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Maggy Thorsen Mystery #11
Murder a la Mocha: A Coffeehouse Cozy
Coffee, a canine and a corpse: a bad feeling leads to an even worse discovery when Maggy tries to return a Chihuahua to its owners in the new coffeehouse mystery.
Maggy Thorsen's evening with her fianc� Sheriff Jake Pavlik and his parents in Chicago takes a dramatic turn when Jake's mother falls ill, then a Chihuahua jumps in front of Maggy's car on her drive back to Uncommon Grounds, her Wisconsin coffeehouse. Attempting to return Mocha to her owners, George and Marian Satterwite, the following day, Maggy comes face-to-face with Arial, their dog-sitter and her business partner Sarah's niece. But something doesn't feel right . . .
Returning to the property, Maggy and Marian make a shocking discovery. And where are George and Arial? With Jake still in Chicago and Sarah desperate to find her niece, Maggy is soon drawn into another deadly puzzle.
Maggy Thorsen's evening with her fianc� Sheriff Jake Pavlik and his parents in Chicago takes a dramatic turn when Jake's mother falls ill, then a Chihuahua jumps in front of Maggy's car on her drive back to Uncommon Grounds, her Wisconsin coffeehouse. Attempting to return Mocha to her owners, George and Marian Satterwite, the following day, Maggy comes face-to-face with Arial, their dog-sitter and her business partner Sarah's niece. But something doesn't feel right . . .
Returning to the property, Maggy and Marian make a shocking discovery. And where are George and Arial? With Jake still in Chicago and Sarah desperate to find her niece, Maggy is soon drawn into another deadly puzzle.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
192 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2019
10 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Balzo
31 books238 followersSandra Balzo is an award-winning author of crime fiction, including fourteen books in two mystery series--one set outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the other in the High Country of North Carolina. MURDER a la Mocha, the eleventh Maggy Thorsen Wisconsin coffeehouse mystery, will be released in January, and the series has been optioned for development as a TV series/film.
Balzo's books have garnered starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, while being recommended to readers of Janet Evanovich, Charlaine Harris, Joan Hess and Margaret Maron.
In addition to Twitter and her website, Sandy also hangs out at https://www.facebook.com/SandraBalzoM... and http://pinterest.com/sandrabalzo/
Balzo's books have garnered starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, while being recommended to readers of Janet Evanovich, Charlaine Harris, Joan Hess and Margaret Maron.
In addition to Twitter and her website, Sandy also hangs out at https://www.facebook.com/SandraBalzoM... and http://pinterest.com/sandrabalzo/
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 20, 2020
When coffee shop owner Maggy Thorsen finds a bedraggled mop of a tiny dog on the highway, she doesn’t know she’ll be drawn into yet another mystery. The snarling lump of fur turns out to be Mocha the high-strung long-haired Chihuahua. Maggy’s wise-cracking business partner Sarah Kingston realizes that the dog is being dog-sat by Sarah’s own niece (Arial), and they return Mocha to the house.
Soon after, Arial, Mocha and the man who owns Mocha are missing, but a young corpse is very much in evidence at the house. As usual, Maggy does a wonderful job of sleuthing. Highly recommended.
Soon after, Arial, Mocha and the man who owns Mocha are missing, but a young corpse is very much in evidence at the house. As usual, Maggy does a wonderful job of sleuthing. Highly recommended.
September 13, 2018
I have been a long time reader of this series and the cover of Murder a la Mocha was irresistible.
Maggy Thorsen is meeting her fiance's parents for the first time and when the evening ends in tragedy, Maggy feels helpless.
When Maggy finds a dog late at night,it sets off a string of events that puts Maggy in the line of fire.
I enjoyed the different stories that were going on and the mystery was well told and well thought out.
I was engaged from the beginning and the story kept my attention until the end. I was caught by surprise at the reveal, which doesn't usually happen.
I definitely recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers of all ages.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
Maggy Thorsen is meeting her fiance's parents for the first time and when the evening ends in tragedy, Maggy feels helpless.
When Maggy finds a dog late at night,it sets off a string of events that puts Maggy in the line of fire.
I enjoyed the different stories that were going on and the mystery was well told and well thought out.
I was engaged from the beginning and the story kept my attention until the end. I was caught by surprise at the reveal, which doesn't usually happen.
I definitely recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers of all ages.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
October 12, 2018
Although this is a coffee house mystery, Mocha is a dog, not a cup of Joe. Maggy finds Mocha roaming around late at night, which leads to texting the owner. When returning the dog, Maggy encounters a dead body, which leads to the start of this cozy mystery. Maggie and Pavlik’s relationship has developed over the series, as does her witty repartee with Sarah, co owner of Uncommon Grounds. A quick, enjoyable read, for dog and mystery lovers.
August 20, 2024
A little confusing story-wise.
January 21, 2019
In this book, the main character, Maggy Thorsen, is constantly talking about various ideas as more information becomes available. Maggy along with two other women discover the body of a man that no one knows inside the house of one of the women. Maggy is asking questions because the main suspect is the niece of her business partner, Sarah. Mocha of the title is a tiny chihuahua that Maggy finds along side a road and takes home since it is early morning or late late night. The book was a very quick easy read.
December 20, 2018
I Recommend This Book
This is the 11th in series and a delightful cozy mystery read. I enjoyed the dogs, the story and the sleuth. I look forward to the next in series. . Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. My opinion is my own.
Maggy Thorsen and fiancé Sheriff Jake are excited to meet his parents for dinner. During dinner the night takes a sad turn when his Mom has a heart attack. Maggy is on her way home when she stops and rescues a abandoned chihuahua that jumps in front of her car. Rescuing the dog proves to be fatal when it leads to a murder. The next day she attempts to return the dog to its pet sitter when she finds a dead body instead of the dogs owner and the pet sitter is on the run from the law as the accused.
The Mother passes away and while the family is grieving Maggy is thrown into a murder investigation. Now the two murders are not adding up to Maggy and she begins to piece together the clues. She wants to prove the pet sitter is innocent .
Maggy ends up with the chihuahua returned to her and it quickly bonds with her English Sheepdog. Her investigation takes sinister turn as she grows closer to the truth. i loved the well crafted sleuth and whodoneit kept me guessing. The charcters are all likable and realistic people that bring the story to life. The dogs are adorable and a fun part of the story. I look forward to the next in series.
This is the 11th in series and a delightful cozy mystery read. I enjoyed the dogs, the story and the sleuth. I look forward to the next in series. . Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. My opinion is my own.
Maggy Thorsen and fiancé Sheriff Jake are excited to meet his parents for dinner. During dinner the night takes a sad turn when his Mom has a heart attack. Maggy is on her way home when she stops and rescues a abandoned chihuahua that jumps in front of her car. Rescuing the dog proves to be fatal when it leads to a murder. The next day she attempts to return the dog to its pet sitter when she finds a dead body instead of the dogs owner and the pet sitter is on the run from the law as the accused.
The Mother passes away and while the family is grieving Maggy is thrown into a murder investigation. Now the two murders are not adding up to Maggy and she begins to piece together the clues. She wants to prove the pet sitter is innocent .
Maggy ends up with the chihuahua returned to her and it quickly bonds with her English Sheepdog. Her investigation takes sinister turn as she grows closer to the truth. i loved the well crafted sleuth and whodoneit kept me guessing. The charcters are all likable and realistic people that bring the story to life. The dogs are adorable and a fun part of the story. I look forward to the next in series.
September 15, 2018
I'm a Maggy Thorsen fan and a Chihuahua enthusiast, so this book was a natural for me.
Coffee shop owner Maggy is driving home after a visit with her fiance's parents when she spots a bedraggled, runaway Chihuahua and takes the dog home--much to the chagrin of Maggy's sheep dog Frank. Her effort to reunite Mocha with her owner lead Maggy straight into a(nother) murder mystery in which the chief suspect is the niece of Maggy's business partner, Sarah Kingston. Arial (named after the font, not the mermaid) is caught up in a double homicide and on the run. Locating Arial and figuring out her role in the killings propel Maggy and Sarah through a trail of conflicting, seemingly random clues.
Thorsen's Maggy is a likable heroine with a quick wit and sharp deductive skills, but Murder a la Mocha is puzzler that stubbornly doesn't yield its secrets until the novel's end.
Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Coffee shop owner Maggy is driving home after a visit with her fiance's parents when she spots a bedraggled, runaway Chihuahua and takes the dog home--much to the chagrin of Maggy's sheep dog Frank. Her effort to reunite Mocha with her owner lead Maggy straight into a(nother) murder mystery in which the chief suspect is the niece of Maggy's business partner, Sarah Kingston. Arial (named after the font, not the mermaid) is caught up in a double homicide and on the run. Locating Arial and figuring out her role in the killings propel Maggy and Sarah through a trail of conflicting, seemingly random clues.
Thorsen's Maggy is a likable heroine with a quick wit and sharp deductive skills, but Murder a la Mocha is puzzler that stubbornly doesn't yield its secrets until the novel's end.
Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
January 16, 2019
Maggie's coffeehouse partner Sarah can be difficult, but Maggie loves her anyway. And she sympathizes when it looks like Sarah's niece Arial, who dogsits for a living, is the suspect when a dead man is found in the house where she's been living, and Arial is missing. Perhaps, Maggie ponders, Arial has run away with the man of the house and his little dog? But then the dog turns up at Maggie's house, and the man turns up dead...Unfortunately, Maggie's fiancé Pavlik, who is the county sheriff, is off in Chicago, dealing with the fallout from his mother's sudden death. This is a very dog-centric mystery, moving away from the coffeehouse based setting of most of the previous ones in this series.
November 24, 2018
Entertaining from start to finish.
Love the writing style of this author, it is funny and intriguing with clues along the plot that will keep you guessing what is really happening.
We have a lost and found dog: Mocha, a dead body and the mysterious disappearance of two of the main suspects.
Love the interactions between the characters, and how it can relate to reality by giving away the flaws and bickering of day to day life.
Note: I received an ARC for review purpose and an honest and unbiased opinion.
Love the writing style of this author, it is funny and intriguing with clues along the plot that will keep you guessing what is really happening.
We have a lost and found dog: Mocha, a dead body and the mysterious disappearance of two of the main suspects.
Love the interactions between the characters, and how it can relate to reality by giving away the flaws and bickering of day to day life.
Note: I received an ARC for review purpose and an honest and unbiased opinion.
December 14, 2018
Poor Maggy! Things went sideways when at her meeting with Jake's parents (even worse for them, to be sure) and then she narrowly misses hitting Mocha the dog and he leads her to finding a body. Whew. And, to top it off, the main suspect in the murder is her business partner Sarah's niece Ariel. Of course, Maggy is going to work this one out, even as she keeps juggling her coffee house, her relationship, and the investigation. There are some nice twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a quick read (it's also short) that will be fine as a standalone.
February 20, 2019
This was a good cozy mystery. There are quite a few books in this series, but it is a first for me.
Coffeehouse owner Maggy finds a little dog on her way home one night. When she returns the dog, the niece of her partner is dog sitting and something seems off. Later Maggy and Sarah return to check and there are no sign of the dog or niece, but owner just got home and they all find a dead body. The characters were quite good and the mystery was original. Will look for others in the series.
Coffeehouse owner Maggy finds a little dog on her way home one night. When she returns the dog, the niece of her partner is dog sitting and something seems off. Later Maggy and Sarah return to check and there are no sign of the dog or niece, but owner just got home and they all find a dead body. The characters were quite good and the mystery was original. Will look for others in the series.
April 18, 2019
I have read this entire series and eagerly awaited this latest edition. I was not disappointed. One of the things I like the most is the plot makes sense. It is logical and if readers try, they can figure it out. I have read so many cozy mysteries with plots that are impossible to figure out because the author does not leave clues to the murderer. I'm looking forward to the next Maggy adventure.
