Halloween on Mackinac Island is a season of fun tricks, but finding a corpse is no treat for fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy . . . NIGHT OF THE REALLY DEAD It’s late October, off-season for tourists, but locals are up and lurching for the annual zombie walk charity event. Though everyone’s living it up, trouble is just a few pawprints away. Allie follows the bloody tracks of her calico cat, … tracks of her calico cat, Carmella, to a body in the alley behind the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop. Unlike the island’s other walking dead, this one’s flatlined for good. It seems that someone is using the zombie fest as the perfect backdrop for murder. Now amateur sleuth Allie and dreamboat officer Rex Manning must use every trick in their treat bag to unmask a killer in disguise.
Praise for Nancy Coco and the Candy-Coated Mysteries
“Memorable characters, a charming locale, and a satisfying mystery.”—Barbara Allan
“It’s probably best not to read this while you’re too hungry, as the assorted fudge recipes may send you right to the kitchen.”
—The Oakland Tribune
“I will be counting down the days until the next mystery with Allie McMurphy.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
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Includes an excerpt from Nancy Coco’s new and upcoming Oregon Honeybee Mystery series!
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Another great book by Ms. Coco.
The tourist season on Mackinac Island is winding down. One of the last events is the Halloween Zombie Crawl. Allie, owner of the historic McMurphy Hotel and fudge maker, is looking forward to attending the crawl. Unfortunately, her plans go awry after her friend finds a body in the alley near the hotel.
Allies dives headfirst into solving the deadly mystery…but she needs to be careful…or she might end up in danger herself.
This is the 7th book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series…and the first one I’ve read. I was able to follow along without any problems or feeling lost. I really liked Allie and the other characters. There seems to be a love triangle that I hope gets resolved as they are not my favorite. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Yummy fudge recipes are included in this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.
A Candy Store, A Murder and A Halloween Zombie Fest
Running a candy shop on Mackinac Island sounds like a fine daydream and this novel helps the reader experience the historic island. This is a fun cozy mystery filled with recipes for mouthwatering fudge. The characters, both animal and human, make this an even better story to enjoy. There really isn’t anything to complain about in this story. I’ll have to look into this author’s other books. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Positively explosive! Allie and Mackinac Island are at their best even though multiple someones are out to control them both. The twists and turns are epic and I am impatiently waiting for the next book to see if Allie stands by her decision.
Fudge Bites is the seventh book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series.
Many of the residents of Mackinac Island are getting for the Zombie Walk which will raise money for charity. Allie is walking down the alley heading for where the walk will begin when she notices her cat Mella who appears to have blood on her paws. Allie soon hears a scream and heads back to near where she found Mella and finds her friend Sophie in a frantic state. Sophie relates that she has discovered a dead body. Rex Manning, police chief, starts his investigation. Allie, in turn, heads for the vet to have Mella checked out and to have samples taken from her blood-stained paws. By the time she returns, the walk is almost over. As she’s checking out the remaining zombies she notices that there was another zombie dressed very much like the body that was just found. The first she thinks is, was the wrong person killed? Soon there is an explosion at the Senior Center that completely levels the building. One of the people saw something suspicious and was able to get everyone to safety without any serious injuries. Then at the McMurphy Allie is having some remodeling which needs reinforcing of the roof, when there is an explosion in the work area. No serious damage. Allie begins to wonder if this all related and if so, how? With the help of her island friends sets off to find a connection of these events and hopefully, the murderer will be discovered.
I enjoy this series as there is always an exciting and interesting story being told. The story is well written and plenty of twist and turns that kept me guessing as to who the murderer was.
Delicious sounding recipes also included in the book.
I can’t wait for the next book in this tasty series.
Fudge Bites is book seven in the Candy Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco. I have read most of the books in this series and must say, I love them.
It’s Halloween and off season and Allie is ready to participate in the charity Zombie Walk when she spots her cat, Mella, in an alley with what she thinks is fake blood from decorations for the walk but it’s real blood from a body.
Allie again gets involved in the case. Was the victim the intended or was it mistaken identity. Then when she calls on the senior residents for help in the investigation, the senior center is blown up. Allie is up to her neck on investigating, renovations to the hotel, and then Mella disappears.
There are many twists and turns in this well written mystery along with a hint of a love triangle. You even get humor, friendship, and plenty of recipes.
I was given an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an honest review.
At first Allie thought the red on her cat’s paws was fake blood. After all, it was almost time to kick off the zombie walk, an annual charity event. Unfortunately it was real blood and now Allie finds herself involved in trying to solve a murder (with the help of some friends and seniors) at the request of the victim’s mother.
This story has a great setting, interesting characters and a plot that keeps you guessing. A well rounded cozy mystery. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
What a nail-biter! The weather may be cooling now that it’s the off-season on Mackinac Island, but the action is as exciting as ever! Allie McMurphy is dealing with renovations to her family’s hotel, the unnatural death of a well-loved local, her doubt about staying on-island through the winter, her increased loneliness, and she still manages to make fudge for her fudge shop’s increased online orders.
This book had plenty of mystery, suspects, and motives to make it hard for me to put it down. Trent makes a few appearances and has an interesting proposition for Allie, and Rex is featured heavily in this story in both his professional and personal roles in Allie’s life. I like the characters – though Jenn isn’t around anymore – and enjoy reading about the town’s activities along with the intriguing mysteries in each book. This book is also peppered with tasty recipes, including Decadent Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Chip, Flourless Brownies, which I fully intend to try as soon as I can!
I love this series with its lovely, old-fashioned island setting, likeable characters, and well-written mysteries, but Fudge Bites can easily be read as a stand-alone for anyone not familiar with the series.
I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my own honest thoughts and opinions.
Here we are with the 7th entry in one of my favorite series. Set on Mackinac Island and centered around Allie and her family’s hotel, the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, it’s now the Halloween holiday and the end of the tourist season. Allie is a master fudge maker as well as a hotelier and that is usually all that she has to deal with. Until, of course, murder lands on her full plate. Today is the big event, a Zombie walk and everybody is having lots of fun with creepy costumes. Allie has joined into the fun, dressed up and ready to go until her cat turns up with what looks like zombie blood on her paws? Nope, that’s the real deal and when the kitty tracks are followed they lead to a very dead body in the alley that runs behind the hotel and various businesses. The victim is the son of one of the business owners.
Allie has a lot going on with emotions, too. Her best friend has left the island for a job in Chicago and then there is the ex-boyfriend who wants to rekindle their relationship. That makes for a very full, almost too full plate to juggle. Allie can handle it, getting help from various friends and hotel employees and, last but oh, my, not least, Officer Rex Manning. He lights her fire for sure.
I have enjoyed every book in this series – the setting, the characters, the very cute dog, Mal and the well crafted mysteries. Each is multilayered, full of enough twists and turns to keep me guessing – usually guessing wrong to the very end. I’m already looking forward to the next book. I have no doubt that it will be another winner.
This was a fun book to read. Allie and her pets are at it again. This time, Mella her cat finds the body. He is the son of one of her friends. The poor woman is heartbroken and asks Allie to find his killer. This story had lots of clues and would send me off thinking the murderer was one person and then more clues dropped and I would think it was someone else. It kept me going. I like the characters. They are fun and the location sounds beautiful. This is an easy-to-read cozy. There is fudge making and recipes, lots of snooping and sleuthing and a little bit of romance all rolled up into one neat story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and to offer my honest review.
I have loved this series from the beginning; the author makes each mystery better than the last! Each plot is planned and executed perfectly and the characters well-developed. This Mackinac Island community is home now to Allie McMurphy, who inherited the family hotel and fudge shop from her beloved grandfather. She has been there less than a year, and wants to spend the winter on the island. As her friends start moving on and the seniors preparing for a southern winter, Allie wonders if she really should go somewhere until spring. In her heart she knows the answer.
It is almost Halloween and there is a special zombie walk to raise money for the American Heart Association. Allie and her friend Liz are going to meet to enjoy the festivities and walk together until her calico cat comes out of an alley with what looks like blood all over her. Sophie screams and comes out of the alley, also, thinking she had tripped over a dead man.
Sure enough, there is a dead man in the alley, and they hurry to call for Rex, with the local police department, and the guy Allie has been dating on and off in recent weeks. The mother of the man comes into the alley to look for him, not expecting the shock of seeing someone lying on the ground, wearing the jacket he wore with his costume. Anthony and his mother Maggs have been on the island forever and are loved by all – at least, all except whoever killed him.
For various reasons, Allie was not going to get involved with another murder. She doesn’t want to risk hurting an investigation or her slowly building relationship with Rex. When many on the island are counting on her to help, though, what’s a girl to do? After all, there are few tourists left and most of the fudge she makes now is only for the on-line orders and seniors at the senior center. At least until someone blew it up…
At first it is hard to come up with even one suspect. Then they consider with everyone being in zombie makeup that night, perhaps the killer thought he was another zombie in a similar jacket. At least until Allie, then Rex, make a chilling discovery that could change everything.
This plot has more twists and turns than a mountain road! And yes, I enjoyed each one. Even if I couldn’t figure out what was going on. There are several layers to this mystery, even one that goes back nearly a century. The setting of Mackinac Island is beautifully described; the hotel and fudge shop are a perfect fit for this series. I highly recommend this great story to those who enjoy well-written cozies with pets, a unique location, romance, wonderful characters, and tasty-sounding fudge recipes. I am already looking forward to the next one!
From a thankful heart: I received an early copy of this novel and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Series: A Candy-Coated Mystery – Book 7
Author: Nancy Coco
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary/Holiday
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Page Count: 320
Publishing Date: September 24, 2019
The latest book from Nancy Coco in the “A Candy Coated Mystery” series comes Fudge Bites, published by Kensington Books. This is a fun-filled cozy read from start to finish with scrumptious recipes for fudge that makes your mouth water, and characters that will do the same.
Allie loves her old hotel, her island and her fudge and nothing will keep her from spending the winter cemented in both, not even the predicted cold, snowy winter. But the murder of a friend’s son may have her rethinking her position when she becomes the next possible target.
The characters in this cozy book are well-established and beloved. From Allie to her next-door neighbor, readers have embraced these characters as if they were family. And after having read the books in this series, most people wouldn’t mind having just about any of them as family or friends. The victim, in this case, is very likable, and readers will feel the sadness of his loss as it affects those around him. The killer is unexpected. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing until the very end.
This book has little to do with Halloween, even with all of the zombies and jack-o-lanterns, but it gives a general feel of how the residents celebrate the season of pumpkins and ghosts. I enjoyed reading Fudge Bites. The new addition to the series enhances the overall enjoyment of the entire collection and may be the best cozy book in this series yet. The dynamic between the characters and their love of the island and each other shines through. Readers will be delighted with the outcome of Allie’s investigation and her relationship with the two men in her life. Readers and I will be happily anticipating the next book in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, this is my voluntary review. Well, it wasn’t Allie that found the body…..this time! All it’s cat, Mella, appears in the alley with bloody paws which leads Allie to find the body! This series is heart-warming and hilarious! The plot is great and very well developed with quirky characters. Everyone will love this mystery series. Enjoy!
Let me start off by saying Thank you Deanne Patterson for recommending this book.
I went to read what it was about and I knew I agreed with her. I love any setting with Mackinac Island involved!
1st off let me start with if you’ve never been to Mackinac Island you must go!! I’ve labeled this my happy place. And the Fudge oh my!! Last time we had fudge was in 2005. It never made it off the island!! It was gone that quick!! And of course as u know there isn’t much to begin with!!
You will drool for the fudge throughout this book and be hooked instantaneously from the beginning!
A mystery that will keep you guessing from the start and it isnt who you thought it first was!!
Wonderful characters and a cool fudgemaker with two adorable pets.
I loved every minute of this book. Why? Becajse I felt like I was back in my happy place of course!! Yum yum!!
This last trip we didn’t get to go so this more than made up for it!!
Thank you Nancy Coco!!
I recommend this book if you want to take a trip to Mackinac and can’t get there! This book will tale u there!!
My thanks to Netgalley for a review copy and NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own.