Overall it was an enjoyable read I do have a few questions though because they are the same characters living in the same town just on a new path somethings were not adding up from what we already know as the backstory of these characters for instance why was there such an issue with space when Wade had a house and there was also the question of the house that the deceased ex-husband had there was a little more George and Leanora and this one but largely they were best also while Sam was mentioned in other members of the family mostly it was Jake getting hurt

Ellie is awesome and kinda makes Jake seem bumbling.

I had trouble with the motive for this one I figured out who did it and kind of why but I didn’t understand the connection to Jake. But I guess Jake said it herself when she talked about being unlucky

Perhaps it's time for me to realize Sarah Graves and I need to break up. We've had a long and happy relationship, but we just aren't on the same page anymore. I'm not sure where to categorize her latest books, like terrorist thriller/cozy. In any case, I know most reviews love her latest book, so I will just say it wasn't for me. Jacobia "Jake" Triptree is suspected of murdering a disagreeable guest in town, when she and her buddy Ellie White come up against a plot to subvert the town's pirate festival. Much mayhem ensues. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, the bad news: nobody dies by chocolate frosted doughnut in this book. I know, I know, I was a little disappointed too. But, on the up side, the death that does take place is pirate-themed, so that makes up for it.

In the midst of a popular pirate festival that brings in much needed tourism and sales to the small waterfront community of Eastport, a somewhat famous food critic comes to town and starts immediately alienating everyone, which doesn’t end well for him. When his body is found in the cellar of Jacobia (Jake) & Ellie’s chocolate-themed bakery, The Chocolate Moose, Jake is pinned as the prime suspect in his murder.

What follows is the longest, most action-packed, two days of anyone’s life as Jake and Ellie get up to all kinds of trouble on land and sea, determined to clear Jake’s name and find the real killer.

When I say action-packed, I mean packed by the way. While some parts did drag a bit, I don’t know how everything that happened fit in only 2 days; it’s like time and space lost all meaning. Also, I’m not sure how Jake was still standing by the end of it. This woman fell down a set of stairs, hit her head hard enough to pass out, fell off a cliff into freezing water littered with rocks, was knocked out a few more times, and fell into the freezing Maine water a few more times – and she just stubbornly kept going right to the end.

Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut is the first I’ve read in the Death by Chocolate series and the author does a great job of giving you just enough info so you never feel lost without bogging you down with unneeded backstory. While this book can easily be read as a standalone, it made me very interested in reading the others in the series and I’m sure I’ll be back for more (I’ve been having a cozy café mystery moment lately and this book really satisfied that craving).

*I received a copy of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.

Listened to this book

While I like the Jake and Ellie mysteries, and the writing style, this one just pushed the boundaries of credulity a bit too far.

I just wasn't impressed tbh. I was bored and the mystery felt like it was dragging on. The only reason I'm giving this 3 stars is because even though I didn't enjoy it it wasn't horrible enough to be 2 stars. A boring mystery was my issue here and I wasn't pulled in enough to really care.