Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.
Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle
A Coffeehouse Mystery with Clare Cosi
Berkley Prime Crime (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-425-22177-6 (0425221776)
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-22177-8 (9780425221778)
Publication Date: September 2008
List Price: $22.95
Review: New York coffeehouse owner Clare Cosi investigates a case of apparent mistaken identity, and a fatal one at that, in Espresso Shot, the seventh mystery in this series by Cleo Coyle.
Clare's ex-husband Matteo is getting married. The bride-to-be is beautiful, wealthy, opinionated, and, it probably goes without saying, feared by many and hated by even more. She is Breanne Summour, a senior editor for the powerful and influential Trend magazine. At a bachelor party for Matteo, a look-alike for Breanne shows up to spice things up, as it were, but is shot and killed by an unknown assailant after leaving the party. The police think the shooting may be random violence, but Clare and Matteo believe otherwise. Someone had tried to run Breanne down just a few days earlier and Matteo is convinced, and ultimately convinces Clare, that the two events are related. When someone in Breanne's office is poisoned, it seems certain that Breanne was the target all along. Breanne has a long list of enemies, but the questions facing Clare are, why here and why now?
Espresso Shot bucks a recent trend in theme-driven chick-lit-style cozies by actually developing an interesting murder mystery plot to accompany the inevitable, and usually irrelevant, banter about designer clothes and shoes, dishing of boyfriends and co-workers, and the like. True, Breanne's character opens the door to the potential of name dropping everything in sight, and subtle differences between boutique plantation coffee roasts hardly seem weighty enough material to carry any story, but both are cleverly woven into the extravagant wedding being planned that's at the heart of this story and are not only appropriate and relevant but play a significant role in solving the murders. The interesting plot twist towards the end is also a refreshing and pleasant surprise. Though about 50 pages too long, Espresso Shot is nonetheless a delightful and entertaining mystery. Coffee tips, coffee talk, and recipes follow at the end.
Special thanks to Penguin Group for providing a copy of Espresso Shot for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
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Synopsis (from the publisher): Manager and head barista of the bustling New York coffeehouse The Village Blend, Clare Cosi's been hired to create a gourmet coffee and dessert bar for a swanky wedding. Clare should be thrilled at this chance to shine, but it's Matteo Allegro, her ex-husband and current business partner, who's tying the knot-to Trend magazine editor Breanne Summour, who's in full-blown bridezilla mode. Claire's got to put her misgivings aside and focus on business, but since she's a successful amateur sleuth, murder is Clare's business, too. And when fatal accidents begin befalling people close to Breanne, Clare becomes suspicious. But what she unveils, amid melted chocolate and steaming mochaccinos, may just get her burned ...
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