The Chocolate Snowman Murders

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

“A chocolate-drenched page-turner! JoAnna Carl satisifies your sweet tooth along with your craving for a tasty whodunit.”

—Cleo Coyle, author of
Espresso Shot

 

“Anyone who loves chocolate—and who doesn't?—will love this delicious, fast-paced addition to the Chocoholic Mystery series. It has more twists and turns than a chocolate-covered pretzel, but this treat won't add any pounds, so you can indulge without guilt!”

—Leslie Meier, author of
Mother's Day Murder

 

“A deft mix of truffles and trouble. Chocaholics, this book is for you!”

—Laura Childs, author of the Tea Shop mysteries

 

“Deliciously cozy.
The Chocolate Cupid Killings
is richly entertaining and has no calories.”

—Elaine Viets, author of
Killer Cuts
, a Dead-End Job Mystery

 

 

“Dollops of chocolate lore add to the cozy fun.”

—
Publishers Weekly

 

 

“[A] fun, very readable book, with likable characters that are knowable, whether you've read all seven novels in the series or this is your first.”

—Suite101

 

“Entertaining and stylish. . . . Reading this on an empty stomach is hazardous to the waistline because the chocolate descriptions are . . . sensuously enticing. Lee is very likable without being too sweet.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“The sixth delicious mix of chocolate and crime.”

—Writerspace

 

“Everything about JoAnna Carl's books is delicious treats, from the characters to the snippets of chocolate trivia . . . fantastic characters who have come to feel like good friends.
The Chocolate Bridal Bash
stands alone, but once you've read it, you'll be craving the other books in this series.”

—Roundtable Reviews

 

 

“A fine tale.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“I've been a huge fan of the Chocoholic Mystery series from the start. I adore the mix of romance, mystery, and trivia . . . satisfying.”

—Roundtable Reviews

 

 

“The pacing is perfect for the small-town setting, and the various secondary characters add variety and interest. Readers may find themselves craving chocolate, yearning to make their own. . . . An interesting mystery, fun characters, and, of course, chocolate make this a fun read for fans of mysteries and chocolates alike.”

—The Romance Readers Connection

 

 

“A JoAnna Carl mystery will be a winner. The trivia and vivid descriptions of the luscious confections are enough to make you hunger for more!”

—Roundtable Reviews

 

“A fast-paced, light read, full of chocolate facts and delectable treats. Lee is an endearing heroine. . . . . Readers will enjoy the time they spend with Lee and Joe in Warner Pier and will look forward to returning for more murder dipped in chocolate.”

—The Mystery Reader

 

 

“Descriptions of exotic chocolate will have you running out to buy gourmet sweets . . . a delectable treat.”

—The Best Reviews

 

 

“A mouthwatering debut and a delicious new series! Feisty young heroine Lee McKinney is a delight in this chocolate treat. A real page-turner, and I got chocolate on every one! I can't wait for the next.”

—Tamar Myers

 

“One will gain weight just from reading [this] . . . delicious . . . the beginning of what looks like a terrific new cozy series.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“Enjoyable . . . entertaining . . . a fast-paced whodunit with lots of suspects and plenty of surprises . . . satisfies a passion for anything chocolate. In the fine tradition of Diane Mott Davidson.”

—
The Commercial Record
(MI)

ALSO BY JoANNA CARL

 

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First Obsidian Mass Market Printing, October 2009

Copyright © Eve K. Sandstrom, 2008

Excerpt from
The Chocolate Cupid Killings
copyright © Eve K. Sandstrom, 2009 All rights reserved

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

ISBN : 978-1-101-55844-7

 

 

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With many thanks to many people who helped me with information for this book. They include Betsy Peters, who okays the chocolate bits; lawmen Jim Avance, Bob Swartz, and Lieutenant Ralph Mason; Nancy Anderson, gallery director, artist, and art show expert; Ginny Weber, of Jeff's Key and Safe; photographer David Gill; truck owner David Walker; and Susanna Fennema, who keeps an eye on new wrinkles in anthropology. As always, I owe my Michigan neighbors, Susan McDermott, Tracy Paquin, and Dick Trull, big-time. And thanks to Johnny Owens, who with a generous donation to the Lawton Arts for All Campaign bought the right to have his real name used for a fictional character.

“I
f you don't want to serve on committees,” Maggie McNutt said, “you should stop bringing chocolate to meetings.”

“Maybe I could send the chocolate and stay home,” I said. “I just don't understand how I get suckered into these things.”