Following a string of high profile digital robberies, FBI agent Lucielle and Cyber Crimes Analyst Olivia work to chase down the hackers responsible. But they have no idea those criminals are sitting in the cars ahead of them in the drive through.
Only one person may be able to link them all together and fill in the missing gaps: Amanda Lexie, the barista who knows them all by name and remembers their “usual” orders on sight.
But as the mob works to cover their tracks, Amanda’s involvement with the police puts a target on her back. When the cyber crimes move into missing persons and murder, Lucielle and Olivia must work together before it’s too late for their favorite barista.
J. J. Hanna is a writer from Centennial, Colorado. She graduated Taylor University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Writing, and loves the publishing industry immensely. She is passionate about helping others reach their full potential through writing, design, and platform development.
In her free time you can find her baking, working out, reading a new suspense novel, or drinking coffee (sometimes all at the same time). She loves anything that will give her an adrenaline rush, and is always looking for the next great suspense novel.
Amanda Lexie makes everyone's day start off right with her cheer, kindness, and memory of their favorite drinks. Not only does F.B.I. agent Lucielle look forward to seeing her favorite barista, Lexie, but so do George, Adam, and Olivia. One is the head of the police cyber team, one is s hacker, and the third is the power behind a hacking crime ring.
When Lucielle realizes that the companies that have been hit by the hacking thieves have links with the company that Amanda works for, she enlists the young barista's aid. However, Amanda's being gone for a day arouses suspicion. One suspicious action leads to another until one of Amanda's regulars is murdered.
Hanna writes each chapter from the viewpoint of one of the characters. She builds suspense with humor and various viewpoints. It's a delightful cozy.
Coffee and crime... say no more, this was made for me.
As a certified coffeeholic, the concept alone had me sold before I even opened it. A barista who knows every regular's order by heart, and doesn't realize she is the one thread connecting a string of high-profile hackers. There is something fun about a mystery that stays this grounded, no over-the-top action, just everyday routines hiding something much darker underneath.
It took me a minute to settle into the multiple POVs, more voices than I usually juggle, but once it clicked, I liked how everything wove together. J.J. Hanna's writing style pulled me through fast, and even though I'm not sure "cozy mystery" is the exact right label, it comes pretty close... call it a coffee cozy, maybe.😊
Quick, engaging, and different enough from my usual reads that it stood out. I'd absolutely pick up more from this author.
--- I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A short novella that turns the expensive daily drive-thru beverage habits of individuals into the backdrop for a surprisingly satisfying cybercrime mystery/thriller. The regulars come through Denver's Morning Brew drive-thru every morning, ordering the usual over and over. Amanda is a great barista who is genuinely cheerful and makes each beverage perfectly. She knows little about the personal lives of the regular customers beyond their beverages but she plays a larger role in their lives than she knows. Amanda is about to find out just how large a role when a string of cyber robberies leads law enforcement to Morning Brew and, more specifically, to her.
🧵✨ Thread of Gold: Quote Highlight ✨🧵 No Quotes sorry
📖Spoiler-Free Book Summary📖
Amanda works at a coffee shop, she is a barista. Nothing more, nothing less. And if you work in the same place for a long time you are inevitably going to get some regulars which you know what to get for as soon as you see their face or hear their voice. Amanda has 4 regulars: Adam, George, Lucille and Olivia.
But if short-hand interactions, limited talk and general interactions how much do you actually know about the people you are serving? One could be a murderer, the next a millionaire and the third a secret agent, who knows? One thing is for certain, Amanda certaintly didn't know her regulars, and as she finds out it becomes more certain that she never wanted to.
😎😎Spoiler Free Opinions 😎😎
J. J. Hanna has made a very cozy short book with a easy to follow Mystery/Thriller elements to it. The book is written in POV of each characters and as the story progresses we and Amanda slowly learns more and more of each regular, and who is bad, good and how they are each connected.
Initially the Blurb of the ARC is what attracted me to see what this story was about as it felt very new and original, and I do say that it was. The barista angle though was a little overdone for me, and the constant talk of coffee and how much it was needed and the reference to her being a barista was a little overdone for me, but ultimately didn't affect the story that much. Just the groan or roll of the eye every now and then when it was brough up just one too many times.
The story is fairly easy to follow and a really good palate cleanser or if you have a 2 hours waiting period on a train, plane etc. it fits perfectly in. Sometimes while reading I had the feeling that this book could very much be written by someone who has worked as a Barista or in the service branch and when there is nothing to do you fever-dream crazy events up in your head, and then this story stuck and she wrote a full story out of it.
Ultimately I had a very good time, the book is short yet the story felt very true, easy to follow and broad enough that I didn't get bored, and the crime part of it felt very thought out so it wasn't just thrown in for the sense of a plot to move the story forward. A very fine debut for the author.
"The Regulars of Amanda Lexie" is a crime/ detective/ police procedural, & is quite short.
It's written in chapters from the POVs of various characters, each in first person. The writing is brisk, the suspense holds, there is no gore or perversion, the situations & goings-on feel real, specific habits of the characters are highlighted. Resources of the modern world, accessible equally to the lawless, & the law enforcement, are depicted.
The characters are relateable, indeed, any of those could be around us right now. Scary as it is, there are people capable of not just financial crimes, but also bodily harm walk among us. Main protagonist Amanda Lexie is believable & likeable. We peer into the minds of the antagonists also.
What I like in this book is that nothing is larger-than-life, not the crime, not the technology, it's all very everyday, & within that background, the author has created a thrilling story of police chasing criminals & civilian getting entangled.
The concept which is interesting - a coffee place connecting the perpetrators & victims - is also why this feels a bit unlikely … the whole point of cybercrime is to conduct it from a place which is not in the jurisdiction of the law enforcement of where it is conducted.
Overall, this is a satisfying & quick read, an expertly written debut.
I received an advance review copy for free at BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie by J. J. Hanna is a delightful cozy mystery that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The story follows FBI agent Lucielle and Cyber Crimes Analyst Olivia as they investigate a series of digital robberies, only to discover that the key to solving the case may be Amanda Lexie, a friendly barista who knows her regular customers better than anyone else.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is Hanna’s ability to connect the characters and storylines seamlessly from chapter to chapter. The characters feel authentic and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their lives and the outcome of the investigation. Amanda is especially memorable, and anyone who has ever had a favorite coffee shop or barista will find her character particularly enjoyable.
What makes this mystery so much fun is the way it changes how you look at everyday people. After reading, you may find yourself wondering about the customers standing in line for their usual coffee or the drivers waiting ahead of you in the drive-through. Just who are they, really?
The blend of cyber crime, suspense, and small-town charm creates an entertaining and unique mystery. The pacing is excellent, the plot is engaging, and the stakes continue to rise as the investigation expands into missing persons and murder.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with likable characters, intriguing twists, and a fresh premise, The Regulars of Amanda Lexie is a wonderful read. Highly recommended!
This was such a fun and unique little mystery! I really loved the idea of a barista unknowingly being the connection between a group of people whose lives are much more complicated—and dangerous—than they appear on the surface. The coffee shop setting made the whole story feel surprisingly cozy despite the cybercrime, missing persons, and murder happening in the background.
I especially enjoyed the multiple POVs and getting to see how all of the characters and their seemingly ordinary interactions slowly connected. Amanda was definitely my favorite. She felt incredibly relatable, and I loved how something as simple as remembering someone’s usual coffee order ended up being so important to the story.
It’s a very quick read with short chapters and a fast pace, so it was easy to fly through. I did figure out a few things before they were revealed, and I think I would have enjoyed a little more depth and a few more twists, but overall this was an entertaining and refreshing take on the cozy mystery/thriller genre.
A great choice when you want something suspenseful without being overly dark or complicated. ☕️🔎
Thank you J.J. Hanna and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this as an ARC for free!
Thank you to the publisher and BookSirens for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
This was a quick, cozy mystery with plenty of coffee shop charm and enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. I especially enjoyed the café atmosphere, and I thought the investigative details surrounding the crime were well developed. Even when I wasn’t completely invested, I still wanted to know how everything would come together, which made it an easy book to finish.
For me, the pacing felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked more time for the characters and story to develop. The writing style also didn’t quite click with me—it felt a bit flatter than I expected and read more like a young adult novel, even though this is marketed as an adult mystery.
Overall, while this one wasn’t the best fit for my personal reading preferences, I think readers looking for a light, cozy mystery with coffee shop vibes, a fast pace, and a solid central mystery may really enjoy it.
I really enjoyed this book!. It wasn’t until I glanced down at the percentage on my Kindle and saw 79% that I thought, “Wait, this is a short story and it’s almost over already?” One thing I loved was how everyone seemed to be against each other throughout the entire story. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel bad for poor Amanda. She’s basically was over there like, “I just serve all of y’all coffee…what do I have to do with any of this?” 😂😂 Other than being an entertaining story, it also highlights how much our daily routines matter and how closely people pay attention to them. It was interesting to see how much people can actually know about the individuals they see regularly, even when they think they barely know them at all. Overall, it was a great read that was both engaging and surprisingly thought-provoking
What a fun, easy read! You really get to know the characters as the story unfolds, and the small clues linking people together throughout were fun to pick up on. It made me feel a little bit like a detective myself! The character that shines the most is, of course, Amanda herself. She’s a smart, capable protagonist, and so relatable in how she reacts to suddenly being pulled into such an unexpected situation (she's just a barista!!). I would probably react similarly if I were her.
Lastly, I really appreciated the contemplations of what it means to connect with people, even strangers, in a time when community seems more difficult to find. It's really interesting to think about how you may be an important part of someone's day/life, without even knowing it.
(I received an eARC copy for free from the author via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
The Regulars of Amanda Lexie is a cozy mystery that perfectly blends small-town charm, memorable characters, and plenty of intrigue. What begins with Amanda serving coffee to her familiar daily customers gradually unfolds into a layered mystery filled with secrets, hidden connections, and unexpected twists. I loved how each regular had their own unique story and personality, adding depth to both the mystery and the emotional heart of the novel. The warm coffee shop setting creates a comforting atmosphere, while the suspense steadily builds as long-buried truths come to light. Character-driven, engaging, and full of surprises, this is a great read for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with heart, strong relationships, and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this is an honest review.
Author J.J. Hanna wrote a fun, smart and witty story with The Regulars of Amanda Lexie. Coffee is everything to the customers that barista Amanda Lexie servers each day, especially for those Amanda knows what her regulars want- never imaging that kinda of knowledge could mean anything as a series of criminal activity are warring around... and police and FBI are racing to end it; and Amanda finds herself at centerstage of people with gray morals and feeling one lone coffee barista could bring more trouble than messing up an person's drink order.
Amanda Lexie is getting caught up in some crazy shit.
What an interesting book! As each character places their order in the drive-through, Amanda Lexie greets them and fulfills their order at the window. She becomes instrumental in the unfolding cybercrime involving each of the characters, both the criminal and enforcement element. It's a satisfying fast-paced book, expertly written with fully developed characters. Another late night for me, I couldn't wait to see how it ended. Looking forward to reading this author's next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this book. It was a unique concept. The multiple viewpoints really highlighted how one person could be intertwined in so many different people's lives. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The writing was done very well. Even though I could somewhat see what was going to happen, the different viewpoints added depth to the story. I just wish there had been a few more twists in the story.
Bravo to debut author J. J. Hanna on her original and highly entertaining The Regulars of Amanda Lexi. A perfect cozy thriller about a barista and her ‘regulars’, it’s a quick, fun read that kept me turning (or rather, swiping) pages, not wanting the story to end. It’s a great twist on crime fiction, highlighting the way an ordinary person, Amanda the barista, truly makes a difference by recognizing and caring for her customers. Can’t wait to see what J. J. Hanna comes up with next!
A fast-paced short read that will make you want to run to your nearest coffee shop!
The premise and coffee shop setting are intriguing. I really enjoyed the short chapters, multi-POV setup, watching how the characters' lives interweave, and seeing the illustration of each character’s coffee cup at the beginning of their chapters.
I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jori Hanna has written a jewel of a book in THE REGULARS OF AMANDA LEXIE--a cybercrime story with a dose of complex intrigue and murder. Amanda is a likeable barista caught up in the tangled web of regulars who frequent her coffee shop. She and the "regulars" carry the plot and keep the reader moving through this short work. It's also a good glimpse into the intricacies of what the scammers and evil-doers are up to as regards money laundering and theft. Well worth the read!
The cloak and dagger 🗡 makes it quite suspenseful. There was a shocking homicide, I didn't see coming. Greed made these people stay too long before they dipped. There are some huge twist and turns for one batista!! Check out if you dare.
I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
This was a really fun read. I enjoyed getting to know each character. JJ Hanna wrote each chapter from the perspective of the different characters. It took a few chapters to get into the book, but once I got to know the characters the plot was fun to follow. There was plenty of action that kept me turning the pages.
I loved the premise of this book. The idea that we don't know who we could be sharing a drive-thru lane with is intriguing. We do seek routine and relationship even when we're trying to hide in plain sight. For a first novel, I think JJ did a great job. It's a quick engaging read.
A really different mystery with a coffee shop employee who gets tangled up with some really dangerous people. She almost lioses her life. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. This is my first book by J.J. and I absolutely loved it. Perfect amount of intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed how the story unfolded. Great read.
An interesting premise of the innocent bystander caught up as collateral damage. Who knew being a barista could be so dangerous! The book moves fast with all the different characters view points; which is why I really like it.
Picked up this book on a whim and thoroughly enjoyed. It's a well written, fast moving mystery that was fun in a big way. It won't take you long to read, even if you read as slowly as I do. I'm looking forward to more from this young author.