Once Upon a Grind

November 24, 2014
There's magic in the Ethiopian coffee beans that Matt Allegro, Clare Cosi's ex-husband, brings to her New York coffeehouse at the start of Coyle's 14th amusing combination of caffeine and chaos (after 2013's Billionaire Blend). The inaugural Storybook Kingdom, a festival in Central Park celebrating fairy tales, draws plenty of participants, many dressed as princesses and knights. When the two children of Clare's boyfriend, Mike Quinn, go missing, Clare joins the search, and winds up finding the body of the Pink Princess, Anya Kravchenko. After Matt, who's costumed as one of the knights, becomes a prime suspect, Clare must again play detective. Disturbing visions from drinking the special coffee help guide her, as does the mysterious necklace charm key worn by Anya and other women that leads to the exclusive Prince Charming Club and its sometimes surprising members. An extensive list of mouth-watering recipes rounds out the volume. Agent: John Talbot, Talbot Fortune Agency.

December 1, 2014

In her 14th adventure (after Billionaire Blend), Clare Cosi, coffeehouse manager-turned-amateur sleuth, is getting ready to participate in a Fairy Tale Festival in Central Park when she has a vision that helps her find a young model's body in the park woods. Can she catch the killer and prevent another unhappy ending? Includes wicked good recipes.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2014
Coyle continues to brew fresh and fun mysteries with each installment of her coffeehouse series. This time coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi is brewing special coffee for a fairy talethemed event in Central Park. Trouble arrives when Anya, playing the Pink Princess, is found dead, apparently due to a drug overdose. Unfortunately, Clare's ex, Matt, seems to have been the last person to see the Pink Princess, making him a person of interest to the police. It doesn't help that Matt has his own drug history. Clare is on the case, but when she tries to talk to Anya's friend, the Red Princess, that young lady is discovered dead from drugs. Clare keeps digging, only to find herself in the middle of an international espionage ring. Meanwhile, of course, there are the usual personal problems to sort out, her own (How does she really feel about Matt?) and those of her fellow baristas. This series continues to mix clever and intricate plots with a regular cast of characters who become more enjoyable with every episode. Many recipes finish off another successful coffee hour (or two) with Clare.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)