The Barista: A Peyton Beckford Thriller

by AJ Phillips

“Passionate, suspenseful and highly addictive! I held my breath until the last page...”
— ARC Reader

“I don’t think I’ve flown through a book so quickly in years!”
— ARC Reader

Peyton Merritt came home to Florida to disappear.

After leaving behind a life in New York that nearly broke her, she wanted a coffee shop near the Gulf, blueprints she could control, and a future small enough to feel safe.

Then Aidan Beckford walked through her door.

Powerful, dangerous, and impossible to ignore, Aidan belongs to a world Peyton should never old money, private islands, organized crime, and family wars that do not end cleanly.

When violence reaches her doorstep, Peyton is pulled into the Beckford empire and forced to decide how much of herself she is willing to risk for a man who may be the most dangerous thing in her life.

From the Gulf Coast to Jamaica to Ibiza, The Barista blends dark romantic suspense, coastal noir, and organized-crime thriller tension into a story of love, loyalty, blood, and consequence.

Coffee. Old money. Blood.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

About the author

AJ Phillips writes coastal noir thrillers about power, loyalty, obsession, and the dangerous things people do in the name of family.

His debut novel, The Barista: A Peyton Beckford Thriller, launches a world of old money, private islands, romantic suspense, organized crime, and blood buried beneath beautiful things.

AJ lives in Pennsylvania and writes under the imprint Coastal Zen Press. When he is not writing, he is usually thinking about boats, beaches, coffee, crime stories, or the next terrible decision his characters are about to make.

Visit him at ajphillipsbooks.com.

Reviews

[Robin Lancer]

Well, I’m ready for the next adventure of Peyton. That was full of suspense! Loved every page.

[Olivia]

After leaving behind the chaos of New York, Peyton buys a small-town coffee shop hoping for a slower, more peaceful life. Of course, things don't exactly go as planned when one customer ends up changing everything.

I was hooked almost immediately. Peyton and Aiden's banter was one of my favorite parts of the book, and their chemistry made it so easy to keep turning the pages. There was danger, drama, suspense, and way more action than I anticipated. I honestly had a hard time putting this one down.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read that blended romance, suspense, and action in a way I wasn't expecting. If you're looking for a book with great chemistry, high stakes, and plenty of action to keep you turning the pages, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try. I'm already looking forward to reading book two when it releases in September!😊

[Angela Ila]

I had the amazing privilege as an ARC to read this INCREDIBLE thriller by AJ Phillips.

I do not say this easily… THIS BOOK HANDS DOWN AMAZING FROM THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE!
I could NOT put it down. Page turner THE ENTIRE READ … oh my gosh if you love intensity, suspense.. love… family… loyalty… this book is for you

The way the author describes EVERY MINOR DETAIL DOWN TO HOW COFFEE IS BREWED LIKE LIFE ITSELF… honestly my mind is blown. This was THE BOOK I need more of NOW!

AJ Phillips... You’re amazing… this book is incredible and I absolutely cannot wait to consume more of Aiden and Peyton… you are a genius

[Jen]

Even though I usually stick to mystery/thrillers and historical fiction, I don’t normally reach for coastal noir romance thrillers, so I had no idea what to expect going into this one. Honestly, I was hooked way faster than I expected—right from the prologue, before Chapter 1. One of the things I really liked about The Barista was the super vivid detail used to describe the settings, characters and atmosphere—everything was really easy to picture and really pulled me into the story. The writing style and layout seemed to create a constant tension throughout the story that kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter.” That being said, I read it in one day. I can’t wait for the next book to see what’s next! The author balanced the characters, suspense, and emotional moments really well without making any part feel over the top.

For a debut novel, this was seriously impressive. The writing felt confident, the pacing kept things moving, and the detailed descriptions and characters were two of my favorite parts. I would definitely recommend this book if you like romance, thrillers, and coastal noir books. It has it all! I don’t think you will be disappointed at all! I could definitely see this as a movie!

[Kim McLain]

Although I typically gravitate toward lighter genres, The Barista: A Peyton Beckford Thriller completely pulled me in after just a few pages. The story is intriguing from the start, with enough suspense and momentum to keep the pages turning. One of the book’s greatest strengths is the vivid detail in the settings — they are described so well that you truly feel transported into each scene alongside the characters.

What impressed me most is how polished and confident the writing feels. It’s hard to believe this is AJ Phillips’ first novel because the writing style is remarkably consistent, engaging, and solid throughout. The pacing, atmosphere, and storytelling all come together seamlessly, making this a thriller that is difficult to put down. I would highly recommend it, even to readers who don’t normally choose thrillers.

[Barb G]

I really enjoyed The Barista. It pulled me in quickly and kept moving, with a great mix of action, suspense, romance, and danger. The story has a very cinematic feel, and I could picture the settings and scenes as I was reading.

Peyton and Aidan’s relationship gives the book a lot of tension and emotion, but the crime and thriller elements are what really kept me turning the pages. There are twists, high-stakes moments, and enough darkness to make the world feel dangerous without losing the heart of the story.

If you like romantic suspense, organized crime stories, strong characters, and books that feel like they could be a movie, this one is worth reading.

[Kenneth Dale]

4.25 Stars

The Barista is a dark romantic thriller that combines emotional intensity with organized-crime suspense and cinematic writing. It excels at tension, mood, and character presence, especially through Peyton and Aidan's dynamic. The story is lush and immersive, though occasionally overly dense, and some repetition in imagery and phrasing appears throughout longer sections. Still, the book has strong momentum, memorable side characters, and a sense of danger and emotional weight that fans of dark romantic suspense will likely devour.

[Joann Derr]

As a new author, AJ Phillips has made a huge splash in the literary world. I am an avid reader and this book kept me wanting to turn to the next page. The story line is intense and really keeps the reader involved in what's to come. I was very impressed with the maturity of the writing itself. AJ Phillips' words paint a world of romance, crime, family honor and drama. I found myself creating visual images of the characters and even hearing their accents as I read each page. I look forward to his next book and hope this is the start of a long career for this author.

[Jill]

As I read this book I could see the action packed book on the big screen. This is my first time reading a mafia thriller romance book and I was drawn in. Author’s description of events is beautifully laid out and has you immersed in the action as it unfolds. Looking forward to seeing how the series continues.

[Rita]

This book is filled with suspense and mind blowing action! It kept me on the edge of my seat! Spine tingling, heart wrenching and action packed. Looking forward to the next chapter💕

[Cherie Deck]

A fun wild ride read! You won’t regret picking this one up