Holiday Grind (Coffeehouse Mystery Series #8)

A Frothy Good time for the Holidays and beyond!

Holiday Grind is number eight in this delicious cozy mystery series, A Coffeehouse Mystery. I have been hooked since the very beginning with On What Grounds. I even have to confess to reading Murder Most Frothy while in labor with my son, lol. Let me tell you, it helped pass the time and those pains! I even managed to finish the last word before my little man entered the world. Okay, too much information, lol. In any case, this is one of my very favorite cozy mystery series and this latest installment, Holiday Grind, was like the yummy colorful sprinkles sitting merrily atop a minty, chocolaty and unforgettable peppermint mocha!

Often times as a series goes on, it may begin to drag or lose some of its appeal. This is definitely not the case with this series. At number eight, Claire, Mike, Matt and the entire coffeehouse gang are better than ever. True to the season, Holiday Grind focuses around the painful murder of Clare's friend and traveling santa, Alf. Tossed aside as a random mugging, Alf's murder is not considered priority; clever sleuth, Claire, knows differently. At the urging of Alf's daughter, Claire takes matters into her own hands and does her own investigating and searching into what really happened to jolly Alf.

Claire's ex-husband, Matt lends his assistance, trying to protect Claire, much to her chagrin, which in turn leads to a few moments sure to bring a smile to the reader's face. Meanwhile, Claire's relationship with sexy Detective Mike Quinn heats up, until a mysterious redhead enters the picture to bring doubts to Claire's mind. Then to top things off, there is a killer that will stop at nothing to silence Claire and end her latte making days forever.

Holiday Grind is filled to the brim with the series' trademark humor, sassiness and mystery. Though number eight in the series, Holiday Grind is so well written that it easily could be read as a stand alone. Perfect for the holiday season, indulge in this rich and frothy mystery and I'll guarantee that if you have not read the other books in this series, that that will quickly change!

At the end of each book, Cleo Coyle includes great coffee tips as well as some of the recipes mentioned throughout the book. Well, hang on to your coffee mugs because Holiday Grind contains a nearly recipe book length bonus section at the end! I'm talking recipes for coffee syrups, baked goods, coffee drinks, tips and tons more! As a coffee drink fanatic, this pleased me to no end! I was giddy with excitement - yes, it's the simple things in life that please me, lol. With the excellent story and delightful bonus gift of recipes, Holiday Grind is the perfect way to treat yourself, a friend or family member. Also, I have to say that I love the cover! I can't wait for the next in the installment of the Coffeehouse Mystery Series, though *sigh* I have a long wait since Roast Mortem (don't you just love the title?!) is not due out until Aug. 2010! Until then, grab a cup of your favorite caffeine induced treat, sit back, relax and spend some time with Claire and the gang in Holiday Grind!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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Cleo Coyle has done it agaom!

Cleo Coyle's latest myster, Holiday Grind, is a wonderful read. It's difficult to set the book down. I really enjoy the characters that appear in this book, especially Claire and Mike Quinn. They make a really wonderful team. This book deserves a five star rating.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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pick it up

i have read all the coffehouse mystery books and have become attached to the characters. I am surprised each time i read a book and find myslef giggling while reading. I can lose myself in the characters. It even made me want to be coffee drinker! good books, fun to read and you will always remember the characters.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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a Holiday Treat !

Holiday Grind is a real holiday treat ! Cleo Coyle has done it again. I have enjoyed all of the coffeehouse mysteries.This one is again...pure enjoyment,especially when reading it with a cup of coffee. Enjoyed the story, the characters, and the chemistry between Mike and Clare.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Cleo Coyle writes some of the best amateur sleuth tales

It is the holiday season and Clare Cosi, manager of the Village Blend Coffee House in Greenwich Village, is gathering up a group of friends to help her decide what lattes will remind her patrons of Christmas. A red-headed beauty crashes the party, but turns vicious when Clare insists it is a private affair. Clare wonders where Alf, a traveling Santa, is as he promised his good friend he would be there.

Her ex husband and café partner Matteo Allegro tells her he has seen Alf and Clare goes to look for him. She sees his sleigh in an alley so she enters only to find his corpse near the dumpster. The police assume a mugging robbery occurred, but Clare ponders what she saw at the crime scene and thinks otherwise. She returns to the alley in daylight and climbs up a fire escape to the fourth floor where she finds a bullet on the windowsill. She is arrested as an accomplice, but the lead detective has her released based on their discussion the night before. Clare investigates and almost gets killed.

Cleo Coyle writes some of the best amateur sleuth tales with her Greenwich Village coffeehouse mysteries and her Haunted Bookshop mysteries written as Alice Kimberly. Clare is a breath of fresh air with her honesty, caring nature, and her perhaps naive belief in the goodness of people. The whodunit contains red haired herrings and amusing scenes, but her top rate percolating investigation, which causes friction between her and her police detective boyfriend, remains the key to HOLIDAY GRIND.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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Jade

Gtg see ya tomorrow

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George

Youre a blessing in disguise my dear... *grins and sheds his shirt*

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Fun Book

Enjoyable book to read.

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Good Read!

I've enjoyed all the Coffeehouse Mystery Series. Good characters, good plot a little predictable but a good read. I would recommend this book if you enjoy a good mystery.

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Enjoyable

This is the eighth book and our book club has enjoyed them all. Her books are quick reads and I have passed the book on to others to also read. The story moves at an even pace, even if you guess the ending, it is still a good read. The story is interesting, as are the coffee tips.

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