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A Harvest of Secrets in Mocha Mills: A Small Town Coffee Cozy Mystery
When renowned food photographer Julian Montgomery arrives to document Mocha Mills' annual Harvest Market Festival, café owner Vivian Palmer finds herself once again at the center of small-town drama. Julian's demanding personality and artistic arrogance quickly make him enemies among the festival vendors. But when he's fatally electrocuted during his special twilight photography session, what initially appears to be a tragic accident soon reveals itself as something far more complex. With the festival suspended and the town in shock, Vivian's knack for observation draws her into her fifth murder investigation.
Joining forces with her husband Frank, librarian Sylvia, and her visiting daughter Zoe, Vivian uncovers a web of long-simmering resentments centered around Julian's habit of stealing others' creative work. As the investigation deepens, multiple suspects emerge, each with technical knowledge, opportunity, and powerful motives for revenge. When Julian's assistant is attacked while examining evidence, the stakes escalate dramatically. Vivian must follow a trail of specialized equipment, distinctive technical signatures, and hidden journals to unravel a mystery where nothing is as straightforward as it first appears.
With Sheriff Cooper once again valuing her insights, Vivian navigates personal connections and small-town politics while piecing together clues that point to an elaborate scheme of revenge and justice gone wrong. Set against the backdrop of autumn in Mocha Mills, this cozy mystery blends small-town charm with clever detective work as Vivian—twenty-eight pounds lighter and more confident than ever—proves that sometimes the most unassuming café owner can shed light on the darkest secrets. As harvest season brings renewal to Mocha Mills, Vivian must illuminate the truth before the killer can eliminate those who've discovered it.
Joining forces with her husband Frank, librarian Sylvia, and her visiting daughter Zoe, Vivian uncovers a web of long-simmering resentments centered around Julian's habit of stealing others' creative work. As the investigation deepens, multiple suspects emerge, each with technical knowledge, opportunity, and powerful motives for revenge. When Julian's assistant is attacked while examining evidence, the stakes escalate dramatically. Vivian must follow a trail of specialized equipment, distinctive technical signatures, and hidden journals to unravel a mystery where nothing is as straightforward as it first appears.
With Sheriff Cooper once again valuing her insights, Vivian navigates personal connections and small-town politics while piecing together clues that point to an elaborate scheme of revenge and justice gone wrong. Set against the backdrop of autumn in Mocha Mills, this cozy mystery blends small-town charm with clever detective work as Vivian—twenty-eight pounds lighter and more confident than ever—proves that sometimes the most unassuming café owner can shed light on the darkest secrets. As harvest season brings renewal to Mocha Mills, Vivian must illuminate the truth before the killer can eliminate those who've discovered it.
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 10, 2026
Vivian Palmer and her Perky Perk coffee cafe are a staple for the locals of Mocha Mills, so of course she has a coffee booth at the Fall Festival. When famed photographer Julian Montgomery is electrocuted and dies at the event, everyone is shocked and initially assumes an accident occurred. But no, after police investigation, someone set Julian up.
As Vivian, hubby Frank, daughter Zoe and bestie librarian pal Sylvia learn behind the scenes, Julian was a professional thief, stealing others work and taking credit for it. The theft goes back yearrrrrrs, and as the Perky Perk sleuthing team learn, this fella was a terrible, terrible person. While no one truthfully can be sad about the death of such a terrible human being, they continue to see the truth.
The personalities of a Vivian, her family, Sylvia (who doesn’t love a librarian gal pal?) and the other community characters really shine in this book and are a wonderful example of a close knit community that works together for good.
Soooooo many suspects, but as they all delve further into Julian’s records, all the stealing was documented. Vivian and group are putting clues together and the result is truly electrifying with shock and surprise. When the villain is revealed, it alllllllll comes together in a satisfactory ending and an absolutely worthwhile read
As Vivian, hubby Frank, daughter Zoe and bestie librarian pal Sylvia learn behind the scenes, Julian was a professional thief, stealing others work and taking credit for it. The theft goes back yearrrrrrs, and as the Perky Perk sleuthing team learn, this fella was a terrible, terrible person. While no one truthfully can be sad about the death of such a terrible human being, they continue to see the truth.
The personalities of a Vivian, her family, Sylvia (who doesn’t love a librarian gal pal?) and the other community characters really shine in this book and are a wonderful example of a close knit community that works together for good.
Soooooo many suspects, but as they all delve further into Julian’s records, all the stealing was documented. Vivian and group are putting clues together and the result is truly electrifying with shock and surprise. When the villain is revealed, it alllllllll comes together in a satisfactory ending and an absolutely worthwhile read
February 15, 2026
Complex mystery
Vivian worked together with many of her friends and police to heighten her powers of observation. Multiple suspects but who really did it?
Vivian worked together with many of her friends and police to heighten her powers of observation. Multiple suspects but who really did it?
July 12, 2026
Characters are very confusing! Is Olivia the mayor that everyone should know? The event coordinator that some know but not all?
August 8, 2026
Another great book with Vivian Palmer, her husband and daughter pooling what they find and passing it off to the sheriff, to solve another murder. Go grab this book number 5 of the series. Short but so worth reading. A murder with lots of different angles and to many suspects and something new always pops up. Happy reading.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews