Murder By Mocha by Cleo Coyle

Opening the pages of MURDER BY MOCHA is like stepping inside my favorite coffeehouse with friends there waiting and a few new faces to greet. The sights, sounds and smells are brought to life by the talented writing of author Cleo Coyle.

Readers who aren’t coffee drinkers don’t need to shy away from this tantalizing book and series. While there are references to coffee and all it’s amenities; there is murder, mayhem, and suspense all wrapped up with a splash of romance, a dollop of humor and a lot of love for family and friends.

Clare Cosi is the manager and head barista of the landmark Village Blend coffeehouse in Greenwich Village. Clare’s boss, Madame Dreyfus Allegro Dubbors (who is also her fromer mother-in-law) has gone into partnership with an old friend. Madame has agreed to use the Village Blend coffee beans to create a new java love potion, ‘Mocha Magic Coffee,’ billed as an aphrodisiac.

The new product will be sold exclusively online at Aphrodite’s Village, a popular website community for women. At the launch party, however, one of the website’s editors is murdered. When tragedy continues to strike the website’s Sisters of Aphrodite, Clare thinks the secret formula behind the ‘Mocha Magic Coffee’ is the key and could be illegal.

Clare works to find the answers to the murders and save her beloved Village Blend’s reputation at the same time. Can she uncover the killer before she becomes the next victim? The twists and surprises will keep you guessing.

To add to her mounting problems Clare’s boyfriend, police detective Mike Quinn, is asking ‘that’ question; her daughter, Joy, is home from Paris and closer than ever to Sergeant Franco; and a cold case involving a slain police officer has surfaced that implicates Madame.

Author Cleo Coyle has created a group of multifarious characters who are intriguing and likeable. She also introduces a group of eclectic minor characters who further add dimension to the story. As Clare undertakes to solve the murders, she also maintains her determination and loyalty to keep her family safe.

MURDER BY MOCH is the 10th installment in the Coffeehouse Mystery series and each new adventure just keeps getting more captivating. Readers are able to pick up any books in this series and not feel as though they are missing half the story. There’s just enough back story to help new readers understand, while reminding returning fans of exciting past adventures.

An extra feature of the book is the coffee-making tips and recipes included at the end. The scrumptious recipes include such treats as ‘Aphrodisiac Brownies,’ and ‘Roasted Rock Cornish Game Hens with Rosemary and Lemon Butter.’ For even more recipes and to find out more about MURDER BY MOCHA, the Coffeehouse Mystery series and author Cleo Coyle visit www.coffeehousemystery.com 

Murder By Mocha by Cleo Coyle, A Coffeehouse Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2011, ISBN: 978-0-425-24143-1, Hardcover, 384 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

If you’re a writer, does your protagonist enjoy the same favorite beverage or foods you do? As a reader, do you enjoy books with a theme such as a coffeehouse setting? Thanks so much for stopping by.