A Killer Latte by Tonya Kappes

Happy Book Release Day!  Three new cozy mysteries that were released today are The Body in the Wetlands by Judi Lynn, A Killer Latte by Tonya Kappes, and Sifting through Clues by Daryl Wood Gerber. 

A Killer Latte by Tonya Kappes takes readers back to Honey Springs, Kentucky.  Roxy Bloom owns the Bean Hive and has been supplying the film crew with coffee and sweet treats.  Today they are wrapping up three weeks of filming a Sicholas Narks romance novel.  Daisy Lemon, the actress playing the lead, sneaks into the Bean Hive while the others are attending a meeting, the get a Star Studded Latte.  As Daisy walks towards the lake, Roxy steps outside to snap a pic of the actress drinking the coffee confection for social media.  Instead, Roxy witnesses Daisy being kidnapped.  The news quickly spreads via social media and Roxy’s latte is renamed Kidnap Latte which is affecting her business.  Then Roxy is roped into representing Loretta Bebe, owner of Diamonds, whose expensive jewelry disappeared with the actress as well as Stephen Lemon, Daisy’s husband, who is a suspect.  Roxy sorts through numerous photos taken by Aunt Maxi for Sticky Situations, the town’s newspaper, looking for suspects and sits in on Sheriff Spencer Shepard’s questioning of the film’s employees.  This case needs to be wrapped up quickly before Honey Springs become known for its crime and the tourists depart.

 

A Killer Latte is another engaging installment in A Killer Coffee Mystery series.  If you have not read any of the other five books in this entertaining cozy mystery series, you will not be lost.  Everything a reader needs to know if included (but I recommend reading the whole series).  Honey Springs is a quaint Southern town with friendly characters, charming shops, and a gorgeous lake.  Roxy Bloom, owner of the Bean Hive, has been busy supplying coffee and treats to the film crew plus the Cocoon Hotel and keeping the coffee shop in stock.  Her husband, Patrick, is pushing for them to make a decision regarding the home he purchased from Aunt Maxi.  Roxy does not want to live in the beautiful home, but she does not want to sell it either (quite a conundrum).  The film crew has been staying at Camey Montgomery’s Cocoon Hotel, and she is distressed that all the phone books in the hotel have gone missing.  She wants Spencer Shepard, the sheriff, to find the culprit.  Unfortunately for Camey, Spencer finds himself busy looking for Daisy Lemon’s kidnapper who wants a $400,000 ransom.  Loretta (pronounced Law-retta) is in an uproar because Daisy was wearing $7 million dollars in jewels when she was taken, and Loretta was not aware that she needed to get the production company to sign an agreement (oh no).  Roxy is soon up to her nose in another investigation which has Patrick upset (poor Roxy).  I like Tonya Kappes’ conversational writing style which makes for an easy to read story that draws the reader right in.  The story has a good flow and upbeat pacing.  The mystery is multifaceted which I just loved.  Just when you think you have it figured out, a twist is thrown your way.  There are plenty of curveballs in this whodunit.  Readers will find themselves laughing often at some of the characters antics (like Aunt Maxi).  There are some adorable pets in A Killer Latte including a cat that needs a forever home.  There are recipes at the end of the book for Star-Studded Latte, Easy Peasy Lemon Cookies, Blueberry Crumb Cake and Kentucky Benedictine Tea Sandwiches.  A Killer Latte has scrumptious food, good friends, a picturesque Southern town, mouthwatering coffee, a puzzling mystery, quirky characters and adorable fur babies. 

A Killer Latte is available on Amazon (and on Kindle Unlimited).  You can find a complete list of the books in A Killer Coffee Mystery series here on Amazon.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  I am showcasing Dragons of  Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase tomorrow.  It is ninth book in A Jade Calhoun series.  I hope you have a pleasant day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader