Dark Chocolate Demise (Cupcake Bakery Mystery)

I generally love the books in this series. This one, however, didn't do it for me. I still love the characters although there were a few tstl moments when they just annoyed me (and that hasn't happened in any of the other books in this series or the other series that I have read by this author) because they knew they were at risk but complained the entire time about people keeping tabs on them and wouldn't you know it the minute they go out unsupervised knowing that they were at risk they almost die. I knew where the body was going to be found because it was played up so much--and when because everyone left at the same time. I didn't like that the assumed why the person was killed from almost the moment that the body was discovered so for the entire story you knew why the person was murdered just not who, i prefer not to know the why that early on because then the book just drags. It was still a decent read but if I started reading about Mel & Angie with this book I wouldn't have picked up another book in this series.

This seventh outing from Jenn McKinlay finds Mel, Angie and the Fairytale Cupcake folks participating in Scottsdale, Arizona’s Old Town Zombie Walk. Mel finds a real dead body in her decorative casket right outside of the bakery truck and goes wild with grief when she thinks it’s Angie. It turns out to be someone who just looks like Angie, but Mel is afraid the hit was personal and the hitman might be coming back to rectify his mistake.I just can’t get enough of this series. It’s a paperback buy for me, as opposed to an e-book buy. By now I feel like I’m visiting with old friends, and the descriptions of cupcakes (recipes included) make me want to get in the kitchen and bake. I love the recurring characters and their relationships. Mel and her long-term boyfriend Joe are on the outs in this book because he’s prosecuting a dangerous mob case and doesn’t want her to end up as collateral damage. I love the way Mel stands up to Joe in this book and the ending – Wow! Did not see any of that coming.Highly recommend this series, starting at the beginning because all the books are interrelated and reading the previous ones in order makes this a richer experience.

Old Town Scottsdale is staging its first Zombie Walk, and the area is teeming with costumed zombies. Unlike regular zombies who prefer to feed on brains, these zombies are hungering for comfort and snack foods, so Fairy Tale Bakery has signed up to be one of the event's vendors. Business is brisk until a woman wearing a blood-stained wedding dress is found in the prop coffin set up near the cupcake van.As with the other books in this series, the focus is on the characters. The search for the motive and the murderer in this case throws all of them into personal frenzies and tests the strength of their relationships.The mystery can be solved along with the characters by an observant reader. The murder in this book is in place more as the instigator for other events that affect the characters rather than its most important feature.This book could be read as a stand-alone mystery, but will have less impact for readers not familiar with the characters and their backgrounds.A selection of zombie-themed cupcake recipes are included at the end of the book along with an excerpt from the book,  A Likely Story (A Library Lover's Mystery) , a cozy mystery from another of the author's series.Recommended for those following the series, but I would recommend those new to the series start from the beginning and read through the earlier books first. The characters will make it worth the time and effort, and make the events and relationships in this book more understandable and engaging.

I would actually give it a 3 1/2 star. I'm really torn to rate this one, I love Ms. McKinlay's books but this one really fell short with me. Normally I love Mel and Angie but frankly I wanted to smack them both. Angie's brother Joe is trying to tie up a case on the mob, this is putting everyone he knows in jeopardy, however when anyone tries to do anything to help keep them safe, they basically throw hissy fits and refuse to be "told what to do", so hey let's do something really stupid to show them, if it had happened just once I could ignore it, but it seemed to be a sequence of eventsThis being said, the beginning was excellent with the zombie walk and murder. I adore Oz and Marty, fun without being over the top. I love Manny, not sure what is going to happen with him. I felt bad for Joe in this one. The mystery was good, although it seemed to take a back seat to all the personal issues. Basically I loved all the characters except Mel and Angie in this one, sad to say since I normally love them. Looking at other reviews, they didn't seem to be bothered by these things so it is a matter of opinion. I will continue on with this series because I have loved all the others.

This is the 7th book in the series. This is a Halloween installment where the gang starts out selling cupcakes at a zombie festival. When a dead body is found in their prop coffin, one that could be one of them, things get scary. The fact that Joe, Angie’s brother, and Mel’s ex-boyfriend has been working on a mob case, makes them wonder if they are being targeted. To make things interesting, Angie’s former boyfriend is on the scene and is making some trouble for Angie with her fiance. As the threats increase, Mel must find out who is behind this before it is too late. The book contains cupcake recipes, including several Halloween themed ones.

Good one! Scottsdale AZ, plenty of fans have gathered to celebrate the first annual Old Town Zombie Walk. Mel, Angie & Tate are co-owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes. They are preparing to attend & are dressing up in their best undead costumes! Joe, one of Angie's brothers, is a Prosecuting Attorney trying a dangerous mob boss. After finding a corpse in their coffin prop & realizing the dead girl is dressed like & resembles Angie, the entire family goes on red alert..... A Very, Enjoyable read!

Diese Serie ist nett zu lesen; witzige, wenn auch z.T, überzeichnete Charaktere und etwas überzwerche Handlung. Aber man muss das nicht so ernst nehmen und es einfach als schönsten Zeitvertreib nach dem Nichtstun betrachten. Ich muss zugeben, die Serie von JmcK der libraries mysteries gefällt mir besser.

Loved the story and the recipes

Just loved this mystery, look forward to the next one