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Poppy James #.5
Caffeine and a Corpse: A Poppy James Cozy Mystery
Murder’s brewing in Willowbrook—and it’s not just the coffee.
Poppy James expected the annual Book Festival to bring jam-sticky toddlers, coffee-fueled chaos, and a scone shortage—not a frantic librarian, a mysterious locket, and a body in the garden. As the eagle-eyed owner of Perk & Page, she tries to stay out of the gossip—until curiosity (and caffeine) pull her in.
Luckily, Poppy isn’t sleuthing alone. Nadine, her delightfully gossipy best friend, provides the sass and spectacle, while Midsip, her beagle sidekick, digs up clues—literally. Together, they follow a trail from cryptic notes and coded recipes to secret passages and a stash of suspicious ledgers.
As tensions rise, suspects a brooding author with secrets and a nervous mayor with everything to lose. But when warnings turn personal and a locked door becomes a trap, Poppy realizes she's in deeper than she ever planned.
Because if she doesn’t solve the mystery soon, Willowbrook’s cozy charm might turn deadly—and she could be the next name whispered over coffee.
Poppy James expected the annual Book Festival to bring jam-sticky toddlers, coffee-fueled chaos, and a scone shortage—not a frantic librarian, a mysterious locket, and a body in the garden. As the eagle-eyed owner of Perk & Page, she tries to stay out of the gossip—until curiosity (and caffeine) pull her in.
Luckily, Poppy isn’t sleuthing alone. Nadine, her delightfully gossipy best friend, provides the sass and spectacle, while Midsip, her beagle sidekick, digs up clues—literally. Together, they follow a trail from cryptic notes and coded recipes to secret passages and a stash of suspicious ledgers.
As tensions rise, suspects a brooding author with secrets and a nervous mayor with everything to lose. But when warnings turn personal and a locked door becomes a trap, Poppy realizes she's in deeper than she ever planned.
Because if she doesn’t solve the mystery soon, Willowbrook’s cozy charm might turn deadly—and she could be the next name whispered over coffee.
88 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2025
7 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 17, 2026
Not much to say about this from me.
The killer proved to be someone unexpected, but not in a clever surprising way.
And ... what kind of name for the dog is Midsip ? (when first encountered this word, first reaction was to consult a dictionary.... it was introduced pretty sudden, and not very clear related with the dog ...
The killer proved to be someone unexpected, but not in a clever surprising way.
And ... what kind of name for the dog is Midsip ? (when first encountered this word, first reaction was to consult a dictionary.... it was introduced pretty sudden, and not very clear related with the dog ...
August 25, 2025
I was captivated from the first to the last page of Caffeine and a Corpse, a brief, gripping novel full of mystery and suspense. You'll want to read it to the end, taking in all its twists and turns.
An excellent way to get started with the Poppy James Cozy Mystery series is with Caffeine and a Corpse. You will almost instantly fall in love with the wonderful cast of characters it presents.
In addition to a world of mystery and suspense, a body is discovered in the garden, along with several suspects. Poppy James, the proprietor of Perk & Page, enjoys solving mysteries. Poppy's beagle sidekick, Midsip, and her delightfully gossipy best friend, Nadine, are also introduced. Both of them assist Poppy in solving mysteries.
Poppy's story was a real pleasure to read, and I'm eager to see what she has in store for us in the upcoming Poppy James Cozy Mystery book.
All mystery lovers should read Caffeine and a Corpse! Get a copy now!
An excellent way to get started with the Poppy James Cozy Mystery series is with Caffeine and a Corpse. You will almost instantly fall in love with the wonderful cast of characters it presents.
In addition to a world of mystery and suspense, a body is discovered in the garden, along with several suspects. Poppy James, the proprietor of Perk & Page, enjoys solving mysteries. Poppy's beagle sidekick, Midsip, and her delightfully gossipy best friend, Nadine, are also introduced. Both of them assist Poppy in solving mysteries.
Poppy's story was a real pleasure to read, and I'm eager to see what she has in store for us in the upcoming Poppy James Cozy Mystery book.
All mystery lovers should read Caffeine and a Corpse! Get a copy now!
October 29, 2025
Poppy discovers a necklace at her cafe and when she finds out it belongs to the librarian and then she is found dead she wants to find out who killed her. Her assistant is not prepared and is frightened. Poppy investigates and finds coded records and a hidden archive of rare books. Poppy along with her dog and her friend Nadine try to solve the case. This was a fun story and I recommend it.
November 13, 2025
Poppy and Midsip investigate after finding a locket and then codes. Can they figure out what is goings on after the librarian is found dead? A great starter of the Poppy James Cozy Mystery by Gemma Harper.
September 24, 2025
Love books where the dog investigates. Short story but fun.
April 24, 2026
Not what I expected as I did not spot the killer. Although, I enjoyed tagging along with Poppy and her friends plus I could almost smell those cookies.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews