Murder by Mocha by Cleo Coyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Murder by Mocha is the 10th book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series written by Cleo Coyle, the pseudonym for the husband and wife writing team of Alice and Marc Cerasini. The series first caught my eye at my local library, when I spotted book one, On What Grounds, with a delicious looking cup of coffee on the front. Since I am a huge coffee addict I was very intrigued by the promise of mystery with a side of coffee. This was actually my first real foray into the cozy mystery genre, and I’m glad to be here. What I love about the Coffee House Mystery series is that they are well written and intriguing mysteries, they are perfect for when you want to settle in with a good cozy book. Typically, I read a book from this series within a couple of days, curled up under a blanket, with a cup of coffee.
The series is set in modern day New York, revolving around the life of The Village Blend manager, Claire Cosi. This seemingly innocuous barista somehow manages to become ensconced in a variety of murder mysteries to which she is drawn like a moth to a flame. In the 10th book, Murder by Mocha, Claire finds herself entrenched within the corporate politics of a very unusual female focused corporation. As with anything that involves high levels of competition, and high stakes for those involved, tempers flare, schemes are hatched, and murder soon finds its way into Claire’s life.
The subsequent investigation leads Claire to the unraveling of a decade long grudge and gets herself caught up in the path of the killer. Not only is Claire in the crosshairs of a serious vendetta, she is also juggling personal troubles of her own. In addition to keeping her ex-husband clear of her daughter’s brewing romance with a young police officer, Claire’s own officer love, is hinting at questions of commitment If that wasn’t enough, Claire is also concerned over the involvement of her mother-in-law in a cold case that has now become a little hotter.
In the fashion that I have come to expect from a Coffeehouse Mystery, this story captured my attention while still allowing me to play along at a leisurely pace. Claire Cosi is the reluctant sleuth that one can’t help but cheer for as she stands her ground and defends those she holds dear to her heart.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
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