Hayley Powell, a columnist for the Island Times, and owner of popular restaurant Hayley's Kitchen, is faced with a problem: she's just discovered another dead body. This time, in the back of the freezer truck of Lydia Partridge, owner of Bar Harbor Ice Cream. The dead woman is a summer employee of Lydia's, and she asks Hayley to help her find out who killed her, since this could definitely hurt her business. But when Hayley begins her investigation, she finds that the young woman had secrets. Lots of them. And one of those secrets led to her death. Unfortunately, she also finds that it might lead to someone she cares about, and just can't believe is a killer...

To complicate matters, her son Dustin arrives with a major surprise. A surprise that will change Hayley's life -- and Dustin's -- forever. Then, just as Hayley thinks things can't get any worse, both Mona and Lydia, Hayley's best friends, have secrets of their own that are uncovered. Now Hayley's in the middle of not only a murder investigation, but her own life is about to be upended. How is she going to survive all this?...

This is the fifteenth book in the series, and I have read them all. While I will admit freely that I didn't care for the first in the series, I am glad that I continued to stick with it. Because, and I am sure others will agree (and maybe a few disagree), that this series has only improved with time. Each book seems to be getting better than the last. And that's few authors that can claim that distinction of series.

In this book, we have Hayley once again trying to figure out where a killer lurks among her friends and acquaintances. She does it without probing too deep, but she's not afraid to confront people to get answers to her questions. That's where part of her strength lies. I don't feel that she's pushing too hard, because I never get uncomfortable with her line of questioning.

As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that Hayley is upset the way things are going, and knows she has to try and find the murderer, and help her friend Lydia discover if Lydia's husband Jamie was having an affair as well. Hayley has her hands full this time, and time itself might not be on her side.

But when the ending comes, it's not only full of activity, I also had ideas of who the murderer must be. I found myself surprised by the author's twist, and it was a doozy, to say the least. This time out, Hayley plays her cards well, and her wits help her win in the end. I loved this story and am eager to read the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review. ( )

Hayley along with Lynette discover the body of a young college girl in Lynette's Ice Cream truck. Hayley has to help her friend find out who could have done this. There are a lot of suspects and along with some family drama, will Hayley find the culprit?
I enjoyed this book and anyone who loves Ice Cream there are recipes included!
Thanks to Kensignton Books and NetGalley for the ARC. ( )

cozy-mystery, Maine, situational-humor, verbal-humor, family-dynamics, friendship, culinary, amateur-sleuth, small-town, small-business, island-life, restaurant, recipes, food-columnist, drama, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement****

This is a great addition to the series. Haley's son brings home a great surprise, his very pregnant girlfriend with no warning whatsoever. Then there are all sorts of things going on with several of her closest friends. All to be topped off by finding the body in the Ice Cream Truck! The publisher's blurb is a great hook but the story itself kept my interest from beginning to end. A good read.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )