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A Chocoholic Mystery #2
The Chocolate Bear Burglary
When Aunt Nettie and Lee borrow an antique chocolate mold to use in a special promotion, they have no idea it will lead to burglary – and then to murder. The son of Lee’s former husband shows up in Warner Pier, and the 18-year-old boy seems determined to get in trouble. And Lee’s just as determined to keep him out of it. Family secrets keep peeping out, and Lee winds up running for her life.
Hardcover
First published November 5, 2002
About the author
JoAnna Carl
37 books433 followersJOANNA CARL is the pseudonym for the multi-published mystery writer Eve K. Sandstrom. The author writes about the shores of Lake Michigan and has been reviewed in Michigan newspapers as a “regional writer.” She has also written about Southwest Oklahoma and once won an award for the best book of the year with an Oklahoma setting.
Eve K. Sandstrom is an Oklahoman to the teeth: she was born there, as were five previous generations of her mother’s family. Both her grandfathers and her father were in the oil business, once the backbone of Oklahoma’s economy. One grandmother was born in the Choctaw Nation, and Eve is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Eve and seven other members of her immediate family are graduates of the University of Oklahoma. Eve even knows the second verse of “Boomer Sooner.”
Eve wrote two mystery series: the “Down Home” books, set on a ranch in Southwest Oklahoma, and the Nell Matthews mysteries, semi-hard-boiled books laid in a mid-size city on the Southern Plains.
But Eve married a great guy whose family owned a cottage on the west coast of Lake Michigan, not far from the Michigan towns of Fennville, Saugatuck, and Douglas. Every summer for more than forty years she, her husband and various combinations of children and grandchildren have trekked to the community of Pier Cove for vacations that lasted from two weeks to three months.
The area features gorgeous beaches, lush orchards, thick woods, and beautiful Victorian houses. Eve grew to love it. So when her editor asked her to come up with a new, “cozy” mystery series, Eve set it in a West Michigan resort town, scrambling up Saugatuck, Douglas, South Haven, Holland, Manistee, Ludington and Muskegon with her own ideas of what a resort ought to be to create Warner Pier.
As further background, she plunked her heroine into a business which produces and sells luscious, luxurious, European-style bonbons, truffles and molded chocolates. Most small towns couldn’t support a business like this, but the resorts of West Michigan – with their wealthy “summer people” – can. The “Chocoholic Mysteries” were on their way.
Eve’s editor requested that she use a pen name for the new series, and Eve picked the middle names of her three children, Betsy Jo, Ruth Anna, and John Carl. “JoAnna Carl” was born. So that’s how JoAnna/Eve became a regional author in two widely separated regions.
JoAnna/Eve earned a degree in journalism at the University of Oklahoma and also studied with Carolyn G. Hart and Jack Bickham in the OU Creative Writing Program. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business, working as a reporter, editor, and columnist at The Lawton Constitution in Lawton, Oklahoma. She took an early retirement to write fiction full-time.
She and her husband, David F. Sandstrom, have three grandchildren, whom they love introducing to the lore of their two homes – Oklahoma and Michigan.
She spent 25 years in the newspaper business as a reporter, feature writer, editor, and columnist, most recently at the Lawton Constitution. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of OK and also studied in the O.U. Professional Writing program. She lives in Oklahoma but summers in Michigan where the Chocoholic Mystery series is set. She has one daughter who is a CPA and another who works for a chocolate company and provides yummy insider information on the chocolate business.
Eve K. Sandstrom is an Oklahoman to the teeth: she was born there, as were five previous generations of her mother’s family. Both her grandfathers and her father were in the oil business, once the backbone of Oklahoma’s economy. One grandmother was born in the Choctaw Nation, and Eve is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Eve and seven other members of her immediate family are graduates of the University of Oklahoma. Eve even knows the second verse of “Boomer Sooner.”
Eve wrote two mystery series: the “Down Home” books, set on a ranch in Southwest Oklahoma, and the Nell Matthews mysteries, semi-hard-boiled books laid in a mid-size city on the Southern Plains.
