A Christmas Candy Killing is the debut of the A Killer Chocolate Mystery series set in Harriston, Montana and featuring twin sisters Alex and Hanna Wright, co-owners of Murder and Mayhem: Killer Chocolates and Bookshop. It's Christmas season and Alex and Hanna have created an array of chocolates all named after the poisons commonly used in the mysteries that their book club, Sleuth love to read each month.

Alex has become very fond of the elderly Jane Burrows, Sleuth member and president of the local horticultural and historical societies. Jane has a penchant for watching true crime shows and has mistakenly claimed several times that "wanted" criminals were living in their quaint town. So, when Jane asks Alex at the end of their Sleuth meeting to come to her house the next morning and watch one of the shows because she has positively identified a person accused of murdering four people, Alex suspects it's just another case of Jane's imagination. Upon arrival at Jane's house the next morning, Alex discovers the woman dead, victim of a vicious stabbing.

Based upon clues that Jane has left in her journal, Alex fears that this time Jane was right and there really is a killer in their midst. Zach Roberts, local handyman is arrested for the crime but Alex knows that the man wouldn't have killed Jane. Alex and Hanna team up alongside neighbor and pastor Tom Kennedy to clear Zach's name and quickly discover there are quite a few members of their community with secrets in their past they would like to keep hidden.

An enjoyable read with likeable characters, a captivating plot and plenty of suspects, not to mention mouthwatering chocolate recipes. There are a few loose ends that perhaps will be explained in the next addition to the series, and of course a hint of romance on the horizon for both sisters.

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This debut novel in a delectable new cozy mystery series will surely put fans in the mood for Christmas and chocolate.

A Christmas Candy Killing is the first book in a delicious new cozy mystery series by Christina Romeril. The main characters, Alex and Hanna, are warm, curious, and capable sleuths but the small Montana village and its residents are real gems. Despite the murder, it's sure to put readers in a holiday spirit.

The action begins quickly, with the murder occurring within the first couple of chapters. With Christmas only days away, the sheriff is pushing to successfully close the case before the holiday and make up her mind right away on who's to blame. As Alex is a prime suspect, trying to clear her name justifies her determined snooping. I thought it was fun and pretty realistic that the people she questioned were not shy about telling her to butt out. It happened often enough that you could play a drinking game involving taking a shot every time one of the characters told Alex to "mind your own business" or similar. It wouldn't take long for all participants to find themselves in a stupor. Fun times. But Alex is focused and thick-skinned enough to barrel on ahead.

There is an entertaining subplot involving Alex, her neighbor, Tom, and Penelope Shaw, the single (again) woman who lives across the street from them and views Alex as her rival for Tom's affections. I laughed out loud over Alex's dream that featured Penelope and one of her frozen casseroles.

With an engaging amateur sleuth and several plausible red herrings with excellent motives for mischief, I recommend A CHRISTMAS CANDY KILLING to cozy mystery readers who enjoy culinary-themed stores, settings in small-town Montana, or chocolate. (Recipes for some of Hanna's delectable handmade treats are included.)

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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