CHOCOLATE COVERED MURDER

Book ID/图书代码： 06830012B58205

English Summary/英文概要： The writing, too, is an improvement following 2010’s "Wicked Witch Murder", or even "Star Spangled Murder" and "English Tea Murder"--all of which included plodding and predictable storylines.
Right from the beginning, Meier’s writes with enough gust and suspense that the reader has no choice but to keep turning the pages to see what happens. And the storyline, unlike anything she as ever written before, seems almost out of place in the cozy town of Tinker’s Cove. Even in past books, Meier’s has never, at least to this reader’s knowledge, ventured into sinister, violent terrain with her Lucy Stone character. The issues covering Stone’s latest case: marijuana, OxyContin and heroin--a rampant, sensitive subject in the story--and blatant sexuality and chocolate as a murder weapon.
Local candy shop, Fern’s Famous Fudge, "an institution," according to the Pennysaver’s receptionist and busybody, Phyllis, is in competition with the new opening of Chanticleer Chocolate. Who can resist a chocolate molded into the shape of a muscular male torso, or a woman’s cleavage? But the price tag might lighten your wallet.
The manager of Chanticleer Chocolate, Tamzin Graves, is the reason for all the recent scandal in town. Her salacious outfits (stilettos, tight-fitting dresses, heaving bosoms) draw attention, especially from her male clientele, and Lucy Stone soon realizes how far Graves will go to sell chocolate.
As the competition to sell chocolate rages across Tinker’s Cove, so does the act of domestic violence and S&M behind closed bedroom doors. Lucy Stone realizes that her cozy life in Maine is slowly changing for the worse. Her friends, too, may be in trouble. But with drug use and violent sex acts on the rise, Lucy must race against time--and a nearing deadline--if she is going to catch a killer at work.
By far, "Chocolate Covered Murder" is one of the stronger entries in the Lucy Stone series. Highlights: the usual cast of characters makes this outing most enjoyable. Storylines, albeit darker than usual, are intriguing. And the fine-tuned writing keeps the reader turning pages to see how the story ends.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 如果说2010年的三部小说《邪恶巫师的谋杀案》《闪烁的星星谋杀》以及《英式茶点谋杀》都因其冗长的且毫无悬念的故事主线让我们印象深刻，那么本书的文风绝对是对其的一个巨大改进。
从一开始，梅尔就凭借其猛烈的攻势和悬念让读者们流连忘返，他们不得不如饥似渴地阅读以了解情节的发展。而本书的故事主线则不同于其之前的风格，一切都发生在一个看似奇怪却又极为温馨惬意的小镇---锅匠谷。即便是在过去的作品中，梅尔也从未让其露西•斯坦式的人物冒险涉足过如此邪恶、暴力的领域。本书中所涉及的关于斯坦的境况包括：大麻、镇痛药以及海洛因----全书主要着重于一个猖狂而又敏感的主题---它一方面公然谈论性，另一方面又将巧克力作为一种谋杀武器而存在。
据潘尼赛瓦的前台及大闲人菲利斯说，当地的糖果店“芬恩的软糖店”正面临着挑战，一家名为“雄鸡巧克力”的店的开张将对他的存在产生挑战。毕竟谁又能抵挡得了有着男性雄健身躯造型和女性乳沟造型的巧克力呢？然而这样的巧克力却也价格不菲。
雄鸡巧克力店的经理---塔木金•格雷乌斯也正是进来小镇上的绯闻主角。她色情的装束（高跟鞋、紧身裙以及高耸的胸部）吸引了绝大多数人的注意，尤其是她的男性追随者们。露西•斯坦对于这家巧克力店的长期营业毫不怀疑。
随着锅匠谷上的巧克力销售竞争日趋激烈，家庭暴力和隐藏的S&M活动也日趋频繁。与此同时，露西•斯坦意识到她在缅因的舒适生活也即将慢慢改变，她的朋友们也很有可能面临着同样的困扰。随着吸毒与暴力性行为的不断攀升，如果想要抓住犯人，那么露西不得不与时间以及即将逼近的最后一刻赛跑。
迄今为止，《巧克力下的谋杀案》是露西•斯坦系列最为强劲的一部作品。本书的亮点在于：常驻角色的加入使得本书更受欢迎，而本书的故事情节尽管比以往的作品略微黑暗一些，却也更为有趣，而全书精心设计的笔调则足以让读者们爱不释手。(DC)

Awards/获奖情况：

About the Author/作者介绍： 在作者梅思丽•梅尔精彩的18世纪露西•斯坦传奇系列中，《巧克力下的谋杀案》转向了成人世界并涉及了略带黑暗的领域----对于一贯温馨的作者而言，这时一次罕见的涉猎，但毋庸置疑，本书绝对比其先前的作品更为丰富也更为错综复杂。

In Leslie Meier’s spirited 18th Lucy Stone mystery, "Chocolate Covered Murder," the author veers into adult and sometimes dark territory--a rare circumstance for this cozy author. But the story is richer and more complex than previous books.

Format:HARDCOVER

Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE

Sales in other countries/其他国家销售情况：

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