Monday, October 30, 2017

Murder Over Mochas by Caroline Fardig - #review


A blast from the past gets Nashville PI and coffeehouse manager Juliet Langley in hot water in this explosive mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Death Before Decaf.


As a newly minted private eye, Juliet Langley has sworn to leave homicide to the authorities, limiting the scope of her investigations to cheating spouses and dirty business partners . . . like her ex-fiancé, Scott O’Malley. When Scott shows up unannounced at her coffeehouse, Java Jive, Juliet’s first instinct is to punch him in the nose. Her second is to turn down his desperate plea for help with a case that’s way too dangerous for her liking. But when Scott drops dead before her eyes, Juliet isn’t going to wait around for someone else to clear her name.

It’s only a matter of time before her tumultuous past with her ex-fiancé comes out, so Juliet teams up with her ex-boyfriend, police detective Ryder Hamilton, to figure out who poisoned Scott. They soon confirm that Scott was involved in an illegal scheme that’s definitely grounds for concern.

Just as romance is finally beginning to percolate for Juliet and her best friend, Pete Bennett, she has no choice but to head back to her hometown to seek out the truth. And she’ll need help from the locals to find the real killer—otherwise her happily ever after could easily end up including an actual ball and chain.

Caroline Fardig’s thrilling Java Jive mysteries can be read together or separately:
DEATH BEFORE DECAF | MUG SHOT | A WHOLE LATTE MURDER | BREW OR DIE | MURDER OVER MOCHAS



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MY REVIEW

The name Java Jive took me back to a place in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City of the same name.  The clientele were mostly gamers and smokers, although I did take my mother there once and she seemed to enjoy it.  (Maybe the customers were 'playing nice' for the old lady ... I don't know! *LOL*)

So, I know, ALL sorts of things can happen at a local non-chain coffee bar.  But, points to Juliet's Java Jive, because it definitely takes the venti caramel macchiato for variety of goings on.  Never had anyone drop dead in front of me in one.  And, I guess it would kind of raise some eyebrows as, if memory serves, the reception Juliet gave  her ex-fiancee Scott was colder than coffee that had been turned off and left to sit for...ew, a day or two!

Juliet certainly needs all the caffeine she can get.  She runs a coffee house.  She has a new PI license.  Her ex-fiancee just died.  Her ex-boyfriend is going to help her find out the who and why.  And she possibly is getting a new beau in the form of an old BFF.  I'd like to say, I don't know how she manages all that, but...HELLO, coffee!?!?!?!

In Murder over Mochas, author Caroline Fardig gives us one of those coffee drinks that is art as well as delicious, like the cup below:

picture found here

It is amazing to look at (love that cover art!) and even better to savor the flavor!

This is my first Java Jive read, but the fifth in the series.  (I think I actually snort-laughed when I read the title of the first book, "Death Before Decaf"!)  The story was easy to follow and made me want to go back and get the first four in the series and read those as well.

Which reminds me...it's time to go start my own morning brew...! ;)

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MEET THE AUTHOR



CAROLINE FARDIG is the USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the Java Jive Mysteries series and the Lizzie Hart Mysteries series. Fardig’s BAD MEDICINE was named one of the “Best Books of 2015” by Suspense Magazine. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.

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(Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the author and publishers via Great Escapes Virtual Book tours and NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.)

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