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kimdavishb's review against another edition
5.0
SHOT IN THE DARK, the seventeenth book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle, is a terrific addition to an outstanding series! From the acknowledgement at the beginning of the book (don’t skip reading it: the author adds many heartfelt words and a bit of insight into the setting and premise of the story) through the very last page, Ms. Coyle's storytelling packs a punch. The protagonist, Clare Cosi, is well-developed and even if you haven’t read previous books, you’ll still feel like she’s an old friend. I enjoyed the easy relationship Clare has with her employees, her ex-mother-in-law, and even with her ex-husband, Matteo Allegro, despite the fact that he is obsessed with a hot new dating app. Ms. Coyle accurately captures the “disposable” attitude sweeping our society and made me more aware of how much screen time I spend versus really paying attention to the actual people around me. It is quite eye-opening. She adds some humor though, in the form of one of her baristas setting up a “Shot Down Lounge” where people can hang out after their dating app hookup turns out to be another letdown instead of a happily ever after.
The mystery has numerous twists and turns, weaving the reader through murder, illicit drugs, cutting edge fitness clubs, and today’s digital dating scene. A hair-raising finale kept me on the edge of my seat while the conclusion wrapped up the various threads satisfactorily. And did I mention the food? You’ll be hungry reading about all the delectable treats and coffee drinks Clare serves at the Village Blend. Fortunately Ms. Coyle offers numerous recipes at the back of the book for both and they all sound amazing!
I was provided a Netgalley copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The mystery has numerous twists and turns, weaving the reader through murder, illicit drugs, cutting edge fitness clubs, and today’s digital dating scene. A hair-raising finale kept me on the edge of my seat while the conclusion wrapped up the various threads satisfactorily. And did I mention the food? You’ll be hungry reading about all the delectable treats and coffee drinks Clare serves at the Village Blend. Fortunately Ms. Coyle offers numerous recipes at the back of the book for both and they all sound amazing!
I was provided a Netgalley copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
cheesygiraffe's review against another edition
4.0
Review for First to Read Penguin
In the 17th book in this series, Clare is happily engaged to her cop, Mike. Plus there's a lot of business at Village Blend the coffee house in NYC that Clare manages for her ex-husband's mother. A new dating app has made the coffee house a hot spot to meet for dates. Except there's a man who isn't a good catch. One woman causes a scene with him so when he turns up dead later they assume she killed him. Clare gets involved and tries to prove her innocence. Also, there are drugs involved this time and Mike is trying to find out who the supplier is.
This installment was good as usual. Although, I felt a couple times Clare and the gang were clueless. When they figure things out you're like DUH. lol The recipes looked great and I can't wait until Clare and Mike get married.
In the 17th book in this series, Clare is happily engaged to her cop, Mike. Plus there's a lot of business at Village Blend the coffee house in NYC that Clare manages for her ex-husband's mother. A new dating app has made the coffee house a hot spot to meet for dates. Except there's a man who isn't a good catch. One woman causes a scene with him so when he turns up dead later they assume she killed him. Clare gets involved and tries to prove her innocence. Also, there are drugs involved this time and Mike is trying to find out who the supplier is.
This installment was good as usual. Although, I felt a couple times Clare and the gang were clueless. When they figure things out you're like DUH. lol The recipes looked great and I can't wait until Clare and Mike get married.
machadofam8's review against another edition
5.0
Seriously my favorite series - absolutely perfect in every way. The plot of this one was just hysterical!
demi_sewell's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved this book! So well written and a twist ending that I wasn't expecting! I love the recipes at the end and am making the peanut butter cookies now! 🍪
skyelerbear's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Mental illness
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
rants_n_reads's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
3.0
justkeyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
I love going on a coffee índices adventure with the gang in this one and also seeing the relationship of both mother and daughter.
manda7179's review against another edition
5.0
What a fun book. Clare is at it again! When a crazed gunman threatens one of the customers at the Village Blend, Clare worries about how her business will survive. Filled with non-stop motives, this one is definitely one of my favorites in the series.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
Reading a book full of coffee and mystery is my dream book come true.
Clare is the owner of one of the hotspots at the Village Blend for a good coffee, but when there’s an attempt murder and the same night a regular appears dead, Clare knows that if she doesn’t start to investigate she can start saying goodbye to her business... Let me say that even if Clare is not a detective she loves a good mystery, and with her fiancée being a detective I think this just motivates her even more to be a sleuth from time to time! ;)
Let me say that there are some very interesting characters in this story; the ex-husband who loves to party but is half owner of the coffee business, and still loves Clare... The daughter, that lives in another city but has some problems on her own... The fiancée, that is always working, but always remembers to call...
And of course, if there’s a victim, there are the possible killers, a large list if you ask... but all of them linked to one thing or the other, making you guessing who could be the murderer till the end!
This is the seventeenth book of the “Coffee House” series, but you can read it as standalone, the relations between the characters are well explained making really easy to follow the story.
It was original reading a book where the victims are related to a Dating app, showing us the good and the bad sides of dating in the technology era.
Are you ready to loose your shoe in the ball?
Clare is the owner of one of the hotspots at the Village Blend for a good coffee, but when there’s an attempt murder and the same night a regular appears dead, Clare knows that if she doesn’t start to investigate she can start saying goodbye to her business... Let me say that even if Clare is not a detective she loves a good mystery, and with her fiancée being a detective I think this just motivates her even more to be a sleuth from time to time! ;)
Let me say that there are some very interesting characters in this story; the ex-husband who loves to party but is half owner of the coffee business, and still loves Clare... The daughter, that lives in another city but has some problems on her own... The fiancée, that is always working, but always remembers to call...
And of course, if there’s a victim, there are the possible killers, a large list if you ask... but all of them linked to one thing or the other, making you guessing who could be the murderer till the end!
This is the seventeenth book of the “Coffee House” series, but you can read it as standalone, the relations between the characters are well explained making really easy to follow the story.
It was original reading a book where the victims are related to a Dating app, showing us the good and the bad sides of dating in the technology era.
Are you ready to loose your shoe in the ball?
ewil6681's review
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0