In the ninth Domestic Diva Mystery,  New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis unwraps a tale in which chocolate is the kiss of death… Domestic Diva Sophie Winston is in charge of the sweetest event in Old Town this summer. Amore Chocolates is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with a chocolate tasting at the mansion of the company’s CEO, Joe Merano—and Sophie is running the show. With cookies, candy, and five kinds of chocolate cake, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream! But when Joe goes missing, the celebration becomes bittersweet. And when Sophie discovers the body of a competing chocolatier in the guesthouse, the event turns downright deadly. As if that wasn’t enough, Sophie’s been receiving daily boxes of sweet treats. After ruling out her new beau and her exes, Sophie wonders if someone’s trying to send her a message—and if she’s next on a chocoholic’s hit list... Includes delicious recipes and entertaining tips! Praise for the New York Times bestselling series   “Reader alert: Tasty descriptions may spark intense cupcake cravings.”— The Washington Post   “Davis...again combines food and felonies in this tasty whodunit.”— Richmond Times-Dispatch   “Loaded with atmosphere and charm.”— Library Journal   “A mouthwatering mix of murder, mirth, and mayhem.”—Mary Jane Maffini, author of The Busy Woman's Guide to Murder   “Raucous humor, affectionate characters, and delectable recipes highlight this unpredictable mystery that entertains during any season.”—Kings River Life Magazine Krista Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of the Paws & Claws Mysteries and the Domestic Diva Mysteries. Several of her books have been nominated for the Agatha Award. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with a brood of cats and dogs, including a snoopy Jack Russell terrier and a nosy calico cat. Her friends and family complain about being guinea pigs for her recipes, but she notices that they keep coming back for more. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Sophie’s Friends and Old Town Residents Nina Reid Norwood–Sophie’s best friend. Natasha Earlene Smith–Desperate domestic diva. Mars Winston–Sophie’s ex-husband. Bernie Frei–Best man at Sophie’s wedding. Humphrey Brown–Sophie’s childhood friend. Alex German–Sophie’s new beau. Francie Vanderhoosen–Sophie’s next-door neighbor. Wolf Fleishman–Homicide investigator whom Sophie once dated. Arnaud Turnèbe–Chocolatier, new to town. The Amore Chocolates Family and Employees Joe Merano–CEO of Amore Chocolates. Nonni Merano–Joe’s mom. Co-founder of Amore. Coco Ross–Joe’s daughter. Vice President of Marketing at Amore. Mitch Ross–Coco’s husband. Vice president at Amore. Dan Merano–Joe’s son. Head chocolatier at Amore. Stella Simpson–Dan’s girlfriend. Manages an Amore store. Vince Wilson–Amore employee. Randy Hicks–Amore employee. Marla Eldridge–Joe’s assistant. Recipe Winners Cheryl Maiorca–Queen of the chocolate cake. Lori Speer–Queen of the chocolate truffle. CHAPTER ONE Dear Sophie, My mother-in-law gave me a box of chocolates that she made herself. They’ve turned gray! I think she’s trying to poison me. My husband insists they’re fine but I don’t believe him. What if they’re in cahoots? Is it normal for chocolate to turn gray? —Suspicious in Graysville, Tennessee Dear Suspicious, It’s so common that it has a name. The powdery gray on your chocolates is called a bloom. It’s caused by moisture and often happens when chocolates are stored in the refrigerator. Chocolates with a bloom are perfectly fine to eat but not very attractive. —Sophie The first box of chocolates arrived on a Monday. I assumed they were a gift from Joe Merano, the chairman of Amore Chocolates, because I was working on events for the sixtieth anniversary of his company. But the bold red box wasn’t embossed with the Amore logo of entwined gold hearts. Nor was there a card. It had simply been left at my front door. A second box arrived on Tuesday and another on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, Nina Reid Norwood, my across-the-street neighbor and best friend, discovered another box at my front door. She now stared at the four open boxes on my kitchen table. “They’re like perfect little brown gems. Handmade, don’t you think?” “Definitely.” In each box, six chocolates nestled on crimped white papers. No two chocolates were alike. Nina’s fingers hovered, rotating in the air above them. “You haven’t eaten any.” “Get your greedy little hand away. I don’t know who or where they came from.” “But they’re so beautiful. You have to try one! They’re probably filled with something rich and creamy.” “You are not eating any until we know who left them at my door.” Nina signed with exasperation. “I’m sure they’re from Alex.” I had been dating Alex German for a while. When he was in town, anyway. “I phoned Alex to thank him. He didn’t know a thing about them.” “Mars, then.” I shook my head. They weren’t from my ex-husband, either. A grin spread across Nina’s face. “You have an admirer!” “Don’t b