Summer’s sizzling in Magnolia Grove—and this year’s Barbecue Bash is serving up more than just smoked brisket and bluegrass.
Parker Hayes thought she could handle the heat—until reality show chaos rolls into town along with the swaggering Blackwell brothers. Between feeding caffeine to half the county, dodging cameras in her cafe and watching Hazel get starry-eyed over her new production gig, Parker’s feeling more charred than a forgotten pork chop.
When one of the Blackwells ends up dead—and someone’s trying to skewer Parker’s dear friend Clyde for the crime—Parker starts poking around for the truth. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that she can always smoke out the secrets in Magnolia Grove.
A Roast of Revengeis a cozy mystery cooked low and slow with juicy secrets, bold suspects and a sleuth who won’t rest until justice is served—preferably with a side of Texas sheet cake.
All books in the series can be read as standalones.
The Cafe Crimes Cozy Mystery Series
A Shot of ScandalA Drizzle of DangerA Blend of BetrayalA Measure of MayhemA Sprinkle of SecretsA Hint of HomicideA Dash of DeceitA Pinch of PerilA Brew of BlundersA Roast of RevengeA Crumble of ChaosA Dusting of DoubtA Twist of TroubleA Dollop of DisasterA Whisk of WoesAlso coming to the Cafe Crimes Cozy Mystery
A Cup of CrimeA Steep of SuspicionA Pour of PanicA Grind of GuiltA Splash of SuspenseA Latte of LiesA Teaspoon of TerrorA Swirl of ShadowsA Mocha of Murder
Simone Stier and her husband Peter are the duo behind the bestselling Cafe Crimes cozy mystery series—clean, humorous whodunits filled with small-town secrets, quirky characters and twisty cases to solve.
Blending humor, heart and Southern charm, Simone’s mysteries are perfect for fans who love clean fun, coffee-fueled adventures and amateur sleuths who always find themselves in the middle of trouble. When she and Peter aren’t plotting their next fictional crime, they’re exploring North Carolina with their dog Cali.
Their heroine, Parker Hayes, is a former true-crime podcaster turned cafe owner and amateur sleuth. In the charming town of Magnolia Grove, Parker serves up lattes, laughter and clever sleuthing while stumbling into mysteries that keep readers guessing until the very last page.
Ready to start your next cozy read? Discover the Cafe Crimes series and sign up for Simone’s newsletter for a free story and author updates..
Oh Parker! You can’t stay away from a mystery any better than a pulled pork sandwich! Another intriguing “who-done-it” at the BBQ fest, with a twist. I love how author Stier engages the reader, as if we are Parker’s side kick and she is taking us with her as she investigates. There were a few surprises and a lot of delicious barbecue. Count me in for a tasty drink specialty, a side of mystery and some funny encounters.
I could read these cozy mysteries until the day I die — I love the characters, I love the mysteries, and I love the whole idea of moving to a new place and finding a whole new family. I especially liked the plot twist this time — even though I had an inkling of something, I was completely surprised.
Another riveting and enjoyable book in this series. There's never a dull moment in Parker's life as she navigates providing coffee and pastry to a production crew filming the annual barbecue festival. Add in the loss of her assistant baker Hazel who suddenly has the television celebrity bug and more secrets, lies, and jealousy than the law allows. Who knew barbecue competitions could be so cut throat or deadly!
Again Parker uses her skills as a true crime podcaster to get to the bottom of things and hopefully divert suspicion from her friend Clyde. Entertaining as are all the previous books with the regular cast of characters in this charming small town. And the set up for the next week sounds very intriguing.
I enjoyed this barbecue competition mystery. I love Simone Stiers use of words. I love the sweet things that Whit whispers to her. These mysteries keep on entertaining so that I can't wait to read the next one.