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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Murder a la Mode by Lena Gregory is the first book in the Coffee and Cream Café Mystery series. Dani has settled into her new role after deciding to take over the family ice cream shop and help her uncle. It was the last thing she ever expected to be doing. All is going well until her ex-boyfriend, who she hasn’t seen since prom, shows up in the shop. When Dani later discovers the body of her ex’s estranged wife, she has to decide if he’s truly innocent and the only way to do that is to investigate the murder herself. Turning to her sister for help, Dani dives headfirst into the mystery - despite being warned to stay away - only to draw the wrong attention when she gets too close to the truth.
The ice cream shop is a great location for this cozy mystery to take place as it puts Dani in the town and is how she’s drawn back into various events. The familial dynamics are a shining point in the story, specifically her relationships with her sister Meghan and her Uncle Jimmie. Both of their personalities bounce cleverly off her own and help to build the humor and charm. Lena Gregory keeps the pace moving by quickly getting to the murder and creating drama derived from the victim’s life. The tone has a nostalgic feel as Dani finds her footing again in her hometown and goes down Memory Lane during the investigation. Her ex-boyfriend walking back into her life is an encounter that serves as a catalyst to begin the mystery. This also provides the story with plenty of drama as there are some unresolved issues and secrets woven into the investigation. Murder a la Mode is a charming cozy mystery that serves as a fun and humorous kick-off to a series.
