ARC Review: Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen

Fatal Fudge Swirl
Author: Meri Allen
Series: Ice Cream Shop Mysteries (Book 3)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (June 27, 2023)

Description: A movie production brings drama―and murder―to a close-knit New England village, forcing Riley Rhodes to scoop out the suspects.

Former CIA librarian and amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes is loving her fresh start as the manager of the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. The leaves are turning, tourists are leaf-peeping, and Penniman, Connecticut is putting finishing touches on the weekend long Halloween Happening. But the village is also buzzing. Former child star Cooper Collins is overseeing the production of a romantic comedy that’s filming on the town green and his domineering socialite mother, Diantha, is planning her lavish Halloween themed wedding at her Inn on the Green. Her fiancé has run the Inn's kitchen for years, ably aided by his recent ex-wife, chef Mary Ann Dumas. An old friend of Riley’s, Mary Ann turns to her when the bride requests a spooky ice cream wedding cake.

But the weekend takes a frightful turn when Diantha is found dead and suspicion falls on Mary Ann. The cast of potential suspects is long―each wedding guest had a chilling motive to kill the vicious heiress. Can Riley unmask the murderer before another guest ends up on ice?

My Thoughts: Riley Rhodes has given up her career as a librarian for the CIA and is back in her hometown of Penniman, Connecticut, managing the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. It is nearly Halloween and nearly closing time for the seasonal shop. But one more big event - the wedding of the owner of the Inn on the Green - is scheduled before the shutdown. Riley has been tasked with making an ice cream cake with the bride and groom's favorite flavors.

Things are also busy because a movie is being shot at the Inn and other locations including her father's used book store. And her roommate's spoiled Persian cat has a role in the film too. 

All the happy, busy activity comes to a screeching halt when the bride is found dead the night before the wedding. Despite numerous health problems, Riley isn't willing to write the death off to natural causes. Too many people were upset and angry with the woman. The prime suspect is Riley's friend Mary Ann who happens to be the groom's ex-wife. 

Despite the police chief's orders to stay out of the investigation, Riley feels the need to clear her friend's name and find the real murderer. She has lots of suspects to choose from including the manager of the Inn who has had a long-standing crush on the victim and the housekeeper who might have lost her house and her job had the victim lived. Then there are her two sons and a stepson who might have had reason to get rid of the victim before she could change her will in the new husband's favor. 

This was a fun cozy with a great setting and interesting characters. I liked the sound of the different flavors of ice cream Riley and a teenage assistant create. There is even a couple of recipes for hot fudge sauces at the end of the book. 

Favorite Quote:

Humming a song about paradise and parking lots, I bypassed the staff stairs and ran down the main staircase to the lobby. When my foot touched the bottom step, I caught sight of the row of old-fashioned keys on the wall behind the reception desk. One hanging from the hook on the far left had a white ribbon, not a blue like all the others. Why? I wondered.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.