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Pineapple Grove #1
Murder Behind the Coffeehouse
Piper thought that moving to a quaint town in Virginia would be the answer to her problems. Sunshine, fruity adult beverages, and white sandy beaches, but she never suspected murder would touch her new cozy community.
When a longtime resident of Pineapple Grove suspiciously dies, people suspect everyone, including Piper, who lives there, of murdering the defenseless woman.
Piper doesn’t believe anyone in Pineapple Grove could be responsible for murdering the elderly woman. It’s a small, tightknit community. Neighbors murdering neighbors doesn’t happen here, does it? Who hated the longtime resident enough to want to kill her? She doesn’t know, but she’s determined to find out.
However, Piper quickly discovers not everything is as it seems. The small town is full of gossip, jealousy, and revenge. People you think are your friends aren’t and people you don’t trust, are maybe the ones you should.
Can Piper solve the murder with the help of her newfound friend and newspaper reporter, Lindsey Miles, before the killer strikes again? Or will this be another cold case murder?
When a longtime resident of Pineapple Grove suspiciously dies, people suspect everyone, including Piper, who lives there, of murdering the defenseless woman.
Piper doesn’t believe anyone in Pineapple Grove could be responsible for murdering the elderly woman. It’s a small, tightknit community. Neighbors murdering neighbors doesn’t happen here, does it? Who hated the longtime resident enough to want to kill her? She doesn’t know, but she’s determined to find out.
However, Piper quickly discovers not everything is as it seems. The small town is full of gossip, jealousy, and revenge. People you think are your friends aren’t and people you don’t trust, are maybe the ones you should.
Can Piper solve the murder with the help of her newfound friend and newspaper reporter, Lindsey Miles, before the killer strikes again? Or will this be another cold case murder?
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2018
455 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Kennedy
48 books379 followersBrenda Kennedy is an award winner, an Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She is a true believer of romance. Her stories are based on the relationships that define our lives - compassionate, emotionally gripping, and uplifting novels with true to life characters, that stay with her readers long after the last page is turned.
Her varied, not always pleasant background has given her the personal experience to take her readers on an emotional, sometimes heart wrenching, journey through her stories.
Brenda has been a struggling single mom, a survivor of domestic abuse, waitress, corrections officer, hostage negotiator and a corrections nurse. She is also a wife, mom, and grandmother. Even though her life was not always rainbows and butterflies, she is a survivor and believes her struggles have made her the person she is today.
Brenda is the author of the award winning book, Forever Country (The Rose Farm Trilogy Book 1). She has been dubbed "The Queen of Cliffhangers" by her adoring readers because books one and two always have a cliffhanger ending. In Brenda's own words, "I write series that end in cliffhangers, because I love them. I always give away the first book in each series so you have nothing to lose by reading it."
She was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio and moved to SW Florida in 2006 with her husband Rex. They have a combined family, and she often jokes about not remembering what child belongs to who.
Her varied, not always pleasant background has given her the personal experience to take her readers on an emotional, sometimes heart wrenching, journey through her stories.
Brenda has been a struggling single mom, a survivor of domestic abuse, waitress, corrections officer, hostage negotiator and a corrections nurse. She is also a wife, mom, and grandmother. Even though her life was not always rainbows and butterflies, she is a survivor and believes her struggles have made her the person she is today.
Brenda is the author of the award winning book, Forever Country (The Rose Farm Trilogy Book 1). She has been dubbed "The Queen of Cliffhangers" by her adoring readers because books one and two always have a cliffhanger ending. In Brenda's own words, "I write series that end in cliffhangers, because I love them. I always give away the first book in each series so you have nothing to lose by reading it."
She was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio and moved to SW Florida in 2006 with her husband Rex. They have a combined family, and she often jokes about not remembering what child belongs to who.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
June 2, 2024
Fairly good plot. Lots of characters but they were introduced in such a way that they weren’t confusing.
Cozy contemporary mystery. Clean read.
Did not appreciate that the story was written in present tense. Just a pet peeve of mine. Others might prefer that.
Cozy contemporary mystery. Clean read.
Did not appreciate that the story was written in present tense. Just a pet peeve of mine. Others might prefer that.
June 6, 2024
Book needs to be rewritten with a good editor.
Writing a book is hard work. It requires thoughtfulness, creativity, and talent. Knowing this I hate giving a bad review. But I hope it will sometimes help the author and readers. First, this book has very few typos, a big plus for me. The main character is likable and smart. The plot is not bad for a cozy. Unfortunately, the writing is all over the place. Verb tenses change constantly. Some of the story flows and some of it is very choppy and amateurish. I recognize that there are two different authors and it seems like their writing styles just don't mesh. I put the book down several times in frustration but felt it would be unfair to leave a review of a book I had not finished. This was not a good reading experience .
Writing a book is hard work. It requires thoughtfulness, creativity, and talent. Knowing this I hate giving a bad review. But I hope it will sometimes help the author and readers. First, this book has very few typos, a big plus for me. The main character is likable and smart. The plot is not bad for a cozy. Unfortunately, the writing is all over the place. Verb tenses change constantly. Some of the story flows and some of it is very choppy and amateurish. I recognize that there are two different authors and it seems like their writing styles just don't mesh. I put the book down several times in frustration but felt it would be unfair to leave a review of a book I had not finished. This was not a good reading experience .
June 5, 2024
A quick easy read. Liked the characters.
June 24, 2024
Very cozy murder mystery
July 18, 2018
great book by By one of my favorite Authors, Brenda Kennedy who collaborated on this book. It has some twists and turns and you will keep reading until the end. Don't pass this book up or you will be sorry
if you don't read it.
Can't wait for the next book in this series!
if you don't read it.
Can't wait for the next book in this series!
June 11, 2024
Murder Behind The Coffeehouse, by Brenda Kennedy and Kayden Keaton, while the book synopsis was interesting, the book itself was boring. Discovering who the murder was was dull and very anti-climatic.
There were grammatical errors throughout the book.
In addition, there were a couple things left unresolved - who was egging the coffee shop and who deposited Ethel's body behind the coffee shop. One could assume it was the murderer but there was no definitive answer
The biggest problem with this book, though, was how the book "reads" when the characters were not talking. Every non-talking paragraph reads like the Descriptive Video Services on TV shows, where a monotone voice describes what is happening in the scene, so visually impaired people can 'watch' TV. It's one of the things which made this book boring.
I was disappointed with this book and with the writers.
There were grammatical errors throughout the book.
In addition, there were a couple things left unresolved - who was egging the coffee shop and who deposited Ethel's body behind the coffee shop. One could assume it was the murderer but there was no definitive answer
The biggest problem with this book, though, was how the book "reads" when the characters were not talking. Every non-talking paragraph reads like the Descriptive Video Services on TV shows, where a monotone voice describes what is happening in the scene, so visually impaired people can 'watch' TV. It's one of the things which made this book boring.
I was disappointed with this book and with the writers.
July 31, 2018
Yet another amazing book by Brenda Kennedy. When a murder happens in a small town everyone starts pointing fingers at who could of done it. When things start to take a nose dive to just another cold case, piper and lindsey take it upon themselves to try and figure this mystery out. Will they be able to figure it out before the killer strikes again. Thank you Brenda for continuing to let me read for you!
July 21, 2018
I thought thia book was a great read. I was very surprised to see a murder mystery he has from Brenda buy she has proved that she can rock writing any kind of book. This brrk held my attention until the very end. I loved all of the twists and turns in this book. I loved all of the characters in this book and was able to get to know them with ease. You are amazing Brenda Kennedy and I am so looking forward resding sll of your books to come.
July 28, 2018
As usual, an entertaining read. The characters are well thought out. I would recommend this to any one who enjoys a cozy mystery.
I enjoyed this book as I have with all of Brenda's books. Very entertaining. She better get back to writing. I am waiting for her next project.
I enjoyed this book as I have with all of Brenda's books. Very entertaining. She better get back to writing. I am waiting for her next project.
June 13, 2024
Easy read.
I guess it’s a retired English teacher. I did get distracted and disappointed when I read poor grammar used when it was not in effect poor a character in the book. Other than that, the twist and returns were fun to read.
I guess it’s a retired English teacher. I did get distracted and disappointed when I read poor grammar used when it was not in effect poor a character in the book. Other than that, the twist and returns were fun to read.
August 15, 2024
I wound up enjoying this book, even though I found the beginning a little slow. However, it came together nicely. Interesting use of present tense, not often done, but helped to keep things in the here and now. I will definitely read more of this series.
dnf
June 4, 2024Odd narrative choices.
June 5, 2024
Written in awkward present tense. Lacking detail to make it flow.
November 16, 2024
A Murder Behind the Coffee House - ⭐⭐
This book had an intriguing premise and a solid plot that held my interest, but it fell short in a few key areas. The story introduces a large number of characters, which made it difficult to keep track of everyone, and the grammatical errors scattered throughout were distracting and took away from the overall reading experience. The writing also felt choppy in places, likely due to the dual authorship. While I can appreciate the challenge of merging two writing styles, the result felt uneven and sometimes disjointed.
The climax of the story—the big reveal of the killer—was a bit underwhelming. After building up so much intrigue, I was hoping for a more impactful resolution, but it lacked the punch I was expecting. That said, the cozy atmosphere of the book was a highlight, creating a charming small-town vibe that made the story enjoyable to get lost in. The pacing was quick and made it an easy read, which is always a bonus in a cozy mystery.
Despite its flaws, I did enjoy the warmth and lightheartedness the book offered. Fans of cozy mysteries who don’t mind a few rough edges might still find this a worthwhile read. It’s not perfect, but the charm and simplicity make it a decent choice for a rainy afternoon escape.
This book had an intriguing premise and a solid plot that held my interest, but it fell short in a few key areas. The story introduces a large number of characters, which made it difficult to keep track of everyone, and the grammatical errors scattered throughout were distracting and took away from the overall reading experience. The writing also felt choppy in places, likely due to the dual authorship. While I can appreciate the challenge of merging two writing styles, the result felt uneven and sometimes disjointed.
The climax of the story—the big reveal of the killer—was a bit underwhelming. After building up so much intrigue, I was hoping for a more impactful resolution, but it lacked the punch I was expecting. That said, the cozy atmosphere of the book was a highlight, creating a charming small-town vibe that made the story enjoyable to get lost in. The pacing was quick and made it an easy read, which is always a bonus in a cozy mystery.
Despite its flaws, I did enjoy the warmth and lightheartedness the book offered. Fans of cozy mysteries who don’t mind a few rough edges might still find this a worthwhile read. It’s not perfect, but the charm and simplicity make it a decent choice for a rainy afternoon escape.
July 18, 2018
Piper thought that moving to a quaint town in Virginia would be the answer to her problems. Sunshine, fruity adult beverages, and white sandy beaches, but she never suspected murder would touch her new cozy community.
When a longtime resident of Pineapple Grove suspiciously dies, people suspect everyone, including Piper, who lives there, of murdering the defenseless woman.
Piper doesn’t believe anyone in Pineapple Grove could be responsible for murdering the elderly woman. It’s a small, tightknit community. Neighbors murdering neighbors doesn’t happen here, does it? Who hated the longtime resident enough to want to kill her? She doesn’t know, but she’s determined to find out.
However, Piper quickly discovers not everything is as it seems. The small town is full of gossip, jealousy, and revenge. People you think are your friends aren’t and people you don’t trust, are maybe the ones you should.
Can Piper solve the murder with the help of her newfound friend and newspaper reporter, Lindsey Miles, before the killer strikes again? Or will this be another cold case murder?
When a longtime resident of Pineapple Grove suspiciously dies, people suspect everyone, including Piper, who lives there, of murdering the defenseless woman.
Piper doesn’t believe anyone in Pineapple Grove could be responsible for murdering the elderly woman. It’s a small, tightknit community. Neighbors murdering neighbors doesn’t happen here, does it? Who hated the longtime resident enough to want to kill her? She doesn’t know, but she’s determined to find out.
However, Piper quickly discovers not everything is as it seems. The small town is full of gossip, jealousy, and revenge. People you think are your friends aren’t and people you don’t trust, are maybe the ones you should.
Can Piper solve the murder with the help of her newfound friend and newspaper reporter, Lindsey Miles, before the killer strikes again? Or will this be another cold case murder?
September 9, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. At the end I was like nooo I wasn't ready for it to end. As always your wonderful talent showed brenda and you co-writer great job guys. Can't wait to read more of their books as well.
August 1, 2024
Just couldn’t get interested. DNF.
June 14, 2024
Ethel was the town menace who roamed the streets of Pineapple Grove looking for people to pick fault with and free coffee. An elderly lady, it came as no surprise when she was found dead, presumably from natural causes, behind the local coffeehouse early one morning. When the police declared it a murder, there was even less of a shock. But then the finger-pointing started and the coffeehouse owner, Piper Armstrong, found herself starring as the top suspect in the eyes of the crowd. Wanting to clear her name, Piper set out on her own investigation.
The authors' choice to (mostly) write in the third person, present tense was a bold decision. In my view, it was a distraction that made reading the story a Herculean task and made connecting with the characters impossible. The investigation by our amateur sleuth felt genuine, but the mystery lost steam close to the resolution. This book required extra proofreading - Ethel was referred to as "Ether", for example. The cover, on the other hand, is very apropos and completely evokes the flavour of the story.
The authors' choice to (mostly) write in the third person, present tense was a bold decision. In my view, it was a distraction that made reading the story a Herculean task and made connecting with the characters impossible. The investigation by our amateur sleuth felt genuine, but the mystery lost steam close to the resolution. This book required extra proofreading - Ethel was referred to as "Ether", for example. The cover, on the other hand, is very apropos and completely evokes the flavour of the story.
August 4, 2024
I Still Like Coffee
Good story. I enjoyed it. I sort of knew who did it, but there were enough other possibilities to keep me uncertain.
Given that everyone else, even the guilty, had some likeable traits, it would have been nice if the reader could have seen what was likable in the victim, rather than just learning post mortem.
[There was at least one paragraph that jumped from third person to first person and back to third, a few typos or spelling errors and a few grammatical errors, all of which were a bit jarring to me with my formal English education. (Probably unnoticed by a lot of folks under 35.) Line editors would be nice to have again.]
Good story. I enjoyed it. I sort of knew who did it, but there were enough other possibilities to keep me uncertain.
Given that everyone else, even the guilty, had some likeable traits, it would have been nice if the reader could have seen what was likable in the victim, rather than just learning post mortem.
[There was at least one paragraph that jumped from third person to first person and back to third, a few typos or spelling errors and a few grammatical errors, all of which were a bit jarring to me with my formal English education. (Probably unnoticed by a lot of folks under 35.) Line editors would be nice to have again.]
January 2, 2025
This is the first in the series. The main character is Piper. She owns a coffeehouse which she runs with her son Paul. There are lots of busybodies , but the main two are Edith and Mildred. Edith is found dead behind the coffeehouse , murdered . Now Piper is in charge of getting everything of Editha counted for and she also sets up the auction for everything. Edith's sister is to get everything from the sale. But at the same time, since everyone is talking about the death and because of it being behind the coffeehouse, she is being talked about as the possible murderer. Now she is also trying to figure out what happened and who did it. Can she figure this out in time?
June 3, 2024
My review.
This evening I decided I wanted a nice mystery to read.
I really enjoyed the characters and the way the author pulled her story together.
I did get sad at the end of the story, but loved the way it came to an end. I just wanted to hug them!!!
In all, after I finished the book, I learned about the author. Wow, what a cool lady!! Her life experiences and her talented family sound so amazing. She definitely has many more books to come!!
Can't wait to read more!!
Sincerely,
Roberta Vickers from West Virginia 😁
This evening I decided I wanted a nice mystery to read.
I really enjoyed the characters and the way the author pulled her story together.
I did get sad at the end of the story, but loved the way it came to an end. I just wanted to hug them!!!
In all, after I finished the book, I learned about the author. Wow, what a cool lady!! Her life experiences and her talented family sound so amazing. She definitely has many more books to come!!
Can't wait to read more!!
Sincerely,
Roberta Vickers from West Virginia 😁
July 2, 2024
This takes place in a small town with a single mom that runs a coffeehouse and a photographer on the side. When a regular patron of the coffeehouse is found dead one morning, accusations begin to fly and a search begins to find out what happened. I didn't like the format of the way this was written. I almost quit after a few chapters but decided to finish it. The ending was a bit of a surprise but I won't be reading anymore in this series. The story was told in 3rd person format which I just didn't enjoy.
June 6, 2024
Interesting mystery
It is a very interesting mystery about how one mans cruelty caused so much pain and caused his own murder. Two murders happened thirty years apart by the same person a d what led to the murders. The owner of a coffee shop and a news reporter work to connect the murders and find out who caused the murders. It's a can't put down book. Very enjoyable and believable.
It is a very interesting mystery about how one mans cruelty caused so much pain and caused his own murder. Two murders happened thirty years apart by the same person a d what led to the murders. The owner of a coffee shop and a news reporter work to connect the murders and find out who caused the murders. It's a can't put down book. Very enjoyable and believable.
July 16, 2024
Interesting story
“Just because that works for you doesn’t mean it works for everyone.”
Piper owns the coffee shop. Her son Paul racks up DUIs. Her daughter works at the courthouse. Her customers love her for the most part, but when a local dies, she needs to clear her reputation by helping solve the mystery.
Brena Kennedy and Jayden Keaton are new authors for me, but this won't be my last visit to Pineapple Grove. Highly Recommended 5/5
“Just because that works for you doesn’t mean it works for everyone.”
Piper owns the coffee shop. Her son Paul racks up DUIs. Her daughter works at the courthouse. Her customers love her for the most part, but when a local dies, she needs to clear her reputation by helping solve the mystery.
Brena Kennedy and Jayden Keaton are new authors for me, but this won't be my last visit to Pineapple Grove. Highly Recommended 5/5
August 5, 2024
This is my first read by this author and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It was a fun read, enjoyable characters, and yes while there were a couple of loose ends that were not revealed(need to leave something for the next book, right?) the introductions to each character was incorporated nicely. I can't wait to read book 2 and find out where this "new" friendship between Banks and Piper goes and of course sassy, spirited Lyndsey.
June 7, 2024
Disappointing. Story is told 3rd person present tense. Clunky. Some bits are unrealistic, repetitive, and generally not funny, although the author seemed to think the foibles of the elderly is great fodder for humor. It came off as mean. As a murder mystery, it wasn't too bad - until it was. It just lost steam, ending in unsatisfactory ways.
September 23, 2024
Good storyline
The storyline of this book kept me reading. However, the author must not have had an editor or someone to proof read the book. Several glaring errors in tense. It sometimes read like directions for a play rather than being a book. Despite all that, it was a good read.
The storyline of this book kept me reading. However, the author must not have had an editor or someone to proof read the book. Several glaring errors in tense. It sometimes read like directions for a play rather than being a book. Despite all that, it was a good read.
May 7, 2025
I didn’t really care for this book and was going to stop reading but decided to plow through since it’s only 126 pages. I feel like the book is written like a screenplay because of the use of present tense (“Piper pays for her purchase” instead of “paid”) throughout the book. Just a pet peeve of mine but it made a cute book practically unreadable for me.
May 29, 2024
Slow revenge
You will never guess who is the murderer in the sleepy town of Pineapple Grove. One person died in tbe alley behind Piper's coffee and doughnut shop, and the other died 30 years ago. This one will keep you guessing.
You will never guess who is the murderer in the sleepy town of Pineapple Grove. One person died in tbe alley behind Piper's coffee and doughnut shop, and the other died 30 years ago. This one will keep you guessing.
June 10, 2024
A regular little cozy story. Not much of a story, but it was a fun read. I also found it a bit odd that it was told as if it were happening right now. Instead of saying, "she opened her store", it said, "she opens her store."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews