French Roast

Maggy Thorsen Mystery #15

by Sandra Balzo

Things go from bad to worse for Wisconsin coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen when her cousin Jacque Oui finds himself in hot water.

Wisconsin coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen's cousin, Jacque Oui, is in trouble. Big trouble! Not only is his cash-strapped Schultz's Market facing competition from a major new grocery chain, but his ex-wife Paulette has arrived from Paris, spectacularly claiming that she and Jacque are still married, despite Jacque being engaged to Maggy's friend and star barista Amy Caprese.

When a huge fire rips through Schultz's Market overnight and a gruesome discovery is made in the shop's upper flat, Maggy is drawn into her cousin's affairs. But where is he? With Jacque suddenly missing, can Maggy uncover the truth behind the disturbing events triggered by Pauline's arrival, or is she about to be scorched by a determined killer?

Genres: Mystery

208 pages, Hardcover

Published December 6, 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 Mattes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author; I may not read any more.

[Groucho42 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'll continue the series. I referenced the last one as passable and this one is worse. It's just too convoluted for sanity or believability. The area above Jacque's store is burnt and two bodies are found. What happened. That and some copper thefts are possibly tied and Maggie tries to figure it out. Amy's angst, Molly's attitude and so many other things seem excessive. I won't type the rest because I don't want to mark the entire post as spoiler. It's the author's smooth style but the story is truly annoying and Maggy should know better by now.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maggy Thorsen's barista Amy is engaged to Maggy's unloved French cousin, who runs the local grocery. When the wife he divorced years ago comes to town, announcing that the divorce wasn't valid, Amy is steamed. But when the grocery burns and two bodies--a mail and a female--aare found in the ruins, she's afraid that her fiance is dead. There are a few other bodies found before Maggy and her fiance, the local sheriff, come up with an answer.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book number 15 in the Maggie Thorsen series. I so enjoy these cozy mysteries set in fictional Brookhills, Wisconsin (AKA Brookfield). I am already looking forward to number 16.

[Kyle Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had more twists and turns. The ending explained it. Still a quick read.