Review: Hot Fudge Murder

Title: Hot Fudge Murder

Series: A Lickety Splits Mystery #2

Author:Cynthia Baxter

Release Date: January 29, 2019

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Find it here: Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads:Just six weeks after the grand opening of Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe, owner Kate McKay has been enlisted to whip up sundaes at the most decadent soiree in the Hudson Valley. If only Kate knew how deadly sticky her sweet deal will turn out . . .Once Kate arrives at a glamorous gala hosted by world-famous fashion designer Omar DeVane, she's instantly intimidated by the mogul's luxurious mansion and the frosty personalities of his handlers. But the party completely loses its flavor when guests follow screams to a room that's eerily empty--except for Omar's freshly murdered body . . .While the headline-grabbing crime brings a steady stream of journalists to the sleepy village of Wolfert's Roost, Kate knows things won't return to normal until Omar's killer is brought to justice. And with the scandalous case driving customers away from Lickety Splits, she has no choice but to put down the ice cream scooper and expose the culprit on her own . . .As Kate crashes high-profile photo shoots and mingles with fashion's biggest influencers in search of clues, the puzzling truth about Omar's fame and fortune rises to the surface--and with it, the key to his killer's twisted motive. Kate will have to navigate the celebrity lifestyle to save her fledgling business, but her attempts to freeze cold-hearted criminals in their tracks could lead to a double scoop of deadly trouble . . .

My Review: I had not read the first book in this series and though I still enjoyed it I think I would have slipped into the story much better had I had a little more background information. I loved the small town vibe that the author was able to invoke and felt connected to the characters. I didn't love the relationship developments though and they were distracting from the main plot. Overall I enjoyed this series and intend to go back and read the first book!

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All opinions are my own.*