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76th out of 201 books
—
108 voters
Decaffeinated Corpse (Coffeehouse Mystery #5)
by
Cleo Coyle (Goodreads Author)
When an old friend of her ex-husband develops the world's first botanically decaffeinated coffee bean and smuggles it into the country, Clare Cosi, manager of Village Blend, believes it's a business opportunity she needs to investigate...at least until the first dead body shows up.
Mass Market Paperback, 273 pages
Published
July 3rd 2007
by Berkley
(first published July 2007)
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Aug 11, 2008
Janece
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
coffee lovers, cozy mystery fans
Recommended to Janece by:
ongoing series read
Enjoyed this book as much as I do any of them. Traditional cozy mystery in a modern coffee shop setting. Hunky guys, smart female lead, interesting cast of characters and worthwhile mysteries. Cool coffee recipes at the end. Some are FABulous, others not to my taste. Too much school prep going on right now, I found myself a little bored while reading this one. I don't think it was the book (or writer's!) fault, I think that I have too much on my mind and couldn't give it the attention it deserve...more
Three stars is being generous because these books are really just...not good, but I knew what I was getting into before I started it, so.
I hate how all of the characters are the embodiment of their stereotype/cliche. Madame is "regal" and French, and her Scottish doctor boyfriend has the "sex appeal of Sean Connery" and always seems to be wearing plaid or a kilt, Tucker is a gay barista who loves musicals and is super flamboyant. Essentially any mention of nationality pretty much sums up the ent...more
I hate how all of the characters are the embodiment of their stereotype/cliche. Madame is "regal" and French, and her Scottish doctor boyfriend has the "sex appeal of Sean Connery" and always seems to be wearing plaid or a kilt, Tucker is a gay barista who loves musicals and is super flamboyant. Essentially any mention of nationality pretty much sums up the ent...more
This fifth book in the Coffee House Mystery series is a bit different. The actual murders happen quite late in the book. Clare spends most of her time trying to unravel an attempted murder attempt and possible illegal activities surrounding a business venture that her ex and business partner, Matt has entered into for naturally decaffeinated coffee plants. Clare uncovers some information that eventually helps the police when the first murder occurs and witnesses two other murders. A decaffe migh...more
I've been enjoying this series, but this one was a bit flat. There wasn't a murder until much later in the book than I liked so it was more of a detective story, and it wasn't much of a story I cared to learn about. The development of the characters almost feels like it's on the back burner. I don't know if this book was rushed, the author was out of ideas, or she just got too carried away with describing the New York landscape and the history of coffee. That's interesting and all, but not what...more
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After saying I enjoyed all the everyday things and back stories to the people and coffee in previous books, I found this one a bit tedious. It took 2/3s of the book for the back story - which I didn't find all that compelling - until, finally, the murder occurred in the later 3rd. After that, the resolution came along pretty fast.
It wasn't that I felt cheated, its just that there was so much information dumping and going on and on about stuff in the beginning of the book, I think this would have...more
It wasn't that I felt cheated, its just that there was so much information dumping and going on and on about stuff in the beginning of the book, I think this would have...more
Even though cozy mysteries aren't my style and these are not entirely well written, I've enjoyed the books in this series mostly due to their setting. This is probably my least favorite so far, though, because the plot felt so loosely stitched together. I came away very confused about who the guilty party was and exactly what wrong-doings had transpired. Since I rated all the others 3 stars, I had to show this one being lesser, but it's more like 2.75 stars and worth reading if you've made it th...more
Fifth in the Coffeehouse Mystery series.
Back in New York at the Village Blend, Clare is contemplating the incontemplatible--decaffeinated coffee at the Blend. Her research has unearthed the fact that nearly 20% of customers for coffee drinks want decaf, a segment of the market Clare has lost because of the poor quality of beans processed according to standard methods. Thus, her horrified baristas, assembled for a taste test, are certain of disaster. Instead--an excellent cup of coffee ensues. Ho...more
I’ve just read my second Cleo Coyle book and I can smell the coffee. I still can’t grind or brew the sacred bean half as well as the author, but I’m learning some facts. I know how to test whether the beans were fresh when I get my cup—never knew that before. And I know a little more about where they grow.
Cleo Coyle sets her mysteries around the Village Blend coffee house in New York. Decaffeinated espresso is described as a “why bother,” but it seems there may a new brew on the block that’s dec...more
Cleo Coyle sets her mysteries around the Village Blend coffee house in New York. Decaffeinated espresso is described as a “why bother,” but it seems there may a new brew on the block that’s dec...more
At the Village Blend, Clare and her baristas refer to a decaffeinated espresso as a "why bother?" but Clare knows that a growing percentage of customers prefer decaf at least part of the time. So when an old friend of Matt's develops the first botanically decaffeinated coffee bean, Clare leaps at the exclusive opportunity to distribute the beans. But then Matt's friend is attacked and Clare begins to investigate as the body count begins to rise.
This is the fifth Coffeehouse Mystery (after On Wh...more
This is the fifth Coffeehouse Mystery (after On Wh...more
The gist of this story is that Clare and Matteo reconnect with Matt's childhood friend Federico Gostwick (a.k.a. Ric) who has devised a hybrid coffee plant that is naturally decaffeinated (you'll learn oodles about the assorted processes for decaffeinating coffee in the course of the story). In return for their involvement, Ric is offering them exclusive rights to the new bean at the Village Blend and their coffee kiosks in upscale stores. In return, Matt has gotten in a bit deeper into the ugly...more
My mom gave me this book to read. She loves mysteries, this one centers around a coffeehouse owner somewhere in New York City. There's a lot of information passed along about coffee and how coffee is made, so if you don't like coffee and don't want to know anything about coffee, you should definitely not read this book.
It was an easy read. I liked the style. The characters were fine. The plot was fun.
It's not a "oh my gosh you have to read this" kind of book, but if someone was looking to while...more
It was an easy read. I liked the style. The characters were fine. The plot was fun.
It's not a "oh my gosh you have to read this" kind of book, but if someone was looking to while...more
If you like women's literature (refuse to call it Chick-Lit)&, or cozies, these series are very enjoyable.
One learns a lot about coffee beans, roasting, methods of preparation etc.
It is a lighthearted series of a middle aged, Clare Cosi managing her ex-mother-in-law's coffeehouse with her ex-husband while solving murder mysteries. This is the 5th book in her series & the last one I got to. I liked it, not enough to go on to the next one though!
One learns a lot about coffee beans, roasting, methods of preparation etc.
It is a lighthearted series of a middle aged, Clare Cosi managing her ex-mother-in-law's coffeehouse with her ex-husband while solving murder mysteries. This is the 5th book in her series & the last one I got to. I liked it, not enough to go on to the next one though!
This is the 5th book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. Claire is dealing with both past and present loves as she finds out that her ex-husband's partnership with a developer of a naturally decaffeinated plant is causing major issues leading to a series of deaths. Her relationship with the good detective is just beginning to blossom, but this case may end up causing them challenges. Added into the mix are old friends, and a new, much older boyfriend, for her daughter. Claire finds she must solve...more
I enjoyed reading this; but much like a real cup of decaf, it wasn't quite as good as the previous Coffeehouse mysteries. Don't get me wrong, it was fun and I always love all the coffee-insider stuff. But the plot wasn't as strong as I would have liked and there wasn't much more character development beyond what was there from the earlier books. Nevertheless, if you like Coyle's mysteries, you'll like this one as well.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Matteo, Claire's ex and coffee buyer for the Village Blend, is working on a deal with an old friend who has developed a naturally decaffeinated coffee plant with a taste that rivals the real deal. With the kiosks in California failing, Matt knows he needs this exclusive deal to keep the kiosks alive and hold on to the Blend itself. When Matt's friend is attacked in an alley near the Blend, Claire starts thinking that something funny is brewing.
I reading this series one after another and if I enjoyed this book as much as I do any of them but I must tell that my review looks to all series as a only story: the adventures of Clare not only as detective but also as woman. So if something don't is consistent or credible as too murders in the coffeehouse ,however I love these books .
Another lovely read from Coyle, and yet some things about the series are starting to bug me - mostly the complete stupidity of her daughter and the way she acts towards her mother. I think both Matteo and Joy take Clare for granted and act like big, stupid jerks. Not the most insightful critique, but there you go. This is the 5th? 6th? book I've read and I still have no feel for Joy as a character - she has no depth, is apparently as shallow as a puddle and is a whiny 20 something who acts more...more
Decaf in not my thing. But this book makes the coffee sound desirable. And this book is too, after you get over the type of coffee that it's talking about. As always you get caught up in the mystery that always involves someone that the coffee lady personally knows. Again as always a fun mystery in a great series,especially when there's some coffee recipes involved. This Is another novel where you
to stay up an extra half hour that turns into like 2 and end up getting up for work the next
mornin...more
to stay up an extra half hour that turns into like 2 and end up getting up for work the next
mornin...more
I find these books in the series to be a relaxing read because I know the characters. I like the New York references and in each one, I learn something more about coffee.
This is series is lots of fun, despite the overuse of Deus ex machine. I really do enjoy all of the coffee trivia.
I've learned a few coffee talk in this book and in a fun way... will be reading the other series. I'm hooked.
UPDATE: I gave it a 4 just cuz I love mysteries and love coffee. This suffers from the certain sameness that a lot of mysteries to -- like there's a template out there somewhere, you just fill in a few blanks and PRESTO! there's your mystery! But i enjoyed reading it and prolly will look for another of her several 'coffee mysteries'...
+++
just ordered this -- i am SO excited to have found a mystery series set in coffee houses. how perfect is that? can't wait for it to arrive. makes me wish my com...more
+++
just ordered this -- i am SO excited to have found a mystery series set in coffee houses. how perfect is that? can't wait for it to arrive. makes me wish my com...more
Good mystery which also had some interesting information about coffee beans, brewing etc.
I really do enjoy this series, but some of the chapters were a bit lengthy describing how one would grow coffee. Now if your interested in this, that would be great, but there was no need for so much, there should of more time with the main character and her soon to be love interest. The realtionship between she and her ex is also a little confusing.
Great coffee facts, and you really feel like a New Yorker while reading.
Great coffee facts, and you really feel like a New Yorker while reading.
Even though cozy mysteries aren't my style and these are not entirely well written, I've enjoyed the books in this series mostly due to their setting. This is probably my least favorite so far, though, because the plot felt so loosely stitched together. I came away very confused about who the guilty party was and exactly what wrong-doings had transpired. Since I rated all the others 3 stars, I had to show this one being lesser, but it's more like 2.75 stars and worth reading if you've made it th...more
These are fun and easy reads. I also lovet that they talk about one of my favorite things..........Coffee!
Clare Cosi's cozy life is interupted by a man knocked out near her shop. The man is her husband's partner in developing a botanically decaffeinated coffee bean, with the potential to be a huge money spinner. However bodies associated with the entire affair start accumulating.
It really didn't have a sense of peril or suspense (apart from wondering for a while who was going to die) and really seemed to putter along like a long-running series that is depending on familiarity rather than suspense in...more
It really didn't have a sense of peril or suspense (apart from wondering for a while who was going to die) and really seemed to putter along like a long-running series that is depending on familiarity rather than suspense in...more
This is the second book in this series I've read (as usual, I just read them as I get them, which is always out of order) although it is book #5 of the series. I didn't feel like I lost any plot threads by reading them out of order. I love the coffee culture/setting in these books. I'm not sure how realistic this was with the decaffeinated plant but I went along with it. Like most cozy mysteries, the heroine-amateur-detective does a few stupid things but it was still an enjoyable read. You will...more
I loved this -the fifth book in the Coffeehouse Mysteries.
Most 'so-called' coffeehouses, according to Clare, will sell everything-including 'so-called' decaf, teas, lattes, and expressos but her coffeehouse will not and never has sold decaffeinated coffee because there never has been a quality decaf bean grown anywhere.
In this mystery, a friend of her husband develops the first quality decaffeinated bean (botanically) and smuggles into the good old USA and it seems to the opportunity of a lifeti...more
Most 'so-called' coffeehouses, according to Clare, will sell everything-including 'so-called' decaf, teas, lattes, and expressos but her coffeehouse will not and never has sold decaffeinated coffee because there never has been a quality decaf bean grown anywhere.
In this mystery, a friend of her husband develops the first quality decaffeinated bean (botanically) and smuggles into the good old USA and it seems to the opportunity of a lifeti...more
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Cleo Coyle is the pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Under the name Cleo Coyle, they've written 12 bestselling Coffeehouse Mystery titles. The first in their 12-book series is now in its 17th printing. Their newest release, HOLIDAY BUZZ, was a Top-10 New York Times bestseller. Their previous release from Penguin, A BREW TO A KILL, was chosen as a...more
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