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ecstarr's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Atrocious. The book is advertised as a "cozy mystery" but it would be MUCH better if it had just stuck to being cozy. The additional 0.25 star is because I didn't mind the slow slice of life. It would probably succeed in a different genre, but as a murder mystery it is so poorly written I wanted to DNF a third of the way through. I definitely hate-listened to finish it.
The book's exposition is several chapters longer than it needs to be. I wouldn't have minded the slow pace if I didn't know before starting that it was supposed to be a murder mystery (the body isn't even discovered until around chapter 6 or 7). Even after the body is found, the protagonist barely considers it or potential of foul play for another several chapters until the detective starts asking her family questions. I find it hard to believe that she tripped over a dead man, yet somehow the only thing on her mind is how she's going to market her family business's reopening.
Even after she decides to investigate the victim's death, the way she "investigates" is haphazard and ridiculous. She lands on a prime suspect for no reason other than that her best friend can't stand the guy. She asks the most preposterous questions and is INCREDIBLY slow on the uptake. She has no idea what's going on and only finds out information because she's in the right place at the right time. Her version of "questioning" a suspect is to flat out say "did you kill (name)?" And when the suspect obviously responds no, she asks if they're sure.
When the killer is revealed and all the puzzle pieces are explained, there is only one clue that a reader could actually pick up on; the rest were all based on theories that the protagonist creates with no basis in fact. And it's hard to trust her detective skills and intuition when she calls the actual detective incompetent and an idiot for *checks notes* questioning a suspect that has means, motive, and a shaky alibi, just because it's someone she cares about. And she's absolutely shocked that her strategy of telling the detective that "it COULDN'T be him because he's a good person" doesn't get him to completely abandon the questioning. There's an incompetent idiot all right, and it's not the detective.
The book's exposition is several chapters longer than it needs to be. I wouldn't have minded the slow pace if I didn't know before starting that it was supposed to be a murder mystery (the body isn't even discovered until around chapter 6 or 7). Even after the body is found, the protagonist barely considers it or potential of foul play for another several chapters until the detective starts asking her family questions. I find it hard to believe that she tripped over a dead man, yet somehow the only thing on her mind is how she's going to market her family business's reopening.
Even after she decides to investigate the victim's death, the way she "investigates" is haphazard and ridiculous. She lands on a prime suspect for no reason other than that her best friend can't stand the guy. She asks the most preposterous questions and is INCREDIBLY slow on the uptake. She has no idea what's going on and only finds out information because she's in the right place at the right time. Her version of "questioning" a suspect is to flat out say "did you kill (name)?" And when the suspect obviously responds no, she asks if they're sure.
When the killer is revealed and all the puzzle pieces are explained, there is only one clue that a reader could actually pick up on; the rest were all based on theories that the protagonist creates with no basis in fact. And it's hard to trust her detective skills and intuition when she calls the actual detective incompetent and an idiot for *checks notes* questioning a suspect that has means, motive, and a shaky alibi, just because it's someone she cares about. And she's absolutely shocked that her strategy of telling the detective that "it COULDN'T be him because he's a good person" doesn't get him to completely abandon the questioning. There's an incompetent idiot all right, and it's not the detective.
brooketaylor's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sharknato's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette has Bronwyn “Win” Crewse taking over the management of her family’s ice cream shop, Crewse Creamery in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Win had the shop renovated and plans to only sell only homemade ice cream as her grandparents did when they started the business. She is thankful to have her grandmother’s original recipes plus Win plans on creating some new flavors using locally sourced ingredients. Of course, numerous delays means Win is opening the creamery in October instead of May as she originally planned. After a dismal first day, Win ventures down to the falls to obtain fresh snow to make snow cream. Win ends up stumbling over a dead body who happens to be a con man who has a history with the Crewse family. When Win’s father becomes a prime suspect, Win and Maisie, one of her best friend’s, begin their own investigation. Can this duo scoop up the killer before Win’s father must trade in his doctor’s coat for prison garb?
A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette is the debut novel in An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series. Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has returned home to Chagrin Falls and was thrilled when her grandfather gave her the keys to Crewse Creamery making her the new manager. Win’s Aunt Jack had changed the place so much that is was not recognizable. Win has made some wonderful ice cream (all made by hand) to sell for the opening which turns out to be a chilly day with rapidly falling snow. Not the best day to open an ice cream shop. Win has a positive attitude and plenty of marketing ideas to help Crewse Creamery. I enjoy the relationship Win has with her family especially her grandfather, PopPop. PopPop may be grumpy, but he has a soft heart where his granddaughter is concerned. While Maisie Solomon is a loyal friend to Win (they have been friends since kindergarten), she had hair brained ideas and reacts without thinking (insisting someone is guilty of murder without proof). I hope that Maisie will calm down and mature as the series progresses. The mystery was straightforward. You know who will die after meeting the man. There are a couple of suspects along with misdirection. I would have liked more investigating by Win (without Maisie). I enjoyed discovering the identity of the cold killer. The ice cream Win creates sounds delicious. I like that she uses quality, locally sourced ingredients. I was surprised that Win did not serve other items in the winter like homemade hot chocolate, cookies fresh from the oven (could be used to be ice cream sandwiches too), brownies served a la mode, or pie with ice cream. It would help to bring customers into the shop (she might in future books). Win’s marketing degree will serve her well in promoting the shop. Professor Morrison Kaye is a good addition. I liked him except for the ideas he gave Maisie. The knowledge he imparted could be dangerous in Maisie’s hands. A Deadly Inside Scoop is an upbeat cozy mystery with creamy cold concoctions, greenhorn gumshoes, significant snowfall, a mystery man, a precious puppy, and carcinogenic killer.
A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette is the debut novel in An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series. Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has returned home to Chagrin Falls and was thrilled when her grandfather gave her the keys to Crewse Creamery making her the new manager. Win’s Aunt Jack had changed the place so much that is was not recognizable. Win has made some wonderful ice cream (all made by hand) to sell for the opening which turns out to be a chilly day with rapidly falling snow. Not the best day to open an ice cream shop. Win has a positive attitude and plenty of marketing ideas to help Crewse Creamery. I enjoy the relationship Win has with her family especially her grandfather, PopPop. PopPop may be grumpy, but he has a soft heart where his granddaughter is concerned. While Maisie Solomon is a loyal friend to Win (they have been friends since kindergarten), she had hair brained ideas and reacts without thinking (insisting someone is guilty of murder without proof). I hope that Maisie will calm down and mature as the series progresses. The mystery was straightforward. You know who will die after meeting the man. There are a couple of suspects along with misdirection. I would have liked more investigating by Win (without Maisie). I enjoyed discovering the identity of the cold killer. The ice cream Win creates sounds delicious. I like that she uses quality, locally sourced ingredients. I was surprised that Win did not serve other items in the winter like homemade hot chocolate, cookies fresh from the oven (could be used to be ice cream sandwiches too), brownies served a la mode, or pie with ice cream. It would help to bring customers into the shop (she might in future books). Win’s marketing degree will serve her well in promoting the shop. Professor Morrison Kaye is a good addition. I liked him except for the ideas he gave Maisie. The knowledge he imparted could be dangerous in Maisie’s hands. A Deadly Inside Scoop is an upbeat cozy mystery with creamy cold concoctions, greenhorn gumshoes, significant snowfall, a mystery man, a precious puppy, and carcinogenic killer.
abbyl819's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun idea, but I didn’t love the pacing. 95% of the way through the book you still haven’t found out anything important about the mystery. Everything is revealed, the climactic confrontation lasted about 30 seconds and then it was over with nothing else. It just wasn’t a satisfying ending for everything they spent the whole book figuring out to be almost no clues about the killer and then just move on with nothing about the impact on the characters involved. The main character and her friends didn’t drive the plot forward, they almost always needed someone else to spell everything out for them and tell them exactly what to do next.
casmix's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
chasitey's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
not the best cozy mystery i’ve read, i didn’t really connect to the characters much and I had to switch from reading physically to listening to it because it’s pretty slow & a bit plain (i even had to speed up the audiobook to 1.75x because the voice actor was speaking so slowly which added to the already )
it was definitely okay, i probably won’t read again, BUT i did enjoy it for what it was, and easy read that filled time. i’m a bit biased in terms of feeling comforted because it’s based in my home state 🫶🏼 i loved hearing all of the familiar town and county names.
I definitely want to read the rest of the series though! I’m a sucker just for a simple, easy read. i just hope the other books don’t drag on like this one felt like it was doing.
it was definitely okay, i probably won’t read again, BUT i did enjoy it for what it was, and easy read that filled time. i’m a bit biased in terms of feeling comforted because it’s based in my home state 🫶🏼 i loved hearing all of the familiar town and county names.
I definitely want to read the rest of the series though! I’m a sucker just for a simple, easy read. i just hope the other books don’t drag on like this one felt like it was doing.
emikinaak's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
bzm0023's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
Just getting into cozy mysteries for the first time so take with a grain a salt! Strangely liked the first half/set up more than the ending where the mystery was solved. I honestly was lost with the characters and how they were all connected so when things were revealed I was like wait what? (But that could be me listening while multitasking-whoops!) But I did enjoy the cozy vibes!