A SPRINKLE IN TIME

Can the joys of ice cream overcome the horror of murder?

Now that Trinidad Jones has bonded with the other two ex-wives of incarcerated crook Gabe Bigley living in Upper Sprocket, Oregon, by solving a murder, she’s determined to make the Shimmy and Shake Shop into a moneymaker with support from her dog, Noodles; her grandfather Papa Luis; and the other exes. She’s learning to have more faith in her relationship with hazelnut farmer Quinn Logan. But her confidence is dented when Papa Luis finds a dead body in his car, and Quinn, without explanation, sells land to Forge Emberly for a project he's said he abhors. After the body vanishes and turns up in a lake, Gabe’s sister, Police Chief Cynthia Bigley, identifies it as that of Emberly, who’d apparently collected quite a few enemies. Although Trinidad’s busy trying to make as much money as she can from the Alpenfest festival before winter sets in, she’s so worried that Quinn could be involved that she finds time for a little sleuthing. On top of the current murder, there’s also a renewed interest in the long-ago disappearance of Cherry Lighter, whose connections among current residents include her former boyfriend, now a judge, and the mayor. Trinidad puts her life on the line among all these suspects, hoping that her fragile trust in Quinn won’t be destroyed.

You'll be satisfied just from reading about the ice cream concoctions in this pleasant, character-driven cozy.