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Lacy Steele Mysteries #1
Morning Cup of Murder
After a disastrous few years trying to make it on her own, Lacy Steele returns to her tiny hometown. Feeling like a failure, she moves in with the one person guaranteed to make her fat, her beloved grandmother--a woman who uses food as love. As if to make her already depressing life more confusing, she reconnects with Jason, the former Adonis of their high school. Now a cop, Jason seemingly doesn't remember the frizzy-haired band geek Lacy was. Instead, he sees her as a potential problem, especially when someone she loves is arrested for murder. Lacy won't stop until the murder is solved, even if it means putting herself in danger. Somehow, Lacy is determined to clear a name, put her life back together, and heal old hurts. But more than anything she's determined not to fall in love with Jason Cantor.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2011
196 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Gray Bartal
170 books136 followersVanessa Gray Bartal is primarily a foodie who began writing when she was unable to find people willing to pay her to eat. She believes everyone deserves a happily ever after and works hard to make it happen, even in a murder mystery.
She would love to hear from you. Check out her Facebook author page for upcoming new releases, and drop her a line while you're there!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
September 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It's a pretty fast read and makes for a quick cozy mystery. The main character is Lacy Steele. A writer who has left New York to move home with her grandmother. Grandma is arrested for murder and Lacy sets out to prove her innocence. Definitely recommend especially for rainy day mystery reads.
October 19, 2013
A fun to read cozy mystery. Lacy Steels grandmother arrested for murder! No way this sweet Christian lady hurt anybody. Lacy has to find evidence to free her grandmother. New Pastor and old friends help her. I would like to read more of Lacy Steele. This is first of series.
July 25, 2019
Lacy Steele is a struggling freelance writer going nowhere. All she has is her laptop and her morning cup of coffee. With money not flowing in as fast as she needs, she must live with her sweet, old grandma, whom she adores. All of a sudden, Grandma becomes the prime suspect in a murder. That can’t be.
With her grandma’s freedom on the line and the chance to prove herself and get out of this writing rut, Lacy sets out to investigate, not resting until she finds the answers.
Story ingeniously answers the who, what, where, when, and why.
Crafty, sweet, and delightful!
With her grandma’s freedom on the line and the chance to prove herself and get out of this writing rut, Lacy sets out to investigate, not resting until she finds the answers.
Story ingeniously answers the who, what, where, when, and why.
Crafty, sweet, and delightful!
May 31, 2018
Silly, easy read, but decent mystery. However, enjoying a novel, then, BAM! Incorrect terminology goes and ruins it! "Shoe-in" is a common misspelling for "shoo-in"! Where is the editing in today's books?
October 7, 2013
Lacy reminds me a bit of Calamity Jane. She, Jason and Tosh make a great little triangle. I like the story and quickly moved on to the 2nd.
October 30, 2021
This was a FUN read! It's nothing philosophical, political, or thought-provoking, but it was an easy, relaxing, romantic mystery ... Lacy, the poor heroine, was betrayed and so moved back home, only to have the only adult in her life hauled off to jail for a murder she didn't commit. Lacy decides she's gonna help the police do their job, although she has no clue how to do that, and gets herself into trouble - every single time! The ending blind-sided me, and that's okay, because I'd rather a surprise that figure it out too early in the book! I'm looking forward to more of the series to see how Lacy develops her new relationships.
March 22, 2021
This book is well written, but for me was more like a romance than a mystery. The actual investigation of the mystery was more a secondary thought and the culprit just sprang out at the end in a way I didn't find believable. Great for those wanting a romance with a bit of mystery. Not really for those wanting a classic mystery.
September 8, 2017
Wow! Excellent writing!
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters had such depth that I can't decide Whois my favorite. I loved them all! Vanessa Gray Bartel, you have become my favorite author.
I enjoyed this book so much. The characters had such depth that I can't decide Whois my favorite. I loved them all! Vanessa Gray Bartel, you have become my favorite author.
January 27, 2019
A good mystery/romance. Kept me interested all the way through. I will mention it to my friends..
A good mystery/romance. Kept me interested through to the end. I will be sure to precommend it to my friends.
A good mystery/romance. Kept me interested through to the end. I will be sure to precommend it to my friends.
May 2, 2023
This is the book that got me hooked on all things Vanessa Gray Bartal! They just get better and better as the Lacy Steele Mysteries series goes on. VGB has lots of other series to enjoy as well. I love them all!
January 10, 2025
I’m new to this author.
Every once in awhile I try to read something from an author who is new to me. I loved this book, I loved the characters and I will be adding Vanessa Gray Bartal to my favourite author list.
Every once in awhile I try to read something from an author who is new to me. I loved this book, I loved the characters and I will be adding Vanessa Gray Bartal to my favourite author list.
May 29, 2017
Very good book
This is an amazing story filled with a lot of mystery, with some
Him or and s shocking reveal that catches the reader off guard. Loved this book!
This is an amazing story filled with a lot of mystery, with some
Him or and s shocking reveal that catches the reader off guard. Loved this book!
June 4, 2017
Predictable:
The plot was interesting but the characters were almost stereotypical. They behaved and spoke as would be expected by any reader
The plot was interesting but the characters were almost stereotypical. They behaved and spoke as would be expected by any reader
March 13, 2018
Good start to a series
A good mystery is one in which you can’t figure out who the killer is until the end. This is a good mystery.
A good mystery is one in which you can’t figure out who the killer is until the end. This is a good mystery.
October 27, 2018
Kept me interested
Such a well-written book, and no sordid sex scenes! It proves you can write a good book without filling it with trash.
Such a well-written book, and no sordid sex scenes! It proves you can write a good book without filling it with trash.
July 29, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Lacy is great fun. A fun read full of laughs, a little romance and a decent mystery.
September 13, 2019
A sweet romance novel with a crime twist
The book is more of a romance novel with a crime twist. I like my detective novel with less sugar coating
The book is more of a romance novel with a crime twist. I like my detective novel with less sugar coating
July 26, 2020
1.5 maybe because it was a fast read. The story wasn’t great and neither were the characters.
May 2, 2021
I was surprised with the killer.
Good easy read. Kept me up later than I wanted but I had to know!! Then Bamm, surprise! Yup. Good book. Try it.
Good easy read. Kept me up later than I wanted but I had to know!! Then Bamm, surprise! Yup. Good book. Try it.
July 8, 2021
Easy summer readin
Easy read and entertaining summer book. The characters well likable and the plot enjoyable. As my first read of the summer, it was very satisfying.
Easy read and entertaining summer book. The characters well likable and the plot enjoyable. As my first read of the summer, it was very satisfying.
September 23, 2021
I don't see how anyone could not absolutely love this series.
October 12, 2021
Interesting story
Honestly, I had a hard time connecting to the book at first, but it picked up. ....I wouldn't have been as forgiving of the pie admission, but that's me.
Honestly, I had a hard time connecting to the book at first, but it picked up. ....I wouldn't have been as forgiving of the pie admission, but that's me.
December 6, 2021
For such a short book it took me forever to read. A very odd and convoluted mystery and I can't say I loved the ending, but the characters were good and I will read the second book.
October 11, 2022
I thought they mystery was good. However a bit to much romance for my taste. the story flowed well and was nice to read, but not my cup of Joe.
May 27, 2023
Would suggest whole series if you like the first one:)
December 28, 2023
Not my cup of tea.
Read
October 3, 2024Well written
This well written cozy mystery has small town easy vibes. The storytelling is easy to follow, the characters are wide and varied, and the tone is lovely.
This well written cozy mystery has small town easy vibes. The storytelling is easy to follow, the characters are wide and varied, and the tone is lovely.
June 27, 2014
Lacy Steele returns to her hometown after a bad breakup with her ex who strangely enough gets together with her sister, Riley. Things don't get better in Mudville when Lacy's grandmother is arrested for murder! Lacy can't understand why the detective of the police force is trying so hard to implicate a little old lady for such a murder. Lacy decides that it is up to her to solve the mystery along with her classmate (He was the school jock and most popular guy in school.) and cop, Jason and new pastor to her grandmother's church, Tosh.
I think this book is mis-named. I mean, she does go to her favorite local coffee shop for coffee every morning because she doesn't know how to make it on her own. And I see why they named it that, but I don't want to give away anything. But I just kept thinking it should be called the Banana Cream Pie Murder. The murder weapon was the knife they had used to cut up the banana cream pie that Lacy's poor dastardly Grandmother had brought the deceased before she was... deceased. (Lacy's grandmother is not dastardly)
The big twist at the end took me totally by surprise. I wasn't expecting that sort of twist at all. Good on you, Vanessa! When I bought this book a few years ago, I think it was the cover that kept me from reading it. It just looks dang cheesy. But the text is not cheesy at all. This is a well-written and interesting story. The murder story was complex and the characters are all individual and well drawn out. No cardboard people in this book. I was captivated by Lacy and all her exploits. This is definitely one you want to check out. I mean, it's only 99 cents in the Kindle store and worth every penny. So, how can you lose? This book takes the axiom "don't judge a book by its cover" to a whole new level.
I think this book is mis-named. I mean, she does go to her favorite local coffee shop for coffee every morning because she doesn't know how to make it on her own. And I see why they named it that, but I don't want to give away anything. But I just kept thinking it should be called the Banana Cream Pie Murder. The murder weapon was the knife they had used to cut up the banana cream pie that Lacy's poor dastardly Grandmother had brought the deceased before she was... deceased. (Lacy's grandmother is not dastardly)
The big twist at the end took me totally by surprise. I wasn't expecting that sort of twist at all. Good on you, Vanessa! When I bought this book a few years ago, I think it was the cover that kept me from reading it. It just looks dang cheesy. But the text is not cheesy at all. This is a well-written and interesting story. The murder story was complex and the characters are all individual and well drawn out. No cardboard people in this book. I was captivated by Lacy and all her exploits. This is definitely one you want to check out. I mean, it's only 99 cents in the Kindle store and worth every penny. So, how can you lose? This book takes the axiom "don't judge a book by its cover" to a whole new level.
September 3, 2013
This is another cozy mystery series that I intend on pursuing further. Ms. Gray Bartal's first offering was well-written, humourous and kept me guessing until the end. I thought at one point that I had the mystery, murderer and motive all figured out, but I was wrong. The ending surprised me, which is a good thing, in my opinion, even though it did seem to come out of the blue a little bit. I love these kinds of mysteries full of small-town quirky characters and dark secrets, and the author has managed quite well to portray these elements.
Lacy was a very believable, relateable, and likeable character. She was flawed, scarred, vulnerable, feisty and determined. Despite all the obstacles and danger thrown her way, she was very dogged in her efforts to prove her grandma was innocent. Her loyalty and love toward the older woman was very admirable and sweet.
The one element I did have a bit of an issue with was the dreaded love triangle (at least, dreaded to me). Lacy's emotions were torn between Tosh, the new sexy pastor, and Jason, the sexy ex-football jock from high school. Ugh! I'm not sure which one of the potential love interests I prefer, but I guess I would be more inclined to choose Jason, even though he had a bit of an attitude and seemed to harbour some secrets of his own.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this start to the Lacy Steele series and would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.
Lacy was a very believable, relateable, and likeable character. She was flawed, scarred, vulnerable, feisty and determined. Despite all the obstacles and danger thrown her way, she was very dogged in her efforts to prove her grandma was innocent. Her loyalty and love toward the older woman was very admirable and sweet.
The one element I did have a bit of an issue with was the dreaded love triangle (at least, dreaded to me). Lacy's emotions were torn between Tosh, the new sexy pastor, and Jason, the sexy ex-football jock from high school. Ugh! I'm not sure which one of the potential love interests I prefer, but I guess I would be more inclined to choose Jason, even though he had a bit of an attitude and seemed to harbour some secrets of his own.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this start to the Lacy Steele series and would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.
February 21, 2013
A woman is stabbed to death in her home and Lacy Steele's Grandmother is arrested and held for the murder! Lacy is living with her grandmother since moving back home from New York after a devastating breakup with her fiance'.
When her Grandmother is arrested one of the police officers is a guy she went to high school with, the all-American jock and the guy everyone wanted to be associated with. Even though they had gone to school together he barely new her and she trys to explain to him that her grandmother is not guilty but nobody was listening.
So Lacy sets out to solve the murder herself and get her Grandmother out of jail.
This a cute little mystery that is well written and I enjoyed reading it very much. Wasn't ready for the ending though so I hope that there is more regarding Lacy and Jason in future books!
When her Grandmother is arrested one of the police officers is a guy she went to high school with, the all-American jock and the guy everyone wanted to be associated with. Even though they had gone to school together he barely new her and she trys to explain to him that her grandmother is not guilty but nobody was listening.
So Lacy sets out to solve the murder herself and get her Grandmother out of jail.
This a cute little mystery that is well written and I enjoyed reading it very much. Wasn't ready for the ending though so I hope that there is more regarding Lacy and Jason in future books!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews