great talent for penning exciting and fun mysteries. With DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER there were times that I held my breath, and others where I literally laughed out loud. Lines like . . . I reached into the container and helped myself. Taking a tentative bite, I let the sweet morsel dissolve on my tongue. The flavor flooded my mouth. Wow. Chocolate crack. . . Seriously, I went from drooling over what protagonist, Darcy was eating, to snorting with laughter over “chocolate crack”.
The characters in this series are an absolutely delightful mix of personalities. The way they interact makes you want to be part of their inner circle. I look forward to seeing them even more fleshed out in future stories.
The mystery in DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER had so many facets. Much more going on than you would expect. Ms. Pike took me on a twisting, turning thrill ride that lasted all the way to our destination . . . the exciting reveal! To paraphrase character Darcy, “Wow. Book crack.” I am officially addicted to this fantastically tasty series.
Author Pike has also included half a dozen tempting recipes at the back of the book, as well as a sneak peek of book 3, DEATH OF A BAD APPLE!
Author Penny Pike has a wonderful style of writing. Her books read as though the words flow effortlessly from her fingers. She has a great talent for penning exciting and fun mysteries. With DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER there were times that I held my breath, and others where I literally laughed out loud. Lines like . . . I reached into the container and helped myself. Taking a tentative bite, I let the sweet morsel dissolve on my tongue. The flavor flooded my mouth. Wow. Chocolate crack. . . Seriously, I went from drooling over what protagonist, Darcy was eating, to snorting with laughter over “chocolate crack”.
The characters in this series are an absolutely delightful mix of personalities. The way they interact makes you want to be part of their inner circle. I look forward to seeing them even more fleshed out in future stories.
The mystery in DEATH OF A CHOCOLATE CHEATER had so many facets. Much more going on than you would expect. Ms. Pike took me on a twisting, turning thrill ride that lasted all the way to our destination . . . the exciting reveal! To paraphrase character Darcy, “Wow. Book crack.” I am officially addicted to this fantastically tasty series.
Author Pike has also included half a dozen tempting recipes at the back of the book, as well as a sneak peek of book 3, DEATH OF A BAD APPLE!
May 14, 2015
I absolutely loved this book~ this is one of my favorite series. My mouth watered all the way through this one, and I think I gained 10 pounds just reading it! We are back in San Francisco with Darcy, Aunt Abby, and cousin Dillon, at the San Francisco Chocolate Festival. How I would love to go to that! Anyway, Darcy is still living in her aunts RV, and helping her out in the food truck. As they are preparing for the festival, making delicious Raspberry Whoopie Pies, they take a break to attend a meeting given by the host of the festival. That is when things get interesting for Darcy, as she gets involved in trying to solve another murder. I had to laugh at where the body was found in this one, its hilarious! When Aunt Abbys friend becomes a suspect, Darcy begins to investigate the contestants of the festival, with the help of her boyfriend Jake, and Dillon. She uncovers lots of secrets, but will it be enough to clear her aunts friend? This book was so much fun I didn't want it to end! I am very excited for the next one!
June 19, 2021
3 star plot, 4.75 stars chocolate (points lost for pairing chocolate and stinky cheese
Darcy Brunett's Aunt Abby is so excited to enter the San Francisco Chocolate Festival Contest to win $10k. Darcy is certain Abby's chocolate raspberry whoopie pies will win the contest until she learns her love interest Jake is entering his chocolate mocha Dream Puffs in the contest too. May the best treat win! Aunt Abby is saddened to learn of the death of a judge and old friend, George Brown. He will be replaced by Polly Montgomery, who Darcy knows from The Chronicle. To say they don't see eye to eye might be an understatement but Darcy hopes lying low will keep Polly from noticing Abby is Darcy's aunt. No need to worry for Polly ends up incredibly drunk at the meet and greet party to kick off the festival and turns up dead in a vat of conching chocolate after everyone believed she had been sent back to her hotel to sleep off her inebriation. Detective Sheldon is once again on the case and once again he suspects the wrong person. This time he sets his sites on Aunt Abby's old school friend, Wendy Spellman. Aunt Abby is certain Wendy is innocent and asks Darcy to help. Darcy starts questioning suspects with Jake while Dillon uses his hacker skills to get the "deets" on the other contestants and judges. This one is not going to be easy to solve as it seems everyone had a motive but everyone also seems to have an alibi. Will Darcy be able to solve the case before Wendy ends up tried and convicted? At least Darcy seems to have solved the mystery of Jake's disappearing act of late, unfortunately, as it seems to involve his ex-fiancé.
This mystery is OK. It's not as tight or interesting as the first one. I DID pick up on the clue initially but got distracted by all the suspects. When the murderer was revealed I kind of thought it was obvious. But who cares when there's THAT much chocolate involved? OMG the chocolate! Chocolate raspberry whoopie pies, chocolate mocha cream puffs (don't like coffee though), chocolate pies, chocolate covered candy, chocolate cupcakes topped with ice cream, a chocolate fountain and even chocolate covered cheese (seriously gross!)!!!!!!!!! I was in heaven reading about all that chocolate. I MUST get to San Francisco! I was disappointed only two of the recipes were scratch and the rest used pre-made ingredients. The cupcakes with commercial frosting AND ice cream sounded like overkill and this is coming from ME! I would make them from scratch even the ice cream. I'm sure the woman in the story does but the recipe cheats. Anyway, if you're as chocolate obsessed as I am, you'll want to read this book!
Darcy is still in a funk since losing her job. While she likes living in Aunt Abby's trailer and scooping up lunch lady comfort food, she longs for financial independence. Her love life seems to be going nowhere fast and her waistband is expanding rapidly due to Jake's Dream Puffs. You know, I actually like that Darcy is not perfect. I like that she gains weight from eating sweets and I like how she's kind of lost. It makes her more human and relatable. Unfortunately she's still kind of immature especially when it comes to her relationships. She and her cousin Dillon argue like siblings and she can't talk to Jake about her feelings. I don't like how she doesn't trust him yet. Aunt Abby is a sweetheart but she lacks relationship skills on which Darcy can model her own after. Aunt Abby just does not seem to get the point of police work and how it works. She's a person of interest, yes, because she was there at the time of murder. That's all. No need to get bent out of shape! She blows Wes's distancing way out of context. Aunt Abby is also very indulgent of Dillon. That kid has "mad hacking skillz" but his activities are dubiously legal at best. Darcy is still judgmental towards him and his rat and often careless in mentioning how her information was found. If he does end up in jail it's because his mother or cousin accidentally ratted him out. Darcy still thinks he has Asperger's.
Jake is a wonderful man! He's sweet, caring and intelligent. He's also an amazing baker! However, when it comes to women he's not as skilled. Jake's ex Lyla Vassar of Channel 2 news is back in the picture doing a report on his entry in the festival, or so she says. Why is she REALLY there? Jake thinks her reason is private and when he reveals it to Darcy, every womanly instinct screams "Yeah right!" It kind of serves her right that he's way more into Darcy. That much is obvious.
Polly Montgomery was an awful person. She didn't have any backstory or depth to her character. As written I didn't like her or care who killed her. Even so, she didn't deserve to be murdered. Everyone else in this contest is nasty too. Reina Patel, the festival host, is cold and uncaring. All she thinks about is how the show must go on and Food Network ratings. She seems to want to make HERSELF look good and doesn't take kindly to anyone standing in her way of the spotlight. Frankie Nudo, of Choco-Cheese Delights, has the nastiest sounding confection of the lot. He also has a volatile temper and is constantly fighting with Monet Richards. Anyone THAT passionate about smelly cheese and pairing gross smelly cheese with chocolate has GOT to be a few beans short of a bar. He's egotistical and a player besides, Perhaps he's the murderer? At least Monet pairs hocolate cupcakes with ice cream and decorates according to season. She's a little weird and also has a quick temper. Why are these two always fighting?
Harrison Tofflemire from Chocolate Falls is just as bad. He's a liar, a cheat, pimps out his daughters and has a giant ego the size of Canada. I'm reasonably certain someone else invented the chocolate fountain. If he's fighting it out in court, he must have fake documents or be THAT self-assured. His customer service skills are surely lacking. I don't like him at all but he has a chocolate fountain so I don't want it to be him. I think it is though.
If it's not Harrison, then I think it's the Piehole guy, Griffin Makeba. He's not as fancy as the others and he complains about the use of chocolate from the Ivory Coast, Africa produced by child labor. He's the only one who cares about anything other than himself so if he did murder someone, it was self defense or defense of those poor children. (Child labor existed WAAAYY before the early 1900s). The description of his background is rather cringy. His mother was a cook for a plantation owner (cringe) and the secret ingredient has to do with his African roots. He's the only person of color mentioned by any sort of heritage and even then he's defined to a continent. There's also an "Asian" woman briefly mentioned. Reina has a faint accent but what kind, from where, we don't know. Her surname indicates her family might be from India but nothing else suggests that.
Wendy Spellman, Aunt Abby's friend, is a kooky old lady. She sounds like a man-eater and I had the same awful thought as Darcy. Wendy may be fun and flirtatious but Abby is convinced Wendy is not a killer. There's no reason to believe she's NOT. Abby hasn't seen Wendy in a VERY long time. Maybe she was pushed to a breaking point or murdered in self-defense or maybe it was an accident? Yet when she's arrested she seems to shrink and become the little old lady to match her years and I felt sorry for her. Nothing Dillon finds implicates Wendy at all. Only the evidence found at the crime scene though... Was it planted to frame her?
A more likely suspect is Simon Van Houten, scion of a wealthy and successful chocolate producer. His father is a nasty businessman who is probably ruthless and breaking all kinds of laws. Is Simon in business with his father? Was Polly going to expose their dirty secrets in the paper and ruin their business? I'd look more closely at him if I were SFPD. What about Isabel Lau? Not even Dillon can dig up the dirt on her. She's mysterious and tough. She could totally kill when threatened and perhaps Polly was going to share something Isabel didn't want shared?
This was probably the best entry in the series for me but I'll still read the third and final book to complete the series.
There's a hint at the end that Darcy and Jake move beyond friendship and add the + benefits Aunt Abby was asking about early in the book. Nothing is shown on page other than kissing so I marked this one kisses only.
Darcy Brunett's Aunt Abby is so excited to enter the San Francisco Chocolate Festival Contest to win $10k. Darcy is certain Abby's chocolate raspberry whoopie pies will win the contest until she learns her love interest Jake is entering his chocolate mocha Dream Puffs in the contest too. May the best treat win! Aunt Abby is saddened to learn of the death of a judge and old friend, George Brown. He will be replaced by Polly Montgomery, who Darcy knows from The Chronicle. To say they don't see eye to eye might be an understatement but Darcy hopes lying low will keep Polly from noticing Abby is Darcy's aunt. No need to worry for Polly ends up incredibly drunk at the meet and greet party to kick off the festival and turns up dead in a vat of conching chocolate after everyone believed she had been sent back to her hotel to sleep off her inebriation. Detective Sheldon is once again on the case and once again he suspects the wrong person. This time he sets his sites on Aunt Abby's old school friend, Wendy Spellman. Aunt Abby is certain Wendy is innocent and asks Darcy to help. Darcy starts questioning suspects with Jake while Dillon uses his hacker skills to get the "deets" on the other contestants and judges. This one is not going to be easy to solve as it seems everyone had a motive but everyone also seems to have an alibi. Will Darcy be able to solve the case before Wendy ends up tried and convicted? At least Darcy seems to have solved the mystery of Jake's disappearing act of late, unfortunately, as it seems to involve his ex-fiancé.
This mystery is OK. It's not as tight or interesting as the first one. I DID pick up on the clue initially but got distracted by all the suspects. When the murderer was revealed I kind of thought it was obvious. But who cares when there's THAT much chocolate involved? OMG the chocolate! Chocolate raspberry whoopie pies, chocolate mocha cream puffs (don't like coffee though), chocolate pies, chocolate covered candy, chocolate cupcakes topped with ice cream, a chocolate fountain and even chocolate covered cheese (seriously gross!)!!!!!!!!! I was in heaven reading about all that chocolate. I MUST get to San Francisco! I was disappointed only two of the recipes were scratch and the rest used pre-made ingredients. The cupcakes with commercial frosting AND ice cream sounded like overkill and this is coming from ME! I would make them from scratch even the ice cream. I'm sure the woman in the story does but the recipe cheats. Anyway, if you're as chocolate obsessed as I am, you'll want to read this book!
Darcy is still in a funk since losing her job. While she likes living in Aunt Abby's trailer and scooping up lunch lady comfort food, she longs for financial independence. Her love life seems to be going nowhere fast and her waistband is expanding rapidly due to Jake's Dream Puffs. You know, I actually like that Darcy is not perfect. I like that she gains weight from eating sweets and I like how she's kind of lost. It makes her more human and relatable. Unfortunately she's still kind of immature especially when it comes to her relationships. She and her cousin Dillon argue like siblings and she can't talk to Jake about her feelings. I don't like how she doesn't trust him yet. Aunt Abby is a sweetheart but she lacks relationship skills on which Darcy can model her own after. Aunt Abby just does not seem to get the point of police work and how it works. She's a person of interest, yes, because she was there at the time of murder. That's all. No need to get bent out of shape! She blows Wes's distancing way out of context. Aunt Abby is also very indulgent of Dillon. That kid has "mad hacking skillz" but his activities are dubiously legal at best. Darcy is still judgmental towards him and his rat and often careless in mentioning how her information was found. If he does end up in jail it's because his mother or cousin accidentally ratted him out. Darcy still thinks he has Asperger's.
Jake is a wonderful man! He's sweet, caring and intelligent. He's also an amazing baker! However, when it comes to women he's not as skilled. Jake's ex Lyla Vassar of Channel 2 news is back in the picture doing a report on his entry in the festival, or so she says. Why is she REALLY there? Jake thinks her reason is private and when he reveals it to Darcy, every womanly instinct screams "Yeah right!" It kind of serves her right that he's way more into Darcy. That much is obvious.
Polly Montgomery was an awful person. She didn't have any backstory or depth to her character. As written I didn't like her or care who killed her. Even so, she didn't deserve to be murdered. Everyone else in this contest is nasty too. Reina Patel, the festival host, is cold and uncaring. All she thinks about is how the show must go on and Food Network ratings. She seems to want to make HERSELF look good and doesn't take kindly to anyone standing in her way of the spotlight. Frankie Nudo, of Choco-Cheese Delights, has the nastiest sounding confection of the lot. He also has a volatile temper and is constantly fighting with Monet Richards. Anyone THAT passionate about smelly cheese and pairing gross smelly cheese with chocolate has GOT to be a few beans short of a bar. He's egotistical and a player besides, Perhaps he's the murderer? At least Monet pairs hocolate cupcakes with ice cream and decorates according to season. She's a little weird and also has a quick temper. Why are these two always fighting?
Harrison Tofflemire from Chocolate Falls is just as bad. He's a liar, a cheat, pimps out his daughters and has a giant ego the size of Canada. I'm reasonably certain someone else invented the chocolate fountain. If he's fighting it out in court, he must have fake documents or be THAT self-assured. His customer service skills are surely lacking. I don't like him at all but he has a chocolate fountain so I don't want it to be him. I think it is though.
If it's not Harrison, then I think it's the Piehole guy, Griffin Makeba. He's not as fancy as the others and he complains about the use of chocolate from the Ivory Coast, Africa produced by child labor. He's the only one who cares about anything other than himself so if he did murder someone, it was self defense or defense of those poor children. (Child labor existed WAAAYY before the early 1900s). The description of his background is rather cringy. His mother was a cook for a plantation owner (cringe) and the secret ingredient has to do with his African roots. He's the only person of color mentioned by any sort of heritage and even then he's defined to a continent. There's also an "Asian" woman briefly mentioned. Reina has a faint accent but what kind, from where, we don't know. Her surname indicates her family might be from India but nothing else suggests that.
Wendy Spellman, Aunt Abby's friend, is a kooky old lady. She sounds like a man-eater and I had the same awful thought as Darcy. Wendy may be fun and flirtatious but Abby is convinced Wendy is not a killer. There's no reason to believe she's NOT. Abby hasn't seen Wendy in a VERY long time. Maybe she was pushed to a breaking point or murdered in self-defense or maybe it was an accident? Yet when she's arrested she seems to shrink and become the little old lady to match her years and I felt sorry for her. Nothing Dillon finds implicates Wendy at all. Only the evidence found at the crime scene though... Was it planted to frame her?
A more likely suspect is Simon Van Houten, scion of a wealthy and successful chocolate producer. His father is a nasty businessman who is probably ruthless and breaking all kinds of laws. Is Simon in business with his father? Was Polly going to expose their dirty secrets in the paper and ruin their business? I'd look more closely at him if I were SFPD. What about Isabel Lau? Not even Dillon can dig up the dirt on her. She's mysterious and tough. She could totally kill when threatened and perhaps Polly was going to share something Isabel didn't want shared?
This was probably the best entry in the series for me but I'll still read the third and final book to complete the series.
There's a hint at the end that Darcy and Jake move beyond friendship and add the + benefits Aunt Abby was asking about early in the book. Nothing is shown on page other than kissing so I marked this one kisses only.
June 11, 2015
I devoured this book from the very first word. By the time I finished this book my craving for chocolate had me venturing to my nearest store just to purchase some but I knew it could never be as delicious as the book's recipes from the food truck that were featured in Death of a Chocolate Cheater. What a treat this book was to read, for a self confessed chocoholic such as myself .
Aunt Abby and her niece Darcy are competing in the chocolate festival where food trucks including Aunt Abby's "Big Yellow School Bus" Food truck for a prize of $10,000 and a appearance on a Food Network show. Aunt Abby thinks she has a winner with her chocolate whoopie pies and there's no mistaking how good they taste because Darcy and Abby's son, Dillon are always quick to sample a few.
Aunt Abby has some competition in Darcy's love interest, Jake who has a "dream puff" food truck a dream puff which is a mocha cream puff in case your wondering. But soon things start taking a turn when Aunt Abby finds out a judge for the competition was run down and killed who happened to be a friend of Aunt Abby, then if that's not enough another judge,Polly Montgomery is found dead in a giant vat of chocolate.
When a another contestant, named Wendy who owns the Chocolate Candy Land food truck and friend to Aunt Abby goes to jail for the murder of Polly. Darcy not wanting to see her Aunt Abby hurt soon with the help Jake start to investigate who could possibly have wanted these judges dead. Everyone's a suspect including every contestant in the chocolate competition and possibly that last two judges that remain for the competition when Darcy with the help of her nephew and computer hacker, Dillon try to pick out the tastiest morsel in the assortment of possible killer chocolate chefs.
I must go back and read the first book in this series because after reading Death of a Chocolate Cheater this series has become one of my favorites. Chalk full of mouth watering food descriptions complete with the real recipes from the chocolate competition in the back of the book. A Fast passed and down right delicious thrill ride of a mystery. Death of a Chocolate Cheater will have you wanting to taste some chocolate right through to the ending of the book.
Aunt Abby and Darcy you will be sure to love with Aunt Abby's love of food and Darcy with her love of Aunt Abby and wanting to find justice just to see her aunt happy once again. I'm very excited to read and review the next in this series...now I really want one of Aunt Abby's Whoppie Pies or do I want one of Jake's dream puffs?. I will have to try the recipes soon for sure.
FTC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book for review.This did not influence my thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book and review are my own.
Aunt Abby and her niece Darcy are competing in the chocolate festival where food trucks including Aunt Abby's "Big Yellow School Bus" Food truck for a prize of $10,000 and a appearance on a Food Network show. Aunt Abby thinks she has a winner with her chocolate whoopie pies and there's no mistaking how good they taste because Darcy and Abby's son, Dillon are always quick to sample a few.
Aunt Abby has some competition in Darcy's love interest, Jake who has a "dream puff" food truck a dream puff which is a mocha cream puff in case your wondering. But soon things start taking a turn when Aunt Abby finds out a judge for the competition was run down and killed who happened to be a friend of Aunt Abby, then if that's not enough another judge,Polly Montgomery is found dead in a giant vat of chocolate.
When a another contestant, named Wendy who owns the Chocolate Candy Land food truck and friend to Aunt Abby goes to jail for the murder of Polly. Darcy not wanting to see her Aunt Abby hurt soon with the help Jake start to investigate who could possibly have wanted these judges dead. Everyone's a suspect including every contestant in the chocolate competition and possibly that last two judges that remain for the competition when Darcy with the help of her nephew and computer hacker, Dillon try to pick out the tastiest morsel in the assortment of possible killer chocolate chefs.
I must go back and read the first book in this series because after reading Death of a Chocolate Cheater this series has become one of my favorites. Chalk full of mouth watering food descriptions complete with the real recipes from the chocolate competition in the back of the book. A Fast passed and down right delicious thrill ride of a mystery. Death of a Chocolate Cheater will have you wanting to taste some chocolate right through to the ending of the book.
Aunt Abby and Darcy you will be sure to love with Aunt Abby's love of food and Darcy with her love of Aunt Abby and wanting to find justice just to see her aunt happy once again. I'm very excited to read and review the next in this series...now I really want one of Aunt Abby's Whoppie Pies or do I want one of Jake's dream puffs?. I will have to try the recipes soon for sure.
FTC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book for review.This did not influence my thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book and review are my own.
March 31, 2015
When Darcy was laid off from her restaurant critic job at the San Francisco Chronicle, she found herself living in her aunt's Airstream RV and helping her out in her busterant, as Aunt Abby refers to her Big Yellow School Bus food truck. In this second book of the "A Food Festival Mystery" series, Aunt Abby has entered the Chocolate Festival contest, hoping that her Chocolate Raspberry Whoopie Pie will beat out the competition and win the $10,000 grand prize. But before the contest even begins, they learn that one of the judges, George Brown, is dead. And then during the opening ceremonies, another judge is found dead in a vat of liquid chocolate. Is there a connection between the two deaths? When it is determined that the second judge was murdered and Aunt Abby's friend is arrested for the crime, Darcy once again finds herself investigating to help find the real killer. With the help of potential boyfriend, Jake, and her computer hacking cousin, Dillon, she works her way through the suspects at the chocolate festival to see who had the most to gain from the death of the judge. Or will her snooping once again put her in the path of a killer? I enjoyed the characters in this series from her paranoid computer genius cousin to her fashion unique aunt to her dreamy Jake and his inventive cream puffs. The mystery and potential suspects kept one guessing the solution until the end. The one thing I wish the book had were those scratch and sniff labels that would lend a scent of chocolate to the book. As all the contestants were providing different chocolate recipes, the descriptions all sounded delicious and I really wished I could have smelled (and tasted) each of them. I am looking forward to the next story in this series, especially to see how Darcy's relationship with Jake progresses. Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2015
This book was Delicious - after all what could be better than chocolate and a good whodunit? I was lucky enough to win an advanced reader copy from the author's giveaway contest and while I was not asked to give a review I am more than happy to do so.
The second in the Food Festival series finds Darcy, Aunt Abby and Dillon entering a Chocolate Contest where the winner will have a guest spot on the Food Network and receive a substantial cash prize. Aunt Abby's entry is a Chocolate Raspberry Whoopie Pie - the recipe is published in the back of the book and I wish I knew how to bake because they sound delicious and had me drooling throughout the entire book.
As the judges start dropping off one by one Aunt Abby's friend, Wendy is taken into custody. Aunt Abby enlists the help of Darcy, Dillon (the computer hacker)and Darcy's love interest Jake to help clear Wendy, locate the real killer and save the Chocolate Contest. A great cast of characters and all familiar faces from the first book.
A quick, easy read full of mouthwatering chocolate descriptions and lots of laughter. Loved it and can't wait for the next in the series - Death of a Bad Apple.
The second in the Food Festival series finds Darcy, Aunt Abby and Dillon entering a Chocolate Contest where the winner will have a guest spot on the Food Network and receive a substantial cash prize. Aunt Abby's entry is a Chocolate Raspberry Whoopie Pie - the recipe is published in the back of the book and I wish I knew how to bake because they sound delicious and had me drooling throughout the entire book.
As the judges start dropping off one by one Aunt Abby's friend, Wendy is taken into custody. Aunt Abby enlists the help of Darcy, Dillon (the computer hacker)and Darcy's love interest Jake to help clear Wendy, locate the real killer and save the Chocolate Contest. A great cast of characters and all familiar faces from the first book.
A quick, easy read full of mouthwatering chocolate descriptions and lots of laughter. Loved it and can't wait for the next in the series - Death of a Bad Apple.
May 24, 2015
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series...it has all the charm and fun of the traditional "cozy" mystery, but a modern, light, urban tone that sets it apart. Darcy is such a likable, relatable character - she has personality without being overdone. The story moves along quickly, thanks to the brilliant balance of Darcy and Jake's in-person detective work with Dillon's online information gathering. As in the Penny Warner's previous Killer Parties series, San Francisco is central to the story, and her love of the city shines through - a refreshing change from the fictional small towns where so many mysteries take place. And setting the action at a chocolate festival allows the supporting characters to remain in the natural environment of their food trucks but with a few twists to build on the community established in Death of a Crabby Cook. I was sorry when the story ended - it was hard to leave the characters behind! But the best news was the excerpt at the end of the book from the third installment - I am so glad the series will continue!
June 2, 2015
Darcy’s Aunt Abby has developed a recipe sure to be a hit at San Francisco’s upcoming chocolate festival. However, when one of the judges is murdered and Abby’s friend is accused of the rime, Darcy must figure out who really committed the chocolate crime.
I loved the first in this series, and this one didn’t disappoint either. It was a little slow to get going, but once it did, the pace never slowed down. The characters are a blast, and I loved getting to visit them again here. And all that chocolate left me drooling. A fantastically fun read.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I loved the first in this series, and this one didn’t disappoint either. It was a little slow to get going, but once it did, the pace never slowed down. The characters are a blast, and I loved getting to visit them again here. And all that chocolate left me drooling. A fantastically fun read.
NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 11, 2015
Excellent book. Keep me guess tell the very end. I think I gain 5lb just by reading this book. The recipes are Great!!!
June 30, 2015
A silly book. I wasted my time with this one.
November 16, 2015
This was a enjoyable read about a favorite item of mine: Chocolate! The pace was fast, the plot good, the characters interesting and the recipes wonderful. A series well worth pursuing.
February 26, 2018
3 stars
Darcy's aunt has entered her food truck in the annual Chocolate Festival competition and though Darcy is skeptical at first...the lure of winning some of the jackpot has her agreeing to help. When a suspicious death and then a clear murder have captured her attention, she starts thinking about possible suspects and scenarios. Then her aunt's friend is arrested and she promises to help clear her name and find the true murderer. Can she do it, and win the chocolate competition, AND woo Jake back to her?
I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. The characters were just a little lack-luster to me. I even had a little bit of trouble keeping someone of the suspect / fellow chocolate contestants straights.
I'm a little confused about Darcy. She mentions saving for her next venture, but never seems to give any hints as to what that is. I was hoping she had some passion or interest that she wanted to purpose...or even just enjoyed working in the food truck enough to stay.
The mystery was interesting, but I didn't have a clear suspect in mind for the first half of the book, because I couldn't get a clear picture of any of the contestants. I did start to suspect
I can't decide if I would continue with this series or not.
Darcy's aunt has entered her food truck in the annual Chocolate Festival competition and though Darcy is skeptical at first...the lure of winning some of the jackpot has her agreeing to help. When a suspicious death and then a clear murder have captured her attention, she starts thinking about possible suspects and scenarios. Then her aunt's friend is arrested and she promises to help clear her name and find the true murderer. Can she do it, and win the chocolate competition, AND woo Jake back to her?
I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. The characters were just a little lack-luster to me. I even had a little bit of trouble keeping someone of the suspect / fellow chocolate contestants straights.
I'm a little confused about Darcy. She mentions saving for her next venture, but never seems to give any hints as to what that is. I was hoping she had some passion or interest that she wanted to purpose...or even just enjoyed working in the food truck enough to stay.
The mystery was interesting, but I didn't have a clear suspect in mind for the first half of the book, because I couldn't get a clear picture of any of the contestants. I did start to suspect
I can't decide if I would continue with this series or not.
June 30, 2017
For once I didn't solve a mystery until the final second. I kept thinking it was this person and that person. For once the writer of a book got me where I was like, wait, what?
This is a very good second book in the food festival mystery books. It starts out with everything seemingly to be going good but something happens to a judge in a contest that her Aunt has entered. But things must go on...
A party and some drama but nothing too bad until the replacement judge turns up murdered, who could have possibly done it? But then someone gets arrested and her aunt swears her friend is innocent. So who could have done it. Things get interesting when it soon gets discovered that it could be anyone from the other judges to everyone else but her aunt and Jake in the contest. But who on earth could it be from all the people she was blackmailing?
Like I said, who it turned out to be, completely took me by surprise as they weren't on my list of possible people it could be. Each page you flip you discover a new secret and makes you wonder if they might have done it.
This is a very good second book in the food festival mystery books. It starts out with everything seemingly to be going good but something happens to a judge in a contest that her Aunt has entered. But things must go on...
A party and some drama but nothing too bad until the replacement judge turns up murdered, who could have possibly done it? But then someone gets arrested and her aunt swears her friend is innocent. So who could have done it. Things get interesting when it soon gets discovered that it could be anyone from the other judges to everyone else but her aunt and Jake in the contest. But who on earth could it be from all the people she was blackmailing?
Like I said, who it turned out to be, completely took me by surprise as they weren't on my list of possible people it could be. Each page you flip you discover a new secret and makes you wonder if they might have done it.
July 19, 2017
Really like this cozy mystery series. It's straight forward with a really likeable main character and a fun cast of supporting characters.
Darcy's Aunt Abby has entered her and her team (Darcy and Darcy's cousin, Dillon) into a chocolate festival. The winner of the festival will win some cash as well as a TV spot. Before the competition even starts, 2 judges are found dead.
I really like the back and forth between Darcy and Dillon. Even though they are cousins they argue like brother and sister. I like Darcy's love interest, Jake and love that their relationship isn't shoved down the reader's throat.
I found the killer to be predictable, but enjoyed how every contestant and other judges had a reason to kill the judges.
Darcy's Aunt Abby has entered her and her team (Darcy and Darcy's cousin, Dillon) into a chocolate festival. The winner of the festival will win some cash as well as a TV spot. Before the competition even starts, 2 judges are found dead.
I really like the back and forth between Darcy and Dillon. Even though they are cousins they argue like brother and sister. I like Darcy's love interest, Jake and love that their relationship isn't shoved down the reader's throat.
I found the killer to be predictable, but enjoyed how every contestant and other judges had a reason to kill the judges.
December 15, 2017
This book is so good..I love this book. This is a Cozy Mystery and it mentions Mounds Candy Car in this story which is my all time favorite candy bar. There are Recipes in this book too that is made out of Chocolate.
Penny Pike is a really good Author and I am going to be reading the rest of her books. Book #1 in the Food Festival Mystery Series is called "Death Of A Crabby Cook". She also wrote a book called "Death Of A Bad Apple". I want to read both of these books.
I give this book 5 Stars. I highly recommend this book if you like to read a really good cozy mystery story that has to do with tons of Chocolate....LOL....
Happy Reading.....
Penny Pike is a really good Author and I am going to be reading the rest of her books. Book #1 in the Food Festival Mystery Series is called "Death Of A Crabby Cook". She also wrote a book called "Death Of A Bad Apple". I want to read both of these books.
I give this book 5 Stars. I highly recommend this book if you like to read a really good cozy mystery story that has to do with tons of Chocolate....LOL....
Happy Reading.....
May 22, 2019
Darcy has her hands full helping her Aunt Abby with the Whoopie pie's for the upcoming contest and in the beginning a person being dump in chocolate (interesting is that everyone thought this person had left) and so starts another Food Festival Mystery.
March 11, 2017
Will post review later...
December 9, 2017
I haven't read the first, but I filled in enough to get comfortable with the main characters quite easily. Enjoyable mystery.
July 24, 2018
I need chocolate. Stat!
October 5, 2018
So-so. I admit that I read it due to the word "chocolate" in the title. This is more of a mystery-romance.
December 19, 2018
3+ stars
January 1, 2020
I read this book last night, waiting for the new year. I really enjoy her writing and the characters are fun!!
February 24, 2022
As far as cozies go this is a fun one! I enjoyed the characters and the story. This is book 2 of the series. I plan to read the third and last one also. Would recommend if u like reading cozies!
April 14, 2022
Loved everything about this! The lead up, the sudden reveal, the romance, just everything. This author really knows her stuff!
September 7, 2022
3 - Good
March 28, 2023
A food mystery. Sort of ho hum but there are chocolate recipes at the end.
June 13, 2015
If you love chocolate, have some on had as you read this book!
Death of a Chocolate Cheater by Penny Pike was an enjoyable read. The Characters from the first book; Darcy, Aunt Abby, Jake, Dillon, and Detective "Wes" Shelton all return along with a few food truck vendors. Dillon's character is not quite so one dimensional and the rest of the characters just become more loveable. The chocolate contest Aunt Abby is entered into will make your mouth water with just the descriptions of the chocolate delights.
This book focuses less on the food trucks and concentrates on the chocolate event. Although the food trucks still played a part, I sort of missed the routine. But the chocolate made up for it.
A judge of the chocolate contest is murdered on the opening night and one of Abby's high school friends is arrested for the chocolate covered deed. Abby makes Darcy and Jake promise to investigate and the game becomes as sticky as melted chocolate. End's up that the murdered judge is not the only judge to die before the contest and questions begin to wonder if the two are tied together.
Aside from craving chocolate this book makes you smile most of the way through it as Darcy and Jake and Abbey and Wes all suffer from dating problems with this chocolate demise. Jake and Darcy begin to question the vendors and Darcy is warned in chocolate to back off. She becomes more determined to find the solution and finds out all sorts of surprises about the other entrants and the book keeps you in suspense as you wait for the chocolate killer to be revealed.
The only reason I did not give this five chocolate kisses is because I thought the beginning was a bit slow, it didn't grab me right away and make me want to continue, although the characters did. If you read Death of a Crabby Cook, you will enjoy this book. However, serial reader that I am, you could read this one first. You only miss a few of the character backgrounds, nothing you can't go back and read later.
Highly recommend this delightful, chocolatey, cozy.
Remember chocolate is a vegetable, it the Cocao bean grows on trees.
Death of a Chocolate Cheater by Penny Pike was an enjoyable read. The Characters from the first book; Darcy, Aunt Abby, Jake, Dillon, and Detective "Wes" Shelton all return along with a few food truck vendors. Dillon's character is not quite so one dimensional and the rest of the characters just become more loveable. The chocolate contest Aunt Abby is entered into will make your mouth water with just the descriptions of the chocolate delights.
This book focuses less on the food trucks and concentrates on the chocolate event. Although the food trucks still played a part, I sort of missed the routine. But the chocolate made up for it.
A judge of the chocolate contest is murdered on the opening night and one of Abby's high school friends is arrested for the chocolate covered deed. Abby makes Darcy and Jake promise to investigate and the game becomes as sticky as melted chocolate. End's up that the murdered judge is not the only judge to die before the contest and questions begin to wonder if the two are tied together.
Aside from craving chocolate this book makes you smile most of the way through it as Darcy and Jake and Abbey and Wes all suffer from dating problems with this chocolate demise. Jake and Darcy begin to question the vendors and Darcy is warned in chocolate to back off. She becomes more determined to find the solution and finds out all sorts of surprises about the other entrants and the book keeps you in suspense as you wait for the chocolate killer to be revealed.
The only reason I did not give this five chocolate kisses is because I thought the beginning was a bit slow, it didn't grab me right away and make me want to continue, although the characters did. If you read Death of a Crabby Cook, you will enjoy this book. However, serial reader that I am, you could read this one first. You only miss a few of the character backgrounds, nothing you can't go back and read later.
Highly recommend this delightful, chocolatey, cozy.
Remember chocolate is a vegetable, it the Cocao bean grows on trees.
May 18, 2015
What a delicious book! Very fun to read.
Death of a Chocolate Cheater, the second book in the Food Festival Mystery Series, is even better than the first, Death of a Crabby Cook. The action takes place in San Francisco during the highly competitive Chocolate Festival Contest. (If there isn't such a thing, there should be.) Darcy, laid off from her reporting job at the newspaper (in the last book) is still living in her aunt's RV, and working alongside her aunt in her aunt's food truck, The Big Yellow School Bus serving comfort food such as Crabby Cheerleader Mac and Cheese. A few days before the competition, at a party given by the hostess of the festival, someone is murdered. I absolutely will not tell you where the body is found but I will say it is not simply lying on a floor. Aunt Abby's friend becomes a suspect so Darcy proceeds to check out the contestants with a purported reason of getting a recipe from each of them for a book she wants to write. Darcy has the help of her Cousin Dillon, a computer-hacking wiz, and her new boyfriend, Jake, he of the Dream Puff food truck. Turns out there is no shortage of suspects and no shortage of motives. Funny, clever and pure Penny Pike (Penny Warner), Death of a Chocolate Cheater makes wonderful reading! Recipes are included. Oh, please, dear Warner publishers, let this series run for many more books! I'll be first in line to read them.
This is not the first series by this author to take place in San Francisco. I enjoyed the Party-Planning Mystery series very much! There are five books in that series and I would have loved more. She has also written the Connor Westphal Mystery series (seven books), and is still writing books in The Code Busters Club series for middle school children that I think is a great series for adults, as well. By no means is this all that Penny Warner (Penny Pike) has written. There are approximately fifty others!
I was given a review copy of this book. Death of a Chocolate Cheater is due out June 2, 2015.
Death of a Chocolate Cheater, the second book in the Food Festival Mystery Series, is even better than the first, Death of a Crabby Cook. The action takes place in San Francisco during the highly competitive Chocolate Festival Contest. (If there isn't such a thing, there should be.) Darcy, laid off from her reporting job at the newspaper (in the last book) is still living in her aunt's RV, and working alongside her aunt in her aunt's food truck, The Big Yellow School Bus serving comfort food such as Crabby Cheerleader Mac and Cheese. A few days before the competition, at a party given by the hostess of the festival, someone is murdered. I absolutely will not tell you where the body is found but I will say it is not simply lying on a floor. Aunt Abby's friend becomes a suspect so Darcy proceeds to check out the contestants with a purported reason of getting a recipe from each of them for a book she wants to write. Darcy has the help of her Cousin Dillon, a computer-hacking wiz, and her new boyfriend, Jake, he of the Dream Puff food truck. Turns out there is no shortage of suspects and no shortage of motives. Funny, clever and pure Penny Pike (Penny Warner), Death of a Chocolate Cheater makes wonderful reading! Recipes are included. Oh, please, dear Warner publishers, let this series run for many more books! I'll be first in line to read them.
This is not the first series by this author to take place in San Francisco. I enjoyed the Party-Planning Mystery series very much! There are five books in that series and I would have loved more. She has also written the Connor Westphal Mystery series (seven books), and is still writing books in The Code Busters Club series for middle school children that I think is a great series for adults, as well. By no means is this all that Penny Warner (Penny Pike) has written. There are approximately fifty others!
I was given a review copy of this book. Death of a Chocolate Cheater is due out June 2, 2015.
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