Billionaire Blend by Cleo Coyle is the 13th book in the “Coffeehouse” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley, December 2013, Berkley
Landmark coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi has served her share of New York’s rich and famous, but even she is surprised by her explosive introduction to a mysterious Internet billionaire….
When a car bomb nearly kills the tech whiz Eric Thorner, Clare comes to his aid and receives a priceless thank-you. Not only does the billionaire buy her a barista’s dream espresso machine, he hires her for an extraordinary project: creating the world’s most expensive coffee blend.
The police quickly arrest Eric’s alleged attacker, yet death continues to surround the unlucky mogul, leading Clare to question whether a fatal fall and another lethal mishap are premeditated murders or merely freak accidents. Clare’s boyfriend, NYPD detective Mike Quinn, has a theory of his own—one Clare refuses to believe.
Meanwhile, Eric jets Clare around the world on a head-spinning search for the very best coffee, and Clare gets to know his world—a mesmerizing circle of money with rivalries that could easily have turned deadly. But is this charming young CEO truly marked for termination? Or is he the one making a killing?
Every time I pick up a book written by Cleo Coyle, I know she is going to take me on a fun-filled adventurous ride where I don’t want it to stop. This was a great read from the first sentence to a finale that had my heart palpitating as I had to know the outcome of how it will all end. Murder seems to find Clare and when it comes too close to her business, she gets pulled into a billionaire’s grasp and discovers the trickery a person will use to their advantage, including herself.
This is a fast-paced read that you don’t want to put down as the pull of the action keeps you on your toes from one scene to the next. Cleo did a great job in keeping me in suspense with plenty of suspects and several twists and turns that were full of surprises. With a superb cast of characters, engaging conversations and a friendly and warm atmosphere, this has become one of my favorite books.
One of the best part in this wonderfully brewed and delightfully fantastic series is that I love seeing New York and her surroundings through Clare’s eyes.
This series seems to have it’s ups and downs for me. I think this one sounds like an up. I will try it.
Hi, Gram – I hope you do. We’re getting wonderful feedback from new readers, longtime readers, and reviewers on this entry. It has many twists and turns and takes our amateur sleuth, coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi, to places she’s never been before. Marc and I work hard on every book, and we can only hope our stories will bring joy to you and all our readers. Happy New Year, Gram, and happy reading!
~ Cleo Coyle,
http://www.CoffeehouseMystery.com
Agree with previous commenter, series is somewhat uneven as to quality of books. Will try this one… But through the library.
Hey, there, Linda R., how are you? I remember your happy comment about our series (on a previous post) and a sister who worked in a coffee shop. You said our Coffeehouse Mystery series helped to give you common grounds (heh-heh). Anyway, that happy comment made me smile–and making someone smile is certainly a blessing.
Marc and I hope you do read this latest entry in our series. It earned a starred review from Kirkus and a Top Pick from RT. Of course, that doesn’t mean all readers will enjoy it, but we hope you do, and by all means, use the library. We love librarians; and the patrons who have supported our series helped to keep us on the Baker & Taylor bestseller list for nearly a solid month. It’s a fantastic launch for our newest entry, and we feel very lucky indeed.
Thanks for your past support of our series and whatever you choose to read, we hope it will bring you joy. Happy New Year!
~ Cleo Coyle,
http://www.CoffeehouseMystery.com
I am fortunate in that I have already gotten this book and read as many pages as I can each day with so much that has been going on with Christmas and company for two weeks and another week or more to go with much the same “busyness.” But, I am loving each and every page that I am reading and wish I could zip through the book, but instead, this is working out well, as I am more or less “savoring” each page, and with the hectic pace this month, I am rereading pages which is sometimes good as you catch a little something that you didn’t “get” the first time it was read. I have truly loved each book in this series and know that I will never be disappointed in any of Cleo’s books. I hate to have a book end so by “savoring” this one I actually have mixed emotions as I want to find out who did what but yet don’t want the book to end either. Isn’t that the way with great books?? Our neighborhood book club is reading Billionaire Blend as our January selection so I must get this wonderful book finished soon as the 21st of January will be here before I know it. The other ladies with whom I have spoken are enjoying this book immensely as well.
Thank you to the authors for keeping this series one that I long to keep reading. Between great stories, wonderful and relatable characters, fantastic recipes and more, this series lures me to each new publication.
Keep up the great work Cleo and Marc. Happy New Year to you and to you too, Dru..
Cynthia
Cynthia – Thank you so very much for the kind comment. Marc and I are happy to hear the members of your book club are enjoying Billionaire Blend. There are many twists and turns and adventures galore, from a trip to the NYPD bomb squad to dinner at a billionaires’ club and a round-the-world hunt for the very best coffee beans–and at the heart of it all an intriguing murder mystery. Enjoy the ride and…
Happy New Year!
~ Cleo Coyle
http://www.CoffeehouseMystery.com
I was fortunate to get a early copy of this book. Cleo is such a good writer. Her plots have many twists and turns and you never know who the bad guy is until the end of the book. Keps you on edge until the end.
Thanks, Dottie, and Happy New Year to you!
Cleo Coyle
http://www.CoffeehouseMystery.com
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