Once Upon A Grind by Cleo Coyle is the 14th book in the “Coffeehouse” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, December 2014
When coffeehouse manager turned amateur sleuth Clare Cosi roasts “magic” beans for a Fairy Tale Fall event, she brews up a vision that leads to a sleeping beauty in Central Park; a big, bad wolf of Wall Street; and an East Side enclave with storybook secrets…
Fairy tale fever has descended on New York City. Broadway fans are flocking to Red Riding Hood: The Musical; museums are exhibiting art inspired by the Brothers Grimm; and Clare Cosi and her merry band of baristas give their coffee truck a “Jack and the Beanstalk” makeover for a Central Park festival. Clare’s coffee hunter ex-husband contributes a bag of African beans with alleged magical properties. His octogenarian mother entertains customers with readings of the grinds, but Clare remains skeptical–until she receives a vision that helps her find a young model’s body in the park’s woods.
The police dismiss “sleeping beauty” as the victim of a drug overdose. Then Clare uncovers evidence that points to a list of suspects–from a New York Giant to quite a few wicked witches–and a cold case murder that reaches back to the Cold War. Now Clare is really in the woods with a dangerous predator on her heels and an investigation that leads from a secret Prince Charming Club right back to her own NYPD detective boyfriend. If she doesn’t solve this mystery, those magic beans predict an unhappy ending.
What can I say? The team of Cleo Coyle has done it again by delivering a fast-paced drama that was hard to put down as I had to know what happens next. This riveting page-turner is filled with tales of intrigue, suspense, a touch of espionage and a mystery that left me salivating for answers as the story moved toward a conclusion percolating with exciting new possibilities. The solid plot device used was brilliantly executed that put me right in the middle of all the non-stop action contained within the pages of this intoxicating narrative with key appearances by the Madame, the Quinn children and some of Clare’s fellow baristas. Clare makes amateur sleuthing easy in this entertaining read that engages you from beginning to end. I can’t wait to see where the story takes us in the next book in this tantalizingly appealing series. Bonus recipes are included.
sounds like a great read! Recipes are a definite bonus! Would love to win this one! Thanks!
Sounds like a great mystery.
O my! Can hardly wait!
I have read this entire series and can’t wait for this one to arrive.
This sounds great! Thank you!
This is a great series! Can’t wait to get my hot little hands on the newest one!
I love the stories, the recipes, and information on coffee. This is the only series I purchase in hard back. Just love and pre ordered in May.
I love this type of story!
It’s a new series to me but sounds intriguing! I can already smell the coffee!
Just got a copy of the 13th in this series. Won it in a rafflecopter giveaway. sounded good, this one sounds yummy as well.
Dru Ann – Marc and I are thrilled with your reaction to our new entry in the Coffeehouse series. ONCE UPON A GRIND is a bit different from the other books in the series, and we meant it to be. We were excited to take readers to places they’ve never been before–and by the end, of course, there is a big surprise for the readers and Clare.
We’re already hard at work on next year’s book (#15, OMG 15) and we’ll tell you more about it soon. In the meantime, thank you again for taking the time and trouble to review ONCE UPON A GRIND. May reading always bring you joy and may your holidays be bright!
~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
http://www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
Thank you Cleo. I’m looking forward to book #15.
This has been one of my very-very favorite cozy series since I began reading cozies (as you know Cleo and Marc). . I just adore the story, the location/locations where the stories are presented, the travel information and definitely all of the great coffee information and the recipes since book #1. . I voted Mateo as one of the people I would love to have a private dinner with when an author or two author took a poll in the past, and I am truly looking forward to getting Once Upon a Grind really soon. Have tried to win a copy on various sites, but no luck yet, but I will remain hopeful and also keep on trying. 🙂
Wishing everyone of you great sales and much relief that your books have been released, and then back to the grindstone, right??
Sincerely,
Cynthia Blain