Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake (Death by Chocolate Mystery #2) by Sarah Graves

The island fishing village of Eastport, Maine, has plenty of salty local character. It also has a sweet side, thanks to Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree, her best friend Ellie, and their waterfront bake shop, The Chocolate Moose. But when island life is disrupted by the occasional killer, Jake and Ellie put their chocolate treats aside to make sure justice is served. 

This summer, Eastport’s favorite lovebirds, kindergarten teacher Sharon Sweetwater and Coast Guard Captain Andy Devine, are getting married. The gala reception is sure to be the fête of the season, especially with a wedding-cake-sized whoopie pie courtesy of The Chocolate Moose. For Jake and Ellie, the custom-ordered confection will finally reel in some much-needed profits. But the celebratory air, and sweet smell of success, are ruined by foul murder.

When Sharon’s bitter ex-boyfriend Toby is poisoned with an arsenic-laced milkshake, Andy is jailed as the prime suspect and the wedding is cancelled, whoopie pie and all. Then Sharon makes a shocking confession—one that sounds like a fishy attempt to get Andy off the hook. Now both the bride and groom are behind bars. And with the fate of The Chocolate Moose at stake, it’s up to Jake and Ellie to catch a poisonous predator before someone else sips their last dessert.

Includes a Recipe!  (Summary via Goodreads)


There is so much to love in Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves.  First you have main character Jacobia Tiptree, who everyone calls Jake for short, and her best friend Ellie, who is also her business partner, and they own the Chocolate Moose, a bake shop.  They live in Eastport, Maine in a little town on the water.  Jake and her husband Wade own a huge house where not only do they live in it but their grown son, his wife and their son along with Jake's dad and his wife, Jake's step-mother and housekeeper all live there as well.  (Phew....)

Sadly in Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake Jake and Ellie's business is struggling.  They are hoping that the upcoming wedding they are baking for will help keep their business afloat until tourist season starts.  Unfortunately a local drunk and unpopular ex-boyfriend of the bride is found dead behind the local bar, The Rubber Ducky, with a milkshake cup from The Chocolate Moose near him.  It is learned that Toby, the deceased, was poisoned which forces Jake and Ellie on high alert.  

Jake loves working with Ellie and will do whatever it takes to make sure that they can continue working together....even if that means putting herself in danger.....more than once.....

Reading Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake will have the reader hungry and tired as you are reading it.  You will be hungry because you are reading about all the yummy treats being made at The Chocolate Moose and you will be tired because Jake is always on the go !!  Even when the girl has blood oozing out of her arm and she is drugged, she does not stop !!!

Graves writing will have the reader feeling like you are right there along side Jake and Ellie as they race all over town trying to solve the murder before the state police do.  You will fall in love with the town, the relationships, the shops and everything else.  You are going to wish that you could go hang out at The Chocolate Moose and The Rubber Ducky with Jake and Ellie.  You are never going to want to leave......


Review by Missi M.