Crema Crimewave: A Coastal Coffee Mystery

by Kate Montgomery, Ki Charm Kim (Illustrator)

CiCi Larkin knows her beloved community, Palmetto Breeze, is powered by two things-- strong coffee and small-town gossip. Working the counter of Azucar's coffee bar, CiCi is ready for chatting with friendly regulars and perfecting that creamy layer of crema on every latte.

 

What she didn't see brewing? A sudden crimewave that slams into downtown with the force of a hurricane.

 

Break-ins, thefts, and vandalism targeting local businesses leave shattered glass and shaken nerves in their wake. With the town's peace cracking under the strain and the people she loves caught in the crosshairs, CiCi can't resist poking around for answers.

 CiCi teams up with her crime-solving bestie, a no-nonsense police sergeant, and a sharp-witted circle of senior sleuths to follow clues from beachfront shops to shadowy back doors.

 

Because this trouble isn't random...

 

And CiCi may be the real target.

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 1, 2026

Reviews

[Miranda Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and enjoyable mystery read. The story follows a woman who has a knack for investigating things around town, but the more she uncovers, the more obvious it becomes that someone wants her to stop digging.

The pacing kept things moving, and the tension builds as the story unfolds. I appreciated how the mystery slowly reveals itself without giving too much away too soon.

If you enjoy small-town mysteries with a curious main character and a touch of danger, this is definitely worth picking up.

[welshliz75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an arc, one of my favourite things to do as get to experience all sorts of books. This was a great crime versus small town. The characters were very eclectic, and vibrant.. I loved getting to know each character as the book went on, to me there weren’t main characters as so many were involved from start to finish. I love crime stories and this mixed into a small town setting was a great idea, I enjoyed following the clues throughout the book and I would recommend it, the only downside for me is that it went on a bit too long, but I still enjoyed it.