Holiday Grind

The more I read the next Coffee House Mystery by Cleo Coyle the more unpredictable they become in the whodunit category. Holiday Grind kept me going from the minute Clare was on her way back to The Blend to try out some Holiday offerings with a mlange of flavors..obviously, Fa La La La Latte was a big hit. But like so many things in life(real or imagined) fate threw a fly /or a Santa in the ointment/snow kerplunk. And it was someone she knew…Ahh the best laid plans. Anyway, enter some new characters (a la Abbott & Costello perhaps) and Matteo and hot cop Mike Quinn. Now as we may well by now, can Clare ever pass up an opportunity when told DO NOT GET INVOLVED, to find ways to do the very opposite? Clever girl. This book is so much fun, and there are so many extensions to the characters and plot. I won’t deter you, the reader from going on your own exploration. Have fun enjoying NYC/Greenwich Village/ et al during the Holiday season. I drink a FLLLL to your health!

So often a mystery series quickly loses interest. The Clare Cosi/Coffeehouse mysteries are an exception. They’re getting more complex and more interesting as the characters develop. The “Happily Ever After” is realistically portrayed as sometimes Not So Happy After All.

The holiday coffee flavor tasting was very cute with all Clare’s employees fiercely defending their personal interpretations of “what is Christmas to you?” It offsets the grimmer reality of the murders, which have a twisty, complex story line. Loved the ‘reality TV’ bit, since I hate those kind of programs and enjoyed seeing the concept skewered with a sharply ironic eye.

Like most people running a small business in this lousy economy, Clare Cosi is looking for a way to boost her bottom line. With the holidays right around the corner she has a few ideas to draw business to The Village Blend, a landmark coffeehouse in the heart of Greenwich Village. But Clare’s Christmas spirit takes a nosedive when one of her patrons, a charity Santa, is killed a few blocks from the coffeehouse. With her NYPD boyfriend busy working a cold case and her daughter stuck in Paris (is there such a thing as being “stuck” in Paris?) for Christmas, Clare has plenty of free time on her hands. With a little help from her ex-husband and his well-connected mother, Clare intends to find out what kind of Grinch would off Santa right before Christmas.

I had kind of lost interest in this series, but I’m glad I picked up this holiday themed installment. The author really captures the atmosphere of Manhattan during the holiday season, and the characters, even the ones who play only minor roles, are quite engaging. I enjoyed catching up with the series regulars and loved all the little Christmas details.

As for the mystery itself…well, this is a “cozy” so set your expectations accordingly. The idea of NYPD detectives actively supporting a civilian’s investigation into a homicide is ridiculous, but that’s pretty standard “cozy” fare. Putting that aside, there is quite an assortment of possible suspects and motives, so if you’re an armchair sleuth the storyline should keep you guessing.

I did have a few eye-rolling moments when just about every male in the story comes on to 40-something Clare – Hello Mary Sue! – But I didn’t let it spoil what was overall a nice holiday read that gave my Christmas spirit a little boost.

For those not familiar with the Coffeehouse Mysteries: Clare Cosi is a 40ish single mom with a grown daughter (Joy) and a charming ex-husband (Matteo). Clare manages The Village Blend, an iconic coffee house in historic Greenwich Village. She lives in a to-die-for duplex above The Blend and is dating a recently divorced NYPD detective (Mike Quinn). In addition to serving up a mean latte, Clare has a knack for solving crimes.

This is the 8th installment in the series, and while I suppose it could work as a standalone story I’d highly recommend that you start at the beginning with

On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mysteries, No. 1) (Coffeehouse Mystery)

. There is little or no strong language or sexual content.

In this 8th book in the Coffeehouse series, it is the Christmas holiday season. Clare has gathered her baristas together to come up with some new ideas for holiday lattes. Clare heads out to get her friend Alf, who works as a Traveling Santa (collecting donations for the needy) to bring the Christmas spirit back to their gathering. When she discovers his sleigh abandoned outside an alley, she goes in to find a grisly discovery. Not convinced that this was simply a mugging gone wrong, Clare begins to investigate. Complicating her life is her ex-husband’s difficulties with his new wife, Breanne, and some odd behavior from her boyfriend, police detective Mike Quinn.

Included at the back of the book is an expanded version of the usual collection of recipes, both for coffee and food described in the book, as well as information on coffee syrups, coffeehouse terms, and information on brewing. This was a good mystery and a nice addition to the series.

Ive been reading her books for years. I especially love this series, her Coffee House Mysteries. All her settings are flawless as are her characters. Her plots & endings are always enjoyable as well. Her stoies will always have a place on my shelves!

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