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A Cafe Crimes Cozy Mystery Series #8
A Pinch of Peril
A Pinch of Peril is the eighth book in the Cafe Crimes series—a clean culinary cozy mystery featuring amateur sleuth and former true-crime podcaster Parker Hayes in the charming small town of Magnolia Grove.
Parker Hayes is trying to keep things perky at Catch You Latte with Blueberry Bliss Lattes and a firm commitment to staying out of trouble. But when a mysterious note is found hidden inside an old jewelry box from the Winslow estate sale, Parker’s plans for a quiet season get tamped down.
When she shows up at the Winslow manor to ask a few questions, she finds a dead body—and Deputy Colton Watkins, just shy of retirement, standing over it. Suddenly, Parker’s swept into a tangled brew of family secrets, long-buried betrayals and an increasingly hostile State Bureau investigator who warns her to stay far, far away.
Meanwhile, anonymous texts start trickling in. Eerily familiar ones. Her old stalker—the reason she abandoned her podcast and city life—might not be as far behind her as she thought.
As Parker and friends dig into the past and present suspects—from resentful heirs and jilted friendships to a bitter barbershop owner—things only grow more dangerous. Is the murder tied to the mysterious note … or is someone using old wounds to cover up new crimes?
With a town full of eccentric suspects and one truly disturbing admirer, Parker must outwit a killer before this mystery turns into a triple shot of danger.
A Pinch of Peril is a charming and chilling cozy mystery filled with Southern flavor, slow-burn suspense and a sleuth who just can’t seem to quit. Cozy up with your favorite brew—this one’s got a kick.
Parker Hayes is trying to keep things perky at Catch You Latte with Blueberry Bliss Lattes and a firm commitment to staying out of trouble. But when a mysterious note is found hidden inside an old jewelry box from the Winslow estate sale, Parker’s plans for a quiet season get tamped down.
When she shows up at the Winslow manor to ask a few questions, she finds a dead body—and Deputy Colton Watkins, just shy of retirement, standing over it. Suddenly, Parker’s swept into a tangled brew of family secrets, long-buried betrayals and an increasingly hostile State Bureau investigator who warns her to stay far, far away.
Meanwhile, anonymous texts start trickling in. Eerily familiar ones. Her old stalker—the reason she abandoned her podcast and city life—might not be as far behind her as she thought.
As Parker and friends dig into the past and present suspects—from resentful heirs and jilted friendships to a bitter barbershop owner—things only grow more dangerous. Is the murder tied to the mysterious note … or is someone using old wounds to cover up new crimes?
With a town full of eccentric suspects and one truly disturbing admirer, Parker must outwit a killer before this mystery turns into a triple shot of danger.
A Pinch of Peril is a charming and chilling cozy mystery filled with Southern flavor, slow-burn suspense and a sleuth who just can’t seem to quit. Cozy up with your favorite brew—this one’s got a kick.
- GenresCozy Mystery
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2025
About the author
Simone Stier
27 books98 followersSimone Stier writes humorous cozy mysteries with coffee shops, bookshops, small towns and clever twists.
With humor, heart and plenty of small-town gossip, Simone’s books follow amateur sleuths as they uncover murder, secrets and scandal in charming Southern communities. Her Cafe Crimes series features a former true-crime podcaster turned barista and delivers binge-worthy mysteries filled with wit, charm and clever twists.
Simone lives in North Carolina with her husband and writing partner, Peter. When they aren’t plotting their next fictional crime, they’re probably cold plunging.
For fans of Cleo Coyle, Ellie Alexander and Tonya Kappes.
Join the newsletter for free short story + recipes simonestier.com
With humor, heart and plenty of small-town gossip, Simone’s books follow amateur sleuths as they uncover murder, secrets and scandal in charming Southern communities. Her Cafe Crimes series features a former true-crime podcaster turned barista and delivers binge-worthy mysteries filled with wit, charm and clever twists.
Simone lives in North Carolina with her husband and writing partner, Peter. When they aren’t plotting their next fictional crime, they’re probably cold plunging.
For fans of Cleo Coyle, Ellie Alexander and Tonya Kappes.
Join the newsletter for free short story + recipes simonestier.com
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 10, 2025
Intriguing cozy mystery! The stories get better & better! I highly recommend!
August 3, 2025
This was another good book on the series. The murder mysteries were very hard to solve. The stalker mystery was unexpected and more than creepy. I’m on to the next one in series!
Amazon synopsis:
Parker Hayes is trying to keep things perky at Catch You Latte with Blueberry Bliss lattes and a firm commitment to staying out of trouble. But when a mysterious note is found hidden inside an old jewelry box from the Winslow estate sale, Parker’s plans for a quiet season get tamped down.
When she shows up at the Winslow manor to ask a few questions, she finds a dead body—and Deputy Colton Watkins, just shy of retirement, standing over it. Suddenly, Parker’s swept into a tangled brew of family secrets, long-buried betrayals and an increasingly hostile State Bureau investigator who warns her to stay far, far away.
Meanwhile, anonymous texts start trickling in. Eerily familiar ones. Her old stalker—the reason she abandoned her podcast and city life—might not be as far behind her as she thought.
As Parker digs into the past and present suspects—from resentful heirs and jilted friendships to a bitter barbershop owner—things only grow more dangerous. Is the murder tied to the mysterious note … or is someone using old wounds to cover up new crimes?
Amazon synopsis:
Parker Hayes is trying to keep things perky at Catch You Latte with Blueberry Bliss lattes and a firm commitment to staying out of trouble. But when a mysterious note is found hidden inside an old jewelry box from the Winslow estate sale, Parker’s plans for a quiet season get tamped down.
When she shows up at the Winslow manor to ask a few questions, she finds a dead body—and Deputy Colton Watkins, just shy of retirement, standing over it. Suddenly, Parker’s swept into a tangled brew of family secrets, long-buried betrayals and an increasingly hostile State Bureau investigator who warns her to stay far, far away.
Meanwhile, anonymous texts start trickling in. Eerily familiar ones. Her old stalker—the reason she abandoned her podcast and city life—might not be as far behind her as she thought.
As Parker digs into the past and present suspects—from resentful heirs and jilted friendships to a bitter barbershop owner—things only grow more dangerous. Is the murder tied to the mysterious note … or is someone using old wounds to cover up new crimes?
February 11, 2026
Parker and Catch A Latte shop runs on caffeine, charisma and chaos, and a little help from her friends, her boyfriend Wilt Hawthorne, local historian, and Hazel, baker extraordinaire and sleuth sidekick.
So when Parker goes to the local estate home for a meeting and finds retiring sheriff Colton, just 2 weeks from his official retirement, standing over the dead body of an old friend and then accused of the murder he didn’t commit, she has no choice but to find the killer.
Unfortunately she has to deal with the FBI angent who is by the book and uptight to the extreme,
and a crazed stalker fan at the same time and strange clues and puzzles that don’t make sense.
So Parker does what she does best, piecing clues together while getting help and support from her friends, until the clues whirring around in her head suddenly come together in a brilliant, blinding flash with a truly blinding, revealing a shocking villain that none of us could see coming and an absolutely worthwhile read
So when Parker goes to the local estate home for a meeting and finds retiring sheriff Colton, just 2 weeks from his official retirement, standing over the dead body of an old friend and then accused of the murder he didn’t commit, she has no choice but to find the killer.
Unfortunately she has to deal with the FBI angent who is by the book and uptight to the extreme,
and a crazed stalker fan at the same time and strange clues and puzzles that don’t make sense.
So Parker does what she does best, piecing clues together while getting help and support from her friends, until the clues whirring around in her head suddenly come together in a brilliant, blinding flash with a truly blinding, revealing a shocking villain that none of us could see coming and an absolutely worthwhile read
May 10, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyable!
I love everything about Simone Stiers books. Makes me want to drink lattes the whole time I am reading them. If you enjoy small town mysteries and interesting characters you should read her books. Looking forward to the next one.
I love everything about Simone Stiers books. Makes me want to drink lattes the whole time I am reading them. If you enjoy small town mysteries and interesting characters you should read her books. Looking forward to the next one.
May 29, 2025
Personally, I found this one to be one of my favorites out of the series. I think it is because there was more suspense and I found myself not wanting to put the book down to see what was coming next.
June 2, 2025
Another great one!
I love this series! I have read all 8 books. They have the same lovable characters you feel like you know. Can't wait for the next book. I'm glad there is not a long wait between books.
I love this series! I have read all 8 books. They have the same lovable characters you feel like you know. Can't wait for the next book. I'm glad there is not a long wait between books.
December 3, 2025
Murder at the Manor
I really enjoyed this cosy mystery. I love
reading about the Catch you Latte cafe
I love the characters that live in these page's. The twist of the plot at the end had me breathless
I really enjoyed this cosy mystery. I love
reading about the Catch you Latte cafe
I love the characters that live in these page's. The twist of the plot at the end had me breathless
May 15, 2025
Surprise!
The Cafe Crimes series just keeps getting better and better, and this one took me by complete surprise. Murder. More murder. Stalking.
The Cafe Crimes series just keeps getting better and better, and this one took me by complete surprise. Murder. More murder. Stalking.
September 12, 2025
This book made me realize I think Parker should break up with Whit!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews