The Semi-Sweet Hereafter

As an authority on all things chocolate, Hayden Mundy Moore is traveling across the pond to lend her expertise to the owner of a posh London chocolaterie-pâtisserie. From coconut truffles to chocolate flapjacks, Hayden's mouthwatering creations quickly impress her client. But her knowledge doesn't end there. The detective constable is taken by surprise when she identifies an exotic murder weapon: a stone metlapil, used to grind cacao beans-and apparently to bludgeon someone to death-in Hayden's own lodgings, no less… The victim is a sexy celebrity chef who just happens to be the ex-husband of Hayden's client. Now, amid the terraced town houses and local pubs, a killer is lurking-and the police have an assortment of suspects: a culinary rival, an ambitious agent, a recently-sacked assistant, and unfortunately, Hayden herself. The talented chocolate whisperer will have to find out what sort of nutter clobbered the famous cook-or her career may come to a bitter end… "Chocoholics and food cozy fans rejoice! With prose as smooth and delicious as its theme, this quality debut cozy introduces a smart protagonist with an unusual and tasty profession." -Library Journal (starred) on Criminal Confections