In Roast Mortem:A Roastwood Hollow Cozy Mystery Book 1

Roastwood Hollow Cozy Mystery Series ( #1

by Kristin Helling

She will do whatever beans necessary...

When a Coffee Roaster discovers her landlord facedown in a pool of blood in the back room of the roastery, the police deem the crime as a staged suicide. But Clementine Matthews knows there’s more to this story. She must find the truth, or else lose both the future of her roastery residing in the building, and face a cold blooded murder on the loose in her small, cozy town.

In Roast Mortem is the first book of six in The Roastwood Hollow Cozy Mystery series. If you love amateur sleuths, animal companions, small town drama, and aaaall the cozy vibes, then you will love In Roast Mortem. Grab your copy today!

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2024

About the author

Kristin Helling writes stories that invite readers into small-town secrets and edge-of-your-seat suspense. She is the author of the Roastwood Hollow Cozy Mystery series, where charming coffee shops, quirky neighbors, and autumn festivals are never too far from a chilling murder. Kristin also writes thrillers and suspense novels, blending heart-pounding twists with deeply human characters who face danger, deception, and dark truths.

A lifelong booklover, Kristin grew up with a passion for storytelling and the idea that even the coziest places can hold the deepest mysteries. When she’s not writing, she owns a coffeehouse/roastery/bakery, co-owns her publishing company Wordwraith Books, is married to a photographer, and is Mama of two.

Her writing reflects her love of community, mystery, and the delicate balance of warmth and danger. Whether you prefer a comforting whodunit by the fire or a thriller that keeps you up all night, Kristin has a story to share.

📚 Series: Roastwood Hollow Cozy Mystery (In Roast Mortem, In Cold Brewed, Roastly Apparitions, with more to come!)

🔎 Genres: Cozy mystery, thrillers, suspense

☕ For fans of: Gilmore Girls, Agatha Christie, and stories that blend charm with chills

Reviews

[Brandon Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and cozy mystery. Glad we picked this one up at ComicCon. The author really knows her craft when it comes to both writing and coffee roasting. Makes me wish I could visit the small town of Roastwood Hollow.

[Angela Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful cozy mystery. Full of interesting and likeable characters in the setting of a quaint town. Murder, mystery, and intrigue made this book a page turner. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by this author.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roast Mortem is an enjoyable cozy mystery that blends charm with intrigue. The coffee shop setting feels warm and inviting and the characters bring plenty of energy to the story. The mystery itself is engaging and unfolds at a steady pace that kept me curious without ever dragging. It offers just the right mix of tension and comfort.
What stood out most to me was the balance between suspense and lighthearted moments. The writing has a smooth flow and the conversations between characters feel natural. Although there were a few slower sections the overall experience was very satisfying. This is a book I would recommend to cozy mystery fans looking for a fun and flavorful read.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute & cozy. Perfect series to start for fall.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Bibliophile Foodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a cozy treat. I picked it up because I love small-town mysteries, and it delivered everything I hoped for with quirky characters, a charming setting, and a murder that kept me guessing.

Clementine Matthews is a coffee roaster with a big heart and a sharp mind. She’s trying to keep her business afloat when she stumbles upon her landlord’s body. The police think it’s a suicide, but Clem isn’t convinced. I loved how determined she was to find the truth, even when others told her to back off.

Officer Simon Drake, the new cop in town, brought a little tension and a hint of romance, which made things even more interesting.

The mystery itself was well-paced, with just enough twists to keep me hooked. I’m already looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Janel Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorable Short Review:

Brewed with charm and suspense, She Will Do Whatever Beans Necessary is a delightful cozy mystery with a dark twist. Clementine Matthews is a witty, relatable heroine whose determination to solve a murder blends perfectly with small-town secrets and coffee shop vibes. With just the right mix of humor, heart, and whodunit, this fun, fast-paced read is the perfect pick for mystery lovers looking for something both cozy and compelling.

[Lee Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a cozy treat to read. The story set in a small town filled with fun and quirky characters was just the read I needed to start my fall reading season. It is well written, and I could not guess who the killer was until the end.

[Rhea Vynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved warming up with this cozy little mystery which is a lot different than my usual go to reads...but how can you go wrong with coffee?

The main character Clementine is easy to connect with from the start, she owns a roastery in Roastwood Hollow and she has the most adorable little supervisor, a beaded dragon she called Ro. When a body is found inside her roastery she does what anyone would do...search for answers even when she's told she needs to stop by the new in town, good looking officer, Simon Drake.

There's a bit of romance, twists and turns, and that ah ha moment that your heart starts racing as all the pieces begin to come together.

I'm looking forward to the next book!

[Shelby Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun cozy mystery! I love books like this when I’m in a reading slump and want to ponder on who was the killer. Plus there was a bearded dragon pet which was a cute touch and the theme was coffee- reading the book made me want to drink coffee the whole time. I did not guess the killer (which I love) and I liked the sassy tattooed Clementine. Great work!

[Sarah Wakeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book! I felt like I was roasting the beans and had a bearded dragon as a bestie! Great writing, great characters and great plot! Can’t wait for the rest of this series!

The author, in all genres, is always a MUST READ!

[CR1017 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Roast Mortem is the first in a series of cozy mysteries featuring Clementine Matthews, owner of a coffee roasting business in the small town of Roastwood Hollow.
Clementine has a pet bearded dragon named Robusta, or Ro for short, which makes for a change of pace, given that the animal sidekick in most cozies is a dog or cat

I enjoyed this first book, it was quick paced, and a fun read.
I received an advance review copy from Hidden Gems & I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading In Roast Mortem: A Roastwood Hollow Cozy Mystery Book 1 and how Kristin Helling kept us guessing who the real killer was. I had read most of the book in one sitting! If you like mysteries and fairly fast reads, then this book is for you! I highly recommend this book and I can't wait until the next in this series comes out!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is going to need to find the truth when she finds her landlord dead. The police seem it a suicide but she knows it is more than that so she she will need to find the truth or lose everything she has done so far. See how she gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great murder mystery

[Cherie Melbourne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read of a story by a author new to me. I thought the bearded dragon was cute but I totally discounted Clem as a sleuth because she failed badly at working out who the killer was.
I liked the back characters, but this is not a story I would read again, once was enough.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Holly]

DNF @23%

[L.B. Holding · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, cozy read where you get to learn all about coffee roasting, from beans to brew. Thanks for this one, Kristin!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grab your cup of coffee and enjoy this cute, cozy read on a cold winter day!! Really enjoyed how there was a touch of romance and action in this short fun read.