The Chocolate Jewel Case — Joanna Carl

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

Lee and Joe are newlyweds, but you wouldn't know it. Joe works late, and Lee has a major crisis when the air-conditioning goes out in TenHuis Chocolade. Then the houseguests from hell arrive: Lee's boy-crazy stepsister, a salesgirl from the shop, an aunt recuperating from her last divorce, a bird-watching night owl, and an unemployed ex-con. That's seven people with one bathroom--before the arrival of the man claiming to be Joe's father, who has been presumed dead for thirty years.

In her rare free time, Lee works on the chocolate shop's newest offerings: chocolate jewels. But soon the town of Warner Pier has its very own heist, and then a body is found in the lake. Lee can't help but wonder if the crimes are related--and recognize a chance to get out of her overcrowded house. Maybe if she di up some dirt, she'll hit the mother lode....