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Coffeehouse Mystery #17
Shot in the Dark
From Cleo Coyle, the New York Times bestselling author of Dead Cold Brew, comes a delicious new entry in the "fun and gripping" (The Huffington Post) Coffeehouse Mystery series.
A smartphone dating game turns the Village Blend into a hookup hotspot--until a gunshot turns the landmark coffeehouse into a crime scene.
As Village Blend manager Clare Cosi fixes a date for her wedding, her ex-husband is making dates through smartphone swipes. Clare has mixed feelings about these match-ups happening in her coffeehouse. Even her octogenarian employer is selecting suitors by screenshot! But business is booming, and Clare works hard to keep the espresso shots flowing. Then one night, another kind of shot leaves a dead body for her to find.
The corpse is an entrepreneur who used dating apps with reckless abandon--breaking hearts along the way. The NYPD quickly arrests one of the heartbreaker's recent conquests. But the suspect's sister tearfully swears her sibling was framed. Clare not only finds reason to believe it, she fears the real killer will strike again.
Now Clare is "swiping" through suspects in her own shop--with the help of her globetrotting ex-husband, a man who's spent his life hunting for coffee and women. Together they're determined to find justice before another shot rings out.
A smartphone dating game turns the Village Blend into a hookup hotspot--until a gunshot turns the landmark coffeehouse into a crime scene.
As Village Blend manager Clare Cosi fixes a date for her wedding, her ex-husband is making dates through smartphone swipes. Clare has mixed feelings about these match-ups happening in her coffeehouse. Even her octogenarian employer is selecting suitors by screenshot! But business is booming, and Clare works hard to keep the espresso shots flowing. Then one night, another kind of shot leaves a dead body for her to find.
The corpse is an entrepreneur who used dating apps with reckless abandon--breaking hearts along the way. The NYPD quickly arrests one of the heartbreaker's recent conquests. But the suspect's sister tearfully swears her sibling was framed. Clare not only finds reason to believe it, she fears the real killer will strike again.
Now Clare is "swiping" through suspects in her own shop--with the help of her globetrotting ex-husband, a man who's spent his life hunting for coffee and women. Together they're determined to find justice before another shot rings out.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 17, 2018
397 people are currently reading
2052 people want to read
About the author
Cleo Coyle
53 books3,554 followersDon't miss the newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series (with more to come),
NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY,
a National Mystery Bestseller and triple #1 Amazon Category Bestseller. Join Cleo's Coffee Club for bonus recipes and giveaways: Click Here to Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter
CLEO COYLE is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. With more than 1 million books sold, they have gained an enthusiastic following. Cleo's "relenlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) novels have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech. Their books have earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, Best of Year selection honors from multiple reviewers, and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections.
When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or wrangling their rescued stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. One of those projects (ghostwritten by Alice Alfonsi) was named by Entertainment Weekly as the best media tie-in book written that year.
CONNECT WITH CLEO at CleoCoyle.com and CoffeehouseMystery.com
*******
CLEO'S TWO BESTSELLING SERIES:
Cleo’s Coffeehouse Mystery series, celebrated for pioneering both the “urban cozy" and “coffee cozy” mystery genres, follows the adventures of amateur sleuth Clare Cosi, a single mom with a complicated love life who manages a Greenwich Village coffeehouse and a crew of quirky baristas who helps her solve perplexing crimes.
Cleo’s Haunted Bookshop Mystery series, hailed as a highly original and "utterly charming" (Mystery Scene) blend of cozy and hardboiled genres, features an earnest young New England widow who catches criminals with the help of a gumshoe ghost, the irrepressible spirit of a tough private detective who’d been gunned down in her bookshop decades before.
*******
LATEST BOOK NEWS:
The newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series is NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY, on sale April 1st and already a national mystery bestseller and triple #1 Amazon category bestseller. Cleo's previous release, BULLETPROOF BARISTA, was a "wildly entertaining" (Criminal Elment) national mystery bestseller; a #1 category best seller for Amazon; and honored with 2 Best of Year list selections by reviewers. It is now availalbe in a new paperback reprint edition along with the previous bestselling book in the series, HONEY ROASTED, "A honey of a tale" (Kirkus Reviews).
Cleo's latest Haunted Bookshop Mystery releases include THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS, praised by Kirkus as "a gem of a story." And THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS, a #1 category best seller for Amazon, which Fresh Fiction called "amazing and unique." Cleo is now writing the next Haunted Bookshop Mystery. Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter for updates on the pub date!
CLEO COYLE is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. With more than 1 million books sold, they have gained an enthusiastic following. Cleo's "relenlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) novels have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech. Their books have earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, Best of Year selection honors from multiple reviewers, and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections.
When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or wrangling their rescued stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. One of those projects (ghostwritten by Alice Alfonsi) was named by Entertainment Weekly as the best media tie-in book written that year.
CONNECT WITH CLEO at CleoCoyle.com and CoffeehouseMystery.com
*******
CLEO'S TWO BESTSELLING SERIES:
Cleo’s Coffeehouse Mystery series, celebrated for pioneering both the “urban cozy" and “coffee cozy” mystery genres, follows the adventures of amateur sleuth Clare Cosi, a single mom with a complicated love life who manages a Greenwich Village coffeehouse and a crew of quirky baristas who helps her solve perplexing crimes.
Cleo’s Haunted Bookshop Mystery series, hailed as a highly original and "utterly charming" (Mystery Scene) blend of cozy and hardboiled genres, features an earnest young New England widow who catches criminals with the help of a gumshoe ghost, the irrepressible spirit of a tough private detective who’d been gunned down in her bookshop decades before.
*******
LATEST BOOK NEWS:
The newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series is NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY, on sale April 1st and already a national mystery bestseller and triple #1 Amazon category bestseller. Cleo's previous release, BULLETPROOF BARISTA, was a "wildly entertaining" (Criminal Elment) national mystery bestseller; a #1 category best seller for Amazon; and honored with 2 Best of Year list selections by reviewers. It is now availalbe in a new paperback reprint edition along with the previous bestselling book in the series, HONEY ROASTED, "A honey of a tale" (Kirkus Reviews).
Cleo's latest Haunted Bookshop Mystery releases include THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS, praised by Kirkus as "a gem of a story." And THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS, a #1 category best seller for Amazon, which Fresh Fiction called "amazing and unique." Cleo is now writing the next Haunted Bookshop Mystery. Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter for updates on the pub date!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews
April 16, 2018
I enjoy this series. It's on my list of go-to cozy mystery series when I want a cozy with a good story, well developed background theme and great writing. Set in a fictional NYC coffee house, Village Blend, the mysteries center around shop manager Clare Cosi. The supporting characters -- her detective fiance, coffee shop employees, her ex-husband and his mother who owns the company -- all have their own personalities and add to the richness of the plots. This series is like a coffee shop that serves a fabulous cup of java .... I will keep coming back!
Shot in the Dark is the 17th Coffeehouse Mystery. It seems everyone in the Village is using dating apps. Casual meet-ups seem to be causing all sorts of problems, and Clare is not comfortable with some behaviors she seems becoming commonplace. Then a woman brandishes a gun on the second floor of Village Blend, threatening a man she hooked up with using a dating app. A video of the incident at the coffee shop goes viral online quickly. Things go downhill from there, and the next day Clare discovers a body floating in the river. She recognizes the woman as a customer at Village Blend. The dead girl has a memory stick in her belongings. A video of the incident at Village Blend is saved on the memory stick. Are the two events related? Turns out there's a lot going on besides casual hook-ups.
The mystery is fast-paced and suspenseful, with lots of suspects and twists. The coffee house background theme is wonderful as usual. And all the characters just make these books enjoyable every time! As usual, at the end of the story there are recipes (my husband will LOVE the Italian Sub Quesadillas!), great info on the different types of coffee drinks and instructions on how to use a moka express pot.
The cover art for this book is perfect. Very eye-catching and ties in with the plot of the book. I love the look on the barista's face....she's like...WTF? lol
Cleo Coyle is the pen name for writer duo Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini. They also write the Haunted Bookshop cozy series under the name Alice Kimberly.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin via First to Read. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. And I'll take a venti skinny sugar free peppermint mocha with two shots. Cinnamon on top. No whipped creme. :)**
Shot in the Dark is the 17th Coffeehouse Mystery. It seems everyone in the Village is using dating apps. Casual meet-ups seem to be causing all sorts of problems, and Clare is not comfortable with some behaviors she seems becoming commonplace. Then a woman brandishes a gun on the second floor of Village Blend, threatening a man she hooked up with using a dating app. A video of the incident at the coffee shop goes viral online quickly. Things go downhill from there, and the next day Clare discovers a body floating in the river. She recognizes the woman as a customer at Village Blend. The dead girl has a memory stick in her belongings. A video of the incident at Village Blend is saved on the memory stick. Are the two events related? Turns out there's a lot going on besides casual hook-ups.
The mystery is fast-paced and suspenseful, with lots of suspects and twists. The coffee house background theme is wonderful as usual. And all the characters just make these books enjoyable every time! As usual, at the end of the story there are recipes (my husband will LOVE the Italian Sub Quesadillas!), great info on the different types of coffee drinks and instructions on how to use a moka express pot.
The cover art for this book is perfect. Very eye-catching and ties in with the plot of the book. I love the look on the barista's face....she's like...WTF? lol
Cleo Coyle is the pen name for writer duo Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini. They also write the Haunted Bookshop cozy series under the name Alice Kimberly.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin via First to Read. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. And I'll take a venti skinny sugar free peppermint mocha with two shots. Cinnamon on top. No whipped creme. :)**
May 2, 2018
Author Cleo Coyle has created another fresh blend of mystery and mayhem that will have readers asking for a refill.
My sister started reading cozy mysteries before they were even called cozies. So, when she recommends a series, I know I have to read it. The Coffeehouse Mysteries is such series. I’ve enjoyed the few I’ve read before, and I liked SHOT IN THE DARK.
Playing on the theme of phone app dating made for an intriguing story using a very current trend. For a mystery it can make for an endless number of suspects. Through twists, turns, and gourmet brews, readers will be flying through the pages until the very end.
Cleo Coyle is known for showing readers a caffeinated good time, and SHOT IN THE DARK is the perfect cup.
Make sure to try out the recipes included. Your taste buds will thank you!
My sister started reading cozy mysteries before they were even called cozies. So, when she recommends a series, I know I have to read it. The Coffeehouse Mysteries is such series. I’ve enjoyed the few I’ve read before, and I liked SHOT IN THE DARK.
Playing on the theme of phone app dating made for an intriguing story using a very current trend. For a mystery it can make for an endless number of suspects. Through twists, turns, and gourmet brews, readers will be flying through the pages until the very end.
Cleo Coyle is known for showing readers a caffeinated good time, and SHOT IN THE DARK is the perfect cup.
Make sure to try out the recipes included. Your taste buds will thank you!
April 3, 2018
This is another great and fun addition to the Coffeehouse series by Cleo Coyle. I loved that Clare was a little out of her element in the whole digital dating world and had to rely on Esther, Dante, and especially, Matt, to help her get caught up to speed. Her relationship with her ex husband is a very strange but special relationship and I love their dynamic. I always love reading about the baristas. I wish we could get more of them in each book. That would be terrific. Now we just have to wait for the next one to come out...sigh...
*I requested and received a copy of this book from First to Read and have given and honest and unbiased review*
*I requested and received a copy of this book from First to Read and have given and honest and unbiased review*
April 7, 2018
Tore thru this! I coudn't put it down. I'm a coffeehouse mystery convert and now I have to go back and read this entire series from the beginning. I love the characters, the setting, the plotting....someday I'm going to write like this. If anyone hasn't tried t his series yet I storngly urge you to do so.
See ROCCO's review on his blog! www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
See ROCCO's review on his blog! www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
April 28, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
These dating apps have been the rage and this one is supposed to unique. Clare’s ex seems to have a new addiction, meeting new “Cinderella’s”, sometimes more than one a night. The new hot meeting place for this new app Cinder just happens to be the Village Blend. Business is jumping until gunshots are fired in the upstairs lounge. The place clears out quick and the cops arrive to make the arrest. Luckily no one was hurt but can the Village Blend survive the bad PR?
The next night when Clare ventures out to pick up her boss from a date gone wrong she finds a girl’s body floating in the water. She recognizes the girl as one of her customers and is shocked to find she has a memory stick with 5 copies of the viral video of the shooting the night before. Panicking about how this is going effect her business Clare reluctantly teams up with the creators of Cinder to host a night that will hopefully bring business back. But then, another dead body is found, the police are back and may have arrested the wrong person.
Can Claire match the right suspect to the crime before there’s another “shot in the dark”? And will she have a job after everything that has happened?
I love this series! I love these characters! I can’t believe this is the 17th book in this series. The authors do an excellent job of making each story fresh and new for their fans while also giving new readers plenty of detail to be able to jump right into this series even at book 17.
Clare Cozi manages the Village Blend along with her ex-husband. The place is actually owned by her ex-mother-in-law. She has a great staff, a wonderful fiance’ and a level head on her shoulders. She just doesn’t understand this new dating app craze. Her staff does their best to help her out. Her ex has taken the whole thing to the extreme but he is not alone. Even his mother is using an app to line up dates. These characters are delightful. They jump off of the page. Their dialogues are snappy and at time laugh out loud funny.
The authors have hit the mystery part of this story out of the park. Twists, turns, drugs and fitness clubs wrapping it together with this dating app phenomenon that is taking over the world. The story is very fast paced and the authors set up the chapters in such a way that you keep saying “just one more chapter” again and again. This book was impossible to put down.
The Village Blend and New York are a spectacular setting for this story. The author’s descriptions create a visual masterpiece for readers to enjoy. I can smell the coffee, the rich blends, along with delicious baked goodies too.
In addition to all the action, a light is shined on this “face in your phone” society in which we are living. Maybe because I am a dinosaur that doesn’t have a cell phone I see it more than others. I go to dinner with my family and look around the table and everyone but me and my grandchildren have their heads buried deep into whatever is happening on their phones. I do realize that if the children had cell phones I would be on my own. I love new technology but am not a fan of all the time they take away from daily life. For my family, I do make a conscious effort to say “phones down, family time.”
Cleo Coyle never disappoints. Wonderful characters, intriguing mysteries, and just the right amounts of humor and romance. Each new story becomes another favorite. This was such an entertaining story with so many exciting moments. It truly was a perfect escape!!
These dating apps have been the rage and this one is supposed to unique. Clare’s ex seems to have a new addiction, meeting new “Cinderella’s”, sometimes more than one a night. The new hot meeting place for this new app Cinder just happens to be the Village Blend. Business is jumping until gunshots are fired in the upstairs lounge. The place clears out quick and the cops arrive to make the arrest. Luckily no one was hurt but can the Village Blend survive the bad PR?
The next night when Clare ventures out to pick up her boss from a date gone wrong she finds a girl’s body floating in the water. She recognizes the girl as one of her customers and is shocked to find she has a memory stick with 5 copies of the viral video of the shooting the night before. Panicking about how this is going effect her business Clare reluctantly teams up with the creators of Cinder to host a night that will hopefully bring business back. But then, another dead body is found, the police are back and may have arrested the wrong person.
Can Claire match the right suspect to the crime before there’s another “shot in the dark”? And will she have a job after everything that has happened?
I love this series! I love these characters! I can’t believe this is the 17th book in this series. The authors do an excellent job of making each story fresh and new for their fans while also giving new readers plenty of detail to be able to jump right into this series even at book 17.
Clare Cozi manages the Village Blend along with her ex-husband. The place is actually owned by her ex-mother-in-law. She has a great staff, a wonderful fiance’ and a level head on her shoulders. She just doesn’t understand this new dating app craze. Her staff does their best to help her out. Her ex has taken the whole thing to the extreme but he is not alone. Even his mother is using an app to line up dates. These characters are delightful. They jump off of the page. Their dialogues are snappy and at time laugh out loud funny.
The authors have hit the mystery part of this story out of the park. Twists, turns, drugs and fitness clubs wrapping it together with this dating app phenomenon that is taking over the world. The story is very fast paced and the authors set up the chapters in such a way that you keep saying “just one more chapter” again and again. This book was impossible to put down.
The Village Blend and New York are a spectacular setting for this story. The author’s descriptions create a visual masterpiece for readers to enjoy. I can smell the coffee, the rich blends, along with delicious baked goodies too.
In addition to all the action, a light is shined on this “face in your phone” society in which we are living. Maybe because I am a dinosaur that doesn’t have a cell phone I see it more than others. I go to dinner with my family and look around the table and everyone but me and my grandchildren have their heads buried deep into whatever is happening on their phones. I do realize that if the children had cell phones I would be on my own. I love new technology but am not a fan of all the time they take away from daily life. For my family, I do make a conscious effort to say “phones down, family time.”
Cleo Coyle never disappoints. Wonderful characters, intriguing mysteries, and just the right amounts of humor and romance. Each new story becomes another favorite. This was such an entertaining story with so many exciting moments. It truly was a perfect escape!!
June 15, 2019
great book.
March 17, 2018
I absolutely love this series and the new addition is perfect!
I love the characters, the atmosphere, the humor and oh yes, the murder and mystery. Plus you have all those yummy recipes at the end that makes you want to rush out, buy some ingredients and get to cooking, baking or finding a coffee house just like the Village Blend.
You can't go wrong with Cleo Coyle's books. Enjoy!
This book will be released in April, 2018.
I love the characters, the atmosphere, the humor and oh yes, the murder and mystery. Plus you have all those yummy recipes at the end that makes you want to rush out, buy some ingredients and get to cooking, baking or finding a coffee house just like the Village Blend.
You can't go wrong with Cleo Coyle's books. Enjoy!
This book will be released in April, 2018.
April 18, 2018
SHOT IN THE DARK, the seventeenth book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle, is a terrific addition to an outstanding series! From the acknowledgement at the beginning of the book (don’t skip reading it: the author adds many heartfelt words and a bit of insight into the setting and premise of the story) through the very last page, Ms. Coyle's storytelling packs a punch. The protagonist, Clare Cosi, is well-developed and even if you haven’t read previous books, you’ll still feel like she’s an old friend. I enjoyed the easy relationship Clare has with her employees, her ex-mother-in-law, and even with her ex-husband, Matteo Allegro, despite the fact that he is obsessed with a hot new dating app. Ms. Coyle accurately captures the “disposable” attitude sweeping our society and made me more aware of how much screen time I spend versus really paying attention to the actual people around me. It is quite eye-opening. She adds some humor though, in the form of one of her baristas setting up a “Shot Down Lounge” where people can hang out after their dating app hookup turns out to be another letdown instead of a happily ever after.
The mystery has numerous twists and turns, weaving the reader through murder, illicit drugs, cutting edge fitness clubs, and today’s digital dating scene. A hair-raising finale kept me on the edge of my seat while the conclusion wrapped up the various threads satisfactorily. And did I mention the food? You’ll be hungry reading about all the delectable treats and coffee drinks Clare serves at the Village Blend. Fortunately Ms. Coyle offers numerous recipes at the back of the book for both and they all sound amazing!
I was provided a Netgalley copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The mystery has numerous twists and turns, weaving the reader through murder, illicit drugs, cutting edge fitness clubs, and today’s digital dating scene. A hair-raising finale kept me on the edge of my seat while the conclusion wrapped up the various threads satisfactorily. And did I mention the food? You’ll be hungry reading about all the delectable treats and coffee drinks Clare serves at the Village Blend. Fortunately Ms. Coyle offers numerous recipes at the back of the book for both and they all sound amazing!
I was provided a Netgalley copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 27, 2018
This was not my favorite in the series by far, subject matter not to my liking, too much sexual innuendo. But, the coffee talk and delicious sounding recipes were great!
April 4, 2018
"SHOT IN THE DARK is the perfect amount of mystery and fun!"
Read my full review on Fresh Fiction
Read my full review on Fresh Fiction
March 22, 2018
Another home run for Cleo Coyle! I love the Coffee House Mysteries. The Village Blend, where a lot of the action takes place, feels like home along with the characters we've grown to know so well. This book was very contemporary in the way the plot incorporated social media and drugs into it.
All the obvious characters are involved in trying to solve the mystery of why a Village Blend patron turns up dead... and then another one! And what does the latest designer street drug have to do with their deaths?
A fun read, as usual. I'm just hoping that the next book in the series includes Clare and Mike's wedding overlooking the Hudson! I know I can't wait.
All the obvious characters are involved in trying to solve the mystery of why a Village Blend patron turns up dead... and then another one! And what does the latest designer street drug have to do with their deaths?
A fun read, as usual. I'm just hoping that the next book in the series includes Clare and Mike's wedding overlooking the Hudson! I know I can't wait.
May 16, 2018
I don't usually ask for a book after it has been released as I enjoy this group of stories based on a coffee shop in New York City. I requested the #17 volume and was delighted to receive it. Clare is planning her wedding but the venue has become a problem because so many want to attend. Most large areas are already booked and cost prohibits other. A new dating app has the name The Village Blend as the hot spot to meet a date. As a result, the Village Blend is busy as gunshots are heard in the 17th book. The body of a customer is found floating in the river. Clare feels these two events are connected and with the help of her ex-husband sets out to prove it. Does success come before Matt loses his life? I highly recommend this book and series. Coffee Recipes and tips are included.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Berkley for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Berkley for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 10, 2018
I went back and forth between a 3 and a 4 for this. I liked it quite a bit, but I could REALLY do without some of the scenes between Claire and Mike Quinn. I mean, seriously.
Otherwise, it was a decent book - I think that Joy completely overreacts [she is dating a COP for heaven's sake and TRUST should be paramount, but what do I know?] and I think the story might have been a touch too long, but again, for the most part, it was a good book and I liked the mystery and the reveal.
I will say this made me realize that I never, ever want to date again and certainly NOT by a dating app. Good heavens above.
Otherwise, it was a decent book - I think that Joy completely overreacts [she is dating a COP for heaven's sake and TRUST should be paramount, but what do I know?] and I think the story might have been a touch too long, but again, for the most part, it was a good book and I liked the mystery and the reveal.
I will say this made me realize that I never, ever want to date again and certainly NOT by a dating app. Good heavens above.
March 2, 2019
Cozy read
April 2, 2019
A good one! 4.5*
April 17, 2018
What an exciting new whodunit!!! In this next book of the series things are going well at the Village Blend and all is looking right for Clare. The uptake in clientele seems to be due to a new dating app that has everyone swiping right including her ex and his mother. It has Clare wondering about all the things that could go wrong when using it. During a busy evening at the Blend a client pulls a gun on a man who dumped her after a hookup making Clare worry about the ramifications of the incident on her business. When she gets a call from her ex mother-in-law who has had a bad date after meeting a man from a dating app Clare rushes to the rescue. They decide to have a meal at a local restaurant by the water leading to Clare seeing something floating which looks suspiciously like a body. The dead woman ends up being a customer and Clare just can't let her death go, she's sure it wasn't a suicide, an accident, or mugging. Follow along as Clare dives into the online world of dating and swiping right to look for a murderer. The author truly knows how to weave a tale of mystery and intrigues you the whole way through. This is such a great series filled with amazing characters, wonderful writing about coffee, and a fabulous setting. I always look forward to visiting with Clare and seeing what she gets into next.
April 26, 2018
I have to start by saying I am a huge fan and adore Alice and Marc. They will be on the cover of May's issue of the magazine and Q & A so be sure to check that out. I love this series and you can't go wrong with Clare. She alone can keep the reader on their feet not only with the delicious recipes and coffee or her wedding date fiasco, but let's add in a dead body.
Dating apps are becoming popular and Casual meet-ups at the Blend are making Clare uncomfortable with what she is seeing. A woman is threatening a man she met on one of these apps. A video of the incident at the coffee shop goes viral online quickly. Clare then finds a dead woman in the river and she finds a usb with the video on it.
The fun of course are the twists and tons of suspects to keep the reader turning the pages. I love seeing/ reading about Esther, Dante, Mike and of course Matt. Don't forget the recipes at the end of the book.
Another great read by two of my favorite authors.
Dating apps are becoming popular and Casual meet-ups at the Blend are making Clare uncomfortable with what she is seeing. A woman is threatening a man she met on one of these apps. A video of the incident at the coffee shop goes viral online quickly. Clare then finds a dead woman in the river and she finds a usb with the video on it.
The fun of course are the twists and tons of suspects to keep the reader turning the pages. I love seeing/ reading about Esther, Dante, Mike and of course Matt. Don't forget the recipes at the end of the book.
Another great read by two of my favorite authors.
August 29, 2022
This read was the start to my personal goal to get caught up on some of my favorite cozy series. I'm glad I started with this series. It was one of the first that I really loved. Reading it felt like watching a familiar show; easy and fun. Highly recommend!
January 7, 2020
This was another good mystery. In this one a dating app is taking over and makes things crazy. When something happens at the coffeehouse Clare decides to get involved. She begins by enlisting Matt's help and of course things get bad. However, in the end they are able to get the bad guy.
March 27, 2023
This is one of my favorite long running series. I love to read these books and drink coffee.
May 24, 2018
This Coffeehouse mystery series continues the great storyline based on our main characters. The crimes involve a new drug, Styx, and a smartphone dating app, Cinder. Twists and turns keep this plot as always extremely interesting.
Quotes I liked from this book: Clare asking her ex-husband, Matt, to assist her saying, “I want you to help me set up a Cinder account. I want you to do it as soon as possible. And I want my profile to attract as many men as possible.”
Find Shot in the Dark at the Westminster Library.
Quotes I liked from this book: Clare asking her ex-husband, Matt, to assist her saying, “I want you to help me set up a Cinder account. I want you to do it as soon as possible. And I want my profile to attract as many men as possible.”
Find Shot in the Dark at the Westminster Library.
June 16, 2018
I love coffee and I love Cozy Mysteries so when I saw this book on offer via the First to Read program, I instantly clicked to check it out. Shot In The Dark is book 17 in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. Book 17! For some reason I thought I was only a couple books behind on this series, when I elected to read it. That said, jumping into the series so late was not a problem. It was easy to get caught up with the myriad of characters and to piece together some back stories. The background info was sufficient for a new reader but doesn’t seem as if it would be repetitive for longstanding followers of the series.
Clare Cosi is the super sleuth and barista extraordinaire who serves up high quality lattes while figuring out local murder mysteries. Clare is a likeable main character. She’s presented as a savvy but caring boss, a good friend, a hopeless romantic and a determined investigator willing to help someone in need.
The secondary characters are charming as well and add wonderful layers to this cozy mystery. From the artistic Esther and Tucker to the practical Nancy and Quinn and ending with the elegant Madame, there’s someone for everyone to relate to.
Clare’s fiancé, Mike Quinn, just happens to by a NYPD detective, as is her daughter’s boyfriend. This makes for easy access to inside police information. Clare does still sometimes butt heads with other police officers, but for the most part her relationship with law enforcement is positive. Sometimes a bit too positive, as she does seem to have found the loosest lips in the NYPD and is freely given information that one may consider a bit sensitive.
The coffee. Clare’s ex-husband and business partner, Matt, is a coffee hunter who treks around the world searching for the perfect coffee beans. He’s also a roaster and takes the time to get to know the relevant coffee farming communities well. I’m very interested in specialty coffee and coffee origins so this aspect of the book appealed to me. That said, for readers who don’t have that interest, the in-depth discussions on bean varieties and roast types could be a bit much e.g. when throwing in this info over the discovery of a body…
I terms of pacing, I found the first half of this story drags a bit. There are food descriptions so detailed as to disrupt the flow of the story. There is info dumping about New York City’s history and set up. There’re also comprehensive explanations of how apps work and a crash course on app/ text jargon. There is still some action which helps move the story along though. By the second half the pace of the story picks up and I was gripped. Who did it? Why? How are all these characters connected?
The mystery itself was excellent. There were two murders to solve and a host of viable suspects. Every time I was convinced I had figured out who the culprit was, something changed and the story went in a new direction. The clues are well-placed and several sub-plots are worked in seamlessly.
Clare Cosi is the super sleuth and barista extraordinaire who serves up high quality lattes while figuring out local murder mysteries. Clare is a likeable main character. She’s presented as a savvy but caring boss, a good friend, a hopeless romantic and a determined investigator willing to help someone in need.
The secondary characters are charming as well and add wonderful layers to this cozy mystery. From the artistic Esther and Tucker to the practical Nancy and Quinn and ending with the elegant Madame, there’s someone for everyone to relate to.
Clare’s fiancé, Mike Quinn, just happens to by a NYPD detective, as is her daughter’s boyfriend. This makes for easy access to inside police information. Clare does still sometimes butt heads with other police officers, but for the most part her relationship with law enforcement is positive. Sometimes a bit too positive, as she does seem to have found the loosest lips in the NYPD and is freely given information that one may consider a bit sensitive.
The coffee. Clare’s ex-husband and business partner, Matt, is a coffee hunter who treks around the world searching for the perfect coffee beans. He’s also a roaster and takes the time to get to know the relevant coffee farming communities well. I’m very interested in specialty coffee and coffee origins so this aspect of the book appealed to me. That said, for readers who don’t have that interest, the in-depth discussions on bean varieties and roast types could be a bit much e.g. when throwing in this info over the discovery of a body…
I terms of pacing, I found the first half of this story drags a bit. There are food descriptions so detailed as to disrupt the flow of the story. There is info dumping about New York City’s history and set up. There’re also comprehensive explanations of how apps work and a crash course on app/ text jargon. There is still some action which helps move the story along though. By the second half the pace of the story picks up and I was gripped. Who did it? Why? How are all these characters connected?
The mystery itself was excellent. There were two murders to solve and a host of viable suspects. Every time I was convinced I had figured out who the culprit was, something changed and the story went in a new direction. The clues are well-placed and several sub-plots are worked in seamlessly.
June 16, 2020
I was first drawn to Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mystery series because of my love for coffee. I've come to enjoy spending time with the characters as they wend their way through familiar New York City (and in one book, Washington D.C.) locales in pursuit of the often surprising solution to a mystery. I thought this book, the seventeenth in the series, was one of the best. For my summary and full review (no spoilers), see my website Coffee Crossroads.
May 8, 2018
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sh...
Shot in the Dark
Coffeehouse Mystery, Book #17
By Cleo Coyle
ISBN# 9780451488848
Author’s website: Coffeehousemystery.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
A new Smartphone dating game turns the Village Blend into a hookup hot spot, until one dark night, when a gunshot leaves a dead body behind and the landmark coffeehouse becomes the center of a whole new scene–a crime scene.
As Village Blend manager Clare Cosi attempts to finalize a date for her wedding, her ex-husband becomes addicted to making dates through Smartphone swipes. Clare has mixed feelings about these quickie matchups happening in her coffeehouse. Even her octogenarian employer is selecting suitors by screenshot! But business is booming, and Clare works hard to keep the espresso shots flowing. Then one dark night, another kind of shot leaves a dead body for her to find.
The corpse is a successful entrepreneur who became notorious for his “hit it and quit it” behavior: prowling for women on dating apps, then devastating his conquests with morning-after insults. Though the NYPD quickly arrests one of his recent victims, Clare finds reason to believe she’s been framed.
Now, with the help of her ex and crew of quirky baristas, Clare starts “swiping” through suspects in her own shop, determined to find the real killer before another shot rings out.
Review:
A Clare Cosi adventure is always an exciting ride, and Shot in the Dark is no exception. This seventeenth entry in the long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series is a fantastic trip into the twenty-first-century world of “disposable” dating app hookups and their ramifications. I can never get enough of Cleo Coyle’s delightful characters and situations.
This time around, Clare is pleased with the additional business traffic the dating app Cinder is bringing to the Village Blend. That is until a scorned young lady unleashes her wrath at her “love ‘em and leave ‘em”, badmouthing date by firing gunshots. This is quickly followed by Clare’s discovery of a customer’s body floating in the Hudson River, and she just doesn’t buy that the young lady committed suicide or was the victim of a mugging gone wrong. When ties between the girl and Cinder emerge, and the bodies start piling up, Clare puts herself a little too close to the action for comfort, and things become dangerous for more than just Clare.
I do really love this series, and this installment is no disappointment. Cleo Coyle has created relatable, well-developed characters that are a joy to spend time with. I do like Clare and think we could be great friends. She does sometimes put herself in dangerous situations, but she is never “too stupid to live”. I appreciate her love for her fiancée, daughter, and even her ex-husband. The banter between Matt and Clare provides some laugh-out-loud moments. The other recurring characters are just as amiable, and I have a soft spot for Clare’s boss/ex-mother-in-law, the ever charming Madame.
The mystery here is solid, and I felt invested in its outcome because Clare was so invested. Her earnest investigating draws readers into the story, and I found myself on the edge of my seat at times telling myself “just one more chapter”. The book’s quick pace and the short chapters really promote this compulsive reading. As the body count rises, the pool of suspects changes, providing lots of twists and turns. The side stories concerning daughter Joy’s love life and Clare’s upcoming wedding are just as interesting as the main murder mystery thread. Throw in some undercover work misunderstandings and some illicit drugs, and there is never a dull moment. And all of the luscious descriptions of the coffee is tempting, even to this die-hard tea drinker. The recipes included at the end of the book are all mouthwatering.
Shot in the Dark is top-notch, and I recommend it to Coyle’s fans and any reader who enjoys a slightly edgier (because of the nature of the story’s emphasis on hookups) cozy mysteries.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Shot in the Dark
Coffeehouse Mystery, Book #17
By Cleo Coyle
ISBN# 9780451488848
Author’s website: Coffeehousemystery.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
A new Smartphone dating game turns the Village Blend into a hookup hot spot, until one dark night, when a gunshot leaves a dead body behind and the landmark coffeehouse becomes the center of a whole new scene–a crime scene.
As Village Blend manager Clare Cosi attempts to finalize a date for her wedding, her ex-husband becomes addicted to making dates through Smartphone swipes. Clare has mixed feelings about these quickie matchups happening in her coffeehouse. Even her octogenarian employer is selecting suitors by screenshot! But business is booming, and Clare works hard to keep the espresso shots flowing. Then one dark night, another kind of shot leaves a dead body for her to find.
The corpse is a successful entrepreneur who became notorious for his “hit it and quit it” behavior: prowling for women on dating apps, then devastating his conquests with morning-after insults. Though the NYPD quickly arrests one of his recent victims, Clare finds reason to believe she’s been framed.
Now, with the help of her ex and crew of quirky baristas, Clare starts “swiping” through suspects in her own shop, determined to find the real killer before another shot rings out.
Review:
A Clare Cosi adventure is always an exciting ride, and Shot in the Dark is no exception. This seventeenth entry in the long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series is a fantastic trip into the twenty-first-century world of “disposable” dating app hookups and their ramifications. I can never get enough of Cleo Coyle’s delightful characters and situations.
This time around, Clare is pleased with the additional business traffic the dating app Cinder is bringing to the Village Blend. That is until a scorned young lady unleashes her wrath at her “love ‘em and leave ‘em”, badmouthing date by firing gunshots. This is quickly followed by Clare’s discovery of a customer’s body floating in the Hudson River, and she just doesn’t buy that the young lady committed suicide or was the victim of a mugging gone wrong. When ties between the girl and Cinder emerge, and the bodies start piling up, Clare puts herself a little too close to the action for comfort, and things become dangerous for more than just Clare.
I do really love this series, and this installment is no disappointment. Cleo Coyle has created relatable, well-developed characters that are a joy to spend time with. I do like Clare and think we could be great friends. She does sometimes put herself in dangerous situations, but she is never “too stupid to live”. I appreciate her love for her fiancée, daughter, and even her ex-husband. The banter between Matt and Clare provides some laugh-out-loud moments. The other recurring characters are just as amiable, and I have a soft spot for Clare’s boss/ex-mother-in-law, the ever charming Madame.
The mystery here is solid, and I felt invested in its outcome because Clare was so invested. Her earnest investigating draws readers into the story, and I found myself on the edge of my seat at times telling myself “just one more chapter”. The book’s quick pace and the short chapters really promote this compulsive reading. As the body count rises, the pool of suspects changes, providing lots of twists and turns. The side stories concerning daughter Joy’s love life and Clare’s upcoming wedding are just as interesting as the main murder mystery thread. Throw in some undercover work misunderstandings and some illicit drugs, and there is never a dull moment. And all of the luscious descriptions of the coffee is tempting, even to this die-hard tea drinker. The recipes included at the end of the book are all mouthwatering.
Shot in the Dark is top-notch, and I recommend it to Coyle’s fans and any reader who enjoys a slightly edgier (because of the nature of the story’s emphasis on hookups) cozy mysteries.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
March 18, 2018
This book follows Clare Cosi whose hosting Cinder dating couples at the Village Blend which is the newest app that allows swipe to meet couples to get together. When a young woman goes crazy after her fella who dropped her like a bad habit. Not long after the news travels about the dangers of the Village Blend and Tucker winds up quitting which Clare won't tolerate. She is determined to get her shop business again and her barista back. When the body of a young woman is found in the water Clare wants to know who she is at any cost!
When the fella who is anything but honest winds up dead, and all points lead to something going on with a new drug in town. Clare finds herself relying on friends and family to help catch a killer. This book brought you all over the place from fitness clubs to crazy dating apps to an assortment of characters who look good for the murders but the truth is out there and Clare will stop at nothing to figure it out!
I enjoyed this book and the adventure it brought I couldn't put it down Clare, Matt, Tucker and everyone else at the Village Blend are so addictive that you want to see what is going on and what everyone is up to. I look forward time and again for the lastest in this great series that is like fine wine only getting better over time!
When the fella who is anything but honest winds up dead, and all points lead to something going on with a new drug in town. Clare finds herself relying on friends and family to help catch a killer. This book brought you all over the place from fitness clubs to crazy dating apps to an assortment of characters who look good for the murders but the truth is out there and Clare will stop at nothing to figure it out!
I enjoyed this book and the adventure it brought I couldn't put it down Clare, Matt, Tucker and everyone else at the Village Blend are so addictive that you want to see what is going on and what everyone is up to. I look forward time and again for the lastest in this great series that is like fine wine only getting better over time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2021
People are playing a new game at the coffeehouse. They are using an app called Tinker to set up meetings. The difference in this game is that the women are in control...they are the only ones who can decide to pick who to answer. All is going well until there is a scene in the loft upstairs that goes viral. Claire is in a panic, but she and the owner of the app are able to do some spinning on the event. Matt of course, loves the app. But things soon go sour when the man involved in the scene is found dead. Not too much of Mike in this book, despite the fact that he and Clair are engaged. Which is ok with me because I like Matt more!
November 28, 2020
Great fun, as always, coupled with an interesting look at online dating and its tales and tolls. And as always when I read a Coffeehouse Mystery, I am now hungry. Pass the espresso shortbread, please!
March 27, 2018
This was the first of the coffeehouse mysteries that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pacing, which can easily slag off in the middle of cozy mysteries, remained consistent throughout, and I loved the characters. Can’t wait to go back and read the rest of the series.
April 14, 2018
"Shot in the Dark" is a cozy mystery about drugs and dating apps. This novel is the 17th in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this story didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books.
The story mainly focused on a dating app that encouraged people to casually hook up and dump each other. A woman uses Clare's shop to dramatically threaten to shoot a man who verbally abuses women after dates. Videos go viral. Clare tries to save the coffee shop's reputation while solving two murders. Clare asked good questions and noticed things that didn't seem right, so there were clues. You can tell who were bad guys. However, what's going on is complex enough that it was difficult to know precisely who did what until the end.
There was a fair amount of bad language. Clare and her boyfriend frequently headed for the bedroom, but it was fade-to-black style; there were no graphic sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
The story mainly focused on a dating app that encouraged people to casually hook up and dump each other. A woman uses Clare's shop to dramatically threaten to shoot a man who verbally abuses women after dates. Videos go viral. Clare tries to save the coffee shop's reputation while solving two murders. Clare asked good questions and noticed things that didn't seem right, so there were clues. You can tell who were bad guys. However, what's going on is complex enough that it was difficult to know precisely who did what until the end.
There was a fair amount of bad language. Clare and her boyfriend frequently headed for the bedroom, but it was fade-to-black style; there were no graphic sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
December 1, 2020
Book 17 in A Coffeehouse Mystery series. I love long running cozy series. You truly get to know the cast and watch them all go through a lot of growth over the course of the stories. Coyle manages to always come up with a clever plot that is always new and fresh.
This story spins a murder mystery together with the popularity of phone app dating. I love the fact that she named the company Cinder and played with the idea of how it becomes a form of addiction for its users. The scenario of having bad matches left the room open for so many potential suspects. Thankfully the storyline and characters were easy to follow. It kept me intrigued and stumped for quite awhile. Then there were a couple other side stories involving Joy / Franco and a new drug on the market called Styx. One of my favorite chapters was when Claire and Mike walked through the park during the wee hours of the morning and the different situations they came upon.
The coffeehouse is the perfect setting for potential love connections, but I personally loved Esther’s poetry slam based on bad dates. It was such a fun chapter and an easy scene to picture. Of course, I always enjoy all of the coffee descriptions as well.
Along with some very intense moments, there was plenty of humor too. I especially liked the bizarre gym class Claire attended. The comment about the $18 banana smoothie made me laugh.
The book ends with a few pages describing different types of espresso shots, how to on using a Moka pot and several recipes that appeared throughout the story.
This story spins a murder mystery together with the popularity of phone app dating. I love the fact that she named the company Cinder and played with the idea of how it becomes a form of addiction for its users. The scenario of having bad matches left the room open for so many potential suspects. Thankfully the storyline and characters were easy to follow. It kept me intrigued and stumped for quite awhile. Then there were a couple other side stories involving Joy / Franco and a new drug on the market called Styx. One of my favorite chapters was when Claire and Mike walked through the park during the wee hours of the morning and the different situations they came upon.
The coffeehouse is the perfect setting for potential love connections, but I personally loved Esther’s poetry slam based on bad dates. It was such a fun chapter and an easy scene to picture. Of course, I always enjoy all of the coffee descriptions as well.
Along with some very intense moments, there was plenty of humor too. I especially liked the bizarre gym class Claire attended. The comment about the $18 banana smoothie made me laugh.
The book ends with a few pages describing different types of espresso shots, how to on using a Moka pot and several recipes that appeared throughout the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews