Triple Shot

Maggy Thorsen Mystery #7

by Sandra Balzo

The new Maggy Thorsen coffeehouse mystery - There’s a chill in the Wisconsin air, and it's a shot in the arm – a triple espresso shot – to Uncommon Grounds, the Brookhills coffeehouse owned by Maggy Thorsen and real estate maven Sarah Kingston. Their new autumn drink is a huge success. But two estate agents have died lately, and Sarah herself is under investigation for irregularities at her job. Then a stench begins to percolate through the coffeehouse, and soon it’s clear that corpses – like other bad things – do indeed come in threes . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Whodunit, Ebooks, Fiction, Romance

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

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

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffee shop owner Maggy Thorsen and her new business partner, real-estate maven Sarah Kingston, think they smell a rat — literally. A stench is coming from below their store, Uncommon Grounds, now located at a renovated commuter train station in a space Sarah inherited. When the pair investigate, the dead rat is a metaphorical rather than literal one: Brigid Ferndale, Sarah’s erstwhile sales apprentice, who had reported Sarah and Kingston Realty to Wisconsin’s Department of Regulation and Licensing for not adequately training her.

Naturally, Sarah fears she’s the No. 1 suspect in Brigid’s murder. How did Brigid get into a blocked-off underground room — one that Maggy and most others didn’t even know existed? Sarah knew that, in the 1970s, Mafia henchmen had a secret waiting room for trains to Chicago, but she’d never seen it or known where it was. Who did know and enticed Brigid there? And does Brigid’s death have any connection to the recent murders of two real-estate agents during showings? Maggy and her boyfriend, Brookhills County Sheriff Jake Pavlik, think there must be, and they fear that Sarah could well be the next realtor to die.

Meanwhile, Ward Chitown, a onetime popular Chicago television host and investigative reporter, has come to Brookhills to produce a show on the Brookhills Massacre, a 1974 shootout between the Mafia and the FBI. (Chitown’s father had been the FBI’s special agent-in-charge during the raid. The elder man was one of only two survivors — and only G-man not killed.) The production of the special program makes a crazy situation that much crazier.

I love Triple Shot, the seventh novel in Sandra Balzo’s Maggy Thorsen series. First of all, how could you not love a book with a line like this one:

When you’re as close as the sheriff and I were, who needed words? We could practically read each other’s minds.

Pavlik’s was thinking: How the hell did I get myself involved with this broad? It’s like I’m Lassie, she’s Timmy, and every day is a new well.

I almost died when reading that one! The novel is peppered with clever one-liners and funny situations, and the mystery proves really engrossing. (I never guessed the perpetrator.) Triple Shot reminds me of the Stephanie Plum series without mentions of erect nipples and nether regions and before Janet Evanovich began phoning her mystery novels in.

Hapless Maggy has been through a lot as the series has progressed, suffering her share of betrayals and corpses. But she has always rebounded, and Maggy prevails here, never abandoning her friend Sarah and working tirelessly to get at the truth. Triple Shot makes for an excellent read. Part of the reason is Maggy herself: She doesn’t just serve up a mean triple-shot café cubano or latte; she makes you wish that you could join her drinking one and giggling over the perfectly coiffed blonde Brookhills Barbies in their designer tennis togs.
Highly recommended when you seek a short, breezy read.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Triple Shot by Sandra Balzo is the 7th book in the Maggy Thorsen mystery series. Several real-estate agents have been killed in Brookhills and a foul odour in Uncommon Grounds, the coffeehouse at a train depot co-owned by Maggy Thorsen and real-estate agent Sarah Kingston, turns out to be the body of Sarah's apprentice. Another terrific book in the series. I love how Maggy puts her newly learned self defence skills to use. With the amount of murders that she becomes involved in, it is lucky that Pavlik has taught her well so that we can continue to enjoy her sleuthing. An enjoyable fast read in a series that gets better with each book.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in the Maggy Thorsen Mystery series. It features Maggy Thorsen co-owner of Uncommon Grounds,a coffee house,located in a train depot in Brookhills, Wisconsin. This time the shop is giving off a horrible odor which is discovered to be the body of realtor trainee at the firm the shop's other owner, Sarah, owns. This is only the beginning of finding bodies that Maggy and Sarah are involved with. Maggy of course starts looking for the murderer. The book was a quick easy read.

[Johaleesi (formerly JJiReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy a good mystery. A lot. In fact, without even knowing that there were 6 other books in the Maggy Thorsen coffeehouse mystery series, I requested a review copy of Triple Shot, which is the 7th. I loved it so much and not once did I feel that I was missing part of the story just because I had not read the previous books. I felt very comfortable reading it as a standalone. Maggy Thorsen is a coffeehouse owner in a small town in Wisconsin where everything seems to be quiet and mundane, but nothing is further from the truth. Someone is killing real estate agents, out of all people, and Maggy takes a special interest in the case once the body of one of these victims show up right under her nose.

This book was so hard to put down. I went through it so quickly and was so entertained and intrigued by it and I stayed up late last night just because I couldn't stop reading this book. The characters, the mystery, and the plot twists captivated me from the first page. All of the characters are unique in their own way and Sandra Balzo does such a great job of clearly painting that picture for you. What I loved most about the main character, Maggy, is that she's not your usual know-it-all heroine. In fact, Maggy is so flawed, she keeps pointing it out to herself as she narrates the events in the book. She's quirky and definitely not a people person, but has an inquisitive nature and a knack for putting two and two together that can put the entire police department to shame.

I am definitely going to pick up the rest of the Maggy Thorsen Mystery novels because I just cant get enough. I want to know more about Maggy and her adventures at Uncommon Grounds, the name of the coffeehouse she co-owns and where she developed her signature "Triple Shot". I very rarely give a 5 star rating, but this book deserves it. I don't normally read books not in the YA genre (which this book is not, by the way), but once in a while I break off wanting to find something different, a palette cleanser if you will, and I found it with this book. Highly, highly, recommended. The book will be out in stores today, so if you're looking for a very entertaining mystery to read, you've found it.

(Originally reviewed at JJiReads.blogspot.com)

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: A Maggy Thorsen Mystery

[Imjussayin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book

[Carsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are someone who likes mystery like I do, I would highly recommend this book but I have herd that there are other book in this series so I would read those before this book. Coffee shop owner Maggy and her new business partner which is a real estate Sarah Kingston think they smell a rat literally. and it is a smell which coming from below their store. Uncommon Grounds now located at a renovated train station in a space Sarah inherited. When the pair investigate the dead rat is a meant to be rather than literal one. Sarah’s erstwhile sales apprentice who had reported Sarah and Kingston Realty to Wisconsin’s Department of Regulation and Licensing for not adequately training her. Sarah fears she’s the number one suspect in Brigid’s murder. Sarah knew that in the 1970s Mafia had a secret waiting room for trains to Chicago, but she’d never seen it or known where it was. Maggy and her boyfriend, Brookhills County Sheriff Jake Pavlik think there must be and they fear that Sarah could well be the next realtor to die. In Chitown a one time popular Chicago television host and investigative reporter, has come to Brookhills to produce a show on the Brookhills Massacre The production of the special program makes a crazy situation. Over all a great book but the books strong points are all the mini lead ups.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been several years since I read anything from this series, and it didn't take long to remember why. While I liked the setting and the characters, the snark and so-called humor got old before I even finished the first chapter. Yes, I've been known to be snarky more than just occasionally, but never in a workplace. I can't imagine customers coming back to an establishment where that kind of attitude prevails.

Once I got past that - or at least tamped it down enough to pay attention to the story - the mystery was pretty good. There didn't seem to be much in common between the victims, making it harder to think about suspects and motives. I didn't put it all together until just before the confrontation scene in the book, and then wondered if I shouldn't have figured it out earlier.

I'm only halfway through this series, but I doubt I'll continue with it, not when there are so many other books out there calling my name :)

[Ann Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

This cozy mystery does not feature a library, but food (a coffee shop) and a dog (Frank), the usual elements of books in this genre. Uncommon Grounds is the shop which is located in a historic train depot and is owned by Maggy Thorsen and her business partner, real estate agent Sarah Kingston. Two real estate agents have been killed recently and a nose holding stench in the coffee shop leads to the discovery of a third, Brigid Ferndale, underneath the depot. The game's afoot to solve another cozy mystery.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another poorly punctuated installment in the Maggy Thorsen series, but with a few interesting dialogue exchanges. Overly sarcastic with unnecessary quotation marks. (The reader gets it, ok?) Foul, vulgar language equals the loss of one star.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

a brilliant series

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

These GET ME! I never know who it's gonna be!

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this series. The characters are great if flawed.

[mona brumbelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun read with a twist or two.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery, and trust me this is a good one. We enter a town in Wisconsin and are immediately taken inside the “Uncommon Grounds” Coffee house. Once inside we begin to meet the well developed cast of characters. Maggy Thorsen is the owner of the coffee house along with her partner Sarah Kingston. Sarah is also a local realtor and the owner of the building the coffee house sits in. Sarah and Maggy are so different that they compliment each other. Sarah voices her opinion on everything with a slight sarcasm. She calls another group of realtors who are also coffee shop customers “The Barbies, Broker Barbies or Holly Hobbies”. Maggy takes uncomfortable situations and moves ahead no matter what. Some of those uncomfortable situations involve her friend Sarah.

Maggy opened the coffee shop and realized they had a strong odor throughout the place. No one knew where it was but it seemed to be stronger in certain areas. Things really turn interesting when Ward Chitown enters the coffee shop. He has come back to do a live show that will bring up a past that his father was involved in. It seems the small town was home to the mafia. During a shoot out that involved his FBI father, several men were killed and over a million dollars disappeared. Now real estate agents are being killed. Upon investigating the smell Maggy learns from Sarah that the historic train station that houses their coffee shop had a waiting room used by the mafia. They waited there until their train was called and slipped aboard. Imagine the surprise when they not only find the room but a dead body inside.

The author did such a wonderful job of describing things I could almost smell the coffee, and the stench. I could picture the train tracks and the special hidden room. I loved the fact that Maggy, who wasn’t always sure she liked her friend Sarah, decides she has to solve the death of the young girl who worked for Sarah because they are friends. We also meet Maggy’s boyfriend a sheriff who feels like he is always rescuing Maggie. I learned after reading this that it was the seventh book in the series. It stood quite well on its own. I will however need to get the previous six books just so I can see what else has happened to Maggie and her friends.

If you like a good mystery, then this is one you must put on your list to re

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is story after story written about the Mafia. Many of the stories are fact and have been proven true. Others are tales that have been passed around by word of mouth and might have some basis in fact but are mostly legends.

Maggy Thorsen and her partner Sarah Kingston have Uncommon Grounds, their Brookhills coffee house up and running in the town’s historic train station. The current specialty at Uncommon Grounds is the store’s autumn drink, Triple Shot, a drink full of caffeine and sugar. Customers coming into the coffee house are complaining about the odor. Although Maggy and Tien Romano, a coffee house employee, have investigated the source of the odor remains a mystery until Sarah remembers the waiting room underneath the coffee house. This is a special waiting room designed for members of the Mafia to wait for the trains to Chicago without having to associate with any of the other travelers.

When Ward Chitown, a faded Chicago television personality, arrives in town to film a show, He joins Sarah and Maggy in the investigation of the waiting room. The group discovers the corpse of Brigid Ferndale, a sales apprentice for Sarah’s Kingston Realty. Jake Pavlik, Maggy’s boyfriend is not at all surprised to find that Maggy has found a corpse. She seems to have an uncanny ability to stumble into situations that other people would run from. Pavlik has been investigating the deaths of a couple of real estate brokers who have met their death while showing homes and he feels that this victim is another to add to the list.

Ward Chitown is quite excited about finding Brigid's corpse since he thinks it will add something to his show on “The Brookhills Massacre”. He plans to televise the incident that occurred years ago at a local restaurant where the FBI broke up a Mafia meeting and lots of money disappeared.

Maggy can’t help sticking her nose in the investigation and although she finds facts that will help Pavlick, she puts herself in a lot of danger. Her maneuvers make for good reading. This is a good addition to the Maggy Thorsen series.

[Marlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really tough to run a food and beverage establishment when there's a funky smell so strong permeating the space that even the scent of Triple Shot Fully Leaded Espressos can't cover it. Upon investigation, Maggy Thorsen and her partner Sarah Kingston discover a body in a hidden room beneath Uncommon Grounds.

The body happens to be that of Sarah's apprentice Brigid, who had filed a complaint against her boss with the real estate board, giving Sarah the perfect reason to do away with her. Being the good friend that she is, Maggy promises to help prove Sarah's innocence.

Meanwhile, the underground room turns out to have been a private place for members of the mob to wait for the train to arrive at the station next door. A Chicago production company decides to do a television special about the room, and asks Maggy to cater for the crew, putting her in the perfect position to investigate.

Sandra Balzo has created another extremely enjoyable mystery. Maggy is a realistic and genuinely likeable protagonist who'd make a great next-door neighbor. Just a warning: if you believe that the pun is the lowest form of humour, Maggy's adventures may not be for you.

FTC Full Disclosure: The author was kind enough to provide me with an e-book in exchange for an honest review.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a murder mystery set in a small town, so all the characters know each other and know all about each other. Yet it definitely can't be classified as a cozy mystery!

The dialogue was written much in the form of the Puzzle Lady mysteries. It's a little difficult to become accustomed to, but is quite charming and effective in presenting the storyline.

The book is well written, and makes for fast reading. It has a bit of something for everyone: intrigue, murder, mystery, romance, and history! The guilty party was cleverly concealed until virtually the last page.

I didn't know it was a series when I started reading, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything. The story reads well on its own. I enjoyed reading Triple Shot very much!

Disclaimer: This review was written by my father, Ralph. I received the book free from the publishers for an honest review.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another poorly punctuated installment in the Maggy Thorsen series, but with a few interesting dialogue exchanges. Overly sarcastic with unnecessary quotation marks. (The reader gets it, ok?) Foul language equals the loss of one star.

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely hard to put down. I enjoyed the intrigue and mystery that permeated the novel. There was always an suspenseful undercurrent. The main character, Maggy, and her friend, Sarah, are just becoming successful when everything turns around. Now, rather than sweet drinks they are dealing with the stench of corpses.


The characters were likable, even funny at times. Maggy was intense, but smart. Sarah had a mouth on her at times, but she acted as the comic relief at times. The secondary characters were interesting, rounded out the book. The events were fairly fast-paced, the reader couldn't really predict what was going to happen next. This book is recommended to adult readers.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a vile smell coming from underneath Maggy Thorsen's coffee shop. Given her track record as a magnet for bodies, that can mean only one thing. Unfortunately, it seems that the victim is someone who had really angered Maggy's partner, difficult real estate agent Sarah Kingston, who's afraid that the local sheriff, Maggy's boyfriend, suspects her. Then there's the over-the-hill tv journalist from Chicago who wants to do a story about a mob vs. FBI massacre in the area more than thirty years ago. I worry that this series is pushing the bounds of probability.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggy Thorsen, owner of 'Uncommon Grounds' is so happy with her new business partner, Sarah and just how business is going in general. That is until...she walks in the door and smells a smell beyond description.

As she heads outdoors to investigate, she meets a reality television producer, actor etc. Maggie learns of an old Mafia connection to her little town, Brookhills, WI.

In this novel, we have lost treasures, dead bodies, and old FBI cases or are they that old? By the way, why are real estate agents being murdered?

This and more as you read this interesting cozy coffeehouse drama.

[Spuddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent enough entry in one of the few semi-cozy series I still enjoy. I really like Maggy Thorsen, the main character, and the secondary characters are interesting, diverse and pretty well fleshed out too...but the solution to the mystery in this one was glaringly obvious from the get-go and things were just a bit too predictable.

Still, always nice to visit Uncommon Grounds--I'll have a tall sugar-free Hazelnut Latte, please. :)

[ChrisGA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Maggy. Her coffee shop is a magnet for dead bodies, and she can't help trying to solve the murders. This seventh in the series has her shop reeking and the odor caused by yet again another body hidden in a secret room. Mafia history, missing treasure, and a serial real estate agent killer keep Maggy and the reader guessing until the very end.

[Beth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Sandra Balzo set in a coffee shop. This one kept me guessing and the main character, Maggie Thorsen, becomes a hero and goes viral by the end of the caper. Fun series and I drank them all in as quickly as I could. I am excited to read the next one in the series that comes out in December!!!! Keep em coming!!

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and the main character is a joy to read. The supporting cast is endearing in it's eccentricities and the plots are always, I think, well thought out and this one had me guessing all the way to the end. I really hope Ms. Balzo continues with this series.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid mystery from Sandra Balzo called Triple Shot. They are always an enjoyable read, and I do like Maggie. Would definitely want to sit down to a bottle of wine with her sometime as she seems like she'd be good company. The mystery itself was interesting enough.

[Lindig · Rating 2 out of 5]

I vaguely remember trying another of this series and not finishing it, either. I just don't like the main character. And if I don't like the heroine, why would I want to spend time with her? Oh, it's not that she's nasty or mean or weird, she's just pedantic, humorless, and boring.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had difficulty getting into this story...? Storyline was smooth enough, kept a nice pace

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy the writing, characters and light tone of the Balzo coffee shop mysteries, but this one does stretch some limits. I guess this happens when just about any series goes on and on.