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This barista's in a whole latte trouble ...

The new barista at Cascade River Coffee is Stoneybrook's new obsession. Everyone loves Max and his latte art ... until he's found standing over a body, a smoking gun in hand. The coffee company's owner, Wendy, is desperate to prove her most popular employee is not guilty. She seeks out Hadley's help with the case.

As Hadley, Paul, Suze, and Luke join together to discover the truth about the murder, they uncover more secrets than they bargained for. The victim was a Seattle-based journalist and he was working to spill the beans on a few big local scandals. But will Hadley and the gang be able to prove any of this was grounds for murder?

Recipes included: Spiced coffee blossoms and cinnamon pecan biscotti!

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2020

191 people are currently reading
174 people want to read

About the author

Eryn Scott

73 books482 followers
Eryn Scott is the author of heartwarming cozy mysteries. Her novels feature close friendships and strong families because those are the most important things in her life -- a little humor doesn't hurt either.

She calls the Pacific Northwest home and doesn't plan on changing that anytime soon. Eryn loves to hike, horseback ride, knit, ski, and read. She believes musicals are the greatest thing since lattes, even though she's not particularly good at singing or dancing -- hey, a girl can dream, right?

Her first cozy mystery series, Pepper Brooks, is based on some of the greats in classic literature. Each book features a different author from Shakespeare to Austen. Eryn's newest series is set in a little town called Stoneybrook. The Stoneybrook Mysteries follow local jam-maker Hadley James as she solves mysteries in her town's year-round farmers market. From deceased knitters to sabotaged florists, these crafty citizens keep Hadley and her twin brother, a deputy sheriff, on their toes. Pebble Cove Teahouse Mysteries are great for readers who love a hint of paranormal with their mysteries. These books feature a tiny town tucked between craggy coastline and rocky shores with quirky characters of both the living and non-living variety. Look for new releases from all three of these series in 2022 as well as Eryn Scott's new cozy series.

You can visit her website, erynscott.com, for more information about her books and new releases.

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5 stars
213 (49%)
4 stars
154 (35%)
3 stars
58 (13%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
12.7k reviews189 followers
October 24, 2020
Another outstanding mystery. Who committed this murder. You’ll definitely want to read to the end to find out.
338 reviews4 followers
September 28, 2020
Another great romantic cozy mystery!

I have read the Stoneybrook Cozy Mystery Series from the beginning and love the development of the main cast of characters. The stories get better and better with each book. The evolving romances are running a close second to the mysteries as the reason to anxiously await the next book. I am also excited at the addition of a new resident moving to town that I am sure will become a recurring cast member. At least I hope so. She’s a hoot!

Eryn Scott is a talented storyteller who penned a well-written and intriguing whodunit with a bit of romance interwoven into the story. I appreciate that this story was free of foul language, graphic violence, and sexual scenes making it a suitable read for any age. If you want to spend an evening curled up with a great cozy, I recommend reading A Bitter Shot by Eryn Scott.
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
6,250 reviews219 followers
August 2, 2021
5 Star review A Bitter Shot (Stoneybrook Mystery #7) by Eryn Scott

Audio Review:

A Bitter Shot was an entertaining cozy mystery and one that I really enjoyed. From the first chapter to the last, I was hooked as I followed the clues trying to guess the murderer before Hadley, her brother and friends.

Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya has really brought these books to life for me and did a fabulous job keeping me entertained. This was a book filled with a lot of intrigue and suspense and I was kept guessing until the end.

It was also entertaining to watch Hadley and Luke and Suze and Paul’s relationships develop. Also entertaining was Grandma and her friend Kitty popping their noses into the investigation with some fun results.
Profile Image for Melenareads .
3,316 reviews79 followers
October 26, 2020
Hadley has another mystery to solve when she and Luke discover a dead man at the local coffee shop and the barista next to him holding the gun.

Things are also complicated in her romantic life as she tries to decide what is next in her relationship with Luke and how she feels about it.

This and Eryn's other cozy mystery series are great because they blend mystery, romance, and friendship. I love trying to figure out who-dun-it right alongside Hadley. The mysteries always have just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I wish Stoneybrook was real so I could visit her Jam store and Suze's art studio!

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
71 reviews
September 18, 2020
This was a great book!

I have been following this series from the beginning and each book gets better. Thanks Eryn for this wonderful cozy mystery.
Profile Image for JANE VAN HORN.
2,129 reviews12 followers
September 20, 2020
Great book

Hadley and gang work on solving a murder and several other mysteries along the way. I cant wait until the next book comes out.
Profile Image for Ellen.
488 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2022
The James twins succeed again. Loving all the cats, too.
Profile Image for Lea.
2,853 reviews59 followers
July 24, 2021
Another great mystery in the North Cascades! What is happening with Luke’s right hand man and a dead journalist? So many ideas area what could be going on. And more cats! Love this delightful town and it’s crazy characters.
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books31 followers
March 12, 2021
I loved this book. I have heard all the books in this series and they continue to entertain me. Each book is a stand alone book but as each book is just as good as the last I would recommend that you start with book one and get to know the wonderful characters. Each book is set in Stoneybrook, with the core group of characters but each book is just as fresh and fun as there very first case. The group of characters is the reason this series is up to book seven and the reason that there will be many more to come, They are just a nice, likeable group of down to earth people. The mystery is the other reason because the plot is well worked out and with a number of suspects and twist it certainly keeps you hooked. I normally find that the home life or love life of the main character gets in the way of the mystery but with this series you get a nice blend of both, which compliments the story and look forward to finding out what in going on in Hadley's world. You even get a delicious sounding recipe.
Luke's business partner is coming to Stoneybrook, to spend time with his friend and Hadley and enjoy everything the small town has to offer like an art showing by Suze, Hadley's best friend. But Noah disappears before they can introduce Suze to him. When Hadley and Luke to to look for him they find Max the new barista of the local coffee shop standing over the dead body of a reporter holding gun. Wendy the owner of the shop is desperate to help her employee clear his name and begs Hadley to investigate. What story was the reporter working? And does it have anything to do with Noah? As Hadley and Luke investigate his friend, Hadley's brother Paul investigates Max but there is also the ex mayor keeping secrets and a vengeful wife pointing the finger. Can Hadley with the help of family and friends find the real reason the reporter was killed and catch the killer before someone else is hurt?
I like the narrator. She has a pleasant voice and even if I wasn't already booked on this series I would give the book ago just because she was reading the story. I have enjoyed all the stories that I have come cross when she is the narrator.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Sabetha.
Author 20 books131 followers
November 22, 2022
Emotions ran high in this installment, so much so it made it hard to put the book down.

Too many of the suspects in this case were close the the main characters, leaving charged encounters and a lot of speculation. The ending fell into place before I knew it, leaving me sad about the outcome. Though I enjoyed how this case sleuthed out. Makes me so curious how the next few will end up with the choices Hadley made in this book.

Hadley and Luke are a dream team. Distance and truths test their relationship in this book. I love how well matched their personalities are. They are the perfect ying and yang and I am giddy for how they're inching forward with each book.

All of the characters in this series are so unique and well mapped out. Each book has me excited to see favorites pop into scenes. So heartbroken that I'm close to the end of this series.
2,027 reviews
January 2, 2024
Another great book in this series. Each book shows more the main characters and their relationships.. And each book has a murder mystery that isn't revealed until close to the end. Love the cats and Hadley & Paul's Gran.


Amazon synopsis:
The new barista at Cascade River Coffee is Stoneybrook’s new obsession. Everyone loves Max and his latte art … until he’s found standing over a body, a smoking gun in hand. The coffee company's owner, Wendy, is desperate to prove her most popular employee is not guilty. She seeks out Hadley’s help with the case.

As Hadley, Paul, Suze, and Luke join together to discover the truth about the murder, they uncover more secrets than they bargained for. The victim was a Seattle-based journalist, and he was working to spill the beans on a few big scandals. But will Hadley and the gang be able to prove any of this was grounds for murder?
Profile Image for Short, Sweet and Cozy.
1,510 reviews
May 10, 2025
A Bitter Shot is the 7th wonderful book in Eryn Scott’s A Stoneybrook Mystery series. The characters are very likable and the cozy mystery was really good and kept me guessing. Hadley James owns a jam shop and her boyfriend Luke owns an IT company and helps out on his family’s farm. Hadley’s twin Paul is a Deputy and is dating Hadley’s best friend Suze. Cascade River Coffee has a new barista Max who is popular. Max is found standing over the dead body of a Seattle journalist and becomes the primary suspect. Hadley gets to go to Seattle to visit Luke at his IT company which is fun. While she is there she looks into the Seattle angle of the journalist. Hadley, Luke, Paul and Suze work together to solve this case. This is my favorite book so far! The audiobook is well done and I was engrossed in the story. #ABitterShot #AStoneybrookMystery #KristophersonPress #ErynScott #cozymystery
Profile Image for Monica.
1,115 reviews
October 30, 2021
Another trip to charming Stoneybrooke and a side trip to Seattle. Interesting to see another side to Luke. Love all the characters and the new additions like Kitty and "Kevin". Gram has been a wonderful addition to the series. Good mystery with plenty of suspects and twists.

Also, a short fun read with Christmas in Stoneybrook where the town worries about a missing Ethel. Surprise twist ending.

Profile Image for Carol L. Caldwell.
Author 9 books8 followers
October 7, 2020
I liked the plot; it was well laid out with several twists...Who did it? There are enough suspects to go around, but who didn't have an alibi?
The characters were likeable. Even circumstances that seemed unimportant played into making the story work. And I loved that it was set in the Great Northwest; Seattle is close to home.
Profile Image for Angela Griffin.
1,704 reviews5 followers
March 12, 2021
Such fun!

A murder exposes three separate scandals in this delightful cozy mystery. Hadley and crew anchor Stoneybrook's engaging cast, and now Gran has added her geriatric whirlwind of a friend into the mix! The well-paced plot offers several red herrings, outright lies, and one massive misdirect, while the big reveal makes sense. I look forward to what's next in Stoneybrook!
150 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2025
Whoa, I did not see that ending coming! Normally I can guess the culprit pretty quickly, but wow did this leave me surprised. A really good story! I missed Luke but more Suze was welcomed. The cast of characters are great; they feel like friends after seven books. I love reading about the gorgeous setting in the PNW; Eryn does such a lovely job with words that paints gorgeous imagery.
Profile Image for Andie.
519 reviews
October 14, 2020
Fantastic cozy mystery series!

Totally enjoyable. lol bed the change of scenery and pace and the addition off a new potential permanent character.

Really love this series. You can read as stand alone but four nuances and context it’s best to read in order.
Profile Image for Cass.
89 reviews
November 19, 2020
Best One Yet

Oh my gosh, I devoured this book. By far the best Stoneybrook Mystery to-date, Idon't know how I'm going to handle the wait for the next one.... probably by checking out Scott's other books.
516 reviews4 followers
December 3, 2020
Good

I read this book at one sitting. Harley and her brother Paul a police detective work together to solve more than one mystery in this book. There is romance too anchorage eccentric friendLy keeps thing very interesting! Very tallented author¡!
Profile Image for Debbie Borthwick.
456 reviews6 followers
March 14, 2021
Another great cozy mystery by Eryn Scott. I thought I knew whodunit, but I didn't guess this one. I also love the romance being played out between Hadley & Luke. I received an ARC and I'm volunteering my honest opinion on this book. I recommend it, I actually recommend the whole series.
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,469 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2023
Another pleasurable and entertaining visit to Stoneybrook. Ms. Scott has penned another quickly paced plot with only a few suspects but lots of clues, twists and red herrings. I hope that Gran's friend, Kitty, becomes a supporting character because she stole every scene when she was on the page.
291 reviews
October 11, 2020
Hidden skeletons

Nice detail, believable characters, and suspense
Thought I knew who was guilty, but found out I was wrong.
Enjoyed the book
Profile Image for Erica.
541 reviews
January 22, 2021
I might be reading these just to check out all the new cats.... :)
Profile Image for E.
1,830 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2021
I'm enjoying this cozy mystery series with a little romance thrown in. Light-hearted, easy read, fun characters.
Profile Image for Holly.
1,474 reviews11 followers
February 9, 2023
Another good story with no foul language.

Hadley and Luke plan to take their relationship to the next level by moving in together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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