When Detective Derrick Valentine shows up in the candy shop looking for a woman on the run from her husband, Lee suspects it is new employee Pamela. They are paying Pamela off the books and she came to them by way of Nettie’s friend Sarajane who runs an underground railroad for abused women. 

Lee and Nettie know they must get Pamela someplace else for her safety and the safety of those who work in the store, but complications arise when Lee finds Derrick dead on their back step.  In order to figure out who killed Derrick, Lee must learn more about Pamela, aka Christina Meechum, former wife of a Detroit mobster who is also in Warner Pier looking for his wife. 

There are other mysterious goings on around Lee; her lawyer/boat building husband is having some secret meetings with the chief of police (Nettie’s husband) and some men in suits, and some meetings at a nearby hotel, raising Lee’s suspicion meter. When a second death, closer to home, occurs Lee begins to do some serious searching. She starts finding some very unexpected things which could put her life, as well as her nearest and dearest, in grave danger.   

As always, Joanna Carl’s mysteries are full of yummy chocolate making tips, trivia and history and a fun, fast-paced mystery.  Lee has grown very comfortable being back her home town, is enjoying being married to Joe, has helped tremendously with her aunt’s business, and is glad to be part of the Warner Pier community. 

Lee is very supportive of Joe’s decision not to practice law full-time and when she learns there may be some changes in the future both with her life, Joe’s life and his family’s life, she takes it all in stride.  Pamela’s identity and Lee’s search to unravel it takes a neat turn, connecting this case to Joe’s secret meetings and Derrick’s murder. The mystery is well-plotted out and intuitive readers will easily figure out the mysteries along with Lee.  The Chocolate Cupid Killings is a frothy concoction that will appeal to the chocolate lover in everyone.                                                              

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry