Grounds For Murder by Tara Lush is the first book in the NEW “Coffee Lover’s” cozy mystery series, coming December 8, 2020.

Barista Lana Lewis’s sleuthing may land her in a latte trouble as Tara Lush launches her new Coffee Shop mysteries.

When Lana Lewis’ best — and most difficult — employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café’s chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil’s Beach, Lana’s normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he’s found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana’s café, she becomes the prime suspect.

Even the island’s handsome police chief isn’t quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn’t the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach.

With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana’s prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer. After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship — or will she come to a bitter end?

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Dru’s Musing:
Well-written, fast-paced drama with a comfortable tone quickly became a page-turner as I had to know how this was going to end. We are introduced to an eclectic cast of characters that includes a former journalist and now owner of a local café, her hipster dad, the new barista, the local police chief, the customers, and of course Stanley who all had pivotal roles in the telling of this light-hearted and quirky whodunit. The author did a great job in setting this up with a perfect backdrop of an island location adrift with people who would ultimately become suspects in a murder investigation despite the local police deeming it something else. Lana was determined to prove her theory and it was that focus that kept me intrigued and immersed in all aspects as she looked for clues about the victim that would evidently lead to a motive and once the list of suspects were alibied, it left one person standing, holding the proverbial weapon. This was a fun read and I enjoyed getting to know Lana, Erica, Noah, and Stanley. I look forward to more exciting adventures in this delightfully engaging debut series.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.