April 18, 2019
Missing people and a found chihuahua. The usual except for the non-mystery portion of the plot seems to be more of an after thought than in other books. Still, a fun, easy, read and a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
August 2, 2019
I couldn't read the book before this one in the series, it was just so slow, but this one is a return to form - an intriguing mystery, gentle humour, and characters you've become interested in. Highly recommended.
April 8, 2019
This should be a 3.5. It was a quick read but was what I've come to expect from this series - well written, interesting plot.
April 12, 2019
Another awesome book in the Maggy Thorsen series. Nice light reading and humor and mystery all wrapped nicely together.
May 11, 2021
Nice fun read.
August 12, 2021
Enjoyable
January 11, 2024
Cute cozy mystery, especially if you like dogs. Lots and lots of dog discussion with some murder solving thrown in.
September 20, 2018
Good one where even the dogs go through 'adjustments '. Love the team effort throughout and agree about my expert with Chinas. Enjoy!
October 3, 2018
Murder a la Mocha is a well written cozy mystery. I enjoyed the plot, characters and writing. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc this is my unbiased review review.
December 14, 2018
The 11th installment of the Coffeehouse Cozy series quickly propels Maggy Thorsen into two storylines. First, she and fiancé Sheriff Jake Pavlik meet his parents for dinner only to have his mother collapse from a heart attack. Then, as Maggy travels home she rescues an abandoned chihuahua, Mocha, an act that leads to murder.
Jake and his father deal with his mother’s death in a very personal way. Meanwhile, Maggy returns Mocha to her owner’s pet sitter, Arial. Maggy’s partner, Sarah, is Arial aunt and things get out of hand when Maggy returns to the Satterwite home to check on Arial and finds a dead body, lots of blood and no sign of Arial or Mocha.
While Arial’s disappearance is initially puzzling, she immediately becomes a suspect when George Satterwite is later discovered, murdered. Two bodies, one unidentified and the only person missing is Sarah’s niece, Arial.
Lots of twists in this one. The widow Satterwite has an alibi. Sarah refuses to believe her niece could be involved although evidence keeps mounting. And Mocha is suddenly returned to Maggy’s house.
When Jake finally gets home, he finds Mocha and Maggy’s Old English Sheepdog Frank managing an interesting relationship and then he, in a surprising development, bonds with the chihuahua.
Author Sandra Balzo’s characters are well-drawn, feeling real and vulnerable. The mystery is smartly plotted and moves nicely, pulling the reader through interesting situations and revealing relationships.
Jake and his father deal with his mother’s death in a very personal way. Meanwhile, Maggy returns Mocha to her owner’s pet sitter, Arial. Maggy’s partner, Sarah, is Arial aunt and things get out of hand when Maggy returns to the Satterwite home to check on Arial and finds a dead body, lots of blood and no sign of Arial or Mocha.
While Arial’s disappearance is initially puzzling, she immediately becomes a suspect when George Satterwite is later discovered, murdered. Two bodies, one unidentified and the only person missing is Sarah’s niece, Arial.
Lots of twists in this one. The widow Satterwite has an alibi. Sarah refuses to believe her niece could be involved although evidence keeps mounting. And Mocha is suddenly returned to Maggy’s house.
When Jake finally gets home, he finds Mocha and Maggy’s Old English Sheepdog Frank managing an interesting relationship and then he, in a surprising development, bonds with the chihuahua.
Author Sandra Balzo’s characters are well-drawn, feeling real and vulnerable. The mystery is smartly plotted and moves nicely, pulling the reader through interesting situations and revealing relationships.
December 26, 2018
This is the first book I read in this series and it was a great discovery.
It was a fun read, enjoyable and entertaining.
I read the book in one setting as couldn't put it down.
I loved the cast of characters, both human and canine, and the humour.
The mystery was great, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
Even if it's the 11th instalment I had no issue in understanding the plot and the characters.
I look forward to reading other instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
It was a fun read, enjoyable and entertaining.
I read the book in one setting as couldn't put it down.
I loved the cast of characters, both human and canine, and the humour.
The mystery was great, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
Even if it's the 11th instalment I had no issue in understanding the plot and the characters.
I look forward to reading other instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews