Reviews

Here Comes the Fudge by Nancy Coco

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition

4.0

Allie McMurphy is happy the renovations are finished on the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Her best friend, Jenn is getting married in two weeks and Allie is the maid of honor. When Shane, Jenn’s fiancé misses his dinner date with Jenn and fails to text or call, she becomes worried. Allie, Jenn, and Allie’s bichenpoo, Mal head out to look for him. They find Shane in an alley with a bloody knife in his hand standing over an obviously deceased gentleman. Shane refuses to tell Jenn or Allie any information, and neither will Rex. If there is going to be a wedding, it looks like it is up to Allie to prove Shane’s innocence. Here Comes the Fudge by Nancy Coco is the 9th A Candy-Coated Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Allie McMurphy is hotel owner and fudge maker extraordinaire. Allie makes fudge fresh every morning and the descriptions will have your mouth watering. Allie along with the secondary characters are developed and realistic. The story is well-written, and it moved along at a steady pace. In addition to the mystery, there is wedding planning, fudge making, taking care of the hotel, spending time with friends and her furbabies. Rex and Allie’s relationship is currently at a standstill. Harry Winston is in town and Allie spends some time getting to know the handsome bachelor. I love the beautiful word imagery of Mackinac Island. I felt transported to the island and could smell the yummy fudge. The mystery was well thought out. There is misdirection to keep you off the path of the guilty party. I identified the guilty party early on, but I was curious as to why. I think many people, though, will be surprised by the killer’s identity. I like how Allie employed the residents of the senior center to help her with the investigation. I was frustrated with Shane and Rex. Both men should know by now that they cannot keep Allie from investigating or Jenn helping her. Here Comes the Fudge is an enjoyable cozy mystery. I love visiting Mackinac Island and I am eager to return in A Midsummer’s Night Fudge next May. Here Comes the Fudge is a fudgetastic tale with a body locator bichenpoo, a frustrating fiancé, prenuptial plans, fantastic fudge, sleuthing seniors, and a confusing case.

kimlb's review against another edition

5.0

I don't usually enjoy series with 20 something year old sleuths (being an older reader :) ) but Allie is an old soul. There is plenty for a mature reader to identify with in this series.

tmleafs42's review

hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

5.0

Allie is excited and super busy with the marriage of her friend Jenn fast approaching. Everything is going great until the groom is found holding a knife over a dead body. It is up to Allie to figure out who done it so that the wedding can continue. Filled with a lot of twists and turns and quite a bit of action. Another great addition to this cozy series. 

thisandthatwithkaren's review

5.0

"Here Comes the Fudge" the 9th instalment in the Candy-Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco. I really love this series and visiting Mackinac Island! I’m hoping to go there in next few years so then I can really see it in my minds eye.

Fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy never expected her maid of honor duties to include clearing the groom of murder...

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in one day. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. I especially love little Mal which reminds me of my little Lindi. I think this might be my favourite book in the series but I say that every time.

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I did not figure out who the villain was until Allie did.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

melziethegreat's review

3.0

Normally I’m a huge fan of the candy coated mystery series but this installment didn’t do it for me. Allie seemed kind of bratty and spoiled. Also her on and off again relationship with Rex seems forced. She needs to make a choice.

penlop's review

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

itisamandaaa's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoy these easy reads but there are a lot of continuity errors. This book mentions Paige never having dated anyone than Allie knew of, but a few books prior, the entire story was surrounding Paige and her boyfriend. The stray cat was spayed early on in the series, and not too long ago, she suddenly had a litter of kittens and belonged to someone else but now she’s back living with Allie.

annarella's review against another edition

5.0

Nancy Coco never fails to deliver riveting and entertaining mysteries and this one is excellent.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing and turning pages. I was glad to catch up with the characters and the lovely setting made me wish I was there.
Good character and plot development, excellent storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

dollycas's review

funny lighthearted mysterious

5.0

 

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Tourist season is just starting on Mackinac Island and the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop is going to be very busy. Allie’s best friend Jenn is back in town and she has two weddings lined up with the guests filling the hotel. One of those weddings is her own and she has ticked off everything on her to-do list. The one thing not on her list was MURDER and having her fiancé Shane named the police’s prime suspect has really fudged up her plans. Everyone that knows Shane knows he would never kill anyone but he’s not talking and neither is Allie’s tentative boyfriend Rex. They want Jenn and Allie to leave the investigation to them but the entire town knows there is no way that is going to happen.

I was so happy to return to Mackinac Island. It really is an idyllic setting that I have always wanted to visit. For now, I have to settle for Ms. Coco’s delightful descriptions for a virtual vacation.

The characters in this series have really worked their way into my heart. Allie is happy all the renovations are complete and soon the outside will have a fresh coat of paint and guests will be filling all the rooms and tourists will be popping in to buy her fudge. She is also excited about Jenn’s wedding and wants to be sure everything is perfect for her. True best friends, they stick together through thick and thin. Their guys are being pretty shady in this installment but think they have a good reason. Newlyweds Frances and  Douglas, they are so cute together. They are truly rocks that Allie can always lean on. They really seem to be unflappable no matter the crisis.

With Jenn’s wedding taking place soon Shane’s family is staying off the island, but her family and Allie’s parents all check in to the McMurphy. I loved that Allie’s mom and dad came for the wedding. They are so supportive of everything Allie is doing with the hotel and fudge shop. Plus they were needed when the scheduled plans went awry. They too remained calm under pressure and allowed Allie the time to do a bit of sleuthing along with her maid of honor duties which are vast when the groom is accused of murder.

Ms. Coco has created such a genuine group of core characters for this series. Truthfully most of the people we meet have good hearts and are willing to help anyone in any way they can. It wouldn’t be a murder mystery without a bad apple or two but she hides them very well until all the clues are mixed together and fall into the right place.

The mystery she has penned in Here Comes the Fudge really tugs on the heartstrings because you want Jenn and Shane’s wedding to go off without a hitch. Allie does turn to a group she knows hears all the gossip on the island to try to get to the bottom of the crime. These ladies are a hoot but they are a fantastic source.  The author does an excellent job of twisting things up which means Allie needs more than the seniors can tell her to find the real killer. With plenty of misdirection, I had eliminated the true culprit and was surprised by the very exciting ending.

Romance in this story has an interesting twist too. Allie has a new admirer. . . yup and Rex is not happy.

I can’t forget the fudge recipes. I think I gained 5 pounds just reading them. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge, oh, dear, so easy to make, I am in big trouble.

Here Comes the Fudge is a strong example of a perfect cozy mystery and a Perfect Escape. A strong family element, true friendships, and lovable pets, all brought together with a captivating mystery, plenty of humor, and a smidgen of romance.  I loved it!

The next book in this fun series, A Midsummer Night’s Fudge is being released on May 24. I will be reading and reviewing it soon! 

nikkitadcomeau's review

5.0

When one thinks of weddings, one does not usually think of murder, but when Allie McMurphy is involved, one should always consider murder as part of the equation. With her best friend’s wedding about to take place at the inn, Allie needs to move this investigation along! Between guy troubles, wedding hosting a wedding, and the police being as uncooperative as ever, she tries her best to figure why someone would want to kill a local man and frame her best friend's fiancé.