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Dying for a Coffee #1
Mocha Latte, Malice & Murder
A fun and fresh cozy mystery filled with lighthearted family hijinks and a touch of sisterly sleuthing.
Kari and Kasi Sweet aren’t twins, but they are as close as two sisters can be. Not only do they share a house, but they both own and run On Bitter Grounds. The little coffee house is their pride and joy, and it’s one of their small town’s most popular businesses.
One night while out on an after-dinner stroll, the Sweet sisters are doing a little window shopping. Their favorite store is closed for the evening, but the lights are still on, and Kari and Kasi think their friend might let them in for a little after-hours shopping.
What they find is not what they bargained for, and the sisters stumble upon the body of Lila Baldwin. Who would want one of Mills Township’s most successful businesswomen dead?
Can the sisters figure out who committed the heinous crime, or will they find themselves caught in a killer’s deadly snare?
Kari and Kasi Sweet aren’t twins, but they are as close as two sisters can be. Not only do they share a house, but they both own and run On Bitter Grounds. The little coffee house is their pride and joy, and it’s one of their small town’s most popular businesses.
One night while out on an after-dinner stroll, the Sweet sisters are doing a little window shopping. Their favorite store is closed for the evening, but the lights are still on, and Kari and Kasi think their friend might let them in for a little after-hours shopping.
What they find is not what they bargained for, and the sisters stumble upon the body of Lila Baldwin. Who would want one of Mills Township’s most successful businesswomen dead?
Can the sisters figure out who committed the heinous crime, or will they find themselves caught in a killer’s deadly snare?
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2019
484 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Sara Bourgeois
234 books343 followersSara Bourgeois is a Midwesterner through and through. She spends her time writing, reading, herding cats, and standing in her driveway during tornado warnings. (You can't see them from the basement.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 7, 2020
2.5 Stars
This is the first book in the Dying for a Coffee series by Sara Bourgeois.
I thought this was okay. The plot wasn’t the best and it was easy to confuse the two main characters since their names are so similar.
I felt like the author was trying to make this a dual POV series but it just didn’t work out. The tension and suspense all but fizzled out the second it seemed to be building.
This storyline had a ton of promise and would be great. I think this just needs a lot of polishing and rewriting. Maybe an editor’s touch would help this just to give the author pointers on crafting their whodunit more expertly.
I couldn’t seem to find any common ground with the main characters so the whole thing just fell flat for me.
I read this as part of the OWLs Readathon under the Defense Against the Dark Arts prompt to read a book starting with the letter M.
This is the first book in the Dying for a Coffee series by Sara Bourgeois.
I thought this was okay. The plot wasn’t the best and it was easy to confuse the two main characters since their names are so similar.
I felt like the author was trying to make this a dual POV series but it just didn’t work out. The tension and suspense all but fizzled out the second it seemed to be building.
This storyline had a ton of promise and would be great. I think this just needs a lot of polishing and rewriting. Maybe an editor’s touch would help this just to give the author pointers on crafting their whodunit more expertly.
I couldn’t seem to find any common ground with the main characters so the whole thing just fell flat for me.
I read this as part of the OWLs Readathon under the Defense Against the Dark Arts prompt to read a book starting with the letter M.
February 8, 2020
Loved the two main characters in this series. And if you love small towns and ☕ coffee cafes where everyone gets together and talks to start off your day. And a bit of romance and mystery this is a great read
December 16, 2019
What a delightful story. Kari and Kasi are close friends running a coffee shop together . The story has just the right amount of suspense and murder in such a short book. Loved it.
January 2, 2020
This was a quick read... I loved the characters, who were simple and easy to like... I especially loved the cliffhanger the author finished the book in.
September 7, 2025
It was a very simplistic plot but of course it ended with hook so I decided to give the second in series a chance.
November 6, 2023
I read about 50 cozy mysteries a year, so that's my barometer. This one simply doesn't cut it.
First, I wonder if the author has more than a passing knowledge of tenses, antecedents, and points of view in American English. Throughout this book, I found it common that tenses and antecedents would be all over the place, and points of view change sometimes not only by (labeled) chapter, but within a given paragraph! The overuse of the shops' names, and of explanatory phrases, contributed to a sophomoric tenor throughout.
I found the "friendship" of the two sisters with the victim suspect. It seems they may have regarded her as a professional mentor, and have respected her, but I saw little of the kinds of knowledge I'd expect among friends. It didn't appear the girls ever socialized with her, even casually, or knew anything about her life. Is that "friends"?
The solution to the crime comes in a way that should have been uncovered in the first two days by a competent investigator.
All in all, my recommendation is to find a different series.
First, I wonder if the author has more than a passing knowledge of tenses, antecedents, and points of view in American English. Throughout this book, I found it common that tenses and antecedents would be all over the place, and points of view change sometimes not only by (labeled) chapter, but within a given paragraph! The overuse of the shops' names, and of explanatory phrases, contributed to a sophomoric tenor throughout.
I found the "friendship" of the two sisters with the victim suspect. It seems they may have regarded her as a professional mentor, and have respected her, but I saw little of the kinds of knowledge I'd expect among friends. It didn't appear the girls ever socialized with her, even casually, or knew anything about her life. Is that "friends"?
The solution to the crime comes in a way that should have been uncovered in the first two days by a competent investigator.
All in all, my recommendation is to find a different series.
December 13, 2019
The town is shaken by a death.
A decent read. The FMC's are two sisters who run a coffee shop cum cafe and the effect the murder of another shop owner has on them and the rest of the community. The sisters are beautiful, bright and work hard to make their business a success. Although the eldest one gets a bit tongue tied around a handsome deputy.
After a hard day and a meal out they come across the body of a boutique owner. A kind, caring and thoughtful woman who had been full of advice when they first started the business. Now her death has thrown not only the sisters but the rest of the town out of sync. They reluctantly decide to ask a few questions to see if they could help the police. An elderly aunt, a retirement community, an old secrets and threats plus a physical assault. Will the killer be found? Is that the only killer in the community or is someone planning to join their ranks?
A decent read. The FMC's are two sisters who run a coffee shop cum cafe and the effect the murder of another shop owner has on them and the rest of the community. The sisters are beautiful, bright and work hard to make their business a success. Although the eldest one gets a bit tongue tied around a handsome deputy.
After a hard day and a meal out they come across the body of a boutique owner. A kind, caring and thoughtful woman who had been full of advice when they first started the business. Now her death has thrown not only the sisters but the rest of the town out of sync. They reluctantly decide to ask a few questions to see if they could help the police. An elderly aunt, a retirement community, an old secrets and threats plus a physical assault. Will the killer be found? Is that the only killer in the community or is someone planning to join their ranks?
December 14, 2019
A good start to a new series.
At first I had a hard time getting into the story...It just didn't grab my attention. But I have always liked Sara Bourgeois books I kept reading.
I'm glad I did...
Kari and Kasi run a coffee shop in the small town of Mills Township. The sisters work hard and have little time on their hands. After eating supper out they take a stroll to window shop. Lights are still on at their favourite shop so they notice that there are articles of clothing they are hoping that the shop owner, Lila, will let them in to do some after hours shopping.
But they can't get Lisa's attention banging on the window so they try the door..
What happens next rocks the whole town...what is it you ask?
You will just have to read the book to find out...
Thank you to Booksprout and Sara Bourgeois for allowing me to read a digital ARC for an honest review...
At first I had a hard time getting into the story...It just didn't grab my attention. But I have always liked Sara Bourgeois books I kept reading.
I'm glad I did...
Kari and Kasi run a coffee shop in the small town of Mills Township. The sisters work hard and have little time on their hands. After eating supper out they take a stroll to window shop. Lights are still on at their favourite shop so they notice that there are articles of clothing they are hoping that the shop owner, Lila, will let them in to do some after hours shopping.
But they can't get Lisa's attention banging on the window so they try the door..
What happens next rocks the whole town...what is it you ask?
You will just have to read the book to find out...
Thank you to Booksprout and Sara Bourgeois for allowing me to read a digital ARC for an honest review...
May 6, 2024
What I liked about this book--it wasn't a heavy dark read full of disturbing scenes. It was on the innocent side.
What I disliked about this book--everything else.
The author could not decide if the characters were speaking in past tense, present tense, or future tense. It became maddening very early on. Too much redundancy and silly mistakes. Believe me, the reader understands they make coffee and own a coffee shop. For such a super small and quaint town, every resident must frequent the shop multiple times a day to have a line out the door all day long, most days. And the fact they lived in this very small town their entire lives but had to use GPS to find the assisted living facility? I don't know.
What I do know is I didn't have anything else to read on a rainy Sunday, so I settled on this, but I won't be following the rest of the series.
What I disliked about this book--everything else.
The author could not decide if the characters were speaking in past tense, present tense, or future tense. It became maddening very early on. Too much redundancy and silly mistakes. Believe me, the reader understands they make coffee and own a coffee shop. For such a super small and quaint town, every resident must frequent the shop multiple times a day to have a line out the door all day long, most days. And the fact they lived in this very small town their entire lives but had to use GPS to find the assisted living facility? I don't know.
What I do know is I didn't have anything else to read on a rainy Sunday, so I settled on this, but I won't be following the rest of the series.
December 16, 2019
Two twenty something sisters have worked hard to build their business at the coffeehouse they own. Other female entrepreneurs have mentored and assisted them along the way. One such neighboring business owner seems to be working late.
What starts as an opportunity for some evening window shopping turns quickly dark and deadly.
Little bits of the puzzle that gals might overhear at a coffeehouse might help to solve many puzzles, but will their sisterly bond and a possible beau keep them safe from all that lurks in the dark?
Tangled mystery with a bit of sweet romance and lots of sister stuff.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What starts as an opportunity for some evening window shopping turns quickly dark and deadly.
Little bits of the puzzle that gals might overhear at a coffeehouse might help to solve many puzzles, but will their sisterly bond and a possible beau keep them safe from all that lurks in the dark?
Tangled mystery with a bit of sweet romance and lots of sister stuff.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
December 16, 2019This was a nice cozy mystery that I enjoyed. Kari and Kasi are sisters that own a coffee shop. They find themselves in the middle of a mystery when they find their friend and business owner dead in the back of her shop. They can not believe something like this has happened in their sleepy little town. This also hints to the start of a possible relationship for Kari. Written as a 3rd person, multi pov with a mystery solved ending....or is it.
Good story line, nice characters, easy to visualize detailed descriptions. All in all, a good read.
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Would I read more from this author? Yes
Sassy Beta Reading and Review
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Good story line, nice characters, easy to visualize detailed descriptions. All in all, a good read.
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Would I read more from this author? Yes
Sassy Beta Reading and Review
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 16, 2019
A wonderful new series. The Sweets sisters are a great pair. They find themselves in a bad situation when they find the body of a friend. Sadness and grief turn to snooping and following leads to find the murderer. Small town Mills Township is a nice place to live and the world building was perfect. You felt like you were there. The characters in the book were fantastic. Really enjoyed the relationship between the Sweet sisters and how they related to their parents. The story will take you on a ride that will entertain you throughout.
Highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers; and looking forward to the next book in this series.
Highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers; and looking forward to the next book in this series.
March 5, 2020
I didnt know writing could be so stiff and stilted, nor that anyone would think having adult characters behave so silly and childish was a good idea. Giggling? Oh my gosh, he's here? They've known the guy since childhood but now he's handsome so much more interesting? Yes, I kept reading and hoping. Around 70% something interesting happened but still very predictable. It also didn't need to be said a thousand and one times that it was a small town and everyone knew everything that happened. Apparently not because it was a secret that brought murder to their small town.
January 7, 2020
Uninspired
The flow to this book is totally off and the language used is very formal. I like some of Sara Bourgeois other stories but am disappointed in this. It seems nothing like her. The similar names are cute but annoying by the end. Also the end scene is supposed to be creepy but comes out lame by trying to avoid using any gender pronouns to give away the future bad guy, who is male cause no woman would say " my beautiful barista". I'm skipping the next book.
The flow to this book is totally off and the language used is very formal. I like some of Sara Bourgeois other stories but am disappointed in this. It seems nothing like her. The similar names are cute but annoying by the end. Also the end scene is supposed to be creepy but comes out lame by trying to avoid using any gender pronouns to give away the future bad guy, who is male cause no woman would say " my beautiful barista". I'm skipping the next book.
January 28, 2025
Fast, fun read
As a busy professional working a 40 plus hour week, it was great to find a novel that could take my stress away, as I got lost in the story. The writing was very engaging and the characters were sweet and easy to like. I appreciated that the story evolved throughout the text and I didn't know the answer to the mystery after the first few chapters. It was a fun and fast, easy read, that was very enjoyable. I've already started the next book in the series.
As a busy professional working a 40 plus hour week, it was great to find a novel that could take my stress away, as I got lost in the story. The writing was very engaging and the characters were sweet and easy to like. I appreciated that the story evolved throughout the text and I didn't know the answer to the mystery after the first few chapters. It was a fun and fast, easy read, that was very enjoyable. I've already started the next book in the series.
December 16, 2019
ARC review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.Kari and her sister kasi open up On bitter grounds coffee shop in mills town where Hunter is a police officer there and he has a crush on kari but when a great friend lila Baldwin murdered it sets all them on a quest to find out who. Awesome story
December 21, 2019
Mocha Latte, Malice & Murder is a new series for the author Sara Bourgeois. This first book set up the environment, characters, and plot very well. This book did not read like the other books that I've read by the author. This is a must read to the very end. I'm looking forward to enjoying the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 18, 2020
Good start to a sweet series
This is a sweet story to a new series. I love the characters. I look forward to them growing as the series continues.
There was a lot of repetition in the telling of the story, it really could use some flushing out.
I look forward to the next book in this sweet series.
This is a sweet story to a new series. I love the characters. I look forward to them growing as the series continues.
There was a lot of repetition in the telling of the story, it really could use some flushing out.
I look forward to the next book in this sweet series.
April 7, 2020
Coffee shop murder
The story started well, then it fe!t like I was reading a Cliff Notes book. I was reading kindle, looked down on the pages, and in some sections there 10-20 pages missing per section.
I prefer a full book, not a ' reader's digest version. '
Maybe just how kindle books are...I don't know..
The story started well, then it fe!t like I was reading a Cliff Notes book. I was reading kindle, looked down on the pages, and in some sections there 10-20 pages missing per section.
I prefer a full book, not a ' reader's digest version. '
Maybe just how kindle books are...I don't know..
April 8, 2020
Coffee, Romance and Killers
A story of two very close sisters who get involved in the murder of agood friend
Just when all seems sorted there is a surprising ending.
Looking forward to the next story. Well written and easy reading. Who IS the murderer and who will they murder and why?
A story of two very close sisters who get involved in the murder of agood friend
Just when all seems sorted there is a surprising ending.
Looking forward to the next story. Well written and easy reading. Who IS the murderer and who will they murder and why?
April 13, 2020
Writing is juvenile and boring. Description were repeated too often as if the writers were going for a word count rather than an interesting story.
I kept reading only to see if it got better. They kept saying how smart the heroines were but then had them acting dippy! Will not be reading any sequels.
I kept reading only to see if it got better. They kept saying how smart the heroines were but then had them acting dippy! Will not be reading any sequels.
March 9, 2021
This book was okay. I felt that the denouement of the mystery was a bit rushed and forced. There was a slower pace throughout the beginning of the book, but then it almost seemed like the author decided it was time to move on quickly and solve the mystery, and the pacing of that section didn't match that of the earlier part of the book, in my opinion.
June 30, 2022
I love Sara's books but something was off with the writing this time. It was very immature which was off putting. Hunter came across a bumbling fool and not the hot copper was meant to. Kari and kasi sorry to say were idiots. The end was silly and childish. I don't know why this book isn't Sara's usual standards but it fell way below par
June 10, 2023
Two sisters that owned and ran a small coffee shop in a small town. The narrative was nice and simple, but it was much too slow. There was a lot of useless talk about the shop, the weather, and one of the girl’s crush on the hunky cop. When do we get to the murder? I was just getting too bored here. We were wasting too much narrative on the dull trivial stuff. Just wasn’t into it.
January 6, 2026
It was a very short read. Had a small plot twist in the end. Not mad I read it, won’t read it again.
Murderer kills shop owner. Sisters of a coffee shop investigate. Think they find the killers that and up being related. Ended with the real killer stalking one of the sisters.
Short. Semi sweet read.
Murderer kills shop owner. Sisters of a coffee shop investigate. Think they find the killers that and up being related. Ended with the real killer stalking one of the sisters.
Short. Semi sweet read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2019
Review
Great developing story!! I can’t wait for the next installment. Sara has done it again. Plus I think she touches in the plights of people living in health care facilities.
Great developing story!! I can’t wait for the next installment. Sara has done it again. Plus I think she touches in the plights of people living in health care facilities.
January 6, 2020
At first I was not sold on this book, or the series. The plot was so, so and the main characters were just a little to Sweet (pun intended) but then after the crime was solved there was an unexpected ending that really opened up the potential for future books.
January 20, 2020
Kari and Kasi wound up solving the crime
But their town is still not safe because the killers in Lila's case are not the only ones in town. Kari is dating Hunter and Kasi is alone in the store and in danger and they don't know when it will happen.
But their town is still not safe because the killers in Lila's case are not the only ones in town. Kari is dating Hunter and Kasi is alone in the store and in danger and they don't know when it will happen.
March 17, 2020
Really easy read. I didn’t think there was a lot of build up to solving the crime and we really only were introduced to 3 characters. A lot of grammatical errors in the text too, but they did leave it on a cliffhanger so intriguing enough for the next in the series.
December 16, 2019
Mystery
A very good mystery and attention keeper through the whole book. Recommend anyone that enjoys a good mystery to read
A very good mystery and attention keeper through the whole book. Recommend anyone that enjoys a good mystery to read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews