What do you think?
Rate this book
Jack Winters, Detective #1
Aliens, Spaceships and the Occasional Latte
An adventurous romp through space with a band of alien coffee-smugglers! Space opera at its best!
Unknown to most humans, aliens love coffee, and Earth is the only planet that has it. It’s the most popular beverage in the galaxy and a band of adventure loving aliens have come to Earth in search of the black elixir.
Jack Winters is a no-nonsense, down-to-earth detective who doesn’t believe in aliens, but all changes late one night while on a stake-out. Because instead of finding drug dealers – whom he fully expected to be human – he makes first contact with the alien coffee smugglers.
Jack soon finds himself travelling across the galaxy on a starship, where he learns there are other aliens out there, much larger and nastier, and many horrible ways to die in the cold depths of outer space.
Light-hearted escapism at its best. Join Jack on the adventure of a lifetime as he travels across the galaxy with his new alien friends.
Unknown to most humans, aliens love coffee, and Earth is the only planet that has it. It’s the most popular beverage in the galaxy and a band of adventure loving aliens have come to Earth in search of the black elixir.
Jack Winters is a no-nonsense, down-to-earth detective who doesn’t believe in aliens, but all changes late one night while on a stake-out. Because instead of finding drug dealers – whom he fully expected to be human – he makes first contact with the alien coffee smugglers.
Jack soon finds himself travelling across the galaxy on a starship, where he learns there are other aliens out there, much larger and nastier, and many horrible ways to die in the cold depths of outer space.
Light-hearted escapism at its best. Join Jack on the adventure of a lifetime as he travels across the galaxy with his new alien friends.
- GenresScience FictionAliens
229 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2014
49 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 8, 2019
ALIENS, SPACESHIPS AND THE OCCASIONAL LATTE by M. J. Wahl at first glance had the faint aroma of genius: A nice cover, an intriguing title, and an entertaining blurb. It is very difficult, however, to successfully combine genres, which in this case is detective story and science fiction. The result is “only” an extremely entertaining story that is mainly in the vein of light-hearted science fiction.
So it wasn’t too disappointing.
The book has quick pacing, with some humor, in the tradition of some of Keith Laumer and much of Ron Goulart. The detective angle, integral to the plot, has a promising start, though failed to sustain the detective element as the science fiction elements took center stage.
The story revolves around a small group of intergalactic coffee traders. They are active on Earth because our planet’s coffee is legendary on all planets. Of course, coffee is more valuable than gold because Earth is the only place where coffee can grow. When the detective hero gets caught up in one of the shipments then mayhem breaks loose.
As a coffee lover myself, I might have hoped that Wahl had done a little more research to incorporate into the story, such as the culture of a coffee shop barista or a small craft coffee roaster.
That is a quibble, however, because the intent was obviously to provide light-hearted entertainment, and in that is succeeded. It could prove a tasty treat even if the reader is not a coffee aficionado.
So it wasn’t too disappointing.
The book has quick pacing, with some humor, in the tradition of some of Keith Laumer and much of Ron Goulart. The detective angle, integral to the plot, has a promising start, though failed to sustain the detective element as the science fiction elements took center stage.
The story revolves around a small group of intergalactic coffee traders. They are active on Earth because our planet’s coffee is legendary on all planets. Of course, coffee is more valuable than gold because Earth is the only place where coffee can grow. When the detective hero gets caught up in one of the shipments then mayhem breaks loose.
As a coffee lover myself, I might have hoped that Wahl had done a little more research to incorporate into the story, such as the culture of a coffee shop barista or a small craft coffee roaster.
That is a quibble, however, because the intent was obviously to provide light-hearted entertainment, and in that is succeeded. It could prove a tasty treat even if the reader is not a coffee aficionado.
February 6, 2025
This review was published on Kurt's Frontier.
Synopsis:
Jack Winters earns his living as a hardboiled private investigator in Canada. He never believed in aliens until one day, a suspicious wife hired him to follow her husband, afraid he was cheating on her or, worse, dealing drugs. During his stakeout, instead of finding drug dealers, he discovers aliens smuggling coffee. What many humans don’t know is that aliens love coffee, and Earth is the only place it grows. Traveling with them across the galaxy, Jack Winters realizes that his intrepid coffee dealers have managed to make some enemies.
Review:
M. J. Wahl describes Aliens, Spaceships and the Occasional Latte as “lighthearted escapism.” To a large degree, he is right. It’s a story not meant to be taken seriously. There are some exciting moments when the bounty hunters turn up to kill Jack and his friends. While fun, the novel did not prove to be a page-turner.
Synopsis:
Jack Winters earns his living as a hardboiled private investigator in Canada. He never believed in aliens until one day, a suspicious wife hired him to follow her husband, afraid he was cheating on her or, worse, dealing drugs. During his stakeout, instead of finding drug dealers, he discovers aliens smuggling coffee. What many humans don’t know is that aliens love coffee, and Earth is the only place it grows. Traveling with them across the galaxy, Jack Winters realizes that his intrepid coffee dealers have managed to make some enemies.
Review:
M. J. Wahl describes Aliens, Spaceships and the Occasional Latte as “lighthearted escapism.” To a large degree, he is right. It’s a story not meant to be taken seriously. There are some exciting moments when the bounty hunters turn up to kill Jack and his friends. While fun, the novel did not prove to be a page-turner.
January 18, 2020
This is a fun sci-fi adventure. A private detective gets pulled into a clandestine business of selling coffee to aliens and is whisked away across the galaxy. Along the way you'll find laughs, adventure, danger, and a bit of romance.
The only negative to the book is a a lack of proofreading that took me out of the story a few times. But it was easy to find my way back in with interesting, well-drawn characters and an interesting plot.
The only negative to the book is a a lack of proofreading that took me out of the story a few times. But it was easy to find my way back in with interesting, well-drawn characters and an interesting plot.
Read
July 8, 2021This appears to be a very well-written, witty science fiction / mystery novel. And I love the Canadian flavour that permeates it.
Unfortunately, it appears to have been through a spell-checker instead of an editor. Mistakes like pour vs pore and eyes vs eye's abound. Punctuation seems to be viewed as optional.
If the author ever gets this professionally edited and releases an updated version, I'd love to read it. Unfortunately, for now it's a DNF at 10%.
Unfortunately, it appears to have been through a spell-checker instead of an editor. Mistakes like pour vs pore and eyes vs eye's abound. Punctuation seems to be viewed as optional.
If the author ever gets this professionally edited and releases an updated version, I'd love to read it. Unfortunately, for now it's a DNF at 10%.
May 1, 2024
great story, would have been 5 stars except…
Donna is a wholly unlikeable and spastic character. It would be so much better if the author could give her character some Xanax and a personality. The rest is great and the characters are so fun. Donna’s mom is hilarious. But I almost stopped reading about 3/4 of the way though because Donna’s dialogue was so annoying. Maybe she gets better, I can only hope.
Donna is a wholly unlikeable and spastic character. It would be so much better if the author could give her character some Xanax and a personality. The rest is great and the characters are so fun. Donna’s mom is hilarious. But I almost stopped reading about 3/4 of the way though because Donna’s dialogue was so annoying. Maybe she gets better, I can only hope.
May 20, 2021
Well... shame on me for not noticing the #1 in the parenthe1s.. Merrily going along with the switch between humorous and whoa!!... Really ugly, scary situations and then the book "dies." Not willing to pay again to get the next book. Who knows how long M.J. can string us along..? Number 27?
Read
July 22, 2021Intriguing Storyline
When I saw the title I thought that the book would be funny but it's more than that. It's filled with action and great, relatable characters. It doesn't get technical about the spaceship or space travel. The author doesn't burden you with alien language, which can take away from the story. I look forward to reading more of Jack's adventures!
When I saw the title I thought that the book would be funny but it's more than that. It's filled with action and great, relatable characters. It doesn't get technical about the spaceship or space travel. The author doesn't burden you with alien language, which can take away from the story. I look forward to reading more of Jack's adventures!
March 22, 2024
Fantastic sci fi adventure
The worldbuilding is fun (except for the grim parts). Jack is a great, loveable narrator, and the Radauti are awesome. There is graphic violence and a body count, so I can't call this a romp. But the overall feel of the story is upbeat, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The worldbuilding is fun (except for the grim parts). Jack is a great, loveable narrator, and the Radauti are awesome. There is graphic violence and a body count, so I can't call this a romp. But the overall feel of the story is upbeat, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 4, 2018
It was a very entertaining and well-written book. I enjoyed it all the way through and would recommend it to anyone. The only drawback is that it is a continued series and I am to old to wait for a series.
May 7, 2019
Enjoyable Escapism
Different and humorous. Light hearted adventure akin to a 50s style sci fi show with better writing. An apolitical story where the writer just wants to provide an enjoyable read.
Different and humorous. Light hearted adventure akin to a 50s style sci fi show with better writing. An apolitical story where the writer just wants to provide an enjoyable read.
May 8, 2019
What a ride!
I totally loved this book from start to finish! I love first contact books, and this one was really fun! I hope to see the relationships develop in a next book. I don’t drink coffee, but this made me appreciate the Interplanetary Java crowd! Well done, Mr. Wahl!
I totally loved this book from start to finish! I love first contact books, and this one was really fun! I hope to see the relationships develop in a next book. I don’t drink coffee, but this made me appreciate the Interplanetary Java crowd! Well done, Mr. Wahl!
January 25, 2022
A fun story. The author created an alien species I wouldn't mind meeting. Alien science fiction is not my thing and I was pleasantly surprised. I read this book because I had the pleasure of meeting the author. I'm going to be looking for the next instalment.
August 24, 2017
Excellent storyline!
The title caught my attention and I just had to read the first couple of chapters. I was seriously hooked by then! Read this! You will enjoy!!!
The title caught my attention and I just had to read the first couple of chapters. I was seriously hooked by then! Read this! You will enjoy!!!
June 21, 2019
Read to 28%. Just not my thing.
March 30, 2020
Like the book
April 9, 2020
Hilarious and interesting
April 14, 2020
Good.....real good !
This book was funny and thrilling. I am so glad that I took a chance on it. I am just about to download the
next book in the series....so much fun.
This book was funny and thrilling. I am so glad that I took a chance on it. I am just about to download the
next book in the series....so much fun.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews