Death by Chocolate

A Savannah Reid Mystery #8

by G.A. McKevett

Business has been a little slow at the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency, but full-figured P.I. Savannah Reid doesn't have time to drown her sorrows in a box of double-chocolate truffles. She's too busy watching the Gourmet Network--and drooling over the sinfully scrumptious confections that Lady Eleanor ("The Queen of Chocolate") whips up on-air. But someone isn't sweet on the Queen's charming chatter--and wants her to hang up her oh-so-quaint apron--for good. . .When Savannah hears that Lady Eleanor's been getting death threats, she jumps at the chance to be her round-the-clock bodyguard. It's a great chance to meet her idol in person--and maybe pick up some free chocolates, too! But her sweet dreams melt away the minute she meets Lady Eleanor. The woman is as rotten as last year's Valentine candy--and stingy with the chocolates to boot! After a few miserable days of her boss's put-downs and pettiness, Savannah finally understands why someone wants to put an end to Her Majesty's reign.

But when the Queen of Chocolate bites into a chocolate and drops dead in the middle of her own live TV show, Savannah is horrified. After all, it was her job to protect Lady Eleanor--and now thousands of traumatized chocoholics know how horribly she failed. Talk about bad for business. If only to save her own reputation, Savannah has to figure out who's to blame for the Queen's untimely (and very ungraceful) demise. . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Adult Fiction, Contemporary

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Since publication of her first novel in 1986, Sonja Massie has authored over sixty published works, including the highly popular and critically acclaimed SAVANNAH REID MYSTERIES under the pseudonym G. A. McKevett.

Sonja's novels range from Irish historicals to contemporary thrillers. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature.

Irish by ancestry, Sonja has authored two non-fiction books on the history of Ireland: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IRISH HISTORY AND CULTURE and IRISH PRIDE: 101 REASONS TO BE PROUD YOU'RE IRISH. Both books impart detailed knowledge of the complex and controversial Irish story with a light hand and plenty of humor. Her Irish novels include: DREAM CARVER, CAROUSEL, DAUGHTER OF IRELAND and the bestselling FAR AND AWAY - the novelization of the Ron Howard movie starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

On nationwide tours, Sonja lectures to published and "pre-published" authors in her workshop, "The Novel Approach," a seminar which covers such topics as: story structure, characterization, plotting, pacing, and marketing manuscripts.

Sonja has taught numerous courses at university and adult continuing education facilities including: general fiction, historical research, and mystery writing. She was managing editor at "Single Living" magazine and has functioned as a manuscript doctor and storyline editor for major publishers. Earlier in her career, she was a prolific ghostwriter, authoring both fictional and non-fictional books for celebrities and professionals.

Having lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and County Kerry, Ireland, she now resides in New York.

Reviews

[June Ahern · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read of this author and I'll be back because the characters are well developed and fun, well, mostly, some are not so nice plus the mystery got me going and I guessed wrong. So good for Ms. McKevett.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good one in the series. The case was interesting and I enjoyed the characters it brought with it. Cordele is definitely not one of my favorites of Savannah’s family but she was interesting too.

[Katharine Coggeshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! McKevett is a master at weaving a suspense story with humor, intrigue, and overall entertainment. Her characters are so dimensional and well-crafted. The ending was unpredictable, which I enjoyed, but also satisfying. My favorite part of this particular book in the series was the character of Cordele. McKevett allows lessons to be learned through the invention of her characters and Cordele has much to teach to the reader.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book, and the ending surprised me. Plan on reading other Savannah Reid mysteries.

[Maggie Shanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't be turned off by the chintzy cover this was a pretty good book. I have not read others in the series and felt that the title stood alone just fine. Of course I probably missed some of the intricacies of the friendships and how Savannah makes enough money to turn down cases, pursue cases just because she wants to and help out the local police force in a very hands on manner. Satisfying and interesting.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun one, Savannah works with a woman who does a show on chocolate. Bittersweet ending.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savannah Reid has a Surprise Visitor! Not exactly welcome, but Savannah makes due, like she always does. Oh, to have her heart. She also figures out the killer ... but that isn't always a celebration.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy read. I read this in one day on a plane to Houston. I love the main character because she is a sassy plus sized woman! Nothing though that stimulates the mind or makes me want to change the world.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. Savannah is trying to find out who wrote threatening letters to a popular tv chef, when she is murdered. She is also dealing with her youngest sister who feels she is owed something.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the quintessential summer-time novel. Light and a quick read. Sometimes this kind of book is just the ticket.

[Leigh Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick mystery read. I loved it! And it's the one of the first in a series of 15. All of them are awesome!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author and it won't be my last. So refreshing to have a female PI who is not stumbling into a job that she has no training for. Clever, a fast read and just a fun time!

[Corale Faltynski]

Business has been a little slow at the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency, but full-figured P.I. Savannah Reid doesn't have time to drown her sorrows in a box of double-chocolate truffles. She's too busy watching the Gourmet Network and drooling over the sinfully scrumptious confections that Lady Eleanor whips up on-air. But someone isn't sweet on the Queen's charming chatter and wants her to hang up her apron--for good. When Savannah hears that Lady Eleanor's been getting death threats, she jumps at the chance to be her round-the-clock bodyguard. It's a great chance to meet her idol in person and maybe pick up some free chocolates. The woman is as rotten as last year's Valentine candy. When the Queen of Chocolate bites into a chocolate and drops dead in the middle of her own live TV show, Savannah is horrified. Savannah has a lengthy list of scheming suspects, her ex-husband, disgruntled daughter, plus a glut of enraged employees and resentful relatives. Savannah's challenge will be narrowing the Queen's mob of enemies down to one person cold-blooded enough o take sweet revenge-without becoming next in line to die.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Savannah watches Lady Eleanor make/bake delicious chocolate confections on the Gourmet Network. Eleanor has been getting death threats and hires Savannah (thru John's recommendation) as a bodyguard. When she drops dead doing a live TV show, Savannah is upset that it happened while she was on duty. When Savannah met Eleanor, she expected the person she saw on TV. NOT!!! She was rude, offensive, unkempt, and was not helpful at all in finding who wrote the threatening notes to her. Suspects abound - her daughter, ex-husband, twin sister. There is also a granddaughter who lives on the premises with her mother. Between Dirk, Savannah, Tammy,, John and Ryan, they do their best to solve the murder. As usual, food is Savannah's main thought day and night and another one of her sisters, Cordele, makes an uninvited/unexpected visit and annoys everyone with her problems. Getting sick of her sisters.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the least we can do for Lady Eleanor, Queen of Chocolate.
Savannah is hired by the "Queen of Chocolate" to find out who is sending her threatening letters, but no one expected her to be murdered. Savannah feels she let her client down and is determined to find the person responsible. While dealing with the investigation, Savannah has to play host to her sister Cordele (the wanna be psychologist who tells everyone what's wrong with them) who has come to talk at length about their lousy childhood. But with her guilt over losing a client and Cordele having tantrums every time Savannah leaves her side, Savannah is at critical mass.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like cozy mysteries in which the mystery itself is a minor part of the book and the real story is about the characters, you’ll probably love this one. I’m giving it three stars because I don’t like that kind of mystery and so I don’t want to pick it up again and re-read it.

However, this is a good story. It’s entertaining. It’s a really good light read. The characters are believable and interesting and likable. And the story mostly works out well. I think they have a timeline problem, but otherwise the story all hangs together. An enjoyable read.

[Katherine Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing my read of this great series. I'm really enjoying going back and reading the early books after starting in the middle of the series. I appreciate seeing how the character relationships continue to grow. Savannah has landed a dream job, well what she thinks is a dream, being a bodyguard for a tv idol of hers. That is until she finds out what the woman away from the camera is actually like. The plot is good and the subplot of Savannah getting a surprise visit from her sister Cordele made for another enjoyable read.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah and her friends are back to eat some mouth watering food and solve a murder. Things get a little sticky when one of her sisters come to town during the investigation.

I always enjoy a quick easy Savannah Reid book. I enjoy the main cast, though I find most of her siblings annoying and mostly self centered. I enjoyed this story and wish she gave recipes for all her amazing dishes she makes. The story itself was a good read and fun to figuring out the clues to see whodunnit!

[Deborah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the first book in the Savannah Reid series that I read, and it will be my last. It was just not for me. I'd be hard pressed to call it a Cozy Mystery with all the foul language, which you generally don't see. The writing was disjointed and none of the characters were likeable at all. The focus on being overweight and on eating and craving chocolate all the time got annoying. I made it to about halfway through the book and just couldn't finish it.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just ‘devoured’ another book in Savannah Reid series. Savannah’s sister, Cordele visits. Interesting thread of parallel inter-generational stories.
The murderer in this story probably wasn’t a total surprise, and small twist probably should have been obvious, but the characters in this story were interesting.

[Arnetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn't quite as great for me as it tugged at my heartstrings too much. There is a little girl that pops up throughout the book and my heart just breaks for her. In addition to the usual 'didn't see that coming' it had this really painful aspect to it. Made it not as enjoyable, tho still a great mystery!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen of Chocolate is getting death threats and Savannah is there to protect her idol. Only to find out that the Queen of Chocolate is not as nice as she is portrayed. And when she dies on camera after biting into a piece of chocolate. Savannah wants to see who wanted to see the mean old lady dead.

[Autumn Chastain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beginning to love this series....this time Savannah other sister comes to stay with her, trying to talk to her about family history while Savannah is trying to figure out who would murder the chocolate lady....

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave this one a 2. There is so much sharing between the police and Savannah if I was a defense lawyer I would get my client of on technicalities no problem. The excuse is budget cuts. I know there are budget cuts around but to have a PI doing interviews for the police is rediclous

[Spawn2012 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It was cute and heart felt. Had me tear up a little bit with some relatable family issues. Description of the chocolate made my mouth water. Wish it had been a little longer, but overall a satisfying ending.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, easy mystery. Perfect book for summer.

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a bitter-sweet story.
**Spoiler**
I'd have strangled Cordele, if I was Van.

[Megan Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite book out of the series, probably because I got the murder wrong, but it was worth it visualizing Ryan in his swimwear <3

[Louise King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah solves another

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - Good