An Interview with Meri Allen by E. B. Davis

 

I took a deep breath. “No time for sleuthing. First things first. Dessert.”

Meri Allen, Mint Chocolate Murder, Kindle Loc. 1168

 

Riley Rhodes returns in the second delicious cozy set in a New England ice cream shop, Meri Allen's Mint Chocolate Murder!

When Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle, it’s the cherry on top of a successful summer season. The gothic pile built by an eccentric New England Gilded Age millionaire has been transformed into a premiere arts colony by Maud Monaco, a reclusive former supermodel. As part of Moy Mull’s Fall Arts Festival, Maud is throwing a fantasy ice cream social and hires Riley to whip up unique treats to celebrate the opening of an exhibit by Adam Blasco, a photographer as obnoxious as he is talented.

As Penniman fills up with Maud’s art-world friends arriving for the festival, gossip swirls around Blasco, who has a dark history of obsession with his models. Riley’s curiosity and instincts for sleuthing – she was a CIA librarian – are piqued, and she wonders at the hold the cold-hearted photographer has over the mistress of Moy Mull.

But when Adam is found dead behind the locked door of Moy Mull’s dungeon, Riley realizes there’s more than one suspect who’d wanted to put the malicious photographer on ice.

Amazon.com

 

Mint Chocolate Murder, the second book in the Ice Cream Shop mystery series by Meri Allen/Shari Randall was released yesterday. Main character Riley Rhodes, CIA librarian and now ice cream shop manager, doesn’t just solve one mystery in this book, she solves three. All of which were satisfying for the reader and also reminding us that in every crime there are more victims than perpetrators.

 

I love Meri’s/Shari’s secondary characters, and in this volume, another secondary character came to life that seemed worthy of more appearances, but we’ll see if that comes about in further books.

 

Please congratulate Meri Allen/and WWK blogger, Shari Randall on the publication of this very relaxing and intriguing read!

                                                                                                      E. B. Davis

 

Thanks so much for interviewing me, E.B. I always enjoy our chats.

 

Rocky doesn’t sleuth with Riley in this book. Why is Rocky on the outs with Riley? Rocky has just been neutered and has had to suffer the indignity of wearing the cone, so he’s not happy with Riley at all. Plus the other cat in the house, Sprinkles, has been acting out, and Rocky wants to escape the drama.

 

Is the title of this book a red herring? Why not Pumpkin Spice Murder? I’d originally titled this book The Cold Art of Murder, but the publisher decided to go with flavor names and loved the alliteration of Mint Chocolate Murder. All the references to Pumpkin Spice grew out of the character’s dialogue – so many people are obsessed with the flavor it becomes a running joke, but it didn’t play a role in the plot.

 

When people meet Riley and know she’s the manager of Udderly Delicious Ice Cream shop, what do they say to her? Everyone greets Riley by announcing their favorite flavor. She’s gotten used to it and enjoys it – it shows how much she’s been embraced by the Penniman community.

 

Prentiss Love is a likeable character. Will he stay as a secondary character? Everyone loves Prentiss! Isn’t he wonderful? I want him for a best friend. I promise to never kill him off.

 

Riley brings custom ice cream for the event at Moy Mull: Cherry Vanilla with Luxardo cherries poached in bourbon and cinnamon; Rhubarb Crumble, Pumpkin Spice, Amaretto laced with bitter chocolate with almond biscotti crumble; Pear and Stilton, and Unicorn—a bubble gum flavor. What are Luxardo cherries? What does Riley have against Pumpkin Spice? She’s selling a ton of it. Luxardo cherries are a special type of cherry preserved in a liquor made by processing the pits, leaves, and stems of Marasca cherries. This gives them a touch of flavor similar to amaretto or almond. It’s a far cry from a typical maraschino cherry. Riley’s pumpkin spice ice cream is so popular that she spends a lot of time making it, time she’d like to spend sleuthing!

 

What is cranachan? What is Riley’s take on it? How is the word pronounced? Cranachan (CRAN-a-kan) is a traditional and decadent Scottish dessert, similar to a trifle, that layers raspberries, cream, and toasted oats (that can first be soaked in whisky). Honey -- heather honey if you can find it -- is incorporated in the cream. Riley first encountered the dessert in a snug pub near Edinburgh Castle, and makes her own version for a very special Scottish themed dinner at the art colony’s castle.

 

How are ice cream rosettes made? It’s easy? I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard the key is keeping it cold. Here’s a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxvT63vULqg

 

 

Why does Sprinkles, the former pedigree show cat, need therapy? How does she flunk therapy? Let’s just say that Sprinkles is having trouble adjusting to all the changes on the farm and at the ice cream shop. Sprinkles feels rejected and Riley and her best friend, Caroline Spooner, are eager to try anything to get Sprinkles out of her funk. The scene with the therapist was a hoot to write!

 

How does culinary-grade heather taste? Where do you get it? Is it pretty? You can buy it from specialty culinary shops online. It’s light purple and has a flavor similar to chamomile.

 

Due to her failed CIA assignment with the culprit, Paolo, Riley second guesses her instincts. Understandable, but at the end of her assessment, Riley knows she didn’t misread Paolo, she fooled herself into believing in him. Why did Riley do that? Riley, who is usually so level headed, was swept off her feet by the handsome and magnetic Paolo. I think the romance of Italy probably played a part, too.

 

Is the allure of genius what attracts fans and groupies? Does it apply to artists as well as tech/business tycoons? This is such a good question. Many books have been written by people who fell under the spell of a “genius”  (thinking of Loving Frank about Frank Lloyd Wright, Pablo Picasso, Hemingway). Who can understand what attracts one person to another? Frankly I’d run as far away from Adam Blasco, the odious “genius” photographer in Mint Chocolate Murder, as I could, but somehow many models flocked to him.

 

What flavor is Bloody Mess ice cream, and why is that its name? A fun subplot in the book is the arc with Brandon Terwilliger, one of Riley’s teenage employees. Brandon creates flavors that baffle Riley and the other adults at Udderly, but prove to be hugely successful with Penniman teenagers because it becomes a dare to eat them. Bloody Mess incorporates coconut ice cream, white chocolate covered pretzel pieces, raspberry jam, and marshmallows. His creations prove the wisdom of the old saying “to each his own.”

 

Flo and Gerri are opposite, but they also have common interests. How do they differ and what do they share? Sisters Flo and Gerri are retired educators (Flo Kindergarten and Gerri a high school principal), work part time at Udderly Delicious, and are knowledgeable genealogists, so much so that they’re referred to (behind Gerri’s back) as the Graver Girls. Apart from these similarities, they couldn’t be more different. Flo is a sunny free spirit who prefers bright primary colors, and Gerri a battle axe who is president of every club in Penniman and favors jewel toned, dramatic clothes and accessories.

 

What is a Gretna Green marriage? In the 1700s, laws regarding marriage in England were tightened to require couples to be 21 and marry in a church. In Scotland, the law required only that the couple declare themselves free to marry and undergo a less formal ceremony called “handfasting.” Gretna Green is a small Scottish town right over the border with England where many of these so-called “runaway” marriages took place.

Riley considers Tilly, the police dispatcher, the devil. Why? Riley considers her relationship with Tilly O’Malley, the police station secretary, a devil’s bargain. Riley knows that for every tidbit of inside information she gets from Tilly over tea at Lily’s Tearoom, she’ll have to give something back to “the loosest lips in Penniman.”

 

A pamphlet at the castle “The Story of the Weeping Lady” was written by S. W. Randall. Did you ever write such a thing? I did so much work researching haunted Scottish castles, I decided to treat myself to a cameo appearance in the book!

 

How did Riley train to read text in any direction? Can you do that? I can. I’ve heard of several other writers who can read upside down text, too. Riley has found this particular small talent useful.

 

I was surprised to learn that color photography started in the 1890s. Why did it take so long for it to be mainstream? Inventors had long understood the science of color and light, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that a process was developed that made color photography commercially possible – possible but still cumbersome and extremely expensive. Before that, photographs were hand tinted by miniaturists.

 

When Sprinkles has a temper tantrum, she really is vindictive, isn’t she? Sprinkles has such a, shall we say, operatic personality? She’s so much fun to write.

 

If someone is in this country on a work visa, can they really be thrown out just by being questioned during a police investigation? Not for being questioned, but being convicted of any crime will put their immigration status in jeopardy. Luca, the student beekeeper, is working on the farm and is very attached to Willow Brightwood. Riley cares deeply for both Willow and Luca, and is driven to help prove Luca’s innocence.

 

What is a Morganatic marriage? How do you know this stuff? Nothing like falling down the genealogy rabbit hole! Throughout history, royals have fallen in love with and wanted to marry commoners. Their families and royal courtiers didn’t want any real power to transfer to these spouses, but a caring royal could give a commoner spouse substantial gifts of real estate or jewelry in order to give them financial security. This gift would traditionally be given the morning after the wedding (“morgen” in German).

 

Is there a word for a woman bigamist? Not that I know of. Readers? Actually, I think there’s been a movement toward a gender-free use of the word “bigamist,” though it is more common for men to marry while still legally tied to a female spouse.

 

Was it fun writing this book? Absolutely! I’ve been eager to write a locked door mystery, and to incorporate a mystery in a castle. One of my favorite places is Gillette’s Castle in East Haddam, Connecticut, and it was my model for Moy Mull. Also, developing recipes and treats for a fantasy ice cream social was a dream come true.

 

What’s next for Riley? I just wrapped the third, as yet untitled Ice Cream Shop mystery. Riley’s next adventure will take place at a historic inn on the Penniman Green, during a Halloween-themed wedding. I can’t wait for you to read it.