The Chocolate Snowman Murders: A Chocoholic Mystery    by Joanna Carl Order:  USA  Can Signet, 2008 (2008) Hardcover, Softcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth I don't know what makes me happiest - reading a good mystery or dreaming of the chocolates described in Joanna Carl's newest offering in her Chocoholic Mysteries. The mystery is a good one and the chocolates are first rate also. Warner Pier Winter Arts Festival in a town in West Michigan is being planned with TenHuis Chocolate preparing a surprise chocolate treat following along the lines of the Festival's motif - a snowman. As Lee McKinney Woodyard is on the planning committee, she volunteers to pick up the art juror at the airport. He turns out to be a drunken letch and Lee drops him off at a sleazy motel where he turns into a corpse. The ensuing investigation into his murder leads to Lee and her husband Joe coming under suspicion from what I consider a stereotypical jugheaded lawman who can't see the solution in front of his face. Too predictable. Nevertheless, the whole book is a delight and well worth the read. Lee Woodyard is a great character with a burgeoning sense of humor that won't quit. She, though, is quite capable of handling her life with a good head on her shoulders. In addition to solving crimes, she works with her aunt at TenHuis Chocolates. The action is nicely paced, with a few moments of sheer terror. The culprit took me by surprise also. I found the history of chocolate (inserted between chapters) extremely interesting but also distracting. The Chocolate Snowman Murders is a great holiday mystery for those of us who tire easily of the usual Christmas stories. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews