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Maggy Thorsen Mystery #1
Uncommon Grounds
Patricia Harper is dead, killed by a hot-wired espresso machine, in Uncommon Grounds, her very own gourmet coffee store! Maggy Thorsen wants to know who killed one of her partners. Maggy needs the store to succeed. Starting over after her divorce, she's quit her PR job to open the coffee store. And if things aren't already tough enough, she begins to suspect one of her friends is responsible for Patricia's murder. Maggy joins forces with Sarah Kingstown, Patricia's closest friend, to investigate her killing. Together, they uncover unsavory small-town politics, bribes, kickbacks, and rampant infidelity. Before she's through, Maggy's sense of right and wrong will be shaken to its foundations. For once in her life, she is forced to draw her own line in the sand, and be prepared to defend it. Sandra Balzo currently resides in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
245 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
76 people are currently reading
1654 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 - 30 of 186 reviews
February 13, 2017
There's something fun about coffee shop and tea house cozy mysteries. This first book in a new-to-me series didn't disappoint. It was cute, funny, intriguing enough to work - will check out more of the series when I get a chance.
Maggy Thorsen and two associates open a new coffee shop business, but the day of the opening is delayed with one of them is found dead next to the latte machine. The three aren't close friends, but they had set plans that are compromised by one of them being knocked off. Maggie must solve the crime not only to drum up business, but to clear our the suspicions of the pesky (but interesting) detective that keeps sniffing around.
Although I guessed the villain through logic of deduction, the mystery was still a good one, especially since it involved a side mystery of a machine. There's plenty of tension setting a steady risk at stake and pacing, but the book shines the strongest through characterization. That and the humor earned it a four star rating.
Maggy Thorsen and two associates open a new coffee shop business, but the day of the opening is delayed with one of them is found dead next to the latte machine. The three aren't close friends, but they had set plans that are compromised by one of them being knocked off. Maggie must solve the crime not only to drum up business, but to clear our the suspicions of the pesky (but interesting) detective that keeps sniffing around.
Although I guessed the villain through logic of deduction, the mystery was still a good one, especially since it involved a side mystery of a machine. There's plenty of tension setting a steady risk at stake and pacing, but the book shines the strongest through characterization. That and the humor earned it a four star rating.
March 1, 2018
Uncommon Grounds has been on my TBR list for quite awhile. I thought I would like it but I liked it even more than I thought I would. Maggy Thorsen is starting a new coffee shop business with two friends. On opening day, one of the partners is discovered dead on the floor by the expresso machine. Maggy becomes involved in solving the murder. Her livelihood depends on keeping the Uncommon Grounds open as she is starting over. She is in her forties and recently divorced. Her dentist husband took up with his 24 year old receptionist.
I thought when one character was introduced that that is the murderer. When the character was mentioned in the book, I would think to myself "Yes, that is the person." I was quite pleased with myself. Well, when the reveal came, I was wrong. I liked that the person was hidden from me and to me that made the mystery even better. I, also, like Maggy's personality. She can be humorous with her thoughts. I am looking forward to reading the next book. It was a fast, entertaining cozy mystery read.
I thought when one character was introduced that that is the murderer. When the character was mentioned in the book, I would think to myself "Yes, that is the person." I was quite pleased with myself. Well, when the reveal came, I was wrong. I liked that the person was hidden from me and to me that made the mystery even better. I, also, like Maggy's personality. She can be humorous with her thoughts. I am looking forward to reading the next book. It was a fast, entertaining cozy mystery read.
January 6, 2017
Actually loved this one, too. So far this year's been two for two!
September 13, 2016
Maggy Thorsen spells her name unusually. But that's not the only unusual thing about her. Although a bit bitter about her impending divorce, she doesn’t let that cloud her judgment — or her curiosity and sense of fair play — and sense of humor. How could you not love a woman who calls the choice between two witnesses shocked by a terrible death “[t]the lesser of two feebles”? Ya gotta love her!
Forty-two-year-old Maggy was living the suburban dream in the fictional small town of Brookhills, Wisconsin, just west of Milwaukee, when her dentist husband leaves her for his 24-year-old dental hygienist. Maggy, a public-relations and event management guru for Brookhill's First National Bank chucks the corporate life and persuades her longtime friend Caron Egan and one of Caron’s friends, Patricia Harper, to open a coffee shop in a strip mall, the eponymous Uncommon Grounds. On opening day, Maggy and Caron discover their partner dead on the floor of the coffee shop; the police immediately realize that Patricia’s death was no heart attack or accident, but murder.
Kindly Police Chief Gary Donovan, a longtime friend of Maggy’s, soon gets shoved aside by newly elected county Sheriff Pavlik, a newcomer from Chicago eager to make a name for himself. The brusque and surly Pavlik sees Maggy and Caron as natural suspects, and Maggy decides that, with the pair of them such easy targets, she had better start investigating the murder herself if she’s going to clear them — and discover the truth of what happened to Patricia and why. Luckily, Maggy has brains, useful skills from her corporate days, and plenty of pluck.
Like Maggy, author Sandra Balzo is herself a Wisconsin native who spent 20 years in public relations, events management and publicity. She’s has penned a breezy, funny cozy in the vein of Anne George or Carolyn Hart. The novel was so good that I bought the sequel, Grounds for Murder, as soon as I finished Uncommon Grounds. There’s no higher praise than that!
Forty-two-year-old Maggy was living the suburban dream in the fictional small town of Brookhills, Wisconsin, just west of Milwaukee, when her dentist husband leaves her for his 24-year-old dental hygienist. Maggy, a public-relations and event management guru for Brookhill's First National Bank chucks the corporate life and persuades her longtime friend Caron Egan and one of Caron’s friends, Patricia Harper, to open a coffee shop in a strip mall, the eponymous Uncommon Grounds. On opening day, Maggy and Caron discover their partner dead on the floor of the coffee shop; the police immediately realize that Patricia’s death was no heart attack or accident, but murder.
Kindly Police Chief Gary Donovan, a longtime friend of Maggy’s, soon gets shoved aside by newly elected county Sheriff Pavlik, a newcomer from Chicago eager to make a name for himself. The brusque and surly Pavlik sees Maggy and Caron as natural suspects, and Maggy decides that, with the pair of them such easy targets, she had better start investigating the murder herself if she’s going to clear them — and discover the truth of what happened to Patricia and why. Luckily, Maggy has brains, useful skills from her corporate days, and plenty of pluck.
Like Maggy, author Sandra Balzo is herself a Wisconsin native who spent 20 years in public relations, events management and publicity. She’s has penned a breezy, funny cozy in the vein of Anne George or Carolyn Hart. The novel was so good that I bought the sequel, Grounds for Murder, as soon as I finished Uncommon Grounds. There’s no higher praise than that!
September 1, 2009
#1 Maggy Thorsen mystery set in Brookhills, Wisconsin. Maggy and her business partners Caron and Patricia are set to open their new coffee shop, Uncommon Grounds, in a strip mall in suburban Brookhills. Maggy, late on her first day, opens the door only to find Patricia collapsed on the floor, a pitcher of milk spilled around her. At first it appears to be some sort of natural event but it's later determined that the espresso machine was interfered with and that Patricia was deliberately electrocuted. Although Patricia could be a bit intense and overbearing, Maggy can't think why anyone would want to kill her--until some previously unknown facts about her come to light, and Maggy realizes how little she really knew Patricia. Then the suspect list begins to burgeon, though the new sheriff in town, Jake Pavlick, seems to be happy with the easiest result. Gary Donovan, the town's chief of police and long time friend of Maggy, helps her mull over possibilities--she just doesn't believe that Patricia's husband David is capable of murder as everyone seems to think--but when he turns up dead of an apparent suicide, she begins to wonder. I had a vague inkling about the bad guy early on but wasn't sure til about two-thirds of the way through. I enjoyed the book quite a lot more than I expected, as I've had a pretty low opinion of most "themed" cozy series I've tried lately--to the point where I haven't bothered finishing most of them. But this has a little harder edge to it than your "typical" cozy mystery, and I liked Maggy a lot--she seemed to be a very "real" person with some depth of character--and not an annoying one!--and her supporting cast is also coming along nicely. I found a few bloopers (wrong form of a word used, wrong character name, etc) which threw me off guard a bit, and Maggy did admittedly suffer from that old 'amateur sleuth' curse where she does dumb things like withholding evidence and investigating dangerous things on her own....but that almost seems de rigeur these days. I'm glad to have found a cozy series that I'm actually looking forward to carrying on with.
February 6, 2015
I got this free on Kindle. I really liked this book, about a group of friends who open a coffee shop and on the morning of the grand opening, one of the partners is found dead at her post. What follows is a pretty good whodunit that kept me guessing almost to the end. The story is filled with good character development (although the plethora of names kept me confused most of the time, I chalk that up to my own mental deficiencies!), the humor was not forced and at times chuckle-worthy.
I would have given this book five stars except for a few points that put me off:
1. Numerous errors in the typing/formatting/punctuating area. Could have used a good proofreader. Or even an adequate one. VERY distracting to a grammar nazi like me.
2. Moderate profanity by one of the main characters. No "F-bombs," but words that I still don't care to read on a regular basis.
3. Moderate sexual references of the PG-13 variety. I'm not opposed to sexuality, per se, I'm just noting that it's there, in case anyone is interested.
All in all, it was a good book, and I recommend it with the above notations.
I would have given this book five stars except for a few points that put me off:
1. Numerous errors in the typing/formatting/punctuating area. Could have used a good proofreader. Or even an adequate one. VERY distracting to a grammar nazi like me.
2. Moderate profanity by one of the main characters. No "F-bombs," but words that I still don't care to read on a regular basis.
3. Moderate sexual references of the PG-13 variety. I'm not opposed to sexuality, per se, I'm just noting that it's there, in case anyone is interested.
All in all, it was a good book, and I recommend it with the above notations.
July 11, 2012
In the interest of full disclosure I confess that I was predisposed to like this book. I recently had the good fortune to have Ms. Balzo as a seat mate on a flight from Atlanta to Harrisburg, and after our interesting conversation I made up my mind to try this series.
That being said, it has been a very long time (read as: years) since I enjoyed a series of this nature. I don't know if my taste has changed or if I have made poor sampling choices. So while I really wanted to like the book, I wasn't entirely sure that I would.
I did. I'd even go so far as to give it a 3.5
I liked the characters and I liked the treatment of the plot. This was definitely a fun read and I'm looking forward to getting the second title from the library (I was quite pleased that my library system has it!).
That being said, it has been a very long time (read as: years) since I enjoyed a series of this nature. I don't know if my taste has changed or if I have made poor sampling choices. So while I really wanted to like the book, I wasn't entirely sure that I would.
I did. I'd even go so far as to give it a 3.5
I liked the characters and I liked the treatment of the plot. This was definitely a fun read and I'm looking forward to getting the second title from the library (I was quite pleased that my library system has it!).
January 9, 2015
★★★☆☆Interesting and humorous. Would've given 4* but for foul language throughout, which detracted from main characters', otherwise, comely traits. (no F-bombs) and Christians are, again, the bad guys. TTS-enabled eBook ©2004
June 18, 2016
Wow, that was . . . terrible. It was going along in a kind of standard cozy mystery way, until about 3/4 of the way through, when it took an extremely unexpected turn and got really weird. Not quite "aliens did it" weird, but still. Actually, aliens would've been better.
August 16, 2012
The murder of one partner in Maggy's new coffe house on opening day almost makes it closing day. Good cozy with small town politics, Peyton Place values and a brooding sheriff. 3.5 stars
September 24, 2023
Quite an uncommon direction to take a cozy to, from 0 (unofficial murder investigation) to 100 ().
January 18, 2023
It's a nasty way to open a new business. Maggy Thorsen and two other women join forces to open the Uncommon Grounds coffee shop in a small Midwest town. But on opening day, one of the partners dies. Maggy finds her friend's body when she comes to the shop to lend a hand on opening day. It looks like her friend is the victim of electrocution from a coffee maker.
Before the book ends, Maggy will uncover affairs, disloyalties and more bodies.
Before the book ends, Maggy will uncover affairs, disloyalties and more bodies.
October 27, 2021
I’m always looking for books set in Wisconsin and was excited to find a review in PW of the newest book in this series. I always start at the beginning though, so I looked to Libby for help. And YAY, there it was! Loved the setting and the totally deadpan snark. It definitely read as aged though with any mention of technology but it was whimsical to me. I look forward to to finding the next book!
January 3, 2022
Riding the froo-froo coffee wave, Balzo has a snarky, clever amateur detective in Maggy Thorsen (though I experience an uncomfortable frisson every time I read Maggy when I want to see Maggie). Thorsen runs on caffeine in this twisty, small town drama that is not a cozy. A good read with more to follow.
This edition is a mmpb, hard to hold and hard to read. I'd forgotten.
This edition is a mmpb, hard to hold and hard to read. I'd forgotten.
February 12, 2022
Maggy Thorsen is part owner of a brand new cafe, but the electrocuted body of her business partner is found on the very day the cafe is set to open for business. Maggy takes it upon herself to solve the crime. (No spoiler here; this happens on page 1.)
I found this story unremarkable. Having identified a big red flag before page ten, which helped me identify the killer roughly a third of the way through, I skimmed to the end where Maggy caught up with me. I don’t like to solve these mysteries before the big reveal, but in this case I was right.
Regardless, Sandra Balzo creates some entertaining characters and her depiction of cafe operations is accurate. I can confirm this as a former bookseller who sometimes worked as a barista in our store’s cafe. Three stars.
I found this story unremarkable. Having identified a big red flag before page ten, which helped me identify the killer roughly a third of the way through, I skimmed to the end where Maggy caught up with me. I don’t like to solve these mysteries before the big reveal, but in this case I was right.
Regardless, Sandra Balzo creates some entertaining characters and her depiction of cafe operations is accurate. I can confirm this as a former bookseller who sometimes worked as a barista in our store’s cafe. Three stars.
March 10, 2024
An oldie but first in a series from a local writer. It was a fun and at times funny who done it. Enjoyed hearing some local references along the way.
Read
August 21, 2024Better than the average "cozy" amateur detective mystery book. Witty and entertaining.
October 30, 2020
2.5** (rounded up)
Maggy Thorsen has left her career as a PR executive, and, following a traumatic divorce, has decided to open a gourmet coffee shop in her suburban Wisconsin village, along with two of her best friends. But on opening day, Patricia Harper, is found dead – electrocuted by a hot-wired espresso machine. Maggy is a suspect, as she seems to have been the last person in the shop with an opportunity to sabotage the machine. So, she’s determined to find out who killed her friend and partner.
This has all the tropes of a successful cozy mystery series: an amateur detective with a food-related business, dueling law enforcement agencies (police chief vs sheriff), a cadre of good friends who will help Maggy investigate, a charming village setting, and enough suspects to keep even a dedicated mystery reader guessing. Unfortunately, I found the lead character a total ditz. This woman is just too stupid to live. She runs around like a chicken with her head cut off. And goes into dangerous situations without much thought to possible consequences, requiring that she be rescued (one of my pet peeves).
Well, it was a fast read, and it IS set in my home state, so I may read another in the series. But I’m in no hurry to do so.
Maggy Thorsen has left her career as a PR executive, and, following a traumatic divorce, has decided to open a gourmet coffee shop in her suburban Wisconsin village, along with two of her best friends. But on opening day, Patricia Harper, is found dead – electrocuted by a hot-wired espresso machine. Maggy is a suspect, as she seems to have been the last person in the shop with an opportunity to sabotage the machine. So, she’s determined to find out who killed her friend and partner.
This has all the tropes of a successful cozy mystery series: an amateur detective with a food-related business, dueling law enforcement agencies (police chief vs sheriff), a cadre of good friends who will help Maggy investigate, a charming village setting, and enough suspects to keep even a dedicated mystery reader guessing. Unfortunately, I found the lead character a total ditz. This woman is just too stupid to live. She runs around like a chicken with her head cut off. And goes into dangerous situations without much thought to possible consequences, requiring that she be rescued (one of my pet peeves).
Well, it was a fast read, and it IS set in my home state, so I may read another in the series. But I’m in no hurry to do so.
January 14, 2025
Here’s my review of Uncommon Grounds (no spoilers): This has quickly become one of my favorites in the series. I was certain I had figured out who the killer(s) were, only to be completely blindsided and left dumbfounded. This book took murder mysteries to a whole new level for me—truly out of the park!
I’ve read several books from this series so far and I’m determined to own and finish the entire collection to date. Sandra’s writing is a perfect blend of gripping suspense and witty humor, making each book an absolute delight. This cozy mystery series always leaves me craving a fresh cup of coffee as I get lost in the pages. The endings never fail to throw me for a loop, and that’s coming from someone who meticulously tracks every suspect's motives and probabilities as the story unfolds. I’ve never come across an author whose work I adore quite like this. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend giving this series a try—you won’t regret it!
I’ve read several books from this series so far and I’m determined to own and finish the entire collection to date. Sandra’s writing is a perfect blend of gripping suspense and witty humor, making each book an absolute delight. This cozy mystery series always leaves me craving a fresh cup of coffee as I get lost in the pages. The endings never fail to throw me for a loop, and that’s coming from someone who meticulously tracks every suspect's motives and probabilities as the story unfolds. I’ve never come across an author whose work I adore quite like this. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend giving this series a try—you won’t regret it!
April 28, 2012
I must say, I read a lot of mysteries and usually have an inkling of who-dun-it or my suspicions al least. With Uncommon Grounds, I had no idea until the last chapter who had killed Patricia Harper on opening day of her coffeeshop. And to an avid reader, that makes this book a winner.
I was thoroughly engrossed in the story of Maggie Thorsten, co-owner of Uncommon Grounds and suspect in the murder, and the town of Brookhills. It is easy to see why this first book in the series was nominated for an Anthony and Macavity Award.
Balzo is at the top of the mystery genre with this book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Victoria Allman
author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
I was thoroughly engrossed in the story of Maggie Thorsten, co-owner of Uncommon Grounds and suspect in the murder, and the town of Brookhills. It is easy to see why this first book in the series was nominated for an Anthony and Macavity Award.
Balzo is at the top of the mystery genre with this book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Victoria Allman
author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
September 1, 2013
This is the first book in the Maggy Thorsen Series. The main character is Maggy Thorsen who is in the process of getting a divorce. She and her two partners are opening a gourmet coffee store. On opening day one of the partners is murdered. Of course another murder follows and Maggy is right in the middle of everything. Premise is classic cozy but the supporting cast is a bit unusual.
January 2, 2015
First Balzo book I have read, well listened to and it was what I would call a cozy mystery. Not bad for a mystery, keep me interested the entire book and I loved the twist to the plot. Took me a minute to figure it out and when I did I was shocked. Anyway, don't want to give anything away but this is a really quick easy read if you are looking for that.
September 10, 2020
I don't like when the MC of a cozy is portrayed as so incompetent that she constantly needs rescuing from various situations. I don't need Maggy to be supercop, but could she maybe just be able to find her own keys without help? Or duck when someone shoots at her?
May 1, 2024
Predictable plot with to much emphasis on political ideals.
I think I would have enjoyed this book if at least the MC wasn't so dens most of the time.
Like every book of this genre the romance was not surprising but felt forced. No chemistry at all.
I will not continue with the series.
I think I would have enjoyed this book if at least the MC wasn't so dens most of the time.
Like every book of this genre the romance was not surprising but felt forced. No chemistry at all.
I will not continue with the series.
September 28, 2019
.
Each book contains a cozy mystery, entertainment, and a sensible woman sleuth.
I find that I enjoy this series alot. I also appreciate that each book can stand on its own and they deliver an HEA.
Each book contains a cozy mystery, entertainment, and a sensible woman sleuth.
I find that I enjoy this series alot. I also appreciate that each book can stand on its own and they deliver an HEA.
August 6, 2016
What a delight of twists, turns and caffeine. Lots pf caffeine. Maggy's new business has brought many changes into her life. I am looking forward to the rest of this series.
June 17, 2024
I am glad I found this series. Coffee and mystery? I'm there! This is a re-read on my Kindle, but apparently I didn't write a review when I read it in 2010. That's not like me, but I will remedy now. This is a fun series for all that I've only read a few of the books.
The premise is familiar to most cozy/amateur sleuth mysteries: main character is suddenly solo with a philandering spouse, starts a new life in a small town, suspicious death, becomes involved in the investigation, meets new people, learns new things about people she already knows...
It all works and my 'rule' of the main character becoming involved in the investigation happening as naturally as can be expected gets a nice big checkmark.
I like Maggy, she'd be an interesting person to be friends with. She's resilient, she knows taking on a new path in her life at her age can be precarious but she does so full steam ahead. She does her research on all aspects of owning a coffee shop and off she goes.
I liked this book so much, I did what I rarely do, I did a re-read. 2010 was long enough ago that I knew I enjoyed the book but had forgotten salient points like whodunit...
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
The premise is familiar to most cozy/amateur sleuth mysteries: main character is suddenly solo with a philandering spouse, starts a new life in a small town, suspicious death, becomes involved in the investigation, meets new people, learns new things about people she already knows...
It all works and my 'rule' of the main character becoming involved in the investigation happening as naturally as can be expected gets a nice big checkmark.
I like Maggy, she'd be an interesting person to be friends with. She's resilient, she knows taking on a new path in her life at her age can be precarious but she does so full steam ahead. She does her research on all aspects of owning a coffee shop and off she goes.
I liked this book so much, I did what I rarely do, I did a re-read. 2010 was long enough ago that I knew I enjoyed the book but had forgotten salient points like whodunit...
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
August 25, 2020
Best murder mystery of the year, and I should know!
Though I’m not a murder mystery reading regular, I plowed through a fair share of them this year as I researched how to write my own murder mystery. I was beginning to think they are either a less interesting version of life in a town called Mayberry or laden with too many wandering plot lines to hold my interest.
Sandra Balzo’s Uncommon Grounds broke the mould and put the mojo back in my murder mystery intrigue! The murder happens right away and the action never wanes. The main character is likeable. There’s a bit of a love story that keeps my rom com side happy. And although many murder mystery plots include a last minute save (where someone about to be murdered gets rescued as the powers-that-be clue in just in the nick of time to who the murderer is), this one had two last minute saves!
(By the way, my Kindle version of the cover was way better than this one. Sandra, if you read this, please change the cover back to the photographic one with an espresso and chocolate chip muffin!)
November 15, 2021
On the morning of the grand opening of Uncommon Grounds, the towns newest and first gourmet coffee shop, Maggy walks in to help with getting the shop open to find one of the co-owners, Patricia, on the floor behind the counter dead. Maggy finds herself embroiled in trying to figure out who killed her friend and business partner while struggling to actually open the business so she doesn't lose everything.
+++
for a routine cozy murder mystery, this was OK. I do admit that I didn't see the twist, but I wasn't actively looking for it. The book and story wasn't bad. It certainly had lots of funny lines. But like with pretty much any other cozy mystery I've ready, I found the "heroine"annoying because she doesn't listen to people who actually know things, puts herself in danger and honestly at times was just making me "why the hell are you not thinking before you do something" a LOT.
Cannot say I will be actively looking to continue this series, but should the next book cross my path, I won't run the other way.
+++
for a routine cozy murder mystery, this was OK. I do admit that I didn't see the twist, but I wasn't actively looking for it. The book and story wasn't bad. It certainly had lots of funny lines. But like with pretty much any other cozy mystery I've ready, I found the "heroine"annoying because she doesn't listen to people who actually know things, puts herself in danger and honestly at times was just making me "why the hell are you not thinking before you do something" a LOT.
Cannot say I will be actively looking to continue this series, but should the next book cross my path, I won't run the other way.
May 2, 2022
Maggy Thorsen's husband divorced her so that he could marry his young dental technician. Her son Eric is away at college. So Maggy and her dog move to a small house, and along with two of her friends, they decide to open a coffee shop - Uncommon Grounds.
Right before their first day of operation, Maggy and Caron arrive bright and early to find the third of the partner group, Patricia, already there ... but dead. There's no indication of a break-in, and it's so early that no one else is around to ask if they'd seen anything. The police determine that Patricia's death was caused by electrocution and someone clearly interfered with the machine. Maggy and Caron are of course, the prime suspects, along with Patricia's husband, though Maggy feels that the local sheriff is just trying to take the easy way out.
This was a good read. Lots of red herrings, and then at the end crazy weirdness involving secret meetings, local militias, and one of Maggy's friends proving to be someone completely different than she thought.
Right before their first day of operation, Maggy and Caron arrive bright and early to find the third of the partner group, Patricia, already there ... but dead. There's no indication of a break-in, and it's so early that no one else is around to ask if they'd seen anything. The police determine that Patricia's death was caused by electrocution and someone clearly interfered with the machine. Maggy and Caron are of course, the prime suspects, along with Patricia's husband, though Maggy feels that the local sheriff is just trying to take the easy way out.
This was a good read. Lots of red herrings, and then at the end crazy weirdness involving secret meetings, local militias, and one of Maggy's friends proving to be someone completely different than she thought.
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