Maddie gets rattled by a candy-coated murder. It’s Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto, and paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski has sweet dreams about her new Magic of Chocolate exhibit. Her latest attraction is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies. When Maddie visits the town’s new boutique chocolate shop, she finds one of the owners dead and covered … dead and covered in melted cocoa. Maddie’s determined to catch the killer, and she soon uncovers deadly dealings in the world of artisan chocolate. But the deception surrounding those dealings are enough to make the molinillo rattle all night. Will Maddie have to temper her passion for sleuthing before a killer makes her fate bittersweet?
Praise for the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mysteries
Chocolate à la Murder
“If you love cozy mysteries and want something just a tad different, Chocolote à la Murderis exactly your cup of tea! Kirsten Weiss crafts realistic and likable characters and puts them in intriguing situations. I may never think of chocolate making the same way again!”–Fresh Fiction
Déjà Moo
“The third volume in this engaging series (following Pressed to Death) will appeal to fans of paranormal cozies by Sofie Kelly and Christy Fifield.”–Library Journal
“Weiss’ many quirky ongoing characters add charm and humor.”–Kirkus Reviews
Pressed to Death
“Well-drawn characters and tantalizing wine talk help balance the quirky aspects of this paranormal mystery.”–Publishers Weekly
The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum
“A delightful new series.”–Library Journal (starred review)
“A quirky murder mystery with plenty of small town charm.”–ForeWord Reviews
“A clever combination of characters.”–Kirkus Reviews
“Humor, hints of romance, and twists and turns galore elevate this cozy.”–Publishers Weekly
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Chocolate a la Murder is book four in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kirsten Weiss. I’d suggest reading in order, but it’s not necessary.
I’ve enjoyed this cozy mystery series from the very first book. What has kept me coming back for more is the paranormal museum which is our main location. It adds this spooky atmosphere. Then there’s a lot of detail and history with the museum as well. The other thing I like about this series is Maddie, her cat GD “Ghost Detector”, and her girlfriends. The friendship these ladies have is strong and makes them a well-rounded unit.
In Chocolate a la Murder we find Maddie stumbling on another dead body. She always seems to find herself stumbling on things she shouldn’t. She try’s to stay out of the investigation this time, but in the end she can’t stay away and so we see her looking into who the killer might be. Besides that she’s got to get ready for the Wine and Chocolate Days and help her friend Adele plan her wedding. Their’s a lot happening!
On the romance front: Maddie is dating the cop, Jason. He’s ok. Kinda bland, but I’m glad she’s not with Mason anymore. Though I will say I’m not happy the author brought Belle and Mason back into the picture. I had thought we where done with the ex-boyfriend and that storyline, drama. With them hoping back in the author added some awkward moments. I really hope he doesn’t show up in the next book.
Chocolate a la Murder was an enjoyable read. I had fun with the mystery and didn’t see who it was until the reveal. I’m also glad that the relationships are cleared up and stronger by the end. This was a nice cozy mystery with a little paranormal element added in.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed the 4th book in the series. I love the Paranormal Museum. I can’t wait to see what Maddie has in store for the next exhibit. Also, I’m excited to see what’s next for Maddie and Jason.
Maddie has a new magic chocolate exhibit just in time for the Wine and Chocolate Days being held in her hometown of San Benedetto. She was able to purchase a whisk that is said to be haunted and has the ability to tell when someone is lying. The whisk rattles when someone lies, Maddie doesn’t know everything about it though and hopes to do more research so that she can share with her patrons. When her chocolate order doesn’t arrive when it is suppose to and she can’t get through with a phone call Maddie decides to drive to the chocolate shop to find out what is going on. She comes across a disgruntled former employee outside but doesn’t let that stop her from going in. Things don’t get any better when she goes inside, not being able to find anyone she heads to the back of the store and come across a body covered in chocolate. The dead man happens to be one of the owners of the store, but who would have wanted him dead and why? Could it have been an accident? Maddie decides she must look into things herself even though there are so many people against the idea of her doing just that. Along the way she is almost run over by a crazy driver and then later someone tries to drown her. Is she getting to close to the truth? Follow along and see just what all Maddie gets into and the different ways she beats death in this fun mystery series. If you like things that are a little wacky, a touch magical, and a bit haunted this is truly the series for you. I love the characters and the different things that Maddie brings to her museum, I can’t wait to see what she brings in next.
I like the idea of a paranormal museum.
Add to that a wine and chocolate festival and all sorts of interesting things can happen.
The parallel between the two seemingly separate story lines worked well.
Its Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto, and paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski has sweet dreams about her new Magic of Chocolate exhibit. Her latest attraction is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
When Maddie visits the town’s new boutique chocolate shop, she finds one of the owner’s dead covered in melted cocoa. Maddie’s determined to catch the killer. She soon uncovers deadly dealings in the world of artisan chocolate. The deception surrounding those dealings are enough to make the molinillo rattle all night. Will Maddie have to temper her passion for sleuthing before a killer makes her fate bittersweet?
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Series: A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery Book 4
Author: Kirsten Weiss
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Paranormal
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Maddie isn’t your average shopkeeper. In Chocolate a la Murder running a paranormal museum is not for the faint of heart. Keeping customers coming through the doors is vital. So, when Wine and Chocolate days start in San Benedetto, Maddie jumps into the fray to give her customers something special. Then she finds a body covered in chocolate and everything changes.
Maddie is struggling to keep her business open and her bills paid. Things have gotten better at the museum, but she is always looking for ways to improve business and her income. As much as she likes to pretend that she doesn’t believe in ghosts, haunting’s and so forth, she finds herself needing to make everyone else believe. Bringing in a haunted molinillo that makes noise every time someone tells a lie is a great start, and before long she begins to believe it really is haunted.
Characters in this series are always amusing. They bring reality to an otherwise fantastical story. Friends Adele and Harper are busy with their own lives, one is obsessed with her wedding and the other is too busy most of the time to be of any help. When things suddenly get topsy-turvy in Maddie’s life they are of little help. Even her wonderful boyfriend, Jason is of little use in solving this crime as he isn’t on the case because of her involvement.
Finding a killer before they strike again becomes her number one priority, even over chocolate. The murderer thinks she has evidence or knows who they are and has decided that Maddie is the next target. Eventually the killer is unmasked, and justice is served after Maddie realizes who the killer is. However, the motive leaves her baffled and is fitting in today’s world.
This story is a bit slow longer than is needed. If readers have not read the other books in the series, Chocolate a la Murder will make little sense and the characters will not be distinguishable. Although this book may keep some readers guessing as to the identity of the killer, the clues are all there to uncover the villain quickly. I would have been happier if the haunted molinillo had played a bigger part over all to the investigation and outcome. I do recommend this series to readers who enjoy a unique plot and characters that have room to grow.
This book was OK. I still really like Maddie, and her friends, and the mystery was enjoyable. However, I am SO over Mason and Belle being injected into every book. I hated that storyline from the beginning because it was too “romance” angsty, and honestly…Mason was/is a douche IMO. Although I am glad Maddie has a new love interest, Jason is about as exciting as milk toast and kind of an a$$hole. And don’t get me started on Laurel. She is a complete caricature at this point and there is NO way someone that treats another human being as she does Maddie would ever be a detective on a police force. Her a$$ should have been canned AGES ago, and Jason defending her…NO. So obviously this was a mixed bag for me. I may give the next book a try, but I still undecided as of now.
Chocolate a la Murder by Kirsten Weiss is book four in A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. This was the first in the series I have read. Ms Weiss does a great job of getting new readers up to speed.
There are likeable characters, plenty of twists and turns, and romance. There was paranormal activity but for me, I would have liked a little more.
I really thought after reading the lead in to the book I was going to love it but it did seem a bit slow.
You may want to have a little chocolate available as the book will leave you craving chocolate.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley for an honest review.
This fun paranormal cozy was just as much fun as the other books I’ve read in the series. Maddie can’t help but get involved in murders in her town, and she now has a reputation. And, yes, she is really a little too nosy. However, I do love her quirky personality and store, but sometime she does come across as a little flighty. This book, though, was a great, fun whodunit, and I will definitely read more in the series. When will she figure out there is more to her cat than she realizes? I hope soon…or maybe it’s all just my imagination! This was a good way to while away an afternoon. I recommend this book! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.