Grounds For Murder

Maggy Thorsen Mystery #2

by Sandra Balzo

Exactly how hot is the competition at the annual coffee trade industry conference in Milwaukee? Scaldingly hot. What's not hot? Finding Marvin LaRoche, owner of the HotWired coffeehouse chain store stone-cold dead under a banquet table in the middle of the convention. And everybody knows that Maggy was no great fan of Mr. LaRoche, nor of his overly competitive business practices—so it's up to Maggy's own amateur sleuthing skills to get herself out of the hotseat! Mrs. LaRoche, newly widowed, certainly seems a bit too cheery. But then there's the angry activist who denounced LaRoche's practice of exploiting Third World coffee growers. As the conference coordinator and the number one suspect, Maggy is on a countdown to find the murderer, save her coffeehouse and maybe, just maybe heat up her love life...Thank goodness for caffeine!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Amateur Sleuth, Whodunit, Ebooks

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Sandra Balzo is an award-winning author of crime fiction, including fourteen books in two mystery series--one set outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the other in the High Country of North Carolina. MURDER a la Mocha, the eleventh Maggy Thorsen Wisconsin coffeehouse mystery, will be released in January, and the series has been optioned for development as a TV series/film.

Balzo's books have garnered starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, while being recommended to readers of Janet Evanovich, Charlaine Harris, Joan Hess and Margaret Maron.

In addition to Twitter and her website, Sandy also hangs out at https://www.facebook.com/SandraBalzoM... and http://pinterest.com/sandrabalzo/

Reviews

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Each book contains a cozy mystery, entertainment, and a sensible woman sleuth.

I find that I enjoy this series alot. I also appreciate that each book can stand on its own and they deliver an HEA.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. I wanted something light and fun to read so I read this 2nd book in the series as I enjoyed the first one.

I like this series due to the characters and the humor. Maggy Thorsen is the co-owner of Uncommon Grounds a coffee shop near Milwaukee Wi. She has been asked to be the M.C. for a barista contest at Java Ho which is a trade coffee convention/conference that is held annually. She is a natural for it with her outgoing personality. Right at the start of the book, she discovers the body of the leader of Java Ho under the trophy table. He owns a chain of coffee shops. He recently opened a shop near Uncommon Grounds after extracting information from Maggy. He is not a nice guy and has made many enemies so there are a lot of suspects. I did not have it solved until the author divulged who the murderer was. I suspected almost all of the suspects at times.

Characters from the first book are back. I enjoyed Sarah who is Maggy's best friend. She is an outspoken and is a take no prisoner type of personality. She is trying to break the nicotine habit. Caron plays a smaller role in this book. There were some new characters introduced and I hope several of them are in future books especially Jerome.

This series is going to become a go to read when I want to relax and escape. I enjoyed it very much.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second laugh-out-loud funny book in this series, Grounds for Murder was an engrossing book. My only complaint is the use of a flashback the author used. Though she did a good job writing it, I can't stand knowing something with the characters clueless. Besides that, however, this was a good book that had me laughing.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book of this series I've read and it's book two, but it got me more or less up to speed. Maggie Thorsen, owner of a coffee shop (espresso) is roped into helping oversee a barista convention where she--shockingly, given the title--stumbles across a dead body. What I liked about this book over the other coffee shop mysteries I've read in another series, is that I didn't have to read any descriptions of coffee beans, too much coffee making and I didn't have to see the divorced husband. That said, I noted that in both series the protagonist is about 40 divorced and has one child of college/university age--oh, and they are attracted to a detective, although in this one it's a sheriff. There are twists and turns, various suspects and different things going on with people--what you expect from cozy mysteries.

But if you like cozy mysteries and this sort of thing, you may enjoy this.

[Alissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the sequel to “Uncommon Grounds” which was published a few years ago to much critical acclaim. This book was ok, but I think suffers from a sophomore slump.

Maggy Thorsen, is the divorced owner of the coffeehouse “Uncommon Grounds.” It’s time for the annual “Java Ho” a coffee trade show and Maggy gets roped in to running the barista competition. The book opens with Maggy discovering a dead body of the conference coordinator and then flashes back for the next 100 pages to catch the reader up on how Maggy got there.

I remember liking Uncommon Grounds, and I don’t feel this lives up to that book’s promise. I didn’t get a good sense of Maggy, even with the subplot of her thwarted romance with the hunky local sheriff and there were a couple of secondary characters (Maggy’s friends and co-workers) who I kept confusing because they weren’t distinct enough as characters. But it was only 217 pages and an ok enough mystery. The ending did feel a little forced.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This marks the second Sandra Balzo that I’ve devoured. Both mystery novels have been delectable light cozies that are perfect when you really need to escape.

Maggy Thorsen, the not-so-gay divorcée and co-owner of the coffee shop Uncommon Grounds, returns in Grounds for Murder. She and her new best pal Sarah Kingston work together on a convention for specialty coffee shop owners, which is called Java Ho. Naturally, the pair literally stumble onto a dead body, that of the loathsome Marvin LaRoach. LaRoach, owner of nearly two dozen coffee shops called Hot Wired, had alienated nearly everyone around him: his wife, his head barista, his milk supplier, the Fair Trade representative and other coffee shop owners, including Maggy. With no shortage of suspects, Maggy begins to look into the murder herself — which doesn’t sit well with Brookhills County Sheriff Jake Pavlik, Maggy’s sort-of boyfriend.

The perpetrator came as a complete surprise, as did some bits of the story. Readers will find Grounds for Murder a breezy read and quite humorous, although not as funny or quirky as the first in the series, Uncommon Grounds. Even so, I’ve become so addicted to these caffeine-laced cozies that I ordered Bean There, Done That for Audible as soon as I finished listening to Grounds for Murder

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is becoming one of my favorite series. I like Maggy, Sarah, and the Sheriff. Those three characters seem like ones that will be the main characters of the series.

I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read, which made me want more coffee. :) Maggy is a character I can relate to - lots of sarcasm to hide insecurities. Good mystery, enjoyable behind-the-scenes view of a convention.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maggy Thorsen let's herself get talked into being the emcee for a batista competition at Java Ho, an annual convention about all things coffee, being held in Milwaukee. She realizes that if nothing else, it will be good PR for Uncommon Grounds, her independent coffee shop.

But when she discovers the body of Marvin LaRoche, organizer of the event and owner of a local chain of coffee shops after the first day of competition, things get complicated. Especially since the night before everything got underway, Marvin's wife's coffee shop was burned to the ground. It had been a popular mainstay in the area.

This was an interesting read, because there were so many different elements and possibilities related to what happened and if things were related. Some characters have secrets revealed that could make them a suspect - but do they have to be revealed?

It was also interesting to learn tidbits about the coffee business.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s my review of Grounds for Murder (no spoilers): As I read through this book, I was certain I had pieced together the killer(s) and their motives. But once again, Sandra Balzo completely stumped me. It’s yet another fantastic read, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to finish it.

I’ve read several books from this series so far and I’m determined to own and finish the entire collection to date. Sandra’s writing is a perfect blend of gripping suspense and witty humor, making each book an absolute delight. This cozy mystery series always leaves me craving a fresh cup of coffee as I get lost in the pages. The endings never fail to throw me for a loop, and that’s coming from someone who meticulously tracks every suspect's motives and probabilities as the story unfolds. I’ve never come across an author whose work I adore quite like this. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend giving this series a try—you won’t regret it!

[punxsygal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maggy Thorsen, owner of Uncommon Grounds, finds herself coerced into being the reluctant conference coordinator for the Second Annual Barista Competition at Java Ho. The six finalists include Janalee LaRoche (wife of head judge and Java Ho organizer, Marvin LaRoche) and Amy (a barista from Janalee's shop). The morning of the finals, Maggy finds Marvin LaRoche dead under the table holding the trophies, obviously the victim of an attack. The policeman who comes to investigate is none other than Jake Pavlik, the man with whom Maggy is having a budding romance. All of which makes for cozy murder mystery and a convoluted tale as you follow Maggy's wild speculations.

I was a bit put out when the author makes a point of saying the conference is in Milwaukee and then never refers to the city again. As I live in a Milwaukee suburb, I would have appreciated some reference to the city to give a sense of location (particularly as the author, also, lives in the suburbs) beyond a name. But that probably wouldn't bother most folks reading the book.

[Michelle Przekwas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Maggy...who is our heroine, ameteur sleuth, and coffee house owner in this series. Enjoy her love interest, the detective, although he is not nearly in this as much as I would like but he is in a decent portion of it. Enjoyed all the additional characters that make a good mystery series....and this is one of them.
When I feel as if I'm in a lull with my murder mysteries, I pick up one of these by Ms. Balzo. It's a really awesome series that is fresh and entertaining!

[Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grounds for Murder is an interesting tale of murder that takes placed at a coffee convention. Providing an interesting case, it is not until the end that the true killer is revealed creating a hard to put down story.

[Lianne Buccigross-Novak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Maggy Thorsen mystery. This book starts with the discovery of the murder at a competition and backtracks to before the competition. However Balzo makes it clear when we are back to the “current time.”

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good -- solid mystery, funny dialogue, real people. Well done and recommend.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and coffee can it get any better...

[Annette Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and fun and quick. Going to try the first one now to bet the history!!!

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expect a lot of twists and turns. The killer was surrounded by lots of suspicious characters. Definitely keep your coffee while reading this mystery. The ending is really unpredictable.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, but the humor is a little forced. Plot was pretty good and characters were beginning to grow on me, but not enough for me to continue this series at this point.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a banger, I am loving this series

[Kathryn Rothermel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining plot and characters.

[Nancy Korb · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Its so easy to make judgements when you're on the outside looking in. Things aren't that simple. LIFE IS JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE."

[Nolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll give this series one more chance, but that's the best I can do.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story line and characters. Not fond of the narrator.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite a cozy mystery but still a good mystery. This is turning into an interesting series.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grounds for Murder is the second book of the Maggy Thorsen Mystery Series by Sandra Balzo.

The plot is engaging with its plot twists and punches of humor, but the overall narrative is encumbered by the main character’s oversexed thoughts masked by wry humor. While this problem can be tolerable to a point for developing a character’s personality, anxieties, and reactions, the last chapter contains completely irrelevant dialogue. The artfulness of inserting contemporary issues previously shown in the first installment of this book series is lost. Maggy’s son is not present for the story’s events, so he is minimally mentioned in this book except for this unnecessary dialogue awkwardly inserted in the final chapter; this comes across as an artificial way to fold in current issues.

Furthermore, the first eBook of the series had formatting problems, which seem to have been resolved in this next book. However, this book has an aggravating punctuation problem. As James Scott Bell has emphasized, it is important in fiction writing to know how to properly use quotation marks.

I rated the first eBook with generosity regarding the described professional craftsmanship errors, but now I must cease being lenient and consider these trending problems more heavily within my overall rating.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

#2 Maggy Thorsen mystery. Maggy is co-owner of Uncommon Grounds, a coffee shop in Brookhills, a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She and her business partner Caron are struggling to keep things going, what with the death of their other partner in the last book, and trying to stay ahead of the chain coffee stores springing up. Maggy, planning to attend Java Ho, a coffee convention being held locally, agrees reluctantly to host the Barista Competition, hoping for some good publicity for Uncommon Grounds.

But things turn messy when Marvin LaRoche, owner of the HotWired coffee chain and the convention's organizer, is bashed on the head with the trophy--and Maggy finds his body. Being a power-hungry self-centered man and having delivered a very controversial speech at the opening ceremonies of the convention, there is no shortage of suspects with a motive to clobber LaRoche. Maggy is even added to the list as she had a rather loud argument with him just hours before his death. So she has a reason to investigate, and doesn't share all she knows with her love interest, Sheriff Jake Pavlick, which gets her into even more trouble.

I had a gut feeling about the baddie in this book, but didn't really know why or how the murder was done until close to the end. Enjoyable read, this series seems to be what I'd call a "semi-cozy." There are definitely some adult themes and a little mild cussing, but it's not terribly edgy. I like the author's writing style and down-to-earth characters and am looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grounds for Murder definitely hits the ground running, unfortunately it begins on a manic pace and by mid book, with it's snippy comments from the main character, the reader feels overwhelmed by what is being thrown at them with no real feel for the end goal of proving who killed LaRoche and why. This book came across more along the vein of throw it on the wall to sees what sticks, then the usual slow meandering pace that most cozies take.

Maggy Thorsen is coordinating the annual JaveHo coffeehouse competition, in Milwaukee, WI, matching local baristas in a head-to-head challenge to see who the best of the best is when it comes to espresso creativity.

Marvin LaRoche, the much-despised proprietor of the HotWired coffeehouse chain is found murdered and stuffed under the awards table, having been bashed in the head by the first place trophy. Before Maggy can be charged with the crime, she sets of to find who actually had the real motivation to kill this horrible man.

With too many likely suspects, Maggie must start matching up stories and convince her love interest and town Sheriff Jake Pavlik, who must have done it and why. That is when she is not trying to round up the Amy, the reining JaveHo barista for her own shop. A shop that Marvin has been trying to put out of business.

Though bland and boring in parts and manic and snarky in others, the reader is definitely on a race to the finish with this book. Not so you can see who-done-it, but to get the book over with so they could read something that is a bit richer and smoother to the palate.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had read the first book in the series, recalling that I hadn't been all that wild about it. Still, this one was showing at a steeply discounted price, so ... why not pick it up? Answer: weak plot, unlikeable characters, and creepy overtones to both. In order to get into the book, one has to find the world of coffee interesting; if not, there's a lot of coffee-related detail to slog through. We start with a sort of prologue of finding the corpse at the Java Ho! convention, and are promptly yanked back a week or so for all of the details of setting up the event, and of the activity (such that there was) until we're back to the corpse again. Many of the characters are highly unlikeable, although the sheriff and Jerome-the-junior-journalist are downright nice. Maggy herself came off as often whiny, but that could've been the narration. By the end, I decided that the book was barely worth the discounted price, although the story of the baby creeped me out a bit. As far as narration went, Savage started at a fever pitch, as though she were facing some sort of looming deadline to get to the end, but I noticed she'd calmed down by the later part of the story.
Overall, I felt the book was worth the low price I paid as something to fill a few hours. At full price (or one Audible credit), I'd say skip it, or read it as a library book. Maggy and Jake's relationship doesn't "advance" so there's not much to miss otherwise in terms of the overall series arc.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't a BAD book. I actually enjoyed the plot and the overall mystery. But the book is sort of crass. It starts with the phrase "Slut in a cup" (referring to a trophy that ended up looking more like a bare-breasted woman than someone making coffee). That really set the tone for the whole book. I think maybe it's just geared towards a different demographic - like the single kind. Not only that, but she makes a whole lot of fun of someone who's cloth diapering her child, which I did with both of mine and they weren't always leaving puddles of pee behind them. I'm assuming part of my disliked of the book had to do with that because it sort of enraged me. :-)

So - plot good, characters interesting but overall the book felt a little trashy. It didn't even have actual sex in it and it managed to feel trashy. Maybe that's an accomplishment.

I got this at a used book sale and it's going in my donation box to bring to the library for their used book sale.

Totally unrelated to the actual writing of the book, an interesting fact is that the previous owner spilled something on it that I cannot smell but my cat can. She loves it and likes to lick the first page of the book. It's weird. :-)