I have never been so glad to see a victim killed before Archie Smith was murdered in this book. He died in chapter 2 but was so unpleasant already that when a dead body was found, I hoped it was his. It was. Archie was what I would call a raging senior. He hated everybody and everyone hated him because he opposed every official decision made in his hometown of Larch Haven.

Rebecca (Becca) Ransom is the amateur sleuth. She is an actress who recently left Hollywood to return to her hometown and take over her family's candy shop. She was present on the town's canal when Archie's body was found. When her grandfather became a suspect Becca was unable to convince him to hire an attorney. Fearing for his life, Becca decides that she must determine the identity of the killer. From this point Becca becomes an amateur sleuth. Her BFF, Dizzy, plays a prominent role as Becca’s friend but does not participate in the investigation. Becca’s brother Gareth owns a restaurant in town and is married to Blake. Officer Sawyer is a possible love interest for Becca. He did not participate in the investigation either other than telling her to stop interviewing suspects who could be dangerous.

The investigation of the murder was slow. Most of the story was about Becca’s family and friend relationships. I am assuming that the author was setting up the foundation for this new world she has created in Larch Haven. Still, the reveal of the murderer was surprising. I just wish there were more twists in the story. ( )

Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox is the debut of A True Confections Mysteries. Becca Ransom was an actress on a popular show before she returned home to Larch Haven. I enjoyed the descriptions of the unique town. Larch Haven seems to be the American version of Venice. Cars are not allowed in the town. People can either walk around the quaint town or traverse the canals via a gondola (or other small watercrafts). The story is told from Becca’s point of view. This allows readers to know her every thought and activity (can be a bit much at times and a tad dull). She gets up feeds the cats, lets them out onto the catio, walks to work going over several bridges, making the chocolates, back home to pet the cats, lunch with her best friend, out in her boat, time with family, off to bed, and the next day the activities are repeated. Did we really need to know every time she made bonbons? There is a significant amount of repetition (Venice Avenue is mentioned over thirty times). Becca being scared to swim in the lake because of the “monster” would have worked if this was a paranormal story. Instead, it came across as Becca being a touch batty. Becca’s cats are cuties. I like that Becca has a catio for them. The mystery was simple. It was obvious that Archie would soon be murdered based on his attitude and activities. Becca’s sleuthing left a lot to be desired. She thinks about who she would talk to and the questions she would ask, but Becca rarely puts thoughts into action. The information Becca uncovered added little to the investigation. The killer can be identified easily. Becca’s Los Angeles boyfriend, Justin visits the town. He added nothing to the story. The storyline played out in a predicable manner. The story moved along at a slow pace until near the end. There was a lack of action (just the same daily activities). While I like the premise and setting, I was not a fan of the end result. My takeaway was a craving for chocolate. Six Sweets Under is a lighthearted tale with delectable bonbons, cats chilling in the catio, a stolen scooter, a murdered curmudgeon, a water worry, a disappointing picnic, and a killer clue. ( )

amateur-sleuth, canals, car-free-town, cats, chocolatier, cozy-mystery, estranged, family, first-in-series, friendship, gondolas, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, new-series, read, recipes, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, small-business, small-town, Vermont,*****

Great start to a new series!
Becca is a former actress who has returned to her hometown to run the family chocolate shop with her grandparents (parents now live in Florida). Then the town nasty is found dead in the water the day after a public argument with her grandfather. As if that isn't enough, her California boyfriend comes for a visit and a breakup ensues. Now is the time that she learns to sleuth with her bestie (to the great irritation of her childhood friend (now the local police chief).
Good story with great characters, interesting red herrings, and really unexpected twists. Loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )