Uncommon Grounds

October 18, 2004
In her delightful debut, Balzo puts a 21st-century spin on the traditional cozy, replacing tea with coffee as the comfort beverage of choice. Maggy Thorsen, a divorcée whose husband left her for his 24-year-old dental hygienist, and two women friends are eager to open a coffee shop, Uncommon Grounds, in the small Wisconsin town of Brookhills, whose inhabitants include such recognizable types as the local gossip and tennis moms. In a world where Starbuck's and other chains are ubiquitous, Maggy and her friends have their work cut out for them. The challenge becomes even greater when Maggy discovers the body of one of her partners, Patricia Harper, on the floor of their coffee shop. Determined to find out who killed Patricia and why, Maggy delves into the mystery with a sense of humor that would make Miss Marple smile. In her search for the truth, she works with, and sometimes against, the new and unpredictable county sheriff, Jake Pavlik—and uncovers at considerable personal risk the secrets of some of the town's most prominent citizens. Readers will want to curl up with this winner with a cappuccino or maybe even a Viennese cinnamon latte. (Nov. 16)

Forecast:
Advance praise from S.J. Rozan, Jeremiah Healy, Parnell Hall, Steve Hamilton and Max Allan Collins should help ensure that this is one of Five Star's better sellers for the fall season.

November 1, 2004
Ex-publicist Maggy Thorsen's finances are threatened when someone murders one of her partners in a gourmet coffee shop on opening day. After suspicion falls on her, Maggy starts asking questions. Attention shifts to her other partner and friend, who apparently had a motive, but then an ex-lover in common becomes suspect. Local politics confuse matters because of a re-count in a closely contested election that the victim apparently lost: at stake is new development and money, money, money! Maggy keeps sleuthing on, despite a recent divorce downsizing, comfy dog, mucho espresso, and attractive, glinty-eyed detective. Easygoing prose and small-town hubbub makes this debut mystery a good choice for most collections. Balzo, whose first short story won a Mystery Writers of America award, lives in Brookfield, WI.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.