A Sprinkle in Time

• Author: Dana Mentink
• Genre: Cozy Mystery
• Publication Date: May 24, 2022
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Series: Shake Shop Mystery #2

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s Alpenfest in Upper Sprocket! Yodelers are congregating in the square, tourists flocking to the town, and Trinidad Jones is scooping up some fall flavors at her Shimmy and Shake Shop.

The cherry on the sundae is her upcoming feature in The Scoop magazine. She’s determined to serve up the perfect interview, but it won’t be easy, thanks in part to her meddling Cuban grandfather Papa Luis who has decided to make Sprocket his home for the foreseeable future. Papa Luis has set himself up as a taxi driver in his classic 1951 Buick.

But things take a turn when Papa Luis tells her he’s found a corpse in his trunk. Upon closer investigation, they realize the body has disappeared. With the assistance of Juliette and Bonnie (her sisterhood of exes) and the way too handsome nut farmer Quinn Logan, Trinidad must solve the mystery of the disappearing corpse, before her father is up to his neck in a murderous mess.

Ever since reading Pint of No Return, I fell in love with this series. And this is one of those rare series where I actually enjoyed the second book more than the first. Maybe it’s because I’m already attached to the characters and the setting, but there’s just something about this adorable, fluffy series that I can’t resist.

I want to start out by saying that I was absolutely ravenous while reading this book. I get that it’s about the owner of an ice cream parlor, and thought I was prepared, but let me tell you … I was not prepared. There are so many amazing-sounding foods throughout the book, not just the ice cream. Since it takes place during Alpenfest, I was drooling over way more than just ice cream. The best part of this series is that at the end, the author includes awesome recipes—including one for homemade ice cream that doesn’t involve any specialized equipment.

Although Trinidad moved to the quaint little town of Upper Sprocket after an ugly divorce nursing a broken heart and shattered trust, she’s built up quite a little group of friends and found family in this quirky place. In this book, she’s developed a closer relationship with Bonnie and Juliette, her ex-husband’s other ex-wives, and they each view each other as sisters. I loved seeing her blossom and set down roots across the country from Miami, where she’s from. One of the exes has a child, and she calls them all “auntie,” which I found incredibly sweet.

The other characters are all so endearing … well, most of them, at least. Trinidad’s energetic and friendly grandfather, Papa Luis, has made Upper Sprocket his home for now as well, and his character is the perfect kind of grandfather: warm, outgoing, supportive, and sweet. Quinn has a bit more depth added to his character in this book, and I loved the connection between Quinn and Doug, his brother with autism. One of my favorite aspects was how the little group has all worked to meet Doug’s needs without making it into a big thing. And my favorite character in the series would have to be Noodles, Trinidad’s aging dog who flunked out of service dog training. Some of the behaviors have stuck, and he’s incredibly sensitive and helpful to the entire cast of characters, especially Doug. He’s a fun addition to the crew, and has great personality of his own.

As for the plot, I loved it. I kept trying to figure out who was behind the murder, and while I was close to working it out, I didn’t quite get it fully until the big reveal. In addition, the story has a few other subplots simmering in the background—a mystery in the town’s history, financial concerns, and questions about what is really going on between Trinidad and Quinn. I was quickly pulled into the story and couldn’t stop reading, finishing most of this book in a day. I’m ready for the next book in the series, even though this one hasn’t even been released yet. But if you’re looking for a fun, engaging, and intriguing book, this is the series for you!

People who have sat around with me while I’m reading, especially when there’s a surprising reveal, a shocking plot twist, or an unexpected event often look up in alarm when I gasp audibly. The gasp factor is directly related to the number of times I audibly gasp during a reading, and there isn’t an upper limit.

Gasp Factor: 7