Six Sweets Under - (A True Confections Mystery) by Sarah Fox (Paperback)

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.

Becca Ransom has returned home to Larch Haven, Vermont, and has taken over the chocolate making in her family’s chocolate shop. She is loving being around her family and friends again, but she isn’t as happy to see that Archie Smith is still being obnoxious in town, opposing just about everything. When he is found floating in the canals in town, everyone is shocked to learn it is murder. When Becca’s grandfather becomes the prime suspect, can Becca figure out what really happened? I’ve been wanting to try a book by this author for a while, so I figured the start of a new series was the perfect time to do that. Plus, I can’t resist a chocolate theme. That aspect made me drool. However, the mystery could have been stronger. We got more theorizing than clue gathering, although Becca did still reach a logical solution. Speaking of Becca, I really appreciated how mature she was, realizing her own fault in one particular sub-plot. And I loved her and the rest of the regulars. Likewise, the setting in fantastic – I’d go visit in a heartbeat if it were real. While I wish the plot were stronger, I’m planning to visit again when the sequel comes out.