Author: Nancy Coco
Published: April 1, 2025 by Kensington Cozies
Format: Kindle, Mass Market Paperback, 336 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Candy-Coated Mysteries #13
Blurb: June is always beautiful on Mackinac Island, which is why Allie chose this month for her wedding to police officer Rex Manning—definitely Mackinac Island’s finest in more ways than one. But if her mother has her way, that’s the last choice Allie will get to make. Allie’s the furthest thing from a Bridezilla—but it looks like she has a Momzilla on her hands. Why else have her mother and extended family shown up a full two weeks before the nuptials to drive Allie to dizzying distraction?
Honestly, a murder investigation is far less stressful—and as it happens, Allie just found Velma French dead on the ground beside the rock that killed her, with her rival Myrtle sobbing nearby. Things don’t look good for Myrtle, but all may not be what it seems. Allie vows to solve the crime before she walks down the aisle. But a killer has other ideas—and they seem to be focused on Allie herself.
My Opinion: Thirteen books in, and I’ve reached my breaking point with the Candy-Coated Mysteries. What was once a promising cozy mystery series set on Mackinaw Island—a place brimming with charm, quirky characters, and the perfect setting for locked-room-style mysteries—has devolved into a recipe for frustration.
Let me be clear: cozy mysteries are supposed to focus on, well, the mystery. A dash of subplot and a sprinkle of character development? Sure, that’s all part of the recipe. But when the main course is hijacked by bridal drama and endless wedding dress shopping, I’m ready to shove this book under a rock and find something else to read. If I wanted to dive into family squabbles, I’d scroll through social media—not pick up a mystery novel.
Initially, I was hooked by Mackinaw Island’s allure—no cars, a tight-knit community, and a setting that seemed tailor-made for suspense. But this series has taken its charm and drowned it in whipped cream fluff. Now it’s all anthropomorphic dogs (can we just not?), police officers arriving last on the scene, forensic investigators whose good looks are inversely proportional to their intellect, and senior center ladies who seem to think murder boards are a competitive sport. At this point, the mystery itself feels like an afterthought.
As much as I tried to hold on, my patience was gone. Nancy Coco’s writing still has its moments, but this book feels like it lost sight of the genre entirely. I’m officially done with the Candy-Coated Mysteries. Unless Figg (OverKill by JA Jance) or Vera Wong (Jesse Q. Sutanto) decide to vacation to Mackinaw and solve a proper mystery, my suitcase is packed—I’m out.
My Opinion: Thirteen books in, and I’ve reached my breaking point with the Candy-Coated Mysteries. What was once a promising cozy mystery series set on Mackinaw Island—a place brimming with charm, quirky characters, and the perfect setting for locked-room-style mysteries—has devolved into a recipe for frustration.
Let me be clear: cozy mysteries are supposed to focus on, well, the mystery. A dash of subplot and a sprinkle of character development? Sure, that’s all part of the recipe. But when the main course is hijacked by bridal drama and endless wedding dress shopping, I’m ready to shove this book under a rock and find something else to read. If I wanted to dive into family squabbles, I’d scroll through social media—not pick up a mystery novel.
Initially, I was hooked by Mackinaw Island’s allure—no cars, a tight-knit community, and a setting that seemed tailor-made for suspense. But this series has taken its charm and drowned it in whipped cream fluff. Now it’s all anthropomorphic dogs (can we just not?), police officers arriving last on the scene, forensic investigators whose good looks are inversely proportional to their intellect, and senior center ladies who seem to think murder boards are a competitive sport. At this point, the mystery itself feels like an afterthought.
As much as I tried to hold on, my patience was gone. Nancy Coco’s writing still has its moments, but this book feels like it lost sight of the genre entirely. I’m officially done with the Candy-Coated Mysteries. Unless Figg (OverKill by JA Jance) or Vera Wong (Jesse Q. Sutanto) decide to vacation to Mackinaw and solve a proper mystery, my suitcase is packed—I’m out.
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