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Bookstore Cafe Mystery #7
Death by Café Mocha
Krissy Hancock and her pals are taking a coffee break—leaving their bookstore-café in Pine Hills, Ohio, and heading to a convention. But this road trip will be more dangerous than they expected …
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of café mocha, suspicions swirl—along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges—or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long …
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of café mocha, suspicions swirl—along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges—or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long …
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2019
109 people are currently reading
2291 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 27, 2019
Death by Cafe Mocha by Alex Erickson is the 7th book in the Bookstore Cafe series and another fun addition that I enjoyed. Krissy Hancock and her best friend,Vicki Patterson, own Death by Coffee which is a coffee shop and bookstore combined. Krissy, Vicki and Rita take off for a coffee convention, and they are excited to get away. When the winner of the best coffee is murdered, Krissy can't leave it alone, she must solve the case. I really enjoy this fun series, and it was nice to see some new quirky characters. There are suspects around every corner, that kept me reading page after page until I was finished with the book. The plot and characters were well developed, along with some romance. If you love humorous cozy mysteries, my favorite, I recommend this book/series.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
September 8, 2019
This outing in the Bookstore Café Mystery series, finds Krissy Hancock, her partner Vicki and friend Rita out of town at the CoffeeCon. They hope to find some new blends to order for their coffee store/bookstore, Death by Coffee. From the moment they arrive things seem to go wrong. The desk clerk can't find their reservation, Krissy bumps into a man several times spilling coffee and almost falling over, they meet up with a rather nasty coffee brewer, she runs into her arch nemesis from her hometown and there is a murder. There is a lot going on already, but Krissy can't help but stick her nose into the investigation and start asking questions and following people around.
This series has been up and down for me, but this one hit the mark. I enjoyed the setting of a coffee convention, even though it does not sound that interesting. It was nice to see the friends away from Pine Hills, mingling with others not from their small town. The murder mystery was well-written and interesting. There were several suspects all with pretty good motives. Krissy systematically ticked them off until her aha moment where she figured out who the culprit was. I figured it out at the same time. The plot and characters were well developed, along with a hint of romance. I recommend this book to those who enjoy cozy mysteries.
I listened to the audiobook of Death by Café Mocha narrated by Melissa Moran. She has a wonderful voice that is easy to listen to. I found that this book was well done, but it was more of an enjoyable listen than a performance. That is not to say it was not good, but there were not as many voices or exciting scenes. I will listen to other books narrated by Melissa Moran as I have heard she does an amazing job, this did not seem to showcase her talents. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this audiobook upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
This series has been up and down for me, but this one hit the mark. I enjoyed the setting of a coffee convention, even though it does not sound that interesting. It was nice to see the friends away from Pine Hills, mingling with others not from their small town. The murder mystery was well-written and interesting. There were several suspects all with pretty good motives. Krissy systematically ticked them off until her aha moment where she figured out who the culprit was. I figured it out at the same time. The plot and characters were well developed, along with a hint of romance. I recommend this book to those who enjoy cozy mysteries.
I listened to the audiobook of Death by Café Mocha narrated by Melissa Moran. She has a wonderful voice that is easy to listen to. I found that this book was well done, but it was more of an enjoyable listen than a performance. That is not to say it was not good, but there were not as many voices or exciting scenes. I will listen to other books narrated by Melissa Moran as I have heard she does an amazing job, this did not seem to showcase her talents. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this audiobook upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
November 12, 2019
Si bien continuaré con estos libros hay libros mejores de misterio. Entretiene y es ideal para leer mientras se espera.
July 22, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
I am always so happy when I get apporval for one of my favorite Cozy authors, and Alex Erickson always delivers. I loved the small town feel in previous novels, but he switches it up this time by introducing us to "Javacon", a gathering of coffee enthusiasts and a competition for the best new coffee blend. I adored the idea! It meant both new and old characters could mix in a new setting, and we really did have no idea about the background or motive to the murder. Krissy as always was a delight as the main character, but we have plenty of new faces to warm up to as well.
I really liked the build up and the tension in this one, and so many people were involved or had something to hide that there was always something fresh to discover. I doubt even a hardened cozy reader would guess the murderer, but we're lead on a delightful twisty journey to find out. We also get a glimpse of where future books might go in the romance department, which I definitely wouldn't mind reading!
This was a great quick afternoon read best enjoyed with a cup of coffee and a cookie. You can read this book on its own, or discover the earlier books in the series (most of which I've read) that are also equally good. Another great book in this series, five stars!
I am always so happy when I get apporval for one of my favorite Cozy authors, and Alex Erickson always delivers. I loved the small town feel in previous novels, but he switches it up this time by introducing us to "Javacon", a gathering of coffee enthusiasts and a competition for the best new coffee blend. I adored the idea! It meant both new and old characters could mix in a new setting, and we really did have no idea about the background or motive to the murder. Krissy as always was a delight as the main character, but we have plenty of new faces to warm up to as well.
I really liked the build up and the tension in this one, and so many people were involved or had something to hide that there was always something fresh to discover. I doubt even a hardened cozy reader would guess the murderer, but we're lead on a delightful twisty journey to find out. We also get a glimpse of where future books might go in the romance department, which I definitely wouldn't mind reading!
This was a great quick afternoon read best enjoyed with a cup of coffee and a cookie. You can read this book on its own, or discover the earlier books in the series (most of which I've read) that are also equally good. Another great book in this series, five stars!
November 15, 2019
I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t hate it though. I’m not good with names and there were too many names to keep track of, especially when reading it before bedtime.
September 13, 2019
I’ve really enjoyed this series up to this point, but this one fell short of the mark. It was so predictable and the final confrontation scene was a farce.
January 17, 2021
Lukijana Melissa Moran.
Kahvimessuille sijoittuva teos. Päähenkilönä reipas kahvilanpitäjä Krissy, joka selvittää messuilla tapahtunutta murhaa. Juoni on aika simppeli, jokunen epäilty, joista jokainen olisi voinut olla syyllinen, rajattu tila. Kevyt huumori keventää tunnelmaa.
Kahvimessuille sijoittuva teos. Päähenkilönä reipas kahvilanpitäjä Krissy, joka selvittää messuilla tapahtunutta murhaa. Juoni on aika simppeli, jokunen epäilty, joista jokainen olisi voinut olla syyllinen, rajattu tila. Kevyt huumori keventää tunnelmaa.
September 24, 2021
An extra star because the bulk of it took place in my more or less home state of MD. I liked how the romance wasn't so crazy in this one, but my theory of the killer continues to work out.
April 22, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/d...
Death by Café Mocha
Bookstore Café Mystery, Book #7
By Alex Erickson
ISBN#9781496721112
Author Website: alexericksonbooks(.)com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Krissy Hancock and her pals are taking a coffee break–leaving their bookstore-cafe in Pine Hills, Ohio, and heading to a convention. But this road trip will be more dangerous than they expected.
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of cafe mocha, suspicions swirl–along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges–or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long. (Goodreads)
Review:
In Death by Café Mocha, bookstore café owners Krissy and Vicki, along with their friend Rita, find themselves outside of Pine Hills at a coffee convention. When one of the attendees is murdered, Krissy cannot help but investigate.
I have not read a book in this series for quite some time so I had a hard time getting back into Krissy and Vicki’s world. Being away from their shop and hometown also took me a while to get into, but the coffee convention setting feels fresh and full of possibilities. What I do not understand is why Krissy needed to get involved with the investigation at all. She, nor anyone close to her, was accused of the crime. She comes across as simply a nosy busybody, butting in where she shouldn’t for no reason. She also seems pretty immature, acting more like a somewhat lovesick teenager than an independent business owner in her thirties. In addition, I did not find any good reason for Rita to be there. Perhaps she was meant to provide comic relief, but she was annoying.
The mystery itself is fairly well executed (hence my rating of three stars instead of two). The victim is sufficiently unlikable and seemingly worthy of his fate. There are plenty of suspects with valid motives. It was a little confusing in the beginning of the story trying to keep these new characters, many with very similar names, straight, but they all eventually fell into place. There are lots of clues and red herrings, and I did not figure out whodunit until Krissy did.
Fans of the Bookstore Café Mystery series should be happy with this seventh installment, but it fell flat for me.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Death by Café Mocha
Bookstore Café Mystery, Book #7
By Alex Erickson
ISBN#9781496721112
Author Website: alexericksonbooks(.)com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Krissy Hancock and her pals are taking a coffee break–leaving their bookstore-cafe in Pine Hills, Ohio, and heading to a convention. But this road trip will be more dangerous than they expected.
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of cafe mocha, suspicions swirl–along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges–or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long. (Goodreads)
Review:
In Death by Café Mocha, bookstore café owners Krissy and Vicki, along with their friend Rita, find themselves outside of Pine Hills at a coffee convention. When one of the attendees is murdered, Krissy cannot help but investigate.
I have not read a book in this series for quite some time so I had a hard time getting back into Krissy and Vicki’s world. Being away from their shop and hometown also took me a while to get into, but the coffee convention setting feels fresh and full of possibilities. What I do not understand is why Krissy needed to get involved with the investigation at all. She, nor anyone close to her, was accused of the crime. She comes across as simply a nosy busybody, butting in where she shouldn’t for no reason. She also seems pretty immature, acting more like a somewhat lovesick teenager than an independent business owner in her thirties. In addition, I did not find any good reason for Rita to be there. Perhaps she was meant to provide comic relief, but she was annoying.
The mystery itself is fairly well executed (hence my rating of three stars instead of two). The victim is sufficiently unlikable and seemingly worthy of his fate. There are plenty of suspects with valid motives. It was a little confusing in the beginning of the story trying to keep these new characters, many with very similar names, straight, but they all eventually fell into place. There are lots of clues and red herrings, and I did not figure out whodunit until Krissy did.
Fans of the Bookstore Café Mystery series should be happy with this seventh installment, but it fell flat for me.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
July 25, 2019
I was so excited to read this book, I went out of order from my To Be Reviewed list.
Now I have very mixed feelings. On the one hand, I love the setting. Krissy, Vicki, and Rita are taking time away from the bookstore cafe Death by Coffee to attend JavaCon in Maryland. The author does a great job of setting the scene of a convention. This is my first of this series and a little more introduction of the main trio up-front would have helped. I'm not even sure if Rita works at the cafe. I guess Krissy has established anxiety issues but I didn't know and kept wondering why she was freaking out all the time over minor things.
One of the contestants in the tasting competition winds up murdered and Krissy is trying to figure out who did it. It's not clear why she is involved. She was in no way threatened or suspected so she comes off as a bit of a busybody. The mystery was too confusing for me. The characters were interconnected in complex ways. Most also had first or last names that started with C, M, T or K. Seriously!! It was terribly confusing.
The main character seems to react like a teenager around men to whom she is attracted. Her friend teases her like a teenager and she reacts to the teasing like a teenager. It didn't reflect how the 30-something women I know discuss men.
This is the seventh book in A Bookstore Cafe Mystery series. While it could have used more intro, eventually I did enjoy it as a stand-alone book. It took me only a few hours to devour it. I would like to read the others in the series but doubt I will because the characters, many who are linked in some way, have the same letter for their first names: Raymond and Regina, Tara and Thomas, Charles and Carmine and Clint, etc. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. This could have been such a great book for me!
#NetGalley
#DeathByCafeMocha
Now I have very mixed feelings. On the one hand, I love the setting. Krissy, Vicki, and Rita are taking time away from the bookstore cafe Death by Coffee to attend JavaCon in Maryland. The author does a great job of setting the scene of a convention. This is my first of this series and a little more introduction of the main trio up-front would have helped. I'm not even sure if Rita works at the cafe. I guess Krissy has established anxiety issues but I didn't know and kept wondering why she was freaking out all the time over minor things.
One of the contestants in the tasting competition winds up murdered and Krissy is trying to figure out who did it. It's not clear why she is involved. She was in no way threatened or suspected so she comes off as a bit of a busybody. The mystery was too confusing for me. The characters were interconnected in complex ways. Most also had first or last names that started with C, M, T or K. Seriously!! It was terribly confusing.
The main character seems to react like a teenager around men to whom she is attracted. Her friend teases her like a teenager and she reacts to the teasing like a teenager. It didn't reflect how the 30-something women I know discuss men.
This is the seventh book in A Bookstore Cafe Mystery series. While it could have used more intro, eventually I did enjoy it as a stand-alone book. It took me only a few hours to devour it. I would like to read the others in the series but doubt I will because the characters, many who are linked in some way, have the same letter for their first names: Raymond and Regina, Tara and Thomas, Charles and Carmine and Clint, etc. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. This could have been such a great book for me!
#NetGalley
#DeathByCafeMocha
August 22, 2019
Series: A Bookstore Café Mystery – Book 7
Author: Alex Erickson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Bookstore/Coffee
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Page Count: 304
Publishing Date: August 27th, 2019
Death by Café Mocha is the seventh book in the “A Bookstore Café Mystery” cozy mystery series by author Alex Erickson, published by Kensington Books. The addition of this latest book will have fans of the series smiling at Krissy’s antics.
The female characters in this cozy mystery are a bit on the immature side, even though they are all thirty-years-old and up. However, they are also absorbing and entertaining to follow throughout the story. It's intriguing to see how far Krissy will go to solve the murder of someone she didn’t even know and has no business being involved with. Her inability to stay out of the investigation is comical at times and makes this book fun to read.
The murder itself is fascinating because it was done at a coffee convention with a lot of people milling about at all time. The resolution and the killer’s motive aren’t off the mark in the competitive world of coffee. This makes the story believable.
In this book, the characters are taken outside of their comfort zone. Even though they are uncomfortable at first and awed by the sheer amount of people, vendors, and coffee choices, they come to realize how big the industry is and the lengths people will go to in order to succeed in the business.
I enjoyed this new addition to Alex Erickson’s cozy mystery series. The writing is top-notch; the story keeps you guessing while turning the page. The characters are personable and eccentric. The plot moves quickly, the killer is revealed, justice is served. Death by Café Mocha gives readers a craving for more cozy mystery books, and definitely more coffee.
Author: Alex Erickson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Bookstore/Coffee
Publisher: Kensington Mystery
Page Count: 304
Publishing Date: August 27th, 2019
Death by Café Mocha is the seventh book in the “A Bookstore Café Mystery” cozy mystery series by author Alex Erickson, published by Kensington Books. The addition of this latest book will have fans of the series smiling at Krissy’s antics.
The female characters in this cozy mystery are a bit on the immature side, even though they are all thirty-years-old and up. However, they are also absorbing and entertaining to follow throughout the story. It's intriguing to see how far Krissy will go to solve the murder of someone she didn’t even know and has no business being involved with. Her inability to stay out of the investigation is comical at times and makes this book fun to read.
The murder itself is fascinating because it was done at a coffee convention with a lot of people milling about at all time. The resolution and the killer’s motive aren’t off the mark in the competitive world of coffee. This makes the story believable.
In this book, the characters are taken outside of their comfort zone. Even though they are uncomfortable at first and awed by the sheer amount of people, vendors, and coffee choices, they come to realize how big the industry is and the lengths people will go to in order to succeed in the business.
I enjoyed this new addition to Alex Erickson’s cozy mystery series. The writing is top-notch; the story keeps you guessing while turning the page. The characters are personable and eccentric. The plot moves quickly, the killer is revealed, justice is served. Death by Café Mocha gives readers a craving for more cozy mystery books, and definitely more coffee.
September 1, 2019
Death by Café Mocha is the seventh book in Alex Erickson’s Bookstore Café Mysteries series. The writing flows smoothly at a steady pace, the characters are well developed, and the mystery is interesting. There are plenty of suspects, red herrings, and twists and turns to make it difficult to figure out who the killer is.
Krissy Hancock and her best friend, Vicki Patterson, are the owners of a combination coffee shop and bookstore, Death by Coffee, in the quaint town of Pine Hills, Ohio. Krissy, Vicki, and Rita Jablonski travel to Maryland to attend a coffee convention, JavaCon, to learn more about coffee, taste some new coffee blends, and maybe enjoy a little R&R. When Charles Maddox, the winner of a flavor competition is murdered, Krissy doesn’t plan on getting involved in the investigation, but she loves a good mystery as much as she loves a good cup of coffee and can’t resist trying to figure out who the killer is.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Krissy Hancock and her best friend, Vicki Patterson, are the owners of a combination coffee shop and bookstore, Death by Coffee, in the quaint town of Pine Hills, Ohio. Krissy, Vicki, and Rita Jablonski travel to Maryland to attend a coffee convention, JavaCon, to learn more about coffee, taste some new coffee blends, and maybe enjoy a little R&R. When Charles Maddox, the winner of a flavor competition is murdered, Krissy doesn’t plan on getting involved in the investigation, but she loves a good mystery as much as she loves a good cup of coffee and can’t resist trying to figure out who the killer is.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
April 6, 2023
✦ 3.5
August 12, 2019
This is the seventh book in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery by Alex Erickson. I would personally call this the Death by Coffee series. I mean, Krissy’s father’s popular book and her cafe/bookstore are named that. Might as well give that the series name too. IMHO.
I am a little biased when it comes to this series, truthfully. It was one of the first I ever reviewed on NetGalley back in 2015. Death by Coffee was the first book I had reviewed by this author. And I loved it. I have been exposed to a plethora of series since then but this one is particularly close to my heart. So every time a new book comes out I get a little zing in my chest and a yay on my lips.
I had only initially picked book one up since I had recently read a book called MURDER BY MOCHA by Cleo Coyle. I am glad the universe was in alignment with me that day. I had stumbled across the Alex Erickson book by chance on NetGalley and requested it immediately after spying it.
Basic premise: Krissy Hancock isn’t in her local hometown of Pine Hills in this book, she, her store owner co-hort Vicki and Rita are attending JavaCon in order to take seminars, buy new coffee blends and learn as much as they can coffee related in the few days of the ‘Con. Then someone goes and gets themselves murdered after winning a coffee competition where they are whispers of cheating. Krissy goes into sleuth mode to solve the mystery. Is she a murder magnet or what?
There were ten coffee vendors vying for the coveted award and many of them become suspects including Thomas whom Krissy has a run in with and becomes sweet on. After the murder Thomas Cole is found with a coffee stain on his shirt plus he had been in the ballroom shortly before Charles was found dead. Charles was not the most favorite person at the JavaCon. In fact, he was probably the most hated of the bunch and I am surprised how many people were touched by his greed for winning the trophy.
There was another standout besides Thomas in this book. I wouldn’t mind seeing Detective Kimball show up in the next book to give Paul a run for his money for Krissy’s affections since Will is out of the picture right now. And if Thomas and Tara showed up in Pine Hills, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. Krissy needs all the friends she can get.
