Raspberry Truffle Murder

A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery, Book 1

By: Wendy Meadows

Narrated by: Becky Boyd

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.

©2016 Majestic Owl Publishing LLC (P)2017 Majestic Owl Publishing LLC

Great

Loved it! The narrator was good. It was a real good cozy mystery with suspense.

Interesting series starter

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.

Light cozy mystery in a small Vermont town

After a painful divorce, Nikki has left her job as an investigative reporter, moved from Atlanta to Vermont, and opened a chocolate and coffee shop in the small town of Maple Hills, VT. Why Vermont? Well, she needed a change, and a small town in Vermont, in addition to being pretty, is certainly a change from Atlanta.

It's too bad that she's hardly opened her new shop for business when a man walks in, looks around and focuses on the older German couple she's speaking with, and walks out. No big deal, one might think. However, just moments later, Herb, husband of her assistant, Lydia, walks in with shocking news.There's been a hit-and-run, and the man who was just, briefly, in her shop, is dead.

He was also the former owner of the town newspaper, who had run poisonous articles about many of the well-off in the little community. Lots of people had reason to want him dead. And after some thought, Nikki thinks that perhaps they'd like a scapegoat not from their community. Or maybe, my theory, the ex-investigative reporter can't pass up the opportunity to do her thing. At any rate, she's soon investigating the dead man and his various targets. Along the way, she's soon meeting more of the locals, making both friends and enemies.

This is a light, quick, enjoyable story, without a lot of depth. For those looking for the "cozy plus food" the title suggests, might be disappointed to find there is no raspberry truffle, and certainly no recipes. I liked the characters--Nikki, Lydia, police detective Hawk Daley, and others along the way.

I bought this audiobook.

Good short listen

This was somewhat predictable but still good for listening during a short work shift. It was satisfying.

Another great listen!

This was the perfect short break from the daily grind. Starting a new business in a new town is always challenging but add a murder mystery and you have the beginning of a wonderful story.