Grounds for Murder
A Coffee Lover’s Mystery
By Tara Lush
ISBN: 9781643856186
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Barista Lana Lewis’s sleuthing may land her in a latte trouble as Tara Lush launches her new Coffee Shop mysteries.
When Lana Lewis’ best — and most difficult — employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café’s chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil’s Beach, Lana’s normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he’s found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana’s café, she becomes the prime suspect.
Even the island’s handsome police chief isn’t quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn’t the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach.
With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana’s prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer. After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship — or will she come to a bitter end? (Goodreads)
Review:
As a lover of coffee as well as cozy mysteries, when I saw this title at my local library, by a “new-to-me” author, I could not resist. And I must say, I am very glad I picked up Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush as I was truly engaged and entertained throughout the entire story.
The premise -> Lana Lewis has had a bit of bad luck. Following the disillusion of her marriage, getting let go from her dream job as a reporter and then the passing of her mother, Lana goes home to Devil’s Beach, Florida to run her mother’s coffee shop – Perkatory (what a great name!!!) – and recoup from the bout of bad luck. Just after entering the Sunshine State Barista Championship, Lana’s talented barista Fabrizio quits and goes to work for her rival coffee shop. So what shall Lana do without Fab and his talents in the contest? Perkatory is sure to lose now. After Lana has a big blowout with Fab, but before she can explain her bad behaviour and make things right with Fab – he turns up dead. Oh my…not good on so many levels. Many people from the rival coffee house witnessed the blow-up. So what’s a girl to-do? Well, when her journalistic instincts kicked in, Lana began investigating on her own in hopes of figuring out what happened. To note, with Fab now deceased, who will look after his shih tzu? Luckily for this pup – Lana took a shine to Stanley as there are no relatives close by and the only one Lana knows of does not care about Fab’s puppy. Whew…as I would hate to see a pup get lost in the shuffle.
While trying to figure out what happened to Fab, Lana must also hire more staff and learn to perfect her latte artwork, if there is a hope of winning the Sunshine State Barista Championship. Luckily for Lana, she hires a seasoned barista with mad latte artwork skills. So there may be a hope of winning now? If only one could solve the mystery of how Fab died. The way Lana used her journalistic reporter skills (and her pushy attitude) to elicit information from a variety of sources was thought-provoking. Gave me a whole new appreciation for journalists.
What I found interesting and engaging about this story was that there were many unique characters -> starting with Lana’s hippy dad. A character he was. Also – Fab was an interesting character albeit short lived in the living category. A man who did not shy away from dating many, many women. He also seemed involved in some shady business with alligators. Oh my! Regardless, the reader did get a sense of who Fab was prior to his death. Chief Noah Garcia and his budding connection to Lana is certainly something to watch in future books – how romantic can they go? I liked their pace so far -> slow and steady.
I loved the picture of Stanley on the front cover. He is such a cutie. But then – I am a sucker for a cute looking animal on the cover.
In the end, Lana did solve the mystery (was there any doubt? and yes you will have to read the book to find out “whodunit” as there are MANY viable suspects to sift through), write her article (sort of), get a bit cozier with the chief and settled in at Perkatory with her new barista Erica. And as far as the results from the Sunshine State Barista Championship event – well you know the answer…read the book!
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, a scenic location, dogs and of course coffee…then might I suggest you pick up this first in a series book – Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush. A great start to a new series, which I shall continue on reading! In fact – on to the next book in the series – Give Me Chills – Book 1.5.
