When a seedy looking private investigator from Atlanta comes into TenHuis Chocolade looking for a woman named Christina Meachum, Lee Woodyard can honestly say that no one by that name works there, or has ever applied for a job at the chocolate store. However, Lee recognizes the picture she is shown as Pamela, one of her part-time employees who have used an abused women's underground group and she has stopped over in Warner Pier, Michigan on her way to who-knows-where. Lee isn't involved in the group, but her Aunt Nettie's close friend, Sarajane Harding, works very closely with the organization and asked Nettie to give Pamela a job. Lee's husband, Joe, and Nettie's husband, chief of police Hogan Jones, are unaware of their wives' involvement in hiding a runaway spouse, but that is about to change.

That evening Nettie discovers the body of the investigator in the alley behind TenHuis. Lee comes upon this scene shortly thereafter, and contacts Hogan and Joe. Arrangements have already been made to get Pamela out of town, and she has an air-tight alibi for the entire evening. Who else would want to kill this man?

Lee's other concerns are about Joe. He has been so quiet and withdrawn, but will not talk with her about what is on his mind.

This ninth offering of the Chocoholic Mystery series is a delicious treat for cozy fans. Real people you have met and kept up with are on hand to help Lee figure out whodunit and why -- and the guilty culprit is a real surprise. JoAnna Carl is an author that never disappoints.