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Homicide and Hot Cocoa
Bean Around Town, the coffee truck extension of Hazel Hewitt's family business in Pine Lakes, Arizona is killing it. In fact, she and her best friend have been hired to cater a fancy holiday party with hot cocoa and treats from Lexi's bakery. She thought the biggest surprise of the night would be discovering Detective Nico Baretti was one of the guests, but boy was she wrong!
First, a record-breaking blizzard threatens to keep everyone inside, so Hazel rushes her coffee truck delights into the home to make the best of this Claus-trophobic situation. And then, the unthinkable happens. The power goes out, and one of the guests turns up dead.
With her big brother and the rest of the Pine Lakes PD unable to help due to the storm, it's up to Hazel and the resting-Grinch-faced detective to solve the case. But the family drama surrounding the guests makes it hard for Hazel to sniff out the suspect, especially while being a tad distracted by the effects of being snowed in with Nico.
This isn't the first time Hazel has had to play cop, but this locked-room mystery might be her toughest one yet. Can she wade through the family's web of lies to find the killer before someone else turns up dead?
Homicide and Hot Cocoa is a fast-paced holiday murder mystery in the Coffee Truck Cozy Mystery series. Inside you’ll find the perfect blend of family bonds that will warm your heart and whodunit adventures as strong as the coffee.
First, a record-breaking blizzard threatens to keep everyone inside, so Hazel rushes her coffee truck delights into the home to make the best of this Claus-trophobic situation. And then, the unthinkable happens. The power goes out, and one of the guests turns up dead.
With her big brother and the rest of the Pine Lakes PD unable to help due to the storm, it's up to Hazel and the resting-Grinch-faced detective to solve the case. But the family drama surrounding the guests makes it hard for Hazel to sniff out the suspect, especially while being a tad distracted by the effects of being snowed in with Nico.
This isn't the first time Hazel has had to play cop, but this locked-room mystery might be her toughest one yet. Can she wade through the family's web of lies to find the killer before someone else turns up dead?
Homicide and Hot Cocoa is a fast-paced holiday murder mystery in the Coffee Truck Cozy Mystery series. Inside you’ll find the perfect blend of family bonds that will warm your heart and whodunit adventures as strong as the coffee.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2023
7 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Jess Mastorakos
55 books707 followersJess Mastorakos writes sweet military romance books that feature heroes with heart and the strong women they love. She is a proud Marine wife and mama of four. She loves her coffee in a glitter tumbler and planning with an erasable pen.
Get a free novella from her San Diego Marines series, Forever with You, at the link below!
www.jessmastorakos.com/forever-with-you
Get a free novella from her San Diego Marines series, Forever with You, at the link below!
www.jessmastorakos.com/forever-with-you
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 8, 2023
I’m not a big murder mystery fan, but since I had enjoyed the other books in the series, I was willing to give this one a try. Some of it was humorous, some not so much. And Hazel’s attempts to try and figure out who was the murderer kept things from getting too intense. There was mention of quite a bit of blood, but no really gory details.
There was one person who was having an affair with a married woman and then became engaged to another woman old enough to be his mother, and his fiancee didn’t have any problem with him having affairs with others even with her daughter-in-law.
There were also some kisses.
There was one person who was having an affair with a married woman and then became engaged to another woman old enough to be his mother, and his fiancee didn’t have any problem with him having affairs with others even with her daughter-in-law.
There were also some kisses.
October 23, 2023
Colonel Mustard in the living room with the super expensive lamp! Or is it?
There was a very fun Clue feeling to this Christmas cosy murder mystery. We have the room, but the suspect & weapon are up for debate. And, yes, there is a butler… do with that what you will. 😂
I love returning to this small Arizona town and hanging out with the residents barista & baker, Hazel & Lexi. Their friendship is the bestest. And the slow burn between Hazel & Nico and Lexi & Ryan has been killing me, but we finallyyyy get a smidgeon of resolution!
Content: married woman has an affair
There was a very fun Clue feeling to this Christmas cosy murder mystery. We have the room, but the suspect & weapon are up for debate. And, yes, there is a butler… do with that what you will. 😂
I love returning to this small Arizona town and hanging out with the residents barista & baker, Hazel & Lexi. Their friendship is the bestest. And the slow burn between Hazel & Nico and Lexi & Ryan has been killing me, but we finallyyyy get a smidgeon of resolution!
Content: married woman has an affair
February 16, 2023
I loved this locked house mystery and that Lexi and Hazel were working a Christmas party for rich Mrs. Daniels together. Lexi had a secret, and Hazel could only hope it's what she'd been hoping for years-that Lexi might finally be dating her brother, Nate. That butler cracked me up and I couldn't help thinking of Niles from the old Nanny sitcom.
The Daniels family was one collective piece o' work and poster kids for the word dysfunctional. Which one offed the guy who was probably marrying the matriarch of that family for her money? You'll have to read and see! It was kinda fun that all this happened during a blizzard but the power outage was no fun! I'd like to think Hazel and Nico might be actually starting a relationship soon. Can't wait for the next book! It's always a fun and sometimes comical time with Hazel and crew!
The Daniels family was one collective piece o' work and poster kids for the word dysfunctional. Which one offed the guy who was probably marrying the matriarch of that family for her money? You'll have to read and see! It was kinda fun that all this happened during a blizzard but the power outage was no fun! I'd like to think Hazel and Nico might be actually starting a relationship soon. Can't wait for the next book! It's always a fun and sometimes comical time with Hazel and crew!
January 18, 2025
...and the plot thickens...
Want to play a game of "Clue"? Jess's fourth cozy mystery has Hazel and her friends doing just that at a fancy Christmas party turned family meeting, turned murder scene. Hazel and Lexie are serving at the Christmas party and promoting their business while Nico is...well, wait...why is Nico there, and how does he know the extended family from New York? And Ryan? Well, he's home until the snowstorm gets him called into the station. However, the storm has the roads blocked, and he can't help, so he must rely on Nico to keep his little sister and her best friend safe from this family with enough drama to make your head spin even without an unknown killer on the loose in the dark due to the power outage. After all, half of the family has a motive for wanting the victim dead and the opportunity, but who has the means? Who took the opportunity? And was it someone in the family or someone else at the party?
Want to play a game of "Clue"? Jess's fourth cozy mystery has Hazel and her friends doing just that at a fancy Christmas party turned family meeting, turned murder scene. Hazel and Lexie are serving at the Christmas party and promoting their business while Nico is...well, wait...why is Nico there, and how does he know the extended family from New York? And Ryan? Well, he's home until the snowstorm gets him called into the station. However, the storm has the roads blocked, and he can't help, so he must rely on Nico to keep his little sister and her best friend safe from this family with enough drama to make your head spin even without an unknown killer on the loose in the dark due to the power outage. After all, half of the family has a motive for wanting the victim dead and the opportunity, but who has the means? Who took the opportunity? And was it someone in the family or someone else at the party?
February 8, 2023
Hazel is playing detective again. Hazel and Lexi have been hired to cater a party. A guest she did not expect is none other than her brother's partner, Nico. A snowstorm hits and they are all stuck until the roads can be cleared. Unfortunately, they are stuck with a dead body which means the killer is one of the people in the house with them. Will they be able to discover the killer before he can strike again? This is a fun and quick read full of mystery.
February 16, 2023
Another great Coffee Truck Cozy Mystery, barista and mystery sleuth Hazel and her baker partner Lexi are snowed in while serving at the Daniels’ family gathering. While there a murder occurs Zach the victim had just been introduced to Constance Daniels’ as her fiancé and new head of the family business. Also in Attendance is Detective Nico Baretti who we are hoping finally decides to date Hazel Read and find out how Hazel and Nico so,be this one together!
February 17, 2023
This was just a fun, cozy, mystery.
I really enjoyed the locked up with a killer theme. I will say however that I never saw the ending coming.
If you like to read cozy, mysteries with a small-town feel, then this series if for you! Justine writes in such a way that the words just flow off the page! It is not an overly large book and only took a couple of hours to read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed the locked up with a killer theme. I will say however that I never saw the ending coming.
If you like to read cozy, mysteries with a small-town feel, then this series if for you! Justine writes in such a way that the words just flow off the page! It is not an overly large book and only took a couple of hours to read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 17, 2023
I love these cozy mysteries! And this might be my favorite one so far!
It has a real Clue vibe and I loved seeing Hazel and Nico actually working together on the mystery too! Things are heating up between the amateur and professional detectives, and I am here for it!!! The extra sizzle made this book an even more enjoyable read! Not to mention the romance between Ryan and Lexi as well!
I can't wait to see what happens next!
It has a real Clue vibe and I loved seeing Hazel and Nico actually working together on the mystery too! Things are heating up between the amateur and professional detectives, and I am here for it!!! The extra sizzle made this book an even more enjoyable read! Not to mention the romance between Ryan and Lexi as well!
I can't wait to see what happens next!
February 19, 2023
I've mixed emotions about Homicide and Hot Cocoa. I'm happy because I loved it and I guessed who the killer was (yay) but sad because I've got to wait (boo!) for the next book!! This is such a fantastic series and I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone.
September 12, 2025
Homicide in hot cocoa
This was a very good book Like all the other ones that he wrote. I had all I have read all 4 books And every 1 of them are as interesting as the 1st 1. Look forward to reading book #5.
This was a very good book Like all the other ones that he wrote. I had all I have read all 4 books And every 1 of them are as interesting as the 1st 1. Look forward to reading book #5.
February 9, 2023
Keeps You Guessing
I don't want to make any spoilers, but I loved all of the characters in this book, even the killer. Another great read by Maxwell. A must read.
I don't want to make any spoilers, but I loved all of the characters in this book, even the killer. Another great read by Maxwell. A must read.
January 5, 2025
This is the best book of the series.
Want to read
February 21, 2025E
books-read-in-2025
July 20, 2025loved this series. please tell me you are writing more! I need to know more about Nico!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews