Published by Chicken House, 2026.

France, chocolate and a mystery to solve – this book has all my favourite ingredients!

Coco’s parents have invested everything in a struggling French hotel. But the hotel is haunted by a bitter old ghost, Monsieur Framboise, a chocolatier who met a sticky end. He agrees to share his legendary skills with Coco and her new friend Louis if they can bring his murderer to justice. Soon, the chocolates crafted by the children draw visitors far and wide, including a sinister Englishman … Can Coco and Louis save the family hotel and solve the mystery by Easter?

I loved the story’s rural French setting and how the book is peppered with French words and phrases, not-to-mention all the delicious mouth-watering culinary treats that are cooked up. There’s even a recipe at the end of the book which tells you how to make your own chocolates inspired by the story.

Although Coco is initially unimpressed at being uprooted from her home and friends in England, as she and her French friend and neighbour Louis begin gathering clues to unravel the mystery of the ghost and his demise, Coco starts to settle into her new surroundings and way of life. Death by Chocolate is a great mystery story complete with gentle humour, a ruthless villain and plenty to get young detective minds whirring. I loved the inclusion of classic mystery story elements, such as a hidden room that’s revealed by a secret lever – Coco finds one inside a wine cupboard and it leads to a magnificent chocolate-making workshop. There’s excitement, peril and suspense – plenty to keep the reader entertained. Coco’s pet dog Belle is a brilliant addition to the team too.

I thoroughly enjoyed Coco’s adventure and hope that this is just the first case of many for Coco and Louis to solve.

Suitable for children aged 8+

Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙

Buy book Click on the link to buy Death by Chocolate, Coco Bean Investigates from Bookshop.org.

Disclosure: If you buy books by following a link from my site, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Thank you to Chicken House for sending me this book to review. I reviewed it as part of the Death by Chocolate, Coco Bean Investigates blog tour. Check out all the other posts on the tour for more exclusive content.