Murder by Milkshake

Sweet Dreams Mystery, #1

by

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

A fine debut for this young adult cozy mystery series!

Murder by Milkshake is the great debut novel in author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo's young adult cozy mystery series, Sweet Dreams Mysteries, and with its likable main characters and multiple mysteries, it proved to be a highlight of my reading week. Not only did I really like the young protagonist, who gave me young Nancy Drew vibes, but the cute shop and the talk about the ice cream concoctions really painted a vivid picture for me. I was glad I was reading in the evening when it was too late for me to go out and satisfy the immediate need for an ice cream fix! 

When a popular teacher at her school goes missing, Genevieve has reason to believe a crabby substitute knows more about the disappearance than she’s telling. But when she can’t get those in charge to look into her suspicions, she takes matters into her own hands. 

Genevieve is a clever and compassionate girl with a nice group of friends. She and Brandon made a fun pair, and I enjoyed their back-and-forth whenever they were together. I also liked how Brandon's mother had welcomed Genevieve into their family after her mother had left for Las Vegas. Jill Summers was definitely attuned to her feelings, and I liked how she texted her son early in the book to find out what had Genevieve feeling down that morning! 

As the first book in a new series, the author must establish the world in which the stories will take place, and Naranjo does a splendid job crafting the small Arizona mountain community of Pinewood, especially the high school, without bogging down the action or interrupting the main character's development. I enjoyed the introductions to the people, places, and, of course, to Butterscotch, a sweet homeless dog. 

While the plot involves a murder, a secondary storyline explores Genevieve's future. Should she stay home to eventually take over her father's ice cream business (her childhood dream) or step out of her comfort zone, spread her wings, and open herself up to new experiences and ideas at a university farther away from home? Her worries about the unknown ahead added such a relatable aspect to the young protagonist and the plot. 

With its engaging main character and well-plotted mystery, I recommend MURDER BY MILKSHAKE to young adult mystery readers looking for a clever and fresh new heroine. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through WOW! Women On Writing Book Tours.