Reviews

Dead to the Last Drop by Cleo Coyle

dessertcomes1st's review

3.0

I do love me a good cozy mystery, especially the food kind. I’ve been reading this series since it began: the stories are hit or miss, and sometimes Clare is annoying, but the recipes at the back are always terrific.
I like reading this series whenever I need a breather from my hard core thrillers.

debmed's review

informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

wildflowerz76's review against another edition

2.0

I appear to be in the minority on this one. I've loved this series, but recently I'm not liking them nearly as well. These used to be cozy mysteries, but they aren't any more. I know they took place in NYC, but despite that, they still had the small town feel with the cast of kooky characters. NONE of those characters really showed up on this one. We've graduated from a cozy to something WAY more high level, as far as the mystery goes. Yet, the writing isn't keeping up. The books in this series have usually started with a flash forward in time, but this one goes beyond that. This one goes back and forth through the whole book. While I'm certainly not opposed to that method of story telling, it really wasn't done well here. I know there's another in this series and I'm sure I'll read it eventually, but I'm very disappointed.

sbunyan's review

2.0

I was so looking forward to this book. Sadly I never finished it. Way too much Ludlum, CIA, and federal operatives and not enough quirky coffee house characters and local murders. Maybe too much husband and not enough wife on the Cleo team. I did hang on to it for the amazing recipes and that is why I gave it 2 stars instead of just 1.

rehpotsirhc22's review

3.0

This wasn’t as bad as the previous book but this was still really disappointing. I like the west village and the small setting- this has gotten too big and too complicated. I don’t like the flashback way of writing or how she’s smarter than the FBI etc. These aren’t cozies anymore- they’ve become more like any old mystery novel and are losing their charm.

The author took away all of the familiar characters besides mike and Clare with some only brief appearances by the characters I’ve grown to love.

I plan to see this series through at this point but if this was the first book I read I wouldn’t pick up another.

melissagomis's review against another edition

3.0

Entertaining audiobook and better than other books I have read in the series. The book was a little too long for me and I found the unnecessary jazz and coffee history lessons annoying. But the characters were likable and had more depth than some cozy mysteries.

bookish_yelena11's review

1.0

This one annoyed me. Idk why, it just did.

nonna7's review

2.0

This is the second time I've put this author 's book aside after reading partway through. If I wanted to read fantasy, I would do so. I have enjoyed the books before. I think the author is getting bored.

slc333's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed the Washington DC setting, particularly given I was lucky enough to visit DC earlier this year, including Georgetown. I do find the history and coffee facts that the book is laden with over the top and I find the 'ínfo dump' style of conveying this information detracted from the story. One or two interesting facts woven into the story would be interesting. Paragraph after paragraph of random facts is boring. Ditto for the recipes. Now I love food but when I read a mystery story I want a mystery. If I want a tonnes of recipes I will read a recipe book or watch Food Network. Also I am SO ready for Claire & Mike to get married. Hope that is the next book.

wyoming_steph's review

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0