chocolatier, family, family-dynamics, friendship, ex-cop, artist, Galveston, amateur-sleuth, small-business, series, cozy-mystery, widow, business-partners, secrets, wedding-madness, asthmatic, law-enforcement, verbal-humor, author, relationships, theft, fauna, suspense*****

Come for the chocolate, stay for the murder investigation.
The chocolate art sculptures, and the Vietnamese coffee had me drooling and the use of a 3-D printer had me amazed.
There is a fairly large cast and suspect pool in this extremely interesting addition to an engrossing series (plus a retired K-9, lop eared bunny, cockatoo, and others). Loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from BooksGoSocial and Golden Tip Press via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )

A Shot in the 80% Dark

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy of A Shot in the 80% Dark.
Although this is book four in a series, I did not have a problem reading it as a standalone story. Felicity is co-owner of a chocolate shop on Galveston Island, Texas. She has two big problems: she’s a murder magnet and she’s got two men hot on her trail. Logan is the dangerous sexy type and Arlo, her first boyfriend, is now a local cop. When Felicity gets the contract for a museum gig, things are looking good for her business until two of the artists are killed in a single attack. If the museum cancels the benefit, Felicity stands to lose a lot of money, she needs to solve the murder.
It was fun reading a book set in Galveston as I have spent countless days on the island. I laughed when I saw the name of my hometown of Friendswood, Texas mentioned. Reader beware: this book could be dangerous to your waistline as it will leave you craving your favorite chocolate goodies. I loved learning about chocolate, the process of making edible treats from the raw ingredients and the finished products.
The murder in this book is very complicated with a huge cast of characters, including a talking cockatoo named Renoir. The list of suspects and their motives is rather lengthy and I admit there were times when I lost track of who was who. I was not able guess the murderer, but the pirate treasure plot was engaging and the resolution satisfactory. I did not really care for the love triangle between Felicity and her two suitors but others may enjoy this romantic trope.
I would recommend A Shot in the 80% Dark to readers who love cozy murder mysteries in unique settings. ( )

A well-plotted, crave-inducing addition to the Bean to Bar Mysteries series!

A Shot in the 80% Dark is a fine, well-plotted mystery that kept me entertained, guessing, and turning pages until the very end. Felicity, the main character, works hard and is serious about discovering who committed the precisely timed and very public murder. She goes to suitable sources, asks the right questions, and keeps her boyfriend, the lead detective on the murder case, informed and up-to-date on what’s she doing. Only little slip-ups put her in danger, and those felt like they were honest missteps. The ‘rookie mistake’ is actually claimed by Arlo himself! There are many viable suspects, and they are logically ruled out one by one. However, I didn’t know who was going to be the last suspect standing at any point until the killer was finally revealed, and I liked that the truth felt plausible because of the circumstances of the situation.

As the series continues, Felicity’s circle of friends expands and incorporates suspects from previous murders, old acquaintances, and frenemies. The author has done a great job with character development over the series, and I did feel the need to catch up with some of these folks. I like that there are so many recurring characters, even if they only get a mention or brief appearance in a story.

The story is naturally ‘choc’ full of chocolate-craft. Royer sprinkled in little tidbits of chocolate fact and fun throughout, and the result is a confection in and of itself. The story also has an extraordinary amount of pastry and other food discussions that had me craving a trip to Galveston. I learned so much (and had to google for more) and wanted to try all of the fictional delights the characters described.

The Galveston setting is fun and feels so familiar and comfortable. I loved hearing about different locations and sights, even just which end of the island the characters were on as they investigated. I enjoyed imagining all the small shops and businesses Felicity mentions or encounters during her day. The reminders of the damage from Hurricane Ike still having such an impact so many years later were quite sobering.

A wonderful part of this cozy mystery is the love triangle between the main characters. I could empathize with Felicity’s hesitancy to start another relationship yet. Her emotional struggle feeling the need to choose between two good men feels deep and genuine. Both men seem equally desirable, and it is no wonder she’d have a tough time making a choice, even if she wasn’t still grieving for her lost love. I felt the same genuineness in Logan’s and Arlo’s struggles with Felicity’s continued indecision. Still, both exude their concern and understanding that their need to be chosen as “the one” exerts a lot of pressure on her that she’s just not ready to handle.

A Shot in the 80% Dark is the fourth book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries, but the author provides enough backstory throughout for a reader who hasn’t read the previous books to have a great, entertaining reading experience. However, be warned that starting with this book will have the reader looking for the earlier stories; they are not to be missed.

I recommend A SHOT IN THE 80% DARK to readers who enjoy culinary-themed cozy mysteries, Texas-based cozies, Galveston, or chocolate…and who doesn’t like chocolate?

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours. ( )