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A Deadly Inside Scoop

(Ice Cream Parlor Mystery #1)

Abby Collette (Goodreads Author)

3.45 · Rating details · 1,325 ratings · 383 reviews

This book kicks off a charming cozy mystery series set in an ice cream shop--with a fabulous cast of quirky characters. Recent MBA grad Bronwyn Crewse has just taken over her family's ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and she's going back to basics. Win is renovating Crewse Creamery to restore its former glory, and filling the menu with delicious, homemade ice cream f ...more

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Paperback, 375 pages

Published May 12th 2020 by Berkley

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Cozy Mysteries 2020 New Releases

213 books — 261 voters

Can’t Wait Crime, Mystery, & Thrillers 2020

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Apr 10, 2020 Chelsea Humphrey rated it really liked it

Recommended to Chelsea by: Berkley Publishing Group

Shelves: from-publisher

This was cute, fun, and exactly what I needed right now. Review to come!

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.

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May 12, 2020 Brenda ~Traveling Sisters Book Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: print-from-publisher

A Deadly Inside Scoop is the first book to An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery and it's off to a great start. It's light, warm and entertaining read that has scoops of flavours with all those elements in a cozy mystery.

Bronwyn "Win" has taken over the family ice cream shop, and she is off to a rocky start with the weather and then finding a body in the snow. It starts to look like her father is a suspect. Win and her friend Maisie team up and do some amateur sleuthing to find out who killed Stephen Bay ...more

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May 13, 2020 Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader rated it really liked it

Bronwyn (Win) is taking over her family’s ice cream shop, and with that, she has some renovations to do. Sadly, her changes delay the shop’s opening until a snow day, the first of the season, so it’s not as grand as she imagined. On top of that, Win finds a body in the snow, of someone who had a dispute with her family. Win’s father is named as a suspect in the crime. And now Win feels charged with solving the crime and clearing her dad’s name.

A Deadly Inside Scoop is an intriguing mystery. It w ...more

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May 27, 2020 Christopher rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020

Brownwyn “Win” Crewse has done everything to make her family’s ice cream shop a success, starting with a completely renovated space and a new menu courtesy of her grandmother’s favorite recipes. Unfortunately, after unexpected delays extend past the bustling summer season, she’s forced to reopen during an early snow. And while she knows ice cream is the perfect treat no matter the weather, potential customers don’t have the same mindset. Things only go from bad to worse when she discovers a dead Brownwyn “Win” Crewse has done everything to make her family’s ice cream shop a success, starting with a completely renovated space and a new menu courtesy of her grandmother’s favorite recipes. Unfortunately, after unexpected delays extend past the bustling summer season, she’s forced to reopen during an early snow. And while she knows ice cream is the perfect treat no matter the weather, potential customers don’t have the same mindset. Things only go from bad to worse when she discovers a dead body near her shop—a man with a rocky history with her family. When police begin to suspect her father, Win must clear his name by scooping up the real killer … and some new customers.

One of Win’s guiding principles as a businesswoman is that there’s never a bad time for ice cream and, in much the same way, it’s never a bad time to sink into A Deadly Scoop. A richly layered mystery with smooth dialogue and delectable characterizations, it’s much like an irresistible chocolate sundae—with creamy ice cream, some hot fudge, a dash of whipped cream, maybe a few nuts, sprinkles for a hint of color, a cherry on top never hurt … sorry, started drooling for a second.

The point being, author Abby Collette has assembled all the winning ingredients for a solid book—and she knows just how to use them. As any ice cream shop proprietor knows, perhaps the most important element is forming a solid base. Collette has found that in Win, a smart, funny, and levelheaded sleuth whose sole mission is to see her family’s ice cream shop succeed. Her excitement for frozen treats and family tradition is palpable on the page, and reading as she navigates a new chapter in her life is satisfying long before murder gets thrown into the mix. But once she’s embroiled in the case, it’s just as compelling all the way through to a solid ending.

Of course, a good base needs some backup from the mix-ins and toppings. Collette has sprinkled in an abundance of personality from secondary characters like PopPop, Win’s sometimes cantankerous but always bighearted grandfather, and Maisie and Riya, her two best friends with some spontaneous ideas that complicate the mystery. Win is generally calm and collected, but she’s forced to react to the extreme situation and temperaments around her, and the result is some major tension cut up by genuinely funny moments.

An absolute treat, A Deadly Inside Scoop is a great start to a new series.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres... ...more

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May 16, 2020 LORI (Dollycas) CASWELL rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2020

Dollycas’s Thoughts

First of all, it is never too cold for ice cream, in Ohio or Wisconsin or anywhere!!

Crewse Creamery is a family business and recent MBA grad Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has been handed the reins to bring the ice cream shop back to its glory days using her grandmother’s recipes while adding a few of her own. Unfortunately, her opening day was pushed past the summer months and the day she actually opens the snow is flying. So Win decides to embrace it by using her grandmother’s recipe Dollycas’s Thoughts

First of all, it is never too cold for ice cream, in Ohio or Wisconsin or anywhere!!

Crewse Creamery is a family business and recent MBA grad Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has been handed the reins to bring the ice cream shop back to its glory days using her grandmother’s recipes while adding a few of her own. Unfortunately, her opening day was pushed past the summer months and the day she actually opens the snow is flying. So Win decides to embrace it by using her grandmother’s recipe to make Snow Ice Cream. While out gathering the snow she needs she discovers a body of a dead man in the snow. A man that has a bad history with her family and she soon learns many others. She, her friends, and her family, all join in to freeze out the killer and put them on ice for good.

_____

I loved this story!!

Set in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland seems like the ideal place for a cozy mystery series. An area that could be ripe for all kinds of drama. An ice cream parlor theme is just plain delicious too!

Win is a true treasure. She is heartwarming, intelligent, with a great head on her shoulders. Her family is close, but she has a special relationship with her PopPop, which speaks volumes about them both. Maisie Solomon has been her best friend since kindergarten, but that girl is off her rocker, watching too many crime shows, and reading too many mysteries has her coming up with some theories that are way out there. Friend Riya brought her owns ideas and those didn’t go well either. All the core characters Ms. Collette introduced are strong, age and ethnically diverse, and very well-developed for the first book in a series, but she has left them with plenty of room to grow. We also have a regal feline resident at the ice cream shop which is just like a cherry on the top of my sundae!

The mystery was marvelous and I love following along while Win did her sometimes unorthodox and sometimes illegal snooping. The suspect list seemed to grow each step of the way instead of really eliminating anyone for quite a while. It also brought what could be a romantic interest for Win, and maybe even PopPop. I was completely captivated and entertained from beginning to end.

A Deadly Inside Scoop is a truly tasty debut for this series. It strikes all my cozy boxes and then some. It also has recipes in the back of the book!!! For these reasons and more, this book will be on my Best Reads List of 2020. I am craving Book 2!! ...more

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Feb 02, 2020 Esme Addison rated it it was amazing

I was super excited when I heard about this book deal. Culinary cozies are a favorite of mine, and I've never read an ice cream shop cozy - something I didn't know I needed in my life! Abby Collette's A Deadly Inside Scoop does not disappoint.

There was so much I enjoyed about this well-written mystery: the likable, relatable main character, Bronwyn, her big supportive family, the ice cream - did I mention the ice cream? There's a lot of it: people eating it, people making it... I enjoyed all of ...more

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Jul 16, 2020 Mark Baker rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, 2020

Bronwyn “Win” Crewse is ready to reopen Crewse Creamery, the ice cream parlor founded by her grandparents in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, after some renovations. Unfortunately, opening day sees an early October snow storm and no customers. However, Win’s day gets even worse when she stumbles upon a dead body after she’s closed the shop for the day. The man turns out to be someone who crossed paths with Win’s family years ago, and not for the better. Before Win knows it, the police are looking at her fat ...more

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Nov 29, 2020 Mackenzie - PhDiva Books rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mystery

A new favorite cozy mystery series for me—Abby Collette’s Ice Cream Parlor Mysteries have it all! The characters are fantastic, I love the ice cream shop theme and seeing how she grows her business, and the mystery was well-done and compelling. Loved it!

A Deadly Inside Scoop is the first in a new cozy mystery series featuring the Crewse family, one of the only Black families in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and owners of a family ice cream parlor business started by the late and great Grandma Kay. I compl A new favorite cozy mystery series for me—Abby Collette’s Ice Cream Parlor Mysteries have it all! The characters are fantastic, I love the ice cream shop theme and seeing how she grows her business, and the mystery was well-done and compelling. Loved it!

A Deadly Inside Scoop is the first in a new cozy mystery series featuring the Crewse family, one of the only Black families in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and owners of a family ice cream parlor business started by the late and great Grandma Kay. I completely fell in love with the Crewse family and Crewse Creamery! The family is close-knit, supportive, and quirky. I fell in love with the whole family!

Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has been working in marketing in NYC and earning her MBA. When a health scare brings her home, she realizes that her dream is to reopen her family’s ice cream parlor, Crewse Creamery. Her grandparents had owned and operated it for years, before handing it over to her Aunt Jack who changed it to a novelty shop (a change the family was not in support of). When Win’s PopPop gives her the key to the store, Win spends a year restoring it to its former glory with a few key upgrades (seriously, the glass wall overlooking Chagrin waterfalls sounds stunning!).

Now, after some setbacks, Win is finally ready to reopen the store. But on her grand opening day a snowstorm blows through and no one comes in. Dejected, Win draws inspiration from her Grandma Kay and goes to collect some fresh snow to use in her ice cream. But before she can collect the snow, she trips over a dead body.

When it becomes clear that the unique murder weapon and the sordid history of the victim with Win’s own family has made her father the prime suspect, Win decides to help investigate. Afterall, she was the one who discovered the body, and she has a few leads! With help from her PopPop, friend Maisie, and a few other characters, Win hunts a killer all while trying to market her shop and make some ice cream to die for!

Abby Collette has a gift with characters. I have to give my first shout out to Win’s grandfather PopPop, who is just the delight of this entire book from his very first scene to the heart-pounding finale. Win’s two best friends Riya and Maisie are also so much fun. Riya has a bit of a temper in a delightful way, and Maisie… marches to the beat of her own drum. Loved them! There are so many great characters I’m looking forward to learning more about the people of Chagrin Falls in the next installment!

I also appreciated that the mystery was kept at the forefront and the secondary focus was getting to know the characters. We didn’t rush into a love story, or spend too much time pulled away from the mystery, but I also felt I got to know everyone and will know the characters going into the second book. There are a few I’d definitely like to know more about, such as O and Mrs. Deveraux!

The mystery itself totally got me! I didn’t guess the murderer and I also didn’t guess how all the pieces would come together. It was a great mystery and a fun new series!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own. ...more

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May 25, 2020 Kim rated it it was ok

I won an ARC copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I wanted to like this cozy mystery, but the simple writing was repetitive and the story dragged on. The back and forth dialogue was mostly meaningless, and the characters were very flat and boring. I’m not sure if this one felt so dry because it’s slated to be the first in a series and so most of this was setup for that (introducing characters, explaining backstory, etc). I might possibly try the second one before completely writing it off.

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May 10, 2020 Tari rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, 2020-ebooks, wish-list

This was an awesome first for this new series, and I really love these characters! I think my faves were Maisie and PopPop. It was hilarious to read about Win and Maisie sleuthing together with sensible, non-risk taking Win trying her best to keep Maisie out of trouble. When their other bestie Riya joined in and beat up a guy, sleuthing was just taken to a new level with them. PopPop made a good ice cream shop helper, since he'd founded the place to begin with, but he was also a pretty good snoo ...more

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Apr 19, 2020 Monnie rated it really liked it

My taste in mystery/thrillers rarely encompasses the "cozy" kind - mostly because the "heroine" typically is a woman who has no common sense and charges ahead to put her own life, and sometimes the lives of others, at risk simply because she won't listen to anyone else. This one spoke to me, though, because it's set in Chagrin Falls, Ohio - almost, but not quite, in my own back yard - I've been there many times.

And then I found out the heroine - in this case, ice cream shop owner Bronwyn Crewse My taste in mystery/thrillers rarely encompasses the "cozy" kind - mostly because the "heroine" typically is a woman who has no common sense and charges ahead to put her own life, and sometimes the lives of others, at risk simply because she won't listen to anyone else. This one spoke to me, though, because it's set in Chagrin Falls, Ohio - almost, but not quite, in my own back yard - I've been there many times.

And then I found out the heroine - in this case, ice cream shop owner Bronwyn Crewse - doesn't fit that typical cozy mold, which kept me interested (well, that and an intriguing story that begins when Bronwyn ("Win" for short) bumps into a friendly stranger who claims to have found a lost puppy and is looking for its owner. Not long thereafter, she finds the guy again next to the town's waterfall - where she'd gone to collect newly fallen snow to make ice cream - only this time he's very dead.

She also learns that the stranger not only isn't friendly, but he's a familiar, if unwelcome, person in town. In fact, he's a con man who pulled some shady deals last time he made an appearance; quite a few folks, including Win's physician father, aren't particularly unhappy that he's dead. But when the police get wind of who the guy was and what he'd done, they zero in on her father. Understandably, Win pledges to gather evidence that will clear his heretofore stellar name.

Woven throughout the rest of the book, besides her attempts at amateur investigation, are her efforts to make the just-renovated long-time family ice cream store a success (even in the middle of winter in Ohio) that include a big catering job for the local college. Alas, in the middle of all this entertaining drama is this: Remember how happy I was that Win didn't exhibit that bull-in-the-china-shop attitude common to most cozy heroines? Well, the same can't be said about her friend and part-time employee, Maisie, who is absolutely insufferable - honestly, she's one of the most annoying characters I've run into in a long, long time. I hope she finds a job in New York or California before the next book in this series is released.

Otherwise, though, this is a very enjoyable - delightful, even - book and I look forward to the next one, especially if the author adds some of those yummy-sounding ice cream recipes at the end as she did here. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.
...more

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Jun 26, 2020 Pam rated it really liked it

Shelves: ohio, audio-book, 2020-books-read, cozy-mystery

AUTHOR Collette, Abby
TITLE A Deadly Inside Scoop
DATE READ 06/22/20
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Cozy Mystery/2020/hoopla-audio/9 hr 52 min
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 Ice Cream Parlor Mystery
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 122/120;
GROUP READ Cozy Mysteries Once a Month
TIME/PLACE 2020/Ohio
CHARACTERS Brownwyn Crewes/ manager of Ice Cream Parlor
COMMENTS Delightful debut, like able protaganist and family members. Bronwyn has a degree in marketing and has worked in ...more

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May 20, 2020 Read In Colour rated it liked it

A Deadly Inside Scoop has all of the elements of a good cozy mystery: small town, quirky friends and/or family members and just a smidge of crime.

Abby Vandiver, writing as Abby Collette, is no stranger to lovers of mystery, but new fans will appreciate the introduction of Bronwyn Crewse, her friends and parents, her touching relationship with her grandfather and her passionate quest to kickstart the reopening of her grandparents' historic ice cream parlor. Vandiver/Collette's decision to give Wi ...more

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Jun 02, 2020 Anissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, christmas-and-winter-mysteries, cozy-mystery, 2020, library-borrowed-kindle-unlimited

I totally didn't need to begin yet another cozy mystery but I couldn't resist this when I ran across it. The sluether is the owner of an ice cream shop and the cover was neat. Happily, so was the story. Bronwyn Crewse has an already busy and challenging day on the re-launch of the ice cream shop that's been in her family for years. It's winter and her renovations aren't quite complete. On the upside, she is now in possession of her grandmother's handwritten recipes (thanks Granddad) and is in th ...more

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Apr 14, 2020 Ms. Woc Reader rated it really liked it

Old school ice cream shop complete with a soda fountain owned and operated by a black woman? I'm not even the biggest ice cream fan but I couldn't wait to salivate over her concoctions! Caramel popcorn, ghoulish blueberry, pumpkin roll, decadent chocolate... Yum!

