I love a good cozy mystery series. This time it's candy! And who doesn't love candy. I liked Abby for the most part. She could be kind of ditzy but she was likeable and funny as well. The mystery was enjoyable but predictable. It was pretty funny I'm curious to see where this series goes. 4 stars. ( )

AWESOME, entertaining mystery! ( )

found this to be a pretty good story with enjoyable characters and setting. The conclusion to the mystery was lacking, however. ( )

I enjoyed most of this "first in a series" book. The Abby, main character, is very likable and has strong passions for her family, friends and neighbors. When a fellow businessman is found dead in a fire and her brother Wyatt is the prime suspect she can't leave it to the police. So, she is off investigating, despite repeated warnings from the police and from family to leave it to the police. It is this behavior that bothered me, she repeatedly puts herself in danger and just seemed to ignore the fact that people know she is investigating and are *very* unhappy with her.

I didn't see the ending coming, in fact the twist so was well done that I had to go back and think about where Carter lead me astray.

The fact that her new romance seems to be the local cop might mitigate some of her desire to be the lone ranger in future books. I hope so because I enjoyed the story and the characters.

I'll be reading the next in the series. ( )

Abby has taken over her dead Aunt's candy store in a small town that I've already forgotten the name of. The bloke who runs the menswear store, and who Abby sort-of has the hots for, dies in a fire in his store and because Abby's brother is a suspect she decides to investigate.

Overall I found the book dull. Abby is annoyingly repetitive (constantly going on about the fact her husband cheated on her) and is only interesting when compared to all the other boring characters in the story. The plot was pedestrian except the ending which was simply implausible. For me there wasn't a spark of humour or anything else to make this book stand out from the hundreds of other 'themed' cosy mysteries released every year and I won't bother to check out any more of this series. ( )

Recently divorced Abby Shaw returns to Paradise, Colorado to run the Divinity Candy Shop, which she inherited from her Aunt Grace. Though some of the people living in Paradise are a bit cool towards Abby until she proves herself; men's clothing storeowner Brandon Mills seems attracted to her. Since he has quite the reputation as a ladies man, Abby's not sure about his true feelings but never has a chance to find out when he is murdered. Brandon's death is a shock for Abby in many ways - she discovers that Brandon was not who she thought he was and was in fact disliked by many people in town. While that means there are many suspects in his murder, the police are focusing on Abby's brother, Wyatt. Wyatt certainly has a motive - he suspects his wife had an affair with Brandon - but he insists he didn't do it and Abby believes him. Now she has to convince hunky Police Officer Tawarski of Wyatt's innocence while trying to find the killer herself to clear his name.

"Candy Apple Dead" is a nice cozy mystery. Abby is a well-written, well-rounded character. Her struggles to prove herself capable of running the candy store and convince the town people of the same are very believable. Her struggle to reconcile the Brandon she knew with the person others said he was is heartbreaking. Her relationship with her brother is also very believable - anxious to clear his name, Abby realizes he is hiding something from her and her fear and frustration is well written. The candy store setting is a nice one and I loved the small details about candy making and how Abby decorated the store for the holidays. In fact, I wish there was more of that in the book. I liked the fact that Abby had a legitimate reason for investigating the murder - clearing her brother's name - instead of a manufactured one that happens so often in cozy mysteries. The mystery itself is well plotted, although only the most astute readers will note an important clue to the murderer.

"Candy Apple Dead" is a sweet read. ( )

Abby Shaw's Aunt Grace has left her candy shop to Abby knowing that she has a passion about making delicious candy. Abby gives up her legal profession and returns to Paradise, CO to continue her aunt's shop DIVINITY open and profitable.

As she gets use to her change in circumstance, Abby is befriended by another merchant, Brandon Mills, so when a fire destroys his store Man about Town, and he is subsequently found dead, Abby is naturally upset. Her distress increases when it appears that her brother, Wyatt, is the main suspect for the arson and murder.

Abby works unceasingly to find others that had reason to kill Brandon, the police are not happy about her interference and are noticeably perturbed when she appears to be in danger because of her involvement.

This was a fun mystery, introducing nice characters and a good background, however, the clues were sparse and the ending not completely satisfying. I'll try another in the series hoping for improvement. ( )

A lighthearted cozy mystery. I didn't figure out who did it right away, but I did predict the romance interest of the main character. ( )

I found this msytery to be long and drawn out (and there weren't that many pages!) I also found myself wanting some of the whining to stop. I don't think I'll continue with this series. ( )