Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 5/6/2016 + 465 more book reviews

Kernel of Truth is the first in the Popcorn Shop Mystery series. Rebecca Anderson has divorced her celebrity chef husband Antoine Belanger and returned to her hometown of Grand Lake, Ohio. Utilizing her degree from the Culinary institute of America she has purchased and old main street storefront, renovated and opened POPS, a gourmet Popcorn shop.

Rebecca and her sister Haley lost their parents at an early age, leaving Haley as the older sister to be the head of the household. Devastated at the loss of her parents, Rebecca turned into a hellraiser running away straight after graduation and then returning home after her divorce with her tail between her legs has done nothing to improve her reputation with the townsfolk.

Cordelia "Coco" Bittles is the elderly woman who owns the chocolate shop next door to POPS, Coco's Cocoas. Coco had taken Rebecca under her wing as a teenager, teaching her the ins and outs of working in the kitchen and had been the one to encourage Rebecca to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. Having returned home the two had made plans to sell their individual shops and open a new joint business.

When one morning Coco is found bludgeoned to death in her shop, Rebecca becomes a suspect. Coco's niece Jessica had been one of the "mean girls" in high school, and still considered Rebecca a rival, especially for her aunt's attention. Learning that her aunt had loaned Rebecca the funds to open her shop gives Jessica even more reason to spread the rumors that Jessica is she was lying about the two going into business together and even tries to say that Rebecca had been trying to steal Coco's prized fudge recipe.

Fortunately, Rebecca's sister Haley is married to Rebecca's best friend growing up, now known as Sheriff Dan Cooper. Dan's college roommate Garrett Mills has become a lawyer and moved to town. With Haley, Dan and their son Evan living in the main house of the family home, Rebecca and her apricot poodle Sprocket have moved into the granny flat over the garage. The foursome spends a lot of time together and they all set out to find Coco's killer and salvage Rebecca's reputation.

Plenty of suspects rear their heads including the two homeless men that frequent the back alley, Jasper and Tom, and the town mayor Allen Thompson is even acting suspicious. When neighboring shop owner Barbara is attacked in Granny's Nooks and Crannies, it starts to seem as though someone has it out for the women shopkeepers. With the help of her friend Annie, who owns flower shop Blooms, Rebecca is determined to prove she is innocent and has changed her wild ways.

A fun, fast paced storyline with great characters, a loveable dog and a hint of romance. A terrific debut to the series and I'm looking forward to the next, Pop goes the Murder.

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