This was a well written, diverse mystery with a likable cast of characters worth checking out. The mystery does take it's time to start but the story keeps you entertained throughout.

See in depth review below
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.b ...more

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Sep 25, 2020 ABookwormWithWine rated it really liked it

Shelves: cover-love, edelweiss, made-me-chuckle, secrets, library-books, made-me-lol, females-sleuthing, kindle-books, cozy-mystery, adult-fiction

A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette is SO MUCH FUN, and I had such a great time reading it. I'm a big fan of the cozy mystery genre and this made for a great start to the Ice Cream Parlor series. It is lighthearted, entertaining, and pleasantly surprising, especially since I did not have the culprit figured out. Bronwyn (Win) was such a great character as was her friend Maisie. I loved watching them blunder through their investigation of who killed the man Win found dead, and there were lots ...more

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Jun 09, 2020 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: home-library, cozy-mysteries

Love love loved this book. I have definitely found a new favorite cozy mystery series - I mean what is not to love about a story about ice cream?! Win is re-opening her family's homemade ice cream shop and I love how close knit her family is and reading about the history of the shop and how everyone comes together to help out. Reading about ice cream all day has me craving it, and that is especially due to the descriptions of all the fantastic flavors that Win comes up with. I could really pictu ...more

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Dec 14, 2020 Monica **can't read fast enough** rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-favorites, book-1-in-a-series, cozy-mystery, aa-fiction, mystery, aa-authors-reads

I went in knowing that I would enjoy this story because I'm a fan of this author and I was not disappointed. Now I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 when it releases.

Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase ...more

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Aug 01, 2020 Mel from YouTube Channel Mel’s bookish world rated it it was amazing

One of the best cozy mysteries I have read in a long time

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May 18, 2020 Carrie Schmidt (Reading is My SuperPower) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, small-towns, cozy-mystery, mystery-suspense, family-ties, diversity, blog-reviewed, snowed-in

I always love starting a new cozy mystery series, particularly if it’s by an author I haven’t read yet. A Deadly Inside Scoop is one of the better series debuts I’ve read recently, and I’m so delighted to have discovered a new-to-me author that I’ll definitely keep following!

Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has a lot at stake as the book begins. She’s putting the final touches on restoring her family’s ice cream parlor (re-opening in the middle of a blizzard) and preparing to follow her beloved late grandmo I always love starting a new cozy mystery series, particularly if it’s by an author I haven’t read yet. A Deadly Inside Scoop is one of the better series debuts I’ve read recently, and I’m so delighted to have discovered a new-to-me author that I’ll definitely keep following!

Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has a lot at stake as the book begins. She’s putting the final touches on restoring her family’s ice cream parlor (re-opening in the middle of a blizzard) and preparing to follow her beloved late grandmother’s footsteps, under the loving watchful eye of her Pop-Pop and with the help of her friends & family. Win is instantly likable, if a bit scattered (which is excusable, given how much she’s trying to juggle at the moment. Restart a community favorite business, carry on a family legacy, solve a murder… you know, the usual lol). Her ice cream flavors sound really yummy & I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up – and how she uses her grandmother’s cherished recipes – as the seasons & series progress.

Win comes from a tight-knit family who make up the majority of the 0.4 % African American population of their tiny town just outside Cleveland, and I loved the diverse characters that make up the supporting cast as well. (Her Pop-Pop has my heart!) Including Win’s two best friends – Riya (half-Sicillian & half-Indian) & Maisie (whose Jewish grandmother owns & operates the town’s Chinese restaurant). Riya is the hotheaded protector; Maisie is the impetuous free spirit. And while we don’t spend much time with Riya in this book, the trio of friends is a formidable force to be sure.

The mystery is nicely layered and moves at a steady pace throughout the story. Poor Win and Maisie aren’t the most seasoned of investigators, opting for a rather madcap hodgepodge of ideas and stakeouts and interrogations, but it’s highly entertaining. A host of suspects cross their paths, along with some motives that range from fairly weak to pretty strong. You sorta get the feeling that, if Win and her crew had just been patient, Detective Beverley would have figured it out before too much longer but goodness it would have been a lot less fun!

Bottom Line: A Deadly Inside Scoop is a fun start to a new series with diverse characters, a strong sense of family & community, and – of course – yummy ice cream! Win is a heroine readers will quickly embrace, and her relatable struggles make her a sympathetic character. Best friend Maisie is the Lucy to Win’s Ethel – if that infamous comedic duo had also solved crimes – and, while you’re tempted to groan at her ideas, her infectious personality & loyalty to Win keeps her likable too. I loved the ethnic & age diversity of this small community & the unique perspective each brought to the book. A well-plotted mystery rounds out the mix, and I’m ready for another visit with the Crewse family & their ice cream parlor!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower ...more

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May 15, 2020 Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-to-review, 2020, 2020-cozy-challenge, 2020-netgalley

How can a new cozy series that features ice cream be bad? It can't! In fact, it is downright delicious and the recipes at the end will have you pulling out an ice cream maker to make some for your own home.

Bronwyn Crewse, AKA Win, is our protagonist and amateur sleuth. She has recently returned to Chagrin Falls from NY and is reopening her grandparent's ice cream shop. This shop has a history in that town and many have fond memories of her grandparents and the ice cream. The relationship wi How can a new cozy series that features ice cream be bad? It can't! In fact, it is downright delicious and the recipes at the end will have you pulling out an ice cream maker to make some for your own home.

Bronwyn Crewse, AKA Win, is our protagonist and amateur sleuth. She has recently returned to Chagrin Falls from NY and is reopening her grandparent's ice cream shop. This shop has a history in that town and many have fond memories of her grandparents and the ice cream. The relationship with PopPop is heartwarming since he has been waiting for Win to come back and run the shop. Win's parents are a bit overprotective of her since she is a girl and the baby of the family. It isn't too surprising to see that trait from her parents or even her older brothers - and there are three of those!

Win is not on her own, she has two close friends - Maisie and Riva. Riva is a no-nonsense type of gal and you better watch out if you get on her bad side. Maisie is something of a free spirit and I'm not really sure what to make of her character and I think she is something of a loose cannon. She tended to jump in feet first without thinking things through and could potentially put them in harms way. I think this line from the book sums up Maisie quite well and is the thoughts of one of Win's brother, James:

"He thought Maisie was a bundle of fireworks hovering over an open flame. He said no one would ever know when her fuse would catch fire or what direction she'd take off in. She was festive, he said, but potentially dangerous."

The mystery is well thought out and while there are several characters to suspect of being the killer, the true killer might come as a surprise. I know I didn't suspect this person but thought there was something strange about their actions. Now we know why!

I enjoyed the nod to the original Pink Panther movie with characters using some of their names like Peter Sellers and David Nivens.

There is a potential budding romance with a former police officer turned law professor who goes by the nickname O. He has his eye on Win and I think she might have some interest in him too despite her protests. I am anxious to see how this might play out. I also wonder about the police detective and if he might be interested in Win or if he was just working with her to get information? Only time will tell.

The only thing I thought was really odd was that Win called her parents mommy and daddy. Most people I know shorten it to mom and dad especially as they get older.

This is an enjoyable start to a new series and I suggest giving it a whirl. I am tempted to try the recipes at the end of the book as they all sound delicious! I just need an ice cream maker.

We give this book 4 paws up. ...more

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May 07, 2020 Jeanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: cozy-foodie, obs

I was delighted to read this first in An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series! My first job was at an ice cream shop in Michigan, so I appreciate watching the family’s newly-remodeled store reopen in October – to the first snowstorm of the winter. It brought back memories of scooping ice cream and learning to make the special desserts. I enjoyed meeting the engaging Win, her family and friends, and was stumped by this excellent mystery.

Win, a marketing expert, returned to her hometown from New York C I was delighted to read this first in An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series! My first job was at an ice cream shop in Michigan, so I appreciate watching the family’s newly-remodeled store reopen in October – to the first snowstorm of the winter. It brought back memories of scooping ice cream and learning to make the special desserts. I enjoyed meeting the engaging Win, her family and friends, and was stumped by this excellent mystery.

Win, a marketing expert, returned to her hometown from New York City, where her grandfather PopPop gave her carte blanche to take over the family ice cream shop. Crewse Creamery was started over half a century ago when her PopPop and Grandma Kay followed a dream. Aunt Jack ran the store when they stopped managing it, and she just left to marry a man she met online in another state.

Win planned an awesome renovation which was completed much later than anticipated. On opening day, she walked to the shop and met a man carrying a puppy he claimed was lost. He knew her family, especially her grandparents, and said he might go visit PopPop while in town. When her mother stopped in and heard about Puppy Guy, she figured out who it was – someone who had tried to destroy the family and business when her grandmother was very ill. Mom also told her that if the man showed up to see PopPop, her dad might kill him.

It snowed that day. Well over a foot. Not only were the streets quiet, nobody came to buy ice cream. It was not the first day as the new manager that Win had envisioned. The day did not get better. Win came across her grandmother’s recipe for snow ice cream, so she went below the parlor to the foot of Chagrin Falls to get the best snow – and tripped over a body. It was dark and she was shocked, so she didn’t look at his face. The next day she learned it was Puppy Guy. Stephen Bayard.

She does not for a minute think her father killed him. The police detective, however, does. His reasons include the means of death, something only available to those working in hospitals (her father is a surgeon), and the history of the man with her family.

When one of her best friends, Maisie, suggested they hunt for the killer, Win blew off the idea. Unlike the sleuths Maisie loves to watch on TV, they knew nothing about catching a killer. When Win heard the detective question her dad the first time, then she talked with the detective herself, she changed her mind.

This mystery got better the more I read! The warmth and help of family and friends are impressive. The characters are defined well through their actions and conversations. Watching Maisie and Win on their “stakeouts”, especially some of the interesting suspects Maisie came up with was funny at times. On one stakeout they were joined by other best friend, Riya, and we saw the fiery wrath of a woman who had just been stood up – funny! And the ice cream sounds amazing!!

Plot twists and turns keep the story moving quickly. No matter how hard I tried, I could not figure out whodunit. Stephen had made so many enemies over the years that it could have been anyone they watched or questioned. I was surprised, then, to find the real killer and why! I was satisfied with how the novel ends. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys well-written cozy mysteries, a Midwest setting and – fabulous sounding Ice Cream!

From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
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Feb 27, 2021 Julie rated it it was amazing

Within the first few chapters of this book, I craved ice cream, not just any ice cream but ice cream from Crewse Creamery in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Popcorn Ice Cream, Cherry Amaretto Chocolate Chunk, and ice cream made from snow made my lips tingle with anticipation. Bronwyn Crewse was home and bringing her family's ice cream shop back to life.

Author Abby Vandiver writes under the pen name Abby Collette for her Ice Cream Parlor Mysteries. This was the first in this series that I’ve read but knowin ...more

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Oct 05, 2020 Lulu rated it liked it

This was a cute fun cozy mystery about a dead body and an ice parlor open in the middle of winter.

The story itself wasn’t predictable and I enjoyed it. Some of the characters were a bit annoying and came across as teenagers and not grown women, but hopefully they will mature as the series progresses.

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Feb 20, 2021 Angustia⋆Cósmica rated it it was amazing

This was such a delightful read! I can't believe I would have never come across it hadn't Goodreads recommended it on one of its latest articles.
I'm definitely going to follow Win on her upcoming adventures and am looking forward to discovering more cozy mysteries with black heroines 💖
Can't wait for the second book! ...more

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Feb 10, 2021 Lisa | Lady_Logomancer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Do you love a good cozy mystery? Then I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to you! It has a smart and capable MC, great family relationships, fun and quirky side characters and a cat! Not to mention some scrumptious ice cream flavors and a perfectly decorated ice cream parlor.

I really liked Bronwyn “Win” Crewse. She is the exact kind of MC I look for in a cozy: confident, intelligent and brave.

I’ve been reading some really heavy themed books lately and Win and her family have come long at ...more

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Mar 26, 2020 Kate Lansing rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cozy-mysteries

Fabulous start to a brand new cozy series! Win was a super compelling main character, and I loved the focus on family, intriguing mystery elements, and, of course, ALL the ice cream (seriously the ice cream descriptions were just so good!). Can't wait to read the next one! ...more

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May 11, 2020 Kristina rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, cozy-mysteries, 2020-netgalley-books, 2020

A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette has Bronwyn “Win” Crewse taking over the management of her family’s ice cream shop, Crewse Creamery in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Win had the shop renovated and plans to only sell only homemade ice cream as her grandparents did when they started the business. She is thankful to have her grandmother’s original recipes plus Win plans on creating some new flavors using locally sourced ingredients. Of course, numerous delays means Win is opening the creamery in Octob A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette has Bronwyn “Win” Crewse taking over the management of her family’s ice cream shop, Crewse Creamery in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Win had the shop renovated and plans to only sell only homemade ice cream as her grandparents did when they started the business. She is thankful to have her grandmother’s original recipes plus Win plans on creating some new flavors using locally sourced ingredients. Of course, numerous delays means Win is opening the creamery in October instead of May as she originally planned. After a dismal first day, Win ventures down to the falls to obtain fresh snow to make snow cream. Win ends up stumbling over a dead body who happens to be a con man who has a history with the Crewse family. When Win’s father becomes a prime suspect, Win and Maisie, one of her best friend’s, begin their own investigation. Can this duo scoop up the killer before Win’s father must trade in his doctor’s coat for prison garb?

A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette is the debut novel in An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series. Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has returned home to Chagrin Falls and was thrilled when her grandfather gave her the keys to Crewse Creamery making her the new manager. Win’s Aunt Jack had changed the place so much that is was not recognizable. Win has made some wonderful ice cream (all made by hand) to sell for the opening which turns out to be a chilly day with rapidly falling snow. Not the best day to open an ice cream shop. Win has a positive attitude and plenty of marketing ideas to help Crewse Creamery. I enjoy the relationship Win has with her family especially her grandfather, PopPop. PopPop may be grumpy, but he has a soft heart where his granddaughter is concerned. While Maisie Solomon is a loyal friend to Win (they have been friends since kindergarten), she had hair brained ideas and reacts without thinking (insisting someone is guilty of murder without proof). I hope that Maisie will calm down and mature as the series progresses. The mystery was straightforward. You know who will die after meeting the man. There are a couple of suspects along with misdirection. I would have liked more investigating by Win (without Maisie). I enjoyed discovering the identity of the cold killer. The ice cream Win creates sounds delicious. I like that she uses quality, locally sourced ingredients. I was surprised that Win did not serve other items in the winter like homemade hot chocolate, cookies fresh from the oven (could be used to be ice cream sandwiches too), brownies served a la mode, or pie with ice cream. It would help to bring customers into the shop (she might in future books). Win’s marketing degree will serve her well in promoting the shop. Professor Morrison Kaye is a good addition. I liked him except for the ideas he gave Maisie. The knowledge he imparted could be dangerous in Maisie’s hands. A Deadly Inside Scoop is an upbeat cozy mystery with creamy cold concoctions, greenhorn gumshoes, significant snowfall, a mystery man, a precious puppy, and carcinogenic killer. ...more

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Feb 07, 2021 Bina rated it really liked it

Shelves: diversedetectives, black-women-writers, mystery, cozy

First in a new series, this mystery focuses on Win and the family's ice cream parlor and a sudden murder in her small town. I really liked the focus on family and why Win decides to go sleuthing. Looking forward to book 1. Also don't read this without having ice cream ready! ...more

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Jun 17, 2020 Christine rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozies

This was a great start to a new series. I loved the characters and the setting. I can't wait to read more. ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Mystery Madness: March 2021 Selection: A Deadly Inside Scoop (Ice Cream Parlor Mysteries)	9	39	Mar 12, 2021 11:42AM
Shut Up & Read: Goodreads Giveaway of A Deadly Inside Scoop	1	9	Jan 26, 2020 05:22AM
Goodreads Authors...: Add My Cozy to Your Goodreads List	1	16	Oct 04, 2019 07:26PM