Lee’s ex-stepson shows up unexpectedly at TenHuis Chocolade. They have remained on good terms, and she is happy to see him, and agrees to go on a dinner date with him and her family. Only, Jeff doesn’t show up for the dinner. Still missing the next day, Lee is concerned, especially when his girlfriend arrives in town, and she is also unable to connect with him. Then a wrecked car, a dead body, and some mysterious people add to the mayhem. Yes, the town is in the midst of a noir film festival, with focus on the Maltese Falcon, but life is starting to mimic that film too closely for comfort. It’s an exciting tale, with all the regular likable characters of the series and with a few disreputable ones thrown in. The tale also contains a variety of chocolate tidbits and fudge recipes to sweeten the pages. ( )

The Chocolate Falcon Fraud is the fifteenth book in the delicious
a Chocoholic Mystery series.

The residents of Warner Pier are preparing for the start of Tough Guns and Private Eyes Film Festival with a special showing of The Maltese Falcon. As Lee is putting the final touches on some miniature Falcon chocolates her step-son from a previous marriage, Jeff, appears at the TenHuis candy shop. He is unclear as to why he is in Warner Pier, other to say he doing some research and wanted to attend the festival. When Jeff fails to make the supper he had arranged with Lee, Joe, her aunt, and step-uncle, they figure he had met a girl and will show up soon. But when he is still missing the next morning a search is begun and he is found near his wrecked car. It is soon learned that there is the possibility of another Maltese Falcon might be in existence. Then when a man comes to the door of Lee and Joe’s home and collapses dead on their porch and the package that he was carrying disappears, Lee figures that Jeff’s injuries and the man’s death are all somehow related to the existence of this alleged Maltese Falcon.

Once again Carl provides the reader with a well-plotted story, interesting characters and a helping of chocolate trivia.

Looking forward to the next exciting story in this series, The Chocolate Bunny Brouhaha. ( )

Familiar friends and extended families liven up Warner Pier with a film festival highlighting The Maltese Falcon. Lee McKinney and her aunt Nettie continue their prominent roles in tracking clues and solving crimes. At the culinary center are chocolate falcons and “Chocolate Chat” recipes. Unfortunately, this tale lacked depth and was very predictable. A few convenient but not very believable twists left this reader disappointed. In a way, it was like being at a family reunion, familiar places and people, but too many incomplete and interrupted conversations to hear the full story. ( )