NYT bestselling author Cleo Coyle is back with the exciting 20th book in the delightful Coffeehouse Mysteries!
One of my all-time favorite cozy mystery series, this did not disappoint!
Amateur sleuth Clare Cosi manages Village Blend, a charming, century-old coffee house in NYC's Greenwich Village. A streaming service is filming their hit show Only Murders in Gotham in NYC, and Village Blend is a location for the shoot. But the on-set murders become all too real.
I love visiting Village Blend, and binged this in an afternoon! It's such a great, atmospheric setting, with NYC feeling like the big city it is and also a small, close-knit community. Part of that is due to the fantastic group of core characters. They make the coffeehouse's ambiance even more warm and welcoming. Enigmatic coffee shop owner (and Clare's former mother-in-law) Madame Blanche Allegro Duboisis is a scene-stealer. Seeing how her connections or past will play into the stories is always fun. Clare is a likable sleuth who still makes the occasional misstep, which I love because it only adds to her relatability.
The engaging writing, intriguing plot, red herrings, and short chapters make this a fast-paced and compelling read. I enjoy a mystery that shifts my suspicions, and I changed my mind about who I thought the culprit was a few times with this! A slightly grittier cozy, these books touch upon weighty issues and have some "ripped from the headlines" scenes. We also get a behind-the-scenes peek at filming a TV show, with nods to actual celebrities and some pop culture references. Twenty years in, this series remains at the top of its game. And I loved this entertaining installment!
Cleo Coyle is the pen name of the writing team of Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini, who are spouses. I am a big fan of this series and their Haunted Bookshop mysteries. If you have never tried a cozy mystery, either of their series is a great place to start! I want to thank them for gifting me a beautiful autographed copy of Bulletproof Barista and several signed recipe cards! And the recipes in these books are amazing!
No tea this time! This is delicious La Minita coffee from The Cultured Cup!
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