Forever Fudge by Nancy Coco is the sixth book in A Candy-Coated Mystery series. Allie McMurphy is the owner of the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop on Mackinac Island. Labor Day is behind them and so is tourist season. It seems, though, that a film crew has invaded the island to film the pilot of a mystery show starring Dirk Benjamin. Dirk will be portraying a Rex Manning type character and will be shadowing him before production starts (lucky Rex). Allie is out walking Mal, her bichon poo, when he sniffs out a dead body in the alley. A note was left with the body with Allie’s name on it. Inside the note is written “kf3” which sounds like a chess move according to Mr. Beechum. The killer is challenging Allie to a battle of the wits. While Francis and her new hubby are on their honeymoon, Allie has extra responsibilities at the hotel. In addition, she is dealing with her breakup from Trent who is not ready to give up on their relationship and Rex who asks her out on a date. Out on another walk with Mal when he digs up a sock and a toe under a tree. The culprit left another chess clue carved into the tree. Who is behind the crimes and why are they singling out Allie? Join Allie are her most challenging and personal case yet in Forever Fudge.

Forever Fudge contains well-developed and established characters as well as a beautiful location. I enjoy learning more about Mackinac Island with its historic locations including the Grand Hotel which was used as a location in my favorite film Somewhere in Time. I thought the pace was a little slower Forever Fudge as Allie deals with making fudge, the day-to-day running of the hotel, Jenn departing for Chicago, her romantic woes, a prankster and the whodunit. I missed Frances and her wit in this tale. Frances is off enjoying her honeymoon and does not return until the end. The main mystery may seem complicated on the surface, but I thought it was straightforward. I quickly pinpointed the culprit and then kept reading to see if I was correct. There is a limited suspect list, but there are good clues and a red herring. The secondary mysteries resolution comes out of left field and the motive was weak. The chess clues did not resonate with me since I do not play the game (I lack the patience for the game). I would have preferred Allie to actively investigate the crime instead of information being passed along to her. I could have done with less romance. Allie loves Trent, but he does not wish to live on Mackinac Island full time. I am rooting for Rex who seems to have more in common with Allie. However, his marital history stands in their way. My rating for Forever Fudge is 3 out of 5 stars. It is not my favorite book in A Candy-Coated Mystery series. There are luscious fudge recipes included in the book and a preview of Fudge Bites. ( )

Forever Fudge is the 6th book(includes 2 e-novellas) in The Candy-Coated Mystery series.

I love heading to Mackinac Island and stopping in to visit with Allie and Jenn at the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop.

Allie is quite busy this time as Francis and Mr. Delaney are off on their honeymoon and Jenn is busy planning a fund-raiser for the Butterfly House. It’s Tuesday after Labor Day and Allie is busy going over the financial’s for the season when Jenn has some exciting news to pass on. She has heard that there will be a pilot for a mystery series to be filmed on the island and the cast and crew are already assembling to begin production. Later that day Allie has taken her bichon-poo, Mal, out for a walk. As Allie is greeting her friend Mr. Beecher Mal as she is prone to do, she finds a man slumped next to a building with a hat covering his head. The man has been shot in the head. In his hand is a note addressed to Allie that has two letters and a number written on it. Allie doesn’t have a clue what the note might mean and Mr. Beecher says that it appears to be a chess move. Apparently, someone is taunting Allie to investigate another murder. Allie calls 911 and within minutes Rex Manning, the police chief, arrives on the scene with his shadow. His shadow, being the Dirk Benjamin who will be portraying Rex in the television pilot. Then Mal finds a sock that has man’s toe in it. When a second body is found that was similar to the first one and more chess moves are left for Allie. Allie continues to stand by her promise not to get involved in searching out the killer. But that changes when her former boyfriend, Trent Jessop goes missing.

This another well-plotted and told story from Nancy Coco. The book had a wonderful cast of interesting and believable characters. The book also has delicious sounding recipes included with the book.

I’ll be looking forward to the next book in this exciting series. I’ll be interested to hear how the Delaney’s honeymoon was and what is new with Allie and Rex. ( )