The Rocky Road to Ruin is my first foray into Meri Allen's writing. It's also the first installment of Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I love ice cream and will scream for ice cream anytime, although too much ice cream is not good for you weight. That's why I decide to pick this book just because the ice cream factor alone. The title is of course a tongue-in-cheek, since it's refer to "rocky road" taste that I'm not familiar yet but when I googling it, it's actually a chocolate ice cream mixed with nuts and marshmallow. Huh, I must check it if the Indonesian gelato/ice cream shop have this kind of taste. It's also refer to the name of one of the kitten in this book, Rocky.

At first, I think the main character aka Riley Rhodes's job as a travel/food blogger and librarian but she also did undercover mission for C.I.A is a little bit overkill. Though, in the story Riley just got dispatched from CIA because of mission going wrong so she's now just your usual blogger and librarian. But, fate have another plan for her when Riley decide to go home to Penniman and seeing her best friend, Caroline must deal with not only Caroline's foster mother death but also the death of her sibling, Mike. The latest become a problem because everyone in the Penniman have motive to kill Mike, including Caroline and Riley herself since Mike is not winning trophy for best sibling ever. Just like your usual cozy mystery, Riley start to sleuthing, but in the other side also working in the ice cream shop, Udderly Delights

Told entirely from Riley's first PoV, I did enjoy Riley's voice. I also liked the fact that Riley is in the same age with me (35-ish) so her voice sound mature and except for her mission going wrong, she's far from reckless. Sure she is driven by her needs to protect Caroline since Caroline is her best friend, but there's little to none stupid actions that will make me shake my head. The mystery is pretty solid and engaging. The culprit is those that "I didn't see it coming" though the explanation of their motive seems rushed for me. I liked the interaction between Riley with Penniman residence and how she still unsure about her step-mother. Also, the romance is pretty unique because usually in cozy I read, the heroine will be paired with the law enforcement, but that not the case with The Rocky Road to Ruin. Sure there's a hot detective but he's not Riley's love interest and I liked that Allen still didn't decide who will be Riley's beau since there are some prospective men that Riley appreciate and admit that she was interested.

The thing that make this cozy feel different is the issue of the gentrification that Allen put into the narrative with some of young generations want to develop Penniman with real estate (modern apartment, mall, etc) but the older residents divided in opinion. This gentrification issue is still not solved so maybe that will be addressed later in the next book. The description of the ice creams is of course very DELICIOUS and I appreciate the recipes for boozy ice cream that Allen included in the book. I just hope she also put the sugar high ice cream recipe that create accidentally by Udderly's worker since the ice cream become viral with teenager alike. I admit I'm drooling each time I read the description of the ice cream taste and craving an ice cream for myself :9

I will read the next book and if Riley will start sleuthing again when dead body start to fall (she will!), and of course I will get many description about delicious ice cream. Oh not forget, the kitten. The kitten is also the spotlight!!