Asking for Truffle is the first in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery for Dorothy St. James and a splendid one it is! An easy reading cozy mystery that keeps you hooked from page one with delicious characters and a delightful story. Oh, and let's not forget all the chocolate you can desire. The novel includes a few of the recipes in the back that with such tempting mentions of chocolate dishes through out your reading you can treat yourself as well with a few.

It all started when Charity Penn who goes by the name Penn receives a letter stating that she won an all expenses paid trip to Camellia Beach, South Carolina. To top it off she even won free cooking lessons from the Chocolate Shop in town! Sounds great and all but she never entered any contest and there must be a catch correct? Her friend, Skinny promises to go check it out for her. He is however found later in that town drowned in a vat of chocolate. The only thing left for a girl to do is to go to Camellia Beach to find out what happened to her friend. But answers do not come easy in a close knitted town and Penn finds herself in some tough situations with many surprises unfolding.

I enjoy a story with such lovable characters, as you will find in ASKING FOR TRUFFLE. Even down to Stella, Penn's pup who is not the friendliest, you will fall in love with her. It is great beginnings to I hope many more adventures for Charity Penn. So sit back with a cup of Mabel's Hot Chocolate, or a bowl of Bertie's Sweet and Spicy Chili and enjoy a copy of ASKING FOR TRUFFLE by Dorothy St. James!

Book Summary

When Charity Penn receives a letter saying she won a trip to Camellia Beach, South Carolina complete with free cooking lessons at the town’s seaside chocolate shop, The Chocolate Box, she’s immediately skeptical. She never entered any contest. Her former prep school friend offers to look into the phony prize—only to end up drowned in a vat of chocolate.

Struck with guilt, Penn heads to the southern beach town to investigate why he was killed. But as wary as she is of the locals, she finds herself lured into their eccentric vibe, letting her defenses melt away and even learning the art of crafting delicious chocolates. That is, until delight turns bittersweet as she steps straight into the midst of a deadly plot to destroy the seaside town. Now, only Penn’s quick thinking and a mysterious cask of rare chocolate can save the town she’s learning to love.

Rich and decadent, Asking for Truffle, the first in a new cozy series by Dorothy St. James, is sure to be a delectable read for fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke.

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