The Big Steep

Maggy Thorsen Mystery #14

by Sandra Balzo

Wisconsin coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen attempts to solve a mystery steeped in shocking family secrets, tragedy and murder.

Maggy Thorsen's new neighbours, Philip and Vivian Woodward, are forging ahead with their plans for The Big Steep tea shop. Philip's enthusiasm to turn the neglected cottage once owned by Vivian's reclusive grandparents, the Koepplers, into a tea lover's paradise is infectious, but Vivian seems less excited. And when Maggy's sheepdog Frank arrives at Uncommon Grounds coffeehouse bearing a 'gift' he discovered in the Woodwards' compost heap, the tea shop project takes a chilling turn . . .

As the Woodwards' backyard becomes a crime scene, a deadly chain of events is set in motion. Can Maggy dig up the truth of what happened at the cottage many years ago before further tragedy strikes?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

224 pages, Hardcover

Published January 4, 2022

About the author

Sandra Balzo is an award-winning author of crime fiction, including fourteen books in two mystery series--one set outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the other in the High Country of North Carolina. MURDER a la Mocha, the eleventh Maggy Thorsen Wisconsin coffeehouse mystery, will be released in January, and the series has been optioned for development as a TV series/film.

Balzo's books have garnered starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, while being recommended to readers of Janet Evanovich, Charlaine Harris, Joan Hess and Margaret Maron.

In addition to Twitter and her website, Sandy also hangs out at https://www.facebook.com/SandraBalzoM... and http://pinterest.com/sandrabalzo/

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sure, Maggy Thorsen's new neighbors' proposed tea house will compete with her coffee shop, but she welcomes them anyhow, especially the charming Philip Woodward. When his mother-in-law Vana shows up, she has little patience with Philip or his plans, which take in her childhood home, a place she's spent the last thirty years trying to forget. The family relationships in this get more than a little confused, and I wish that Balzo didn't keep trying to explain the long-ago 1960's to her readers, but maybe nobody remembers Vietnam and the Summer of Love anymore.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has a very old death and a very recent murder. The answers all come from the swinging sixties and what happened between people were alive then. The book was an easy read.

[Lacey Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggy Thorsen’s new neighbours, Philip and Vivian Woodward, are forging ahead with their plans for The Big Steep tea shop. Philip’s enthusiasm to turn the neglected cottage once owned by Vivian’s reclusive grandparents, the Koepplers, into a tea lover’s paradise is infectious, but Vivian seems less excited. And when Maggy's sheepdog Frank arrives at Uncommon Grounds coffeehouse bearing a ‘gift’ he discovered in the Woodwards’ compost heap, the tea shop project takes a chilling turn . . .
As the Woodwards’ backyard becomes a crime scene, a deadly chain of events is set in motion. Can Maggy dig up the truth of what happened at the cottage many years ago before further tragedy strikes?
Overall I enjoyed this book. The mystery was a good puzzle to solve.
#TheBigSteep #NetGalley

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did Frank the sheepdog find and bring home to Maggy from her neighbor's compost heap? Could this be the reason Vivian isn't so thrilled with her husband Philiip's plan to turn her grandparents' cottage into a tea shop? No spoilers from me but know that Maggy, despite her patient fiance Jake's caution against it (he's the sheriff) is out to find out what happened. And, she's got her own business, a coffee shop, to run while she does it. Fine as a standalone, this is a good addition to a series that has an intrepid protagonist, a funny dog, and a nice set of friends and associates. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fast read with enough twists to keep you guessing.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The big steep by Sandra Balzo.
A Maggy Thorsen Mystery Book 14.
Maggy Thorsen's new neighbours, Philip and Vivian Woodward, are forging ahead with their plans for The Big Steep tea shop. Philip's enthusiasm to turn the neglected cottage once owned by Vivian's reclusive grandparents, the Koepplers, into a tea lover's paradise is infectious, but Vivian seems less excited. And when Maggy's sheepdog Frank arrives at Uncommon Grounds coffeehouse bearing a 'gift' he discovered in the Woodwards' compost heap, the tea shop project takes a chilling turn . . .
I really really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover. Beautiful. Great story and characters. I hope there is more to come. 4*.

[Renee Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysteries and coffeeshops seem to go together. I have been a fan favorite of this series from the start. With well developed characters that have evolved and we think of them as family! Love Frank, the sheepdog. This time the neighbors are having compost problems. Great story line. Thanks #netgalley and #CanongateBooks and #SevernHouse for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

[Groucho42 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've liked most of the series but this one is just passable. A couple come to town to open a tea shop. The husband seems nice, the wife isn't, her mother comes to town, a baby's skeleton is found in an old compost pile, and then the wife is dead. It's all tied around a bunch of folks from the 60s. It's a bit convoluted yet in one way it's too simple. The woman was a kid there, shows up, and then the daughter is killed? Even for me, she was the main or, rather, only suspect.

[Kyle Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a 3.5. It was a quick read with familiar characters and setting.

[Anne-Marie Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from this author as found in my local library. It is the 14th novel in the series.
The plot was full of twists and turns. I enjoyed it. Will red the rest.

[Harlequin Books]

Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
A Maggy Thorsen Mystery

[Johnmarilyn Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read, but the storyline was somewhat confusing as the relationahips between the main characters kept shifting and were complicated at best.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 80% of the book was pretty good, but I was totally lost at the ending explanation.