THREE FUDGES AND A BABY

Mackinac Island continues to be beautiful, touristy, and chock-full of murderers.

Most of the ups and downs in Allie McMurphy’s romance with police officer Rex Manning can be traced to Allie’s inability to stay out of homicide investigations. Just as she’s congratulating herself on two years of running the historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, her best friend Jenn Carpenter’s doula, Hannah Riversbend, plunges her into another murder case. Allie, Jenn, and Mal the Bichonpoo are out for a walk when they find Hannah holding a gun near the dead body of her boyfriend, park ranger Matthew Jones. After Hannah’s obligatory denial that she’s killed Matthew, Jenn goes into a meltdown at seeing her doula arrested for murder. So Allie naturally agrees to do everything she can to make the doula available for Jenn’s imminent delivery. On top of all that, Allie’s mom arrives on the island with Allie’s wealthy high school sweetheart, Brett Summers, hoping Allie will dump Rex for him. When the ambitious new district attorney persuades the judge to set a high bail for Hannah, Allie gets Brett to loan her the money in exchange for helping him secure permits for a flashy new resort. Hannah’s released in time for Jenn’s delivery, but if she’s to remain free, Allie and her friends need to come up with more motives for Matthew’s murder. The strain puts pressure on her relationship with Rex, and she realizes it won’t be easy to find a happy ending to either challenge.

Suspects are ultimately uncovered and problems solved in a delightful cozy larded with appetizing fudge recipes.