But Eve married a great guy whose family owned a cottage on the west coast of Lake Michigan, not far from the Michigan towns of Fennville, Saugatuck, and Douglas. Every summer for more than forty years she, her husband and various combinations of children and grandchildren have trekked to the community of Pier Cove for vacations that lasted from two weeks to three months.
The area features gorgeous beaches, lush orchards, thick woods, and beautiful Victorian houses. Eve grew to love it. So when her editor asked her to come up with a new, “cozy” mystery series, Eve set it in a West Michigan resort town, scrambling up Saugatuck, Douglas, South Haven, Holland, Manistee, Ludington and Muskegon with her own ideas of what a resort ought to be to create Warner Pier.
As further background, she plunked her heroine into a business which produces and sells luscious, luxurious, European-style bonbons, truffles and molded chocolates. Most small towns couldn’t support a business like this, but the resorts of West Michigan – with their wealthy “summer people” – can. The “Chocoholic Mysteries” were on their way.
Eve’s editor requested that she use a pen name for the new series, and Eve picked the middle names of her three children, Betsy Jo, Ruth Anna, and John Carl. “JoAnna Carl” was born. So that’s how JoAnna/Eve became a regional author in two widely separated regions.
JoAnna/Eve earned a degree in journalism at the University of Oklahoma and also studied with Carolyn G. Hart and Jack Bickham in the OU Creative Writing Program. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business, working as a reporter, editor, and columnist at The Lawton Constitution in Lawton, Oklahoma. She took an early retirement to write fiction full-time.
She and her husband, David F. Sandstrom, have three grandchildren, whom they love introducing to the lore of their two homes – Oklahoma and Michigan.
She spent 25 years in the newspaper business as a reporter, feature writer, editor, and columnist, most recently at the Lawton Constitution. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of OK and also studied in the O.U. Professional Writing program. She lives in Oklahoma but summers in Michigan where the Chocoholic Mystery series is set. She has one daughter who is a CPA and another who works for a chocolate company and provides yummy insider information on the chocolate business.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
March 5, 2016
First, let me say I had to downsize the rating for my new system of rating books. Now that I've finished all my Chocoholic mystery books, I do look at this story with nostalgia. It's an engrossing enough story, and I've been amazed at how much Joanna Carl has extracted from this setting of Warner Pier to generate so many stories. This time though the book is a cozy mystery the murder is quite gristly. I had no chance in guessing the murderer, and I enjoyed reading the story all the more for it.
February 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Solid 4 stars for the first 75%. Illegal investigative tactics and eyeroll-worthy cluelessness lead up to the reveal, which was not a surprise.
** If you are considering the audiobook, my best advice to you is DON’T DO IT! I couldn’t tolerate the fake muppet voices and was much happier when I switched to the Kindle version.
Solid 4 stars for the first 75%. Illegal investigative tactics and eyeroll-worthy cluelessness lead up to the reveal, which was not a surprise.
** If you are considering the audiobook, my best advice to you is DON’T DO IT! I couldn’t tolerate the fake muppet voices and was much happier when I switched to the Kindle version.
September 4, 2021
Review to come.
September 19, 2019
In this #2, we continue with character development and are introduced to Lee's ex-stepson, who manages to come to town and get in a whole heap of trouble. Lee of course is there to help.
I enjoyed this entry in the series (I admit to having read ahead before reading #2, but that did not in any way deter or detract from this one; it manages to be a stand-alone read).
Lee mangles her words some times; in this one as opposed to entries later in the series, she does this less, which is fine by me.
I liked that Lee is getting a backbone about Joe. Joe has been hesitant because of circumstances in book 1 to be public with his relationship with Lee. Red Flag! But this is handled well in the book.
Interesting little tidbits and author thoughts sprinkled in bits and pieces in the book. Kind of like recipes in cozy culinary stories.
I did figure out 'who dun it' because there really was no other option. But it was well played.
I will continue the series.
I enjoyed this entry in the series (I admit to having read ahead before reading #2, but that did not in any way deter or detract from this one; it manages to be a stand-alone read).
Lee mangles her words some times; in this one as opposed to entries later in the series, she does this less, which is fine by me.
I liked that Lee is getting a backbone about Joe. Joe has been hesitant because of circumstances in book 1 to be public with his relationship with Lee. Red Flag! But this is handled well in the book.
Interesting little tidbits and author thoughts sprinkled in bits and pieces in the book. Kind of like recipes in cozy culinary stories.
I did figure out 'who dun it' because there really was no other option. But it was well played.
I will continue the series.
August 31, 2008
This is the second book in the Chocoholic Mystery series and I am still not thrilled with the author's writing style. But I have been told by a reliable source that this series does get better, so I plan to stick it out.
I figured out 'whodunit' fairly early in the story. There really were no surprises. I find the main character to be a bit annoying, but was happy that the whole 'twisted tongue' thing was not as prevalent in this book as the last one.
Have #3 here on my TBR shelf so will continue to read this series in the hopes that it improves soon.
I figured out 'whodunit' fairly early in the story. There really were no surprises. I find the main character to be a bit annoying, but was happy that the whole 'twisted tongue' thing was not as prevalent in this book as the last one.
Have #3 here on my TBR shelf so will continue to read this series in the hopes that it improves soon.
June 29, 2026
#2 in the Chocoholic Mystery cozy mystery series
I read the first in this series years ago, but my review helped, and I was able to jump right back into the story. First of all, I enjoyed the characters. Lee is strong and capable, and I liked that she is trying to fit into the small-town situation, helping out her aunt. Her somewhat hidden relationship with Joe also makes sense because of Joe's wariness about attracting the media due to his past. The murder was unexpected, and Lee's questions and inquiries helped lead her in the right direction. What I didn't like, however, is that people seem to think it's OK to break & enter into someone's property in order to solve a murder mystery. First of all, it's totally dangerous and reckless. Not to mention...criminal. I can't imagine doing what Lee did, which she seemed to think was OK as long as she didn't get caught. Seemed dumb to me. However, putting that aside (since it seems to be a common failing in cozy mysteries), I will continue with this series, a little sooner this time.
I read the first in this series years ago, but my review helped, and I was able to jump right back into the story. First of all, I enjoyed the characters. Lee is strong and capable, and I liked that she is trying to fit into the small-town situation, helping out her aunt. Her somewhat hidden relationship with Joe also makes sense because of Joe's wariness about attracting the media due to his past. The murder was unexpected, and Lee's questions and inquiries helped lead her in the right direction. What I didn't like, however, is that people seem to think it's OK to break & enter into someone's property in order to solve a murder mystery. First of all, it's totally dangerous and reckless. Not to mention...criminal. I can't imagine doing what Lee did, which she seemed to think was OK as long as she didn't get caught. Seemed dumb to me. However, putting that aside (since it seems to be a common failing in cozy mysteries), I will continue with this series, a little sooner this time.
June 8, 2019
Great read. I could not put it down. Love this series. The characters are great. The plot really had me going until the end.
February 20, 2022
Cute caper #2 in the series. Did not figure it out until the end!
March 1, 2022
It was good. A little convoluted, but good. I'm happy with the ending with Joe and Lee, but didn't much like how their story went throughout the book. I did want to know how everything turned out with Tess, but nothing was said.
April 12, 2016
Eh. I'm still not loving these, but they're okay. And I don't have to pay for them since the library has them, so I guess I'll keep reading. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it?
This is readable enough. The tongue-tied thing is annoying. The main character is okay, but kind of annoys me. The culprit was fairly clear from the beginning. So, yeah.
This is readable enough. The tongue-tied thing is annoying. The main character is okay, but kind of annoys me. The culprit was fairly clear from the beginning. So, yeah.
March 15, 2020
The tongue twister thing is simply annoying. Why are we wasting space/time on something so stupid and so meaningless? It has zero bearing on anything in the plot. It doesn't establish character. It just takes up space. I'm bowing out of this series now.
June 28, 2016
I loved this book. I was surprised by who the murderer turned out to be. Another great installment in the Chocoholic Mystery series. Can't wait to read the next one.
December 19, 2016
You just never know what you are going to learn. In this cozy mystery I learned about antique chocolate molds. I will read more.
June 27, 2019
Great Sequel to The Chocolate Cat Caper! I still love the characters of this tourist lake town. The mystery was a bit off- not all the logic made sense, but it was still an enjoyable read. The characters in the Hart/ VanHorn family were a fun element, and I liked the more complex relationship between Lee and her ex-husband/ex-stepson. A more immature author might fall into the cliche of having Rich and Jeff portrayed in a more negative light. Instead, they're just human people who make mistakes, but still try to do the right thing. The only thing I really didn't like was Joe's presence in the book. In Chocolate Cat, it seemed like Joe's place as a character would be smaller- him in the background or traveling as he tried to cope after his wife's death. At the end of book 1, he seems to be placing distance between him and Lee, which I thought was reasonable. Instead, he becomes a major love-interest for Lee in the sequel, and I'm not sure that was the best move. He's not a super interesting character, and the fact that Lee gets together with an old high school crush seems a bit hokey. There aren't really any scenes in these last two books to solidify a relationship between them from a reader's perspective. All they do is solve mysteries. There's not even banter when they do it! I just don't understand why he's still in the series.
February 11, 2018
TenHuis Chocolate puts a collection of antique chocolate molds on display and is promptly burgled on the same night. Little later, the woman who organized the exhibition is found murdered outside the shop. The prime suspect, by virtue of having both disturbed the burglary in progress and later found the body, is Lee's former stepson Jeff, who unexpectedly showed up on her doorstep. To clear him of suspicion, Lee begins to look into the matter herself.
Much like the first one, entertaining enough but fairly predictable. I still don't care much for the Lee/Joe romance, was kinda hoping that would fizzle out. Oh well.
Much like the first one, entertaining enough but fairly predictable. I still don't care much for the Lee/Joe romance, was kinda hoping that would fizzle out. Oh well.
February 17, 2018
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first in the series. Aunt Nettie is still wonderful, and Lee was a good stepmother in this book once she stopped focusing on Jeff's piercings, and we didn't spend a ton of time reading about Lee's mixing up words. But Joe annoyed me until the end of the story, and I'm extremely glad the Hart family is done in the series. The action moved quickly, but with no apparent reason until the twists were revealed. And I didn't like the way the case resolved because it made the majority of story pointless to me. Again, I didn't like this one especially, but I am willing to give the series another try.
September 17, 2022
I like Lee she is trying to find herself again after her divorce and enjoys the small town and helping her Aunt with the chocolate shop. She is trying to move forward in her life and likes Joe but is frustrated with his reluctance to have real relationship with her. Frankly I was annoyed with him too! Her past is brought to the present when Lee’s stepson shows up with little explanation to why he is in town. When he is blamed for a burglary and then a murder Lee must find the truth despite all the secrets. Enjoyable story will continue the series. I enjoy the chocolate facts and references to other books
November 6, 2023
A friend (MH) sent this to me in a box of books. (I think she got it from another friend (AC)).
I've read other books in this series. Lee's slips of the tongue were not as humorous in this one as I remember them being in other installments of the series. I didn't guess exactly who the burglar or murderer was but I did have it narrowed down somewhat correctly. (Trying not to have a spoiler in saying that.)
I liked the information on the antique chocolate molds and how they were used/cleaned (vs. the modern molds). Most of the "extras" (chocolate facts) in this book were literary themed.
I've read other books in this series. Lee's slips of the tongue were not as humorous in this one as I remember them being in other installments of the series. I didn't guess exactly who the burglar or murderer was but I did have it narrowed down somewhat correctly. (Trying not to have a spoiler in saying that.)
I liked the information on the antique chocolate molds and how they were used/cleaned (vs. the modern molds). Most of the "extras" (chocolate facts) in this book were literary themed.
June 22, 2026
Here she goes again in another crazy mystery. The town has decided to bring in tourists for the winter season and the theme is teddy bears. Aunt Nellie already has molds for bear shaped candies but the festival developer decides she needs to spark up the place with some antique molds and that’s where the fun begins. Lee’s stepson shows up with no reason and winds up stopping a burglary but also gets into a murder charge. Will Lee figure it all out while trying to continue her under cover relationship with Joe or will the running for office Hart VanHorn notice her away. You won’t want to put this down till all is known.
April 22, 2019
I am not a big fan of foul language in my reading, and find it unnecessary to make a story better. That didn't change with this book. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town, but overall, there book was overwrought with descriptions. I had plans of reading the entire series when I first began this book (our library system doesn't have the first in this series so I had to start with the second). I've changed my mind. However, as with all of my reviews, I suggest you form your own opinion, because you might just like this book more than I do.
August 8, 2022
This series is pretty fun. I enjoy the characters and the setting and find it to be a solid cozy mystery series. This book is no exception to that.
I will say that I found this mystery incredibly predictable. I had a sense of what the plot twists were going to be from very early on and had to change my guesses very little throughout the rest of the book.
Despite being predictable, I did find the book fun and enjoyed reading it. And I still got engrossed in the story and kept wanting to stop doing other things to finish it, so I can't mark it down too much.
I will say that I found this mystery incredibly predictable. I had a sense of what the plot twists were going to be from very early on and had to change my guesses very little throughout the rest of the book.
Despite being predictable, I did find the book fun and enjoyed reading it. And I still got engrossed in the story and kept wanting to stop doing other things to finish it, so I can't mark it down too much.
April 11, 2025
Fellow series readers - Skip this one.
I’ve been reading “A Chocoholic Mystery Series” books for YEARS!! And out of order bc order really didn’t matter in this series.
BUT…Madam Carl failed on this book. I figured out who was gonna die before they died and who was the villain before the murder happened 😒
Took over half the book to get to the murder. Then solving the murder was one 1/4 of the book after that.
This was definitely a “we want a second mystery from you” write.
I’ve been reading “A Chocoholic Mystery Series” books for YEARS!! And out of order bc order really didn’t matter in this series.
BUT…Madam Carl failed on this book. I figured out who was gonna die before they died and who was the villain before the murder happened 😒
Took over half the book to get to the murder. Then solving the murder was one 1/4 of the book after that.
This was definitely a “we want a second mystery from you” write.
August 7, 2022
So dumb and the main character’s irritating “quirk” of completely saying wrong words? I don’t get it. It was like it was written by a twelve year old. Desperate for reading material as it was the only thing in the hostel but wow what a silly book. At least it was squat! I mean short! (See how stupid and artificial that sounds?)
June 2, 2018
I found the appearance of the MC’s ex-stepson unnecessary.
The discovery of the Chocolade’s break in and the missing chocolate mold could have been introduced in another way that didn’t clog the story with, what I found, useless characters and a subplot that went nowhere.
The discovery of the Chocolade’s break in and the missing chocolate mold could have been introduced in another way that didn’t clog the story with, what I found, useless characters and a subplot that went nowhere.
December 22, 2018
The chocolate business can be dangerous, as Lee McKinney finds out when a collection of chocolate molds leads to murder. Although this was the second in the series, I felt I could still jump into Lee's world. I'll definitely be looking out for the other books in this series!
December 27, 2018
Really only read this to pass the time because it was the only book on hand and just don’t do it. The main character is annoying - the tongue twister moments were fast becoming a pet peeve for this book.
January 4, 2019
This is a good cozy mysttery. Lee handles the business side of her Aunt's chocolate shop. The shop is part of a town theme of bears. One of the molds is stolen Then a lady is found deas. Lee needs to figure out what is going on to get her stepson out of jail.
November 11, 2020
Joe irritated me throughout this book! And Jeff and Tess too! Lee was fun and clearly trying to keep everything together with moderate success! Interesting mystery but I definitely saw the ending coming!
December 15, 2020
Nice followup, could be a good series. This time, the store is broken into, possible to steal some old and expensive chocolate molds. Even with the idiotic appearance of Lee's former step-son, the story manages to stay on level and interesting. However, that subplot does drag it down to average.
July 11, 2022
I enjoyed this one so much I read it again. I want to revisit the series, couldn't remember where I left off but did know that I had read this before. I chose to reread. Luckily, I didn't remember the ending so it was like new again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews