Chocolate Can Be Deadly (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series) by Kim Davis
About Chocolate Can Be Deadly
Chocolate Can Be Deadly (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting - California
Publisher : Cinnamon & Sugar Press
(January 28, 2025)
Print length : 284 pages
ASIN : B0CZRM17YF
Catering a post-Valentine’s Day Death by Chocolate dessert party should have been a delicious way to wrap up a week of romantic festivities. But when the new fiancé of the hostess is found dead during the event, clutching one of Emory’s chocolate cupcakes and a heart-shaped box of chocolates close by, the guests and the police put her at the top of their suspect list. With her cupcake catering business melting away as word spreads about the poisoning, Emory, and her octogenarian pal, Tillie, will need to pry into the sticky, dark secrets of the attendees. Will they uncover who’s been hiding a rotten center, or will the killer stir up danger and frost Emory for good?
Includes chocolate recipes!
About Kim Davis
Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she's not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats to share.
Interview for
Chocolate Can Be Deadly
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in coastal Southern California until I was a teenager when my parents moved us to Central California. But the coast always called to me, so as soon as I was able, I moved back, and have lived no more than a few miles from the beach for 40 years now. I’ve been in Orange County for the last 28 years.
Tell us your latest news?
I’m super excited that Chocolate Can Be Deadly, the seventh book in my Cupcake Catering Mysteries, just released January 28th! There was a gap of about 1-1/2 years between book six and this one since I’d been concentrating on other writing projects during that time period. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever write another Cupcake Catering book, but my characters demanded my attention and they decided they had more stories and misadventures to get into, so here we are!
When and why did you begin writing?
About 25 years ago my husband took an early retirement and wanted to travel, so I retired really early too so I could accompany him. After a few trips and settling into a new routine, I found I wanted something to challenge myself (and I’ve always loved to read mysteries and loved writing during school) so I thought I’d write a novel. I discovered I had no idea what I was doing, so took some classes, including a course on writing children’s articles for magazines, which I loved. I’ve had several articles published and one magazine even used one of my nature photos for their cover! But that novel kept calling me so I wrote some more, took additional classes, and finally, after 17 years of tinkering with it, my suspense published. Chocolate Can Be Deadly is the tenth book that I’ve published, so the moral of the story is, never give up your dreams!
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I have to say it was probably by the time I’d published my third book. Untilthen, I thought it was a fluke that I’d actually created a story that people bought and read. Even with my tenth book published, when I sit down to start a new story I stare at the screen, worried that I have no idea how to write the next book… but so far, my characters haven’t let me down.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book is a suspense called A Game of Deceit. It’s a story about a husband disappearing without a trace, with no warning, the same way the protagonist’s father disappeared. It was kind of a cathartic story for me to write since my dad packed up and left one day while everyone was out of the house, with no warning and no explanation. Of course, his “disappearance” was because of another woman and his, uh, determination to avoid conflict at all costs, andwasn’t anything nefarious like what happens in my novel.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m one of those people who writes by the seat of their pants, otherwise known as pantsers. It’s not uncommon for me to not only not know who the victim will be when I start, but definitely not know who the murderer is either. In Chocolate Can Be Deadly I had intended for someone else to be the victim, but as I wrote, my character was emphatically determined to live and cause more chaos in future books.
How did you come up with the title?
I am SO terrible at creating titles… they cause me extreme angst! A friend who is good with puns created some of my previous titles. But Chocolate Can Be Deadly proved to be elusive. There are so many Death By Chocolate type of titles out there and I wanted something different. I was reading through a newsletter, relating to dogs and what’s safe and unsafe for them to eat (my mini goldendoodle is a total scrounge!) and of course they mentioned that chocolate can prove to be quite deadly for dogs. And thus, I finally found my title! And let me state for the record, no dogs ate chocolate in the book, nor were any animals harmed.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
That family is important, be they by blood or by choice. Also, life is too short to not eat cupcakes and chocolate!
What would you like my readers to know?
I appreciate you spending some of your precious time reading about me and for letting me introduce Chocolate Can Be Deadly! I write character-driven cozy mysteries and honestly, my core characters have come to feel like they’re a part of my family. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Author Links
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here
I love this series! The well-developed characters are delightful, and the mysteries are intriguing. Thank you for sharing your talent and stories with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Peggy! I'm so happy you enjoyed my newest release and good luck in the contest!
DeleteSounds like a book I will enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in today, Rita! I hope you enjoy the book and good luck in the contest!
DeleteLooking forward to reading "Chocolate Can Be Deadly". Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dianne, and good luck in the contest!
DeleteKim Davis and this series are two of my favorite things! Chocolate Can Be Deadly is an amazing book and the perfect addition to the series!
ReplyDelete