Lee McKinney has recently joined the Seventh Major Food Group. No, the FDA hasn't added another level to the pyramid; it's a group of local merchants who are involved in fancy food and parties. Organized by Julie Singletree, a woman trying to get a party planning business going, the group exchanges tips via e-mail. Julie also uses their e-mail list to forward inspirational messages several times a day. Lee has had enough of the spam when the news breaks - Julie has been murdered and her computer stolen. Lee fully intends to stay out of this investigation. After all, Julie lived in a neighboring town. But the morning after the funeral, several members of the group are hit by a computer virus. Another has her shop broken into and her computer's memory erased. As things continue to escalate, Lee can't keep her curiosity to herself and begins nosing around. As if all this weren't enough, Joe and Lee are trying to work out the details of their upcoming wedding. Joe wants a big fancy affair and Lee just wants a few family members and close friends. Meanwhile, Aunt Nettie's sister-in-law contacts the shop hoping to find a job for her son, making Lee feel very insecure.
I have little to say about The Chocolate Mouse Trap. It's slightly better than the last book in the series but not as good as the first two. The title no longer bears on the actual case. Chocolate is not one of the active actors of the mystery. The romance between Joe and Lee has bloomed. They are planning their wedding, which means - and there is a clue to that as well - they are having sex at last. I must say that the murderer's intent is hazy. He seems to commit murders in panic attacks, yet it almost took the extinction of the seventh food group for the police to solve the case. The identity of the murderer was a satisfaction to realize. The book's style is similar to many cozy mysteries and it doesn't veer off in frowning readability, if you know what I mean.
What do You think about The Chocolate Mouse Trap (2005)?
This series is so fun! I live along the lakeshore of Lake Michigan, so the fictional town in this story-- nestled in between Holland and Saugatuck feels like home to me! Fun characters and story line-- perfect for a light-hearted mystery! This is the 5th book in the series, so I feel as if I know the characters much better-- I'm loving Joe and Lee's relationship progress. :) Also, of the 5 of these I've read, this one's mystery was truly a mystery for me, as I didn't figure out who did it until it was revealed!!
—Karen
