Description
When Nikki’s husband of 20 years decides that he wanted a different life in Los Angeles it spawns a new life for her as well. Leaving behind Atlanta and her journalism career there, she and her college-bound son move to the small and tightknit town of Maple Hills, Vermont. With a bustling tourist season, the thriving community seems the perfect place to set up her new chocolate shop…yet opening day proves more deadly than profitable.
A hit and run right outside her shop door leaves a man dead and questions swirling. When the victim is identified as Steven Denforth, the most hated and reviled man in town, it resurrects the fissures that had recently torn Maple Hills apart. It seems that when Denforth first came to town, the quiet man bought the local paper, then proceeded to publish damning articles about some of the communities’ most prominent members – secrets that no one should have known about.
Now he is dead and everyone is a suspect, including Nikki. As both a former reporter and an FBI consultant, Nikki instinctively knows the dirt in Maple Hills is piled high and if she doesn’t get to the bottom of it, and to the murder, then her stay in the quaint Northern Town may very well be short lived.
Rosemary HUGHES –
A newly divorced woman sets up a chocolate and coffee shop in a small town. Her first day open, sees a horrific crime committed. In fear that her past history may be cause for her to be thought to be somehow involved, she sets to, investigating the crime.
An interesting new series, similar to other detective series, although there seems to be a great sense of humor lingering in the background, in this episode, at least.
Coolestmommy R –
I thought the mystery was well written and kept me guessing as to who did it. Since this is the first book in the series, some of the back stories and character introductions dragged a little, but the story was overall a good one and very enjoyable to listen to.
Erica Freeman –
I really liked this book. It had a lovely balance between its cosy, mysterious humours and crime themes. I’m looking forward to more books in this series.
Our main character Nikki is rebuilding her life after divorce from her husband of 20 years left her blindsided. The relationship between her and her son Seth is great to see, he may be leaving for college but he is super supportive of his mom and her new venture away from everything they’ve both known, the banter between them feels genuine and fun and his encouragement of his mum both in her self confidence and wishing her success with her shop is nice to see.
Nikki is quickly drawn into the investigation of a hit and run that occurred outside her shop on opening day, with her being new in town and her shop the last place that Steven Denforth visited before his accident she at first pooled on with the list of suspects. So she sets to work using her skills as a former reporter and FBI consultant to sort the truth from the rumours and clear her name and protect the place she has quickly come to call home from being lost.
Becky Boyd is a fantastic narrator, giving spirit and joy to the character of Nikki in particular but also bringing all the side characters to life in a way that really makes you warm to them, well most of them anyways.
I was given this audiobook for free from audiobooks unleashed and have left this review voluntarily.