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cheesygiraffe's review against another edition
4.0
Santa is killed! Good mystery and good recipes. I love the characters in this series. And always enjoy what's happening.
salimah's review
4.0
I'm not listening to the series in order, but so far each is so tightly constructed and such fun to read, that it's not proving to be an obstacle. One of the smartest (and edgiest) of the Cozy Mystery offerings. I intend to read every one!
machadofam8's review against another edition
4.0
Great story - love the holiday theme. There's nothing like Christmas in NYC. :)
rebelbelle13's review
4.0
I can always count on the Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle for a fast, enjoyable read. The mysteries are always intriguing and the murderer tough to guess, but not impossible. Toss in Clair's romance with detective Mike Quinn and a healthy amount of coffee recipes and references, and you've got a comforting, intriguing, fresh story that feels as though you've just picked up a latte from the Village Blend and are ready to settle in by the fire.
In this installment, Clare is hot on the trail of the murderer of a local man dressed up as Santa (because this is a Christmas themed novel, of course) and sticks her neck out further than ever before to solve the mystery- since the victim was a friend of hers. The pace picks up rather quickly as there are several moments where Clair's life is seriously in danger, and it made me want to keep turning the pages to see how she was going to get out of her latest jam.
New characters are added to the series already long list of regulars, and instead of detracting, it only made the story more interesting. I also loved the references to the novel A Christmas Carol- I'm a sucker for Dickens!
I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to this one, but it makes me want to pick up #9 right away. I'd recommend this quick mystery during the holidays, or any time of the year, really!
In this installment, Clare is hot on the trail of the murderer of a local man dressed up as Santa (because this is a Christmas themed novel, of course) and sticks her neck out further than ever before to solve the mystery- since the victim was a friend of hers. The pace picks up rather quickly as there are several moments where Clair's life is seriously in danger, and it made me want to keep turning the pages to see how she was going to get out of her latest jam.
New characters are added to the series already long list of regulars, and instead of detracting, it only made the story more interesting. I also loved the references to the novel A Christmas Carol- I'm a sucker for Dickens!
I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to this one, but it makes me want to pick up #9 right away. I'd recommend this quick mystery during the holidays, or any time of the year, really!
rosemariew's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
knik's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
georgeanne's review
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
rebeccasreadingrambles's review
4.0
The more I read of this series, the more I love it. I’ve read the most recent few and have been jumping around with the older ones and they are a delight. I love Clare’s dedication to holiday cheer and how her boyfriend is a police detective but never talks her out of (and even encourages her in) sleuthing. All the characters are vibrant and I love getting to know her coffee staff more with each book. I was shocked and pleased by the complicated mystery as it unraveled and loved the ending.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
This one of my top favorite cozy series. I was pleased that I won this from Cleo Coyle's site, CoffeeHouseMystery and it's a signed copy! This is chock-full of a superb story and loaded with foo-foo coffee info like Tips For Being Your Own Barista, Coffehouse Terms, Guide to Roasting Terms, and (my favorite) Coffee Drink Recipes, Coffee Syrups, Caffe Latte Recipes (including the Fa-L-La Lattes in the book). And there are Holiday Recipes for the food depicted in the book too. YUM!
This one is my favorite of the series. It shows even more the growing relationship between Mike and Clare and the difficulties and wonderfulness that it is. Clare's ex-husband, Matt, is in the throes of his new marriage and all that that entails and it's causing headaches for Clare as well.
I am always curious how the author will have the main character get involved in the mystery that needs solving. Sometimes they can be a wee bit awkward, but Cleo Coyle always has Clare getting involved rather seamlessly. It's because it's someone she knows or someone she cares about asks her to get involved.
Five yummy holiday beans....
This one is my favorite of the series. It shows even more the growing relationship between Mike and Clare and the difficulties and wonderfulness that it is. Clare's ex-husband, Matt, is in the throes of his new marriage and all that that entails and it's causing headaches for Clare as well.
I am always curious how the author will have the main character get involved in the mystery that needs solving. Sometimes they can be a wee bit awkward, but Cleo Coyle always has Clare getting involved rather seamlessly. It's because it's someone she knows or someone she cares about asks her to get involved.
Five yummy holiday beans....
pianorunner421's review against another edition
3.0
Very much enjoyed this book. I think I have read at least one other of these mysteries, but it has been a long time. This one had some fun twists and turns and I did not figure out who did it until very close to the end.