In this first book in the 'Amish Candy Shop Mystery' series, chocolatier/amateur sleuth Bailey King investigates the murder of a businessman.
*****
Twentysomething Bailey King has worked for Jean-Pierre's New York candy shop, called 'JP Chocolates', for six years. Now that Jean-Pierre is retiring, the selection committee will name a new head chocolatier in a few days, and Bailey is a shoe-in for the job. So Bailey's friends are surprised when she suddenly takes off for Harvest, Ohio, possibly jeopardizing her chance to get the coveted promotion.
It turns out Bailey's grandfather's heart condition is getting worse, and Bailey plans to help out in her grandparents' Ohio candy store, called Swissmen Sweets, for a few days.
Unknown to Bailey's friends, her grandparents - whom she calls Maami and Paapi - are Amish.
Bailey's dad left the Amish community to marry her mom, but Bailey and her parents are still embraced by their Amish relatives. In addition to containing Amish residents, Harvest, Ohio also contains Englischers (non-Amish people), and for the most part, everyone gets along very well.
Soon after Bailey arrives in Harvest she sees an aggressive Englischer businessman called Tyson Colton confronting her Paapi, insisting that Paapi sell him Swissmen Sweets. It turns out Colton has purchased all the Amish stores on the block and he's furious that Paapi refuses to sell.
Early the next morning Bailey finds Tyson Colton in the kitchen of Swissmen Sweets, stabbed to death with a fudge-cutting knife. Bailey fears that she and Paapi will be prime suspects, and decides to investigate the homicide to clear their names. Bailey hopes to solve the crime quickly so she can return to New York for the head chocolatier announcement.
As Bailey is looking into Colton's murder, she clashes with handsome Deputy Sheriff Aiden Brody, who has milk chocolate brown eyes and a dimple in his right cheek.
Deputy Brody doesn't want Bailey interfering in the official investigation, especially since the supercilious sheriff is determined to arrest Bailey for the crime. However, as always happens in cozy mysteries, Bailey goes around questioning people, looking for suspects, examining the crime scene, and so on.
While all this is going on, a new problem arises. Jase Colton (the murder victim's son) and his fiancée Mira are getting married tomorrow, and Mira's mother Eileen has scheduled a dessert tasting at Swissmen Sweets. The candy shop, now a crime scene, is unavailable to showcase candies, and Eileen is very annoyed with Maami and Paapi.
Luckily, the Englischer church has an available kitchen, and the church quilting ladies help Bailey make truffles, chocolate-covered strawberries, and other desserts.
Bailey's best friend Cass even turns up from New York, and helps cater the wedding goodies. Cass's fun remarks add a touch of humor to the story.
To add to Bailey's troubles, she has a secret boyfriend in New York, a wealthy celebrity chef named Eric, who isn't answering her texts.
All this drama makes Bailey very anxious, but her Maami and Paapi - as well as the nicer people in Harvest - ease things considerably.
By the time the crime is solved Bailey has to make a big decision about her future, both personal and professional. The book has an interesting array of Amish and Englischer characters, and - with a pet potbelly pig named Jethro and a sweet kitten called Nutmeg - the cast is in place for an engaging cozy mystery series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Amanda Flower, and Kensington Books for a copy of the manuscript.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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