It’s February in the small town of Cobble Cove. Love is in the air . . . but so is murder!When Alicia helps plan a Valentine’s Day Party at the Cobble Cove library that also includes a surprise for her newlywed friend, Gilly, things go wrong when a mysterious box of chocolates addressed to the director turns out laced with poison.Clues Lead to A Dead SuspectAlthough Alicia promised John she’ll no … Alicia promised John she’ll no longer meddle in crime investigations, she and Gilly set out to find the person threatening Sheila who murdered the courier of the deadly candy. The three people they suspect include the professor from California who’s been romancing Sheila while she assists him with research for his book; the obnoxious patron Rhonda Kleisman who threw coffee at the director after refusing to pay for a damaged book; and a visiting widow staying at Gilly’s inn who’s unnaturally curious about Sheila and earns the nickname of Madame Defarge for her interest in knitting.
New Cat in Town
While Alicia and Gilly are trying to solve this new Cobble Cove mystery, Sneaky is introduced to Gilly’s new kitten, Kittykai, a calico she brought home from her honeymoon in Hawaii. It’s not like at first sight, but the two cats eventually become friends. They also both play a part in foiling the killer’s murder attempts, but will Alicia and Sheila survive unscathed?
more
Love on the Rocks is the 4th book in the Cobble Cove Mystery series by Debbie De Louise. I’ve previously read the earlier three and was excited to read this one around Valentine’s Day, as the theme is one of romance and love, amidst the mystery, of course.
Cobble Cove is upstate New York. Alicia, a librarian, moved there several years ago from Long Island, to meet her late husband’s family. When she solved that mystery, she married a new man named John and had twins when she was about ~4o. Now, she’s happier than ever, and her best friend, Gilly, has gotten married and moved to the area too. All that’s left is for their boss, Sheila, to find love. Except this Valentine’s Day, she almost finds death. Someone’s poisoned her, and when Alicia and Gilly track down the person who delivered the chocolate, that person ends up dead. Who had a grudge against Sheila?
I enjoy this series. It is light and fun, has a bit of mystery and some commentary on everyday life. Alicia is smart and direct, sometimes she’s a bit pushy with her husband. The supporting cast are all developed nicely and integrate seamlessly into the story. I like that this had a Valentine’s Day theme, and seeing past characters come back was also cool. This isn’t a hard-boiled mystery, and even as a cozy, it’s not a full major investigation as much as it is two women working at a library and helping to find some clues. I like that approach, as it lets us really get to know the town of Cobble Cove.
I hope the author will write another one, as so far, this is the most recent. I look forward to reading about Alicia’s adventures and her wonderful new life, especially with the way this one ends. Great epilogue!
This book is well written and pulled to together real well. I just loved this book. Kept the reader guessing who the murder(s) were and used animals to help catch the murder.
I highly recommend this book and will read again.
Go buy this book and review it for yourself.
A Very Interesting Mystery Story
Two female, amateur sleuths have made it a habit of ‘investigating’ some local crimes on their own, and unfortunately at times get themselves into a bit of a pickle and require rescuing by the true investigators. This is a fun mystery and murder mystery story and not a gory one so all readers should enjoy this easy read.
It’s February in the quaint little town of Cobble Cove and love is in the air… But, so is murder!
Whether you’re reading from the Cobble Cove Mystery Series in sequence, or taking in “Love on the Rocks (Book 4)” as a first-time, stand-alone read, Author Debbie De Louise pens a homey and engaging murder mystery in this compelling mystery suspense novel. De Louise’s main characters work well together with Alicia, Gilly, and the whole library crew, including the resident feline and his newly-found friend, trying their best to come to terms with the recent murder of a dear friend… not to mention a freshly attempted attack on Sheila, their beloved Library Director. The author familiarizes us with her ensemble and their backgrounds throughout the read, making each character feel like family even as she sets up several plausible suspects for the role of murderer.
While her characters live their daily lives, taking care of family and friends, De Louise tempts readers by throwing several wrenches into the plotline before she narrows down the list to just one embittered individual who believes they have reason enough to execute their terrible vendetta.
Love on the Rocks (Cobble Cove Mystery Book 4) makes a great weekend or take-along read for mystery buffs who enjoy genial characters, cute couples, and a good plotline. With plenty of humor and several backstories about marriage, children and pets plugged into the narrative, “Love on the Rocks” may be considered a wholesome mystery/clean romance read, appealing to women ages 17 and up.