Picture a storyteller who spins tales as delectable as a chocolate truffle—meet Kathy Aarons! This national bestselling author from rural Pennsylvania has captured hearts with her Chocolate Covered Mystery series, a delightful blend of cozy mysteries, chocolate confections, and small-town charm. Writing under the pseudonym Kathy Aarons, she’s crafted a world where books and bonbons solve crimes, all while championing youth arts education.
With a knack for weaving humor and heart into her stories, Aarons invites readers to the fictional West Riverdale, Maryland, where best friends Michelle and Erica run Chocolates and Chapters. Her books are like a warm cup of cocoa—comforting, indulgent, and impossible to put down. Let’s dive into the sweet success story of Kathy Aarons!
The Making of Kathy Aarons
Born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, Kathy Aarons (a pseudonym for Kathy Krevat) grew up surrounded by wide-open spaces that sparked her imagination. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and ventured to New York City, building a career in public relations. There, she met her husband, and the couple later relocated to San Diego, California. After becoming a mother, Aarons traded her PR career for family life, diving into writing when her daughters grew older. Her love for coffee, theater, and chocolate became the perfect recipe for her cozy mysteries.
Aarons’s journey to publishing wasn’t without hurdles. She faced the challenge of balancing motherhood, volunteering, and writing, but her determination shone through. Signing with Berkley Prime Crime, she channeled her passion for storytelling into a series that’s as much about community as it is about crime-solving.
Kathy Aarons’s Unforgettable Stories
The Chocolate Covered Mystery series, launched in 2014, is Aarons’s claim to fame. Set in the charming town of West Riverdale, the series follows Michelle Serrano, a chocolatier, and Erica Russell, a bookstore owner, as they unravel mysteries at their shop, Chocolates and Chapters. The first book, Death Is Like a Box of Chocolates (2014), kicks off with a photographer’s death by poisoned truffles, pulling Michelle into a web of suspects. Readers adore the mouthwatering chocolate descriptions and the tight-knit community vibe.
The series continues with Truffled to Death (2015), where stolen Mayan artifacts and a professor’s murder keep the duo on their toes, and Behind Chocolate Bars (2016), which dives into a Halloween festival murder involving a teen suspect. Aarons’s style is light yet gripping, blending cozy mystery tropes with vivid settings and relatable characters. Her books often include chocolate recipes, tempting readers to whip up their own treats.
Beyond this series, Aarons, as Kathy Krevat, pens the Gourmet Cat Mystery series, starting with The Trouble with Murder (2017). Featuring a cat food entrepreneur and her feline sidekick, Trouble, this series showcases her versatility while keeping the cozy charm. Aarons’s stories celebrate strong women who juggle business, friendship, and sleuthing with flair.
Why Kathy Aarons Matters
Kathy Aarons’s impact goes beyond her page-turning mysteries. Her stories resonate with readers who crave cozy escapes filled with humor, heart, and a touch of chocolatey decadence. By setting her tales in a close-knit community, she captures the warmth of small-town life, making her books a comforting retreat for fans of the cozy mystery genre. Her ability to blend culinary delights with clever whodunits has earned her a loyal following and praise from authors like Jenn McKinlay.
Off the page, Aarons is a champion for youth arts education. As president of the Playwrights Project board, she empowers young voices through playwriting programs. She also coordinates the CCA Writers’ Conference, the only free writing conference for high school students in the U.S., showcasing her commitment to creativity and literacy. Her work inspires aspiring writers and strengthens communities, proving she’s as impactful in real life as in her fictional worlds.
- Pen Name: Kathy Aarons (Kathy Krevat)
- Key Works: Chocolate Covered Mystery series, Gourmet Cat Mystery series
- Hometown: Rural Pennsylvania
- Passions: Chocolate, coffee, and youth arts education
Ready to savor a cozy mystery with a side of chocolate? Snag Death Is Like a Box of Chocolates and dive into Kathy Aarons’s deliciously delightful world!