I love following Krissy around on her investigations. And that is why I am giving this high praise. Can’t wait for book eight.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
I am a little biased when it comes to this series, truthfully. It was one of the first I ever reviewed on NetGalley back in 2015. Death by Coffee was the first book I had reviewed by this author. And I loved it. I have been exposed to a plethora of series since then but this one is particularly close to my heart. So every time a new book comes out I get a little zing in my chest and a yay on my lips.
I had only initially picked book one up since I had recently read a book called MURDER BY MOCHA by Cleo Coyle. I am glad the universe was in alignment with me that day. I had stumbled across the Alex Erickson book by chance on NetGalley and requested it immediately after spying it.
Basic premise: Krissy Hancock isn’t in her local hometown of Pine Hills in this book, she, her store owner co-hort Vicki and Rita are attending JavaCon in order to take seminars, buy new coffee blends and learn as much as they can coffee related in the few days of the ‘Con. Then someone goes and gets themselves murdered after winning a coffee competition where they are whispers of cheating. Krissy goes into sleuth mode to solve the mystery. Is she a murder magnet or what?
There were ten coffee vendors vying for the coveted award and many of them become suspects including Thomas whom Krissy has a run in with and becomes sweet on. After the murder Thomas Cole is found with a coffee stain on his shirt plus he had been in the ballroom shortly before Charles was found dead. Charles was not the most favorite person at the JavaCon. In fact, he was probably the most hated of the bunch and I am surprised how many people were touched by his greed for winning the trophy.
There was another standout besides Thomas in this book. I wouldn’t mind seeing Detective Kimball show up in the next book to give Paul a run for his money for Krissy’s affections since Will is out of the picture right now. And if Thomas and Tara showed up in Pine Hills, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. Krissy needs all the friends she can get.
I love following Krissy around on her investigations. And that is why I am giving this high praise. Can’t wait for book eight.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
July 30, 2019
I had a hard time getting into this book, and I think it’s partially because I haven’t read any of the prior books. I felt like I was missing a lot of the back story about Krissy, Vicki, and Rita, about their relationships, and about Krissy’s interest in a detective back home. That being said, I don’t recommend reading this as a standalone.
Despite that, I enjoyed the concept of a murder at JavaCon. There’s plenty of people who would want Charles dead. Krissy, an owner of a bookstore café, has helped the police solve mysteries back in her hometown, so she can’t help but get herself involved, even when the detectives tell her to stay out of it. She’s determined and not afraid to put herself in harm’s way.
The mystery kept me guessing. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and I thought it was well-developed and well-written. Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy it, especially if they’ve read the previous books in the series first.
**Received an ARC through NetGalley to voluntarily review**
Despite that, I enjoyed the concept of a murder at JavaCon. There’s plenty of people who would want Charles dead. Krissy, an owner of a bookstore café, has helped the police solve mysteries back in her hometown, so she can’t help but get herself involved, even when the detectives tell her to stay out of it. She’s determined and not afraid to put herself in harm’s way.
The mystery kept me guessing. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and I thought it was well-developed and well-written. Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy it, especially if they’ve read the previous books in the series first.
**Received an ARC through NetGalley to voluntarily review**
January 21, 2025
3 stelle e mezza, quasi 4
Fatemi capire, la protagonista rimprovera una sua amica, dicendo giustamente che non possono indagare perché non sono nella loro cittadina e poi cosa fa? Indaga lei è spedisce la suddetta amica a tallonare uno dei sospetti! E finisce ovviamente ad accusare il colpevole da sola... Dopo 7 libri sarebbe ora che imparasse la lezione, no? Può continuare a fare la ficcanaso senza osare troppo, come fanno tante altre protagoniste di cozy mysteries, secondo me. L'unica cosa positiva è che non avevo proprio preso in considerazione il colpevole, forse distratta da un paio di altre persone che mi sembravano più promettenti.
Fatemi capire, la protagonista rimprovera una sua amica, dicendo giustamente che non possono indagare perché non sono nella loro cittadina e poi cosa fa? Indaga lei è spedisce la suddetta amica a tallonare uno dei sospetti! E finisce ovviamente ad accusare il colpevole da sola... Dopo 7 libri sarebbe ora che imparasse la lezione, no? Può continuare a fare la ficcanaso senza osare troppo, come fanno tante altre protagoniste di cozy mysteries, secondo me. L'unica cosa positiva è che non avevo proprio preso in considerazione il colpevole, forse distratta da un paio di altre persone che mi sembravano più promettenti.
September 17, 2024
Wow I really really love this cozy mystery series! This was a murder mystery set at a coffee convention with very likeable characters. I already can’t wait to read more from this series once I’m through more of my fall TBR!
July 17, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It's characters are interesting. I like how the main character didn't really start out to be investigating the murder but was the one to discover the killer from such a small clue. #DeathByCaféMocha #NetGalley
September 1, 2021
If you love cozy mysteries and coffee you’ll love this series. This one I accidentally read out of order but it still made sense.
August 12, 2019
2 star
Death by Cafe Mocha has an interesting start but swiftly goes downhill from there. This book cannot really be read independently of the series, as there is far too much back story that gets missed and not explained.
However, a cozy mystery is not by definition filled with talk of sex or sex life. Krissy's has been repeatedly mentioned in the first 3 chapters and then sprinkled throughout the book. I’m not a prude, but there is a reason I read cozy mysteries and that is I don’t care to read about someone’s sex life or lack of one.
One of the main characters Rita is utterly annoying. For an older woman, she really shouldn't be acting like a petulant child. Krissy decides because she has experience with murders that she should ask questions and find the killer. I’m so sick of books where the main character is better at figuring out the murder than the police. It is unrealistic, dangerous and ridiculous.
Book is just okay. It is overly repetitive and missing key information at the same time. I just don't believe I would read this author again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.
Death by Cafe Mocha has an interesting start but swiftly goes downhill from there. This book cannot really be read independently of the series, as there is far too much back story that gets missed and not explained.
However, a cozy mystery is not by definition filled with talk of sex or sex life. Krissy's has been repeatedly mentioned in the first 3 chapters and then sprinkled throughout the book. I’m not a prude, but there is a reason I read cozy mysteries and that is I don’t care to read about someone’s sex life or lack of one.
One of the main characters Rita is utterly annoying. For an older woman, she really shouldn't be acting like a petulant child. Krissy decides because she has experience with murders that she should ask questions and find the killer. I’m so sick of books where the main character is better at figuring out the murder than the police. It is unrealistic, dangerous and ridiculous.
Book is just okay. It is overly repetitive and missing key information at the same time. I just don't believe I would read this author again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.
August 7, 2020
This was the first book I read in this series, and I am not inclined to read any others. It just didn't keep my attention at all and I had to almost force myself to continue to pick it up to finish it. The idea that the main character could go to a convention and insert herself into a murder investigation and get complete strangers to talk to her - herself a complete stranger to them - and tell her intimate details is completely unrealistic. Just walking up to someone you didn't know and asking them about their relationship to the deceased? And them telling you things they wouldn't tell anyone else, not even the police? Unbelievable. And the fact that some of these people didn't talk to each other about her and her questions is also a little strange. Add to that the fact that she behaved like a teenager during the "romantic" scenes in the book, it was all just too much. Or maybe too little. Either way, I won't be picking up another book in the Bookstore Cafe series.
November 15, 2022
I had forgotten a lot of this and mixed a bunch of it up with another mystery set at a convention.
Convention based mysteries are a tough one. On the one hand, they offer a realistic change of location. The amateur sleuth is a professional in some field and many do have conventions. On the other hand, these plots often involve bringing along the wacky cast of characters who drive the plot — thus Rita's inclusion.
The convention Krissy et al attends is only vaguely described. It's really there mostly for setting. From the convention runner's reaction to the murder and other mishaps, it could also be diagetically a poorly run convention.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
Convention based mysteries are a tough one. On the one hand, they offer a realistic change of location. The amateur sleuth is a professional in some field and many do have conventions. On the other hand, these plots often involve bringing along the wacky cast of characters who drive the plot — thus Rita's inclusion.
The convention Krissy et al attends is only vaguely described. It's really there mostly for setting. From the convention runner's reaction to the murder and other mishaps, it could also be diagetically a poorly run convention.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2019
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
This is the seventh book in Alex Erickson’s Bookstore Café Mystery Series, but it was this first one I’d read. It probably should not be read independently of the others since there were many references to past events that I couldn’t get.
That said, I was even more disappointed in the three main characters: Krissy, Vicki, and Rita. They came across to me as immature, gossipy teenagers, not the adult business owners they were purported to be. The story just couldn’t have been over soon enough for me.
This is the seventh book in Alex Erickson’s Bookstore Café Mystery Series, but it was this first one I’d read. It probably should not be read independently of the others since there were many references to past events that I couldn’t get.
That said, I was even more disappointed in the three main characters: Krissy, Vicki, and Rita. They came across to me as immature, gossipy teenagers, not the adult business owners they were purported to be. The story just couldn’t have been over soon enough for me.
September 7, 2022
Wow yet ANOTHER stupid interfering, not charming not smart not humorous. just annoying character .
And she has tweedy dee and tweedy dumber as her sidekicks.
Ill.never understand how these writers and publishers think yet another identical series (just job title and location change ) is creative and talented.
At least if the story moved !!! its slower than a drunk slug .
PS was suprised to see a man write this as its usually female cliche writers says this female.
And she has tweedy dee and tweedy dumber as her sidekicks.
Ill.never understand how these writers and publishers think yet another identical series (just job title and location change ) is creative and talented.
At least if the story moved !!! its slower than a drunk slug .
PS was suprised to see a man write this as its usually female cliche writers says this female.
November 3, 2020
This is the latest book in this series. I enjoyed the book. There was plenty of action and suspense. I just hope Krissy doesn’t do what is suggested at the end of the book, when she gets home. I’ll buy book 8, but if she does, I won’t buy anymore.
October 11, 2019
Krissy Hancock and her pals are taking a coffee break leaving their bookstore-cafe in Pine Hills, Ohio, and heading to a convention. But this road trip will be more dangerous than they expected.
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of cafe mocha, suspicions swirl along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long.
I had a hard time getting into this book since it took place in an entirely new setting and a lot of the usual characters and places were missing. Once I got used to not reading about the town and residents of Pine Hills, I found the idea of Krissy and Vicki going to a coffee convention. I'm not sure why Rita had to be at the convention since she has nothing to do with coffee except for being a customer at Krissy and Vicki's bookstore cafe.
The mystery is well written and has several suspects who all have their own motive for the murder. There are enough red herrings and twists and turns to keep you guessing about who the killer is until Krissy has her aha moment and the killer is caught. I found that sometimes the main characters seemed to be acting a little immature since they were away from home and the responsibilities of their jobs.
I hope that if this series continues the next book will take place in Pine Hills and will have the characters that I have been reading about and getting to know in the previous 6 books.
I received and arc of this book from Netgalley and Kensington Books for my review.
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of cafe mocha, suspicions swirl along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long.
I had a hard time getting into this book since it took place in an entirely new setting and a lot of the usual characters and places were missing. Once I got used to not reading about the town and residents of Pine Hills, I found the idea of Krissy and Vicki going to a coffee convention. I'm not sure why Rita had to be at the convention since she has nothing to do with coffee except for being a customer at Krissy and Vicki's bookstore cafe.
The mystery is well written and has several suspects who all have their own motive for the murder. There are enough red herrings and twists and turns to keep you guessing about who the killer is until Krissy has her aha moment and the killer is caught. I found that sometimes the main characters seemed to be acting a little immature since they were away from home and the responsibilities of their jobs.
I hope that if this series continues the next book will take place in Pine Hills and will have the characters that I have been reading about and getting to know in the previous 6 books.
I received and arc of this book from Netgalley and Kensington Books for my review.
August 28, 2019
Death by Cafe Mocha by Alex Erickson is the 7th book in the Bookstore Cafe series. I have not read any of the previous Bookstore Café mysteries, but I was able to follow along. With that said I recommend reading in order as the previous books you have the small town feel and all the quirky side characters.
Krissy Hancock and her pals are taking a coffee break--leaving their bookstore-cafe in Pine Hills, Ohio, and heading to a convention. But this road trip will be more dangerous than they expected ...
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of cafe mocha, suspicions swirl--along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges--or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long .
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked the characters which are well developed. There are plenty of twists and turns in this story and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends, and plan on reading the previous books.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the Publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Krissy Hancock and her pals are taking a coffee break--leaving their bookstore-cafe in Pine Hills, Ohio, and heading to a convention. But this road trip will be more dangerous than they expected ...
Coffee lovers are gathering from far and wide at the hotel, and Krissy, Rita, and Vicki are excited. But some of the attendees may need to switch to decaf, as a public argument breaks out soon after they check in and then a flavor competition leads to bitter feelings.
When the winner of the contest is beaned with a carafe full of cafe mocha, suspicions swirl--along with accusations of bribery. Was the dead man offering perks to the judges--or was something sinister going on in his personal life? This case is going to keep Krissy up all night long .
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked the characters which are well developed. There are plenty of twists and turns in this story and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends, and plan on reading the previous books.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the Publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 26, 2019
Princess Fuzzypants here: Krissy and her friends are attending JavaCon and looking forward to tasting lots of new coffees, learning more about the business and having some fun. After meeting a handsome conventioneer, Krissy’s friends even suggest she have a little “fun” while she’s there. But fun is not on the agenda when a rather despicable man who just won a tasting contest is murdered by a carafe of Cafe Mocha. It turns out he is a thoroughly reprehensible human being so there is a long line of suspects with reasons to kill him. They run from his duplicitous tactics in business to his slimy track record in his personal life.
Krissy, try as she might at first, cannot help but be drawn into the investigation. She realizes she is not on her home turf any more and the local detectives may not cut her the slack that they do back in Pine Hills. She cannot resist the lure of questioning the various suspects and trying to cobble together the reason for the murder and the identity of the murderer. I have to give her credit that she is self aware enough to realize when she has put herself into compromising and dangerous positions. She still does it but at least she recognizes her reckless behavior.
I’ve enjoyed each of the books in this series and this is no exception. There is a ton of intrigue going on within the confines of the convention and the mystery of “whodunit” holds until the end with enough twists and guilty parties to keep the reader guessing.
Four purrs and two paws up.
Krissy, try as she might at first, cannot help but be drawn into the investigation. She realizes she is not on her home turf any more and the local detectives may not cut her the slack that they do back in Pine Hills. She cannot resist the lure of questioning the various suspects and trying to cobble together the reason for the murder and the identity of the murderer. I have to give her credit that she is self aware enough to realize when she has put herself into compromising and dangerous positions. She still does it but at least she recognizes her reckless behavior.
I’ve enjoyed each of the books in this series and this is no exception. There is a ton of intrigue going on within the confines of the convention and the mystery of “whodunit” holds until the end with enough twists and guilty parties to keep the reader guessing.
Four purrs and two paws up.
July 27, 2019
Krissy, Vicki and Rita head to Maryland to attend the inaugural Javacon to up their game at Death by Coffee. It should be a fun and rewarding time to taste coffees and focus on ways to build out the business. Maybe even a sprinkling of pleasure can be mixed in when a hottie barista asks Krissy out to dinner.
When the winner of the Javacon coffee contest is found murdered by one of the tools of his trade, Krissy just can’t help but getting herself involved in solving the man’s murder.
She soon fears the hottie who asked her to dinner may be a murderer, and soon realizes that she really doesn’t want to date anyone other than her local police detective back at home in Ohio.
Contrary to her original plans, Krissy doesn’t have a lot of time to attend sessions at Javacon as she speaks with board members and other attendees to follow the trail of clues. Krissy is working hard to finger the murdered before becoming the next victim.
Another great serving in this caffeinated series. The mysteries are solid and the characters well developed. If you haven’t read any of the previous books and don’t like having to connect a few dots, you may want to start from the beginning of the series. Though I do believe this is solid as a stand alone and you can make those connections as you read on.
When the winner of the Javacon coffee contest is found murdered by one of the tools of his trade, Krissy just can’t help but getting herself involved in solving the man’s murder.
She soon fears the hottie who asked her to dinner may be a murderer, and soon realizes that she really doesn’t want to date anyone other than her local police detective back at home in Ohio.
Contrary to her original plans, Krissy doesn’t have a lot of time to attend sessions at Javacon as she speaks with board members and other attendees to follow the trail of clues. Krissy is working hard to finger the murdered before becoming the next victim.
Another great serving in this caffeinated series. The mysteries are solid and the characters well developed. If you haven’t read any of the previous books and don’t like having to connect a few dots, you may want to start from the beginning of the series. Though I do believe this is solid as a stand alone and you can make those connections as you read on.
July 15, 2019
Death by Cafe Mocha by Alex Erickson 3 stars
This is Book 7 in the Bookstore Cafe Mysteries. The caveat I offer here is that I have not read the other 6. When reading a cozy mystery sometimes you can get into the series without reading the other books and sometimes you just know that you are missing a lot because you haven't read the other books. Unfortunately, in this is a case that I am missing a lot of the back story because I haven't read the previous six. I love the premise,, bookstore and cafe owner Krissy Hancock is taking a busman's holiday with her best friend and partner Vicki to JavaCon. Rita her other friend is along for the ride. At JavaCon there are tasting competitions, sampling and demos on all things coffee. Unfortunately,
Krissy sees a dead body after hearing a lady screaming and thus the "game is a foot". After telling herself that the police can handle it, she starts to question various suspects about the deceased.. Krissy can't seem to help herself and she does give her input to the local Detective. There were many red herrings and a lot of confusion. But Krissy did finally put the clues together and the ending was exciting. I like the book and I will try this author again.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
This is Book 7 in the Bookstore Cafe Mysteries. The caveat I offer here is that I have not read the other 6. When reading a cozy mystery sometimes you can get into the series without reading the other books and sometimes you just know that you are missing a lot because you haven't read the other books. Unfortunately, in this is a case that I am missing a lot of the back story because I haven't read the previous six. I love the premise,, bookstore and cafe owner Krissy Hancock is taking a busman's holiday with her best friend and partner Vicki to JavaCon. Rita her other friend is along for the ride. At JavaCon there are tasting competitions, sampling and demos on all things coffee. Unfortunately,
Krissy sees a dead body after hearing a lady screaming and thus the "game is a foot". After telling herself that the police can handle it, she starts to question various suspects about the deceased.. Krissy can't seem to help herself and she does give her input to the local Detective. There were many red herrings and a lot of confusion. But Krissy did finally put the clues together and the ending was exciting. I like the book and I will try this author again.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
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