Fatal Brouhaha: A Ground Rules Mystery, Book 5

A Ground Rules Mystery #5

by Emmeline Duncan, Carly Robins (Narrator)

Twenty-something master barista and owner of Portland, Oregon's popular Ground Rules coffee cart, Sage Caplin is ready to celebrate her growing business at a weekend long maker's festival, complete with live music, a cornhole tournament, 4th of July fireworks—and murder . . .

In addition to her beloved coffees, Sage is thrilled to be expanding her offerings in collaboration with the local whiskey company that is throwing the festival. But among the crowd of artists and creators, Sage is surprised to spot Left Coast Grinds owner Mark Jeffries, who has it out for Ground Rules. The distillery didn't invite Mark and they apologize. But nothing can make up for the glare Mark aims at Sage and her co-owner, Harley. And that's just a taste of what's to come . . .

Soon Mark incites a loud argument with Harley and is ousted from the property. But later that night, Sage finds Mark's body by the Ground Rules Subaru. She knows that when investigators learn that Harley and Mark had a history of butting heads, Harley will be a prime suspect—and she's right. But Mark rubbed many people the wrong way, and several are at the festival. Now Sage will have to filter through secrets, grudges, and blackmail to get to the bitter truth—and as her sleuthing heats up, the closing fireworks won't just be the ones in the sky . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Food, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

First published April 29, 2025

About the author

Emmeline Duncan is a mystery writer based out of Portland, Oregon. Her novels include the Ground Rules series, including Fresh Brewed Murder, Double Shot Death, Flat White Fatality, and Death Unfiltered, which comes out in the spring of 2024. She's also the author of Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop, a Halloween-themed mystery that will come out in August 2024.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better! And this is the first time that I really was rooting for this victim to be killed off. The mystery was well-paced and kept me invested the whole time despite not caring for the victim. The setting is one of my favorites and I love how I learn a little bit more about coffee with each installment of this series. The event at the end was perfect with just a hint of a mystery guest that made this one that much better. Highly recommend the whole series but start at the beginning.

I received a copy from #NetGalley and #Kensingtonbooks for an honest review.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Ground Rules partners, Sage and Harley, have teamed up with brothers Tierney and Shay Doyle of Doyle’s Oregon Whiskey to create a canned Irish coffee. The product is set to launch at a celebration over the July 4th weekend on the Doyle’s beautiful property in the “Columbia Gorge with a view of the mighty Columbia River.” Twenty local companies have set up booths, several food carts are serving a variety of festival foods, and the Ground Rules coffee cart has a prime spot. There are cornhole tournaments for youth and adults and a Connect Four tournament for the children. The drawing events are the bands performing on the stage in the meadow.

Things start out so well until Sage sees her rival, Left Coast Grinds owner Mark Jeffries, walking toward her. He has been trying to take down Ground Rules since they opened. He was not invited to be part of the event, but to get around the rules, he is sharing a tent with another vendor. This leads to a huge argument with Harley and Mark escorted out of the area by security.

After the event ends for the night, Sage, baristas Kendall and Sophie head for the Ground Rules Subaru. There, they find a very dead Mark Jefferies creating a huge brouhaha. Sage knows Harley will be the prime suspect after the public altercation, but the man had his share of enemies, some Sage has seen at the festival. With a little help, she hopes to ground the investigation to a halt by finding the killer, but it just may be, the killer will find her first.

Oh, this was a great story with a victim who really needed to go.

Sage is a strong protagonist. She is passionate about coffee and her coffee business, but she really comes alive around her family and friends, especially Bax and Niko. The wedding is coming up fast, and they make such a cute family. Niki is an inquisitive little man, and so cute with his satchel containing “all his gear” and sometimes his cape to help Sage investigate or work on his comic book. He has been writing and illustrating for many months. Harley spent a lot of time hiding from the police, but she can roast and blend those grounds brilliantly and works mostly behind the scenes to make the business a success. Sage’s dad and lawyer brother came to have fun at the festival, but also to be around for whatever Sage and Harley need. Kendell and Sophia are terrific baristas who can hold down the fort when Sage goes sleuthing. I enjoy the core group of characters Ms. Duncan has created for this series. She has surrounded Sage with strong people who have grown throughout the series.

She has also plotted out a solid mystery, with several suspects and Sage going the extra mile to keep Harley from ending up behind bars. A tragic event made the case even more important. There were some great twists, and while they weren’t alone, I did have the guilty party near the top of my list of suspects. Sage had a little help getting all the clues together, but she had a real A-Ha moment when the final clue fell into place. She did notify Detective Ortega, but Sage unexpectedly got up close and personal with the killer. She had to think on her feet if she was going to survive and be sure to have proof in case she didn’t.

Fans will love the final chapter . . . no spoilers here.

Fatal Brouhaha is a delightful whodunit with caring characters, and a top-notch main plot twisted together with interesting subplots that held my attention from beginning to end. The festival sounded like so much fun with the games, music, food, and drink. It has me in the mood to check out some upcoming fairs and festivals here without the dead body, of course.

I highly recommend the entire series, and believe starting from the beginning is best, so you can get to know the characters from the start.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a wedding and Mark gets his due!! I’ve enjoyed this series and happy to see the growth in the characters. Low angst, not to many TSTL moments and fun characters.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much! These books always make me long to fly to Portland and wish that I could taste Ground Rules coffee (and other fun sounding drinks!) I love Sage and how she can come across as "all business" because she is so passionate and determined, but also has a fun playful side when with her friends and family. She always gets to attend the best festivals with her camper and this one was no exception. I really want to go to a live music festival again thanks to this description (though without the tragedies please). I am patting myself on the back because I picked up on a potential clue super early on (yay me), but there were plenty of suspects and self doubt. I love all the people Sage chooses to surround herself with and how much fun they all have together. The wedding was of course fabulous and I cannot wait for more!

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy; my thoughts and review are my own.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who loves coffee, this series is a must! I really like Sage, she is an intelligent and rather low-key main character who comes across as very real. The setting for the story is a festival where Ground Rules has a cart and is also rolling out a new product in collaboration with the whiskey distiller sponsoring the festival. With a wonderful new product, an Irish coffee cocktail in a can and her wedding only three weeks away, Sage has a lot to he happy about. Unfortunately, Mark, Sage and Haley's nemesis, has arrived at the festival, although he was denied a booth and is definitely looking to stir up trouble. When he is found murdered in the parking lot next to the Ground Rules Subaru, only hours after a loud argument with Haley, things take a turn. Can Sage manage a busy festival, a new product roll out, and keep her partner out of police lockup? With the festival as a backdrop and all of Sage's wonderful family, friends, and employees along this is a very enjoyable read. Thanks to #Netgally, #Kensingtonbooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #FatalBrouhaha #Ground Rules Mysteries #EmmelineDuncan #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Jenna (readinginjennaland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back in Portland with Sage and the Ground Rules coffee company. They are working with a whiskey company for an Irish to go. There's a festival introducing the canned drink. Sage and the coffee cart are there. There's a public altercation with Mark Jeffries and Harley. Then Mark's dead body is found by the company car. Harley is a prime suspect and MIA for most of the book. Sage decides to help investigate and find the real killer.

I really enjoyed this book and I love the series. Once I started reading I was hooked and I couldn't stop reading. I had no idea whodunnit. I really enjoyed following the clues with Sage.

[Lee Villiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmeline Duncan's Fatal Brouhaha, the fifth installment in the Ground Rules Mystery series, delivers another engaging blend of Portland's vibrant coffee culture and a compelling whodunit. The narrative provides an insightful glimpse into the local coffee industry, seamlessly woven into a well-crafted mystery that maintains suspense until its logical conclusion. Fans of the series will appreciate the satisfying and cozy ending we’ve been waiting for, making this a worthwhile addition to the Ground Rules collection. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the digital ARC all opinions are my own.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#FatalBrouhaha #NetGalley is another great addition to this series.
Sage is a wonderful character and the author does a fantastic job of bringing all the characters to life. Each time I open one of these books, I feel like I'm catching up with old friends.
This book is definitely well done, the mystery reflects around the death of the owner of another coffee shop, who has close ties to Sage and her parter Harley. Sage knows she needs to help with the investigation unless she wants Harley to end up behind bars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sage (and her business coffee cart) is an integral part of the music festival. One of the other vendors is a rather nasty businessman known to indulge in the practice of revenge porn. Until Sage finds him dead at the side of her car. Now the investigations begin!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Avail April 29, 2025
#FatalBrouhaha by @writeremmelineduncan #GroundRulesMysteriesBk5 #NetGalley @kensingtonbooks #cozymystery #coffeeculture @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble **** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones

[Jessica Bellemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Irish coffee cocktail with a side of murder, please.

Sage Caplin and her Ground Rules coffee crew are co-hosting a Fourth of July festival with Dolye's Oregon Whiskey Distillery, aimed to promote their joint canned Irish coffee cocktail. The festival features a plethora of food and craft booths, with live music and corn holes tournaments taking place to draw a bigger crowd. When Sage's nemesis, and former boss at Left Coast Grinds, Mark is found murdered beside her Ground Rules car, Sage takes it upon herself to solve the crime before her business partner Harley takes the blame.

Set in the coffee-loving city of Portland, Fatal Brouhaha expands on the Ground Rules universe created in the previous four books. As Sage prepares for her wedding, the investigation is almost a welcome distraction to the normal pre-wedding jitters. Sage's Ground Rules staff are a delightful bunch, with Sophie and Kendall balancing each other out while also giving readers some very interesting coffee insights.

This book is extremely well-paced, and I often found myself astounded at how fast the book went by while reading. I absolutely adore Bax's son Niko as a budding investigator and graphic novel writer, with those surrounding him underestimating his perceptiveness. The actual mystery kept me guessing until the very end, which is always a good sign.

The only thing that I wish is that somewhere near me hosted a festival like this so that I could attend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series, and this installment was a solid mystery, but as a series ending book it just fell kind of flat. Something felt like it was missing for me. I feel like a lot of time was spent explaining things that didn't really need explaining instead of wrapping things up with characters we've spent 6 books with.

[Lorie Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite cozies are the ones that involve coffee or bookstores. Emmeline Duncan’s Ground Rules Mysteries fall in the coffee category, as the main character had a coffee cart in the beginning, and has continued to expand her coffee business since then. An added bonus with this series is that it is set in Portland, Oregon, which happens to be one of my favorite places. The main character in this series is Sage Caplin. She runs the business with her business partner and best friend, Harley, who is the coffee roaster of the pair.

The latest book in this series is Fatal Brouhaha, which came out the end of April 2025 and is set during the 4th of July. The Ground Rules team is taking part in a maker’s festival that includes live music, a cornhole tournament, 4th of July fireworks, and a lot of food trucks and carts. They are sponsors of the festival together with a local whisky company, and they are launching a new product that combines the whisky with Ground Rules coffee. Sage is surprised to see Left Coast Grinds owner Mark Jeffries setting up at the festival as part of a booth for a chocolate company. Mark, who has caused problems for Ground Rules in the past, was turned down for his own spot at the festival but somehow managed to work his way in after all. Mark doesn’t like Sage and Harley and has it out for them. The fact that he was seen having a heated argument with Harley at the festival, combined with their difficult history, makes Harley a prime suspect when Mark is later found murder. It doesn’t help that Harley is nowhere to be found and not answering her phone.

Sage sets out to find out who the real killer is to protect her friend, and quickly discovers more people who had problems with Mark, including harassment and blackmail. The new detective on the scene isn’t thrilled with Sage’s interfering, so she tries to do it carefully. Her fiancé Bax’s son Niko has decided he wants to be a detective too and sets out on his own investigation, despite Sage’s concern, but the young kid does seem to have a knack for it. There’s also a fire! As if that wasn’t enough, Sage is trying to plan their wedding.

I love Sage and her team, her brother and his girlfriend, her father and uncle, Bax, and Niko. Niko is absolutely adorable in this one! And of course her cat. The mystery was also interesting, and I have to say that I didn’t figure out the killer until Sage did. The setting and all the great coffee talk and coffee recipes in the back of the book are a delightful bonus.

If you love a good mystery with great characters, an awesome setting, and coffee, don’t miss this book, or this series. While you can read this one first, I highly recommend going back to book 1 so you don’t miss out on any of the character development. Sage and her team have come a long way since that first book and that little coffee cart.

[Kim Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

FATAL BROUHAHA is the fifth book in the Ground Rules Mysteries by Emmeline Duncan. It doesn’t get much better than pairing whiskey with coffee and launching the joint venture with a 4th of July festival and fireworks display to celebrate! Protagonist Sage Caplin and her business partner, Harley, own Ground Rules, a successful and expanding coffee company in Portland, Oregon. Sage is a wonderful character. She’s ambitious, yet down-to-earth, relatable, and a good friend to all her employees and customers. The author does an admirable job in giving each character individual personalities with well-developed backstories. She also brings the setting of Portland and the festival to life, so that the reader feels like they’re right there, smelling the mouthwatering aroma of fresh-ground coffee and tasting the invigorating brew, while listening to bands playing popular music. Harley is a good foil to outgoing Sage. She’s the character behind the scenes making things happen while developing the specialty coffee grinds their company is known for. She’s quiet, yet steady, so when their nemesis, Mark, creates a brouhaha and Harley lashes out, it’s unexpected.

Mark has been a thorn in the Ground Rules business from the very first book. And while murder is never the right answer, it seems karma has finally caught up to him… except it doesn’t take long for Harley to become the primary suspect. As if launching a business venture and planning a wedding isn’t enough, Sage knows Harley is innocent and pulls out all the stops to prove it. The author provides a well-plotted mystery with twists and turns that kept me engrossed in the pages, with plenty of suspects who might have wanted the rival coffee house owner dead. The subplots added interest and intertwined with the story perfectly. There is a touch of humor and heartwarming scenes to make you want to come back and see what happens next in Sage’s life, while keeping the reader guessing with a clever whodunit!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[boogleloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars: This is the fifth entry in Duncan's Ground Rules Mystery series, which is a Culinary Cozy Mystery set in Portland, Oregon and follows a master barista and coffee cart owner as she finds her new product launch and collaboration with a local whiskey company interrupted after a bitter coffee shop rival's found dead and her partner's the prime suspect. She'll have to filter through secrets, grudges and blackmail to get to the bitter truth and as her sleuthing heats up, the closing fireworks won’t be the ones in the sky. With plenty of twists and turns, Duncan has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Duncan's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's a joy to catch up with Sage and her friends and family, especially her partnership with Harley. It's also great to see her business thriving, seeing her relationship with her gamer developer/designer Bax fiance heading down the aisle and spending time with her and Bax's sweet cat, Kaldi. Oh and you won't want to miss out on the delicious drink and dessert recipes Duncan's included. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Fresh Brewed Murder. This is a favorite series and Duncan didn't miss with this latest entry; Highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Brouhaha is the fifth book in the Ground Rules Mystery series, set in Portland, Oregon it follows coffee business owner Sage Caplin. Sage runs a successful coffee shop, cart and roastery with her business partner Harley. This mystery takes us to a 4th of July music festival that is celebrating a new coffee cocktail that features ground rules coffee and whiskey made at the distillery hosting the event. Things look to be going well until Mark Jefferies arrives uninvited. Mark runs a rival coffee shop that both Sage and Harley got their start at. He's been a thorn in Ground Rules side since its inception and the 1st book in this series. He's not just causing a disruption at the event, he ends up at the center of a murder and Sage is one again pulled into the investigation. Fast paced and action packed, with lots of potential suspects to keep you guessing.
There's also lots of great moments with Sage's friends and family including her adorable step son to be, Niko. The book ends with a wonderful wedding and the potential appearance of Sage's fugitive mother. Is it a tease for book 6?
I hope there's more to come from this wonderful series.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this series for years, and was happy to read this 5th book!

Sage and the the Ground Rules crew head to a music and craft fair over the fourth of July weekend. She and her business partner Harley have collaborated with a whiskey company to sell a canned coffee drink. Sage and Harley are continuing to build their coffee empire. The murder in this story happens pretty quickly. I have to say, I was glad this character was killed off!

Sage is such a likable character. She is grounded in her ideas and beliefs of helping where she can. I liked that Sage had more interactions with her soon-to-be stepson Niko. He is quite a character. The author provides detailed descriptions of life in Portland and the social issues that affect that community. It made me feel more connected to the story.

The mystery had lots of elements to it, interesting characters, and lots of coffee information.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for the ARC, and for letting me share my early thoughts on Fatal Brouhaha.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the newest addition to the Ground Rules mystery series featuring Sage, owner of a local Portland coffee house who solves mysteries in her spare time. I always enjoy these books because they make it seem believable that Sage would be involved in the mystery and is smart enough to solve it.

In this latest book, Sage and her business partner Harley’s longtime antagonist Mark Jeffries is murdered at a festival celebrating a new whisky coffee release. Many people had reason to want Mark dead and Sage needs to solve the mystery before the police arrest Harley for the crime. I enjoyed seeing all the characters again and the mystery, although the fact that so many people are hiding huge secrets or a connection to Mark did seem a bit extreme at times. Overall though this is a cozy addition and I’ll certainly read the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early arc. All opinions are my own.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage and Harley are participating in a music festival to launch their new partnership with a whiskey distillery. When their former boss and nemesis, Marc, shows up vendor booth, and then turns up dead, Harley is in the hot seat.

Can Sage work her magic and figure out who really had it in for Mark or we Harley be doing time for a crime she didn’t really commit? Just like brewing a good cup of coffee, Sage knows it’s going to take time, finding the right balance evidence and proof to clear her friend and business partner.

I love coffee. I love a good mystery. This series brings together both of my lives and I absolutely enjoy every single entry in this series today! Seriously, not a single one has ever disappointed and each one has left me guessing until close to the end when the murderer is revealed. Each one reads fine as a standalone, so I feel free to start with this one if you haven’t read one in the series yet.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d been waiting since the get-go to see something happen to Sage and Harley’s nemesis who was such a condescending jerk. He truly deserved what the author had in store for him, thank you Ms. Duncan! But Sage had an extra interest in sleuthing this one, to keep the police off Harley’s back since she and the victim had argued publicly.

Sage faced off with yet another killer after getting the final clue from a really unlikely source, which she rightfully credited later on. Thanks to her quick thinking and some nearby security personnel, Sage lived to see her wedding day. It’ll be interesting to see what she and her pals get into next—if they don’t get into murder and mayhem on the honeymoon lol.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.

[Krista]

Sage and that gang are back on the festival circuit and of course happen upon a dead body. This time it's Mark, former employer of several Ground Rules employees and series bugbear who has finally come a cropper. There's no shortage of suspects including multiple ex-wives, burned would-be business partners, and blackmail victims. Sage, helped by her soon-to-be stepson Nico and the rest of her crew, has to figure out how to exonerate her coffee roaster in between pulling espresso shots and mixing up coffee tonics. Sage is a little more acerbic in this installment than in those past, but she has to be getting tired of tripping over corpses.

NetGalley provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage already has a lot on her plate (a wedding, a new collaboration for her coffee) when Mark, a competitor, has an argument with her business partner Harley and then Mark is...wait for it..murdered! Cozy fans know that Harley will be a suspect and that lots of people didn't like Mark. What sets this apart is Sage's found family of friends, which includes her fiance and his son Nico. While it's the latest in a series, it should be fine as a standalone. I liked that this advanced Sage's life even as it satisfied the cozy mystery itch. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. And there are recipes!

[Laura Salas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first title I've read in the Ground Rules series. I like Sage, the main character, who's level-headed and pretty realistic. I admit there are a couple of times here where the coffee info dump is too much for me. But the festival setting and range of recurring (I assume) and one-time characters are all pretty strong. It's a bit hard to keep everyone straight with such a large cast of characters, but it's a good read overall. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori Bonkoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sage and Hayley have worked with a local whiskey distributor to create a new coffee/whiskey drink in a can. At a festival as a background, A competing coffee vendor breaks the rules by showing up to sell coffee. He finally gets kicked out of the festival but not before a loud argument with Hayley. When he is found dead, Hayley becomes the prime suspect. It takes Sage and all her family to help solve the crime. I love this series and long for a trip to Portland to enjoy the coffee culture. Fans of the series will love this story.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one veered a little off course for me, focusing a bit too much on the minutiae of small business ownership...to the point that the murder mystery kinda got lost in the mix. It felt very low stakes despite the murder. I also felt like it lost some of the appeal of the previous book in the series, because this was set at a fairground instead of a Portland neighborhood; it lacked the Portland ambiance to a large degree. Still a decent book that makes a good palette cleanser between heavy reads.

[Alicia Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know anything about coffee but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the mystery. Some recap of relevant plot points from previous books should make it easy enough for new readers to jump in.
The victim has had it coming for a long time and vendors, former employees, exes all have motive. Some may have been a bit of a reach with tenuous connection, but plenty of people to keep you guessing ensures an entertaining mystery.
There's interesting tidbits of coffee facts, along with some recipes- mostly coffee related but not all.

[SD · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books always make me want to go to Portland, Oregon to check out the coffee and food truck scene. I don't know how much based on reality but so want to find out - LOL!

With the wedding fast approaching how much time does Sage have to poke into the death of a rival? She makes it all work and still doesn't become a bridezilla. Some nice tidbits that are not quite twists. Overall I enjoyed it.

Happy Reading!

[Halleigh Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! This book was such a satisfying conclusion to the story—beautifully written, heartfelt, and full of emotion. I’ve loved these characters since the first book, and somehow I love them even more now. Their growth, relationships, and resilience really shine through in this final chapter. The ending was perfect—bittersweet in the best way—and left me with all the feels. A truly great book and a wonderful way to wrap up the journey.

[Rebecca]

Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.

What is keeping this series fresh is the mobility of Sage's coffee cart providing new, interesting settings, providing new opportunities for drama and characters. There's plenty of room for solid suspects, and of course, interesting coffee information included while the crime is being solved.

[Barb Foerst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note that this is the first book I have read in this series. I would not recommend reading this first. There is a lot of back story in this book that made me feel like I missed a lot. The mystery overall was a solid mystery. I feel this mystery would be better for someone who loves coffee and is better informed on coffee making. So, I think there was a good book but not for me. #netgalley

[Opal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series and kind of repetitive. Another music festival. Another death. This time it isn’t a mysterious person - while we probably don’t care they died, it is a running character and I felt sadder. We need something different in the next book. But of course I couldn’t put it down.