10 January 2017

Today's Read & Giveaway: Dead Cold Brew by Cleo Coyle

What would you do if your boyfriend, daughter, business, and friend were all somehow caught up in a murder, a jewel theft, and a decades-old cold case crime? If you were Clare Cosi, master coffee roaster, you'd do your best to get to the bottom of the situation and save all you hold dear.

He was red-faced again, too much wine with dinner.

In the ship's dining room Angelica Campana watched her husband drink, all smiles—until the gallant ship's offer complimented her dress, her hair, made her laugh.

That's when the storm clouds returned, forming in Gustavo's dark, cold gaze. Their tablemates failed to notice. Nor did they question her husband's thirst for more Primitivo. They saw only the portents. And she knew what was coming.
Dead Cold Brew by Cleo Coyle (Berkley Prime Crime, 2017, prologue [eGalley])

Quick Facts
  • Setting: mainly contemporary times, New York City; flashbacks to the 1950s on the Andrea Doria
  • Circumstances: Sixty years after Angelica Campana and her daughter were saved—in multiple ways—from the sinking Andrea Doria, Clare Cosi is tapped to develop a signature coffee blend for a brand new luxury liner named in the fated ship's honor. Besides managing the Village Blend coffee house, Clare is juggling a romance with NYPD detective Matt, a business relationship with ex-husband Matt and his family, and a parenting relationship with daughter Joy. When a murder, a jewel theft, a cop killer, friends with secrets, and a cold case crime all seem to be linked to Clare's sphere, she knows she has to be involved in the hunt for the bad guy(s) and the motivation behind the chaos.
  • Genre: cozy culinary-style mystery
  • Characters: Clare, master coffee roaster; her ex-husband (Matt) and his family; her boyfriend Mike; her daughter Joy; various people in the past and present related to the coffeehouse business, the cold case crime, and the original Andrea Doria
  • What I liked: This is a complex mystery that also stars a police detective, so it's a little more gritty than the normal culinary cozy fare. I made an emotional connection to the characters, easily rooting for Clare and Mike and seeing the issues with Mike's behavior. There are several story lines, which not only keep the action moving but give this mystery some oomph. I like the New York City setting and the tie-in to the sinking of the Andrea Doria. Oh and did I mention coffee and yummy baked goods?
  • Things to know: Although this is the sixteenth book in Coyle's Coffeehouse mystery series, it's only the second one I've read. There was enough background to the main characters that I didn't feel lost. Because this is a culinary cozy, you'll find a few recipes at the end of the book, mostly for sweet treats. They all look good and are written in a conversational style with tips from Clare. Cleo Coyle is the pen name for a wife-husband team.
  • Recommendations: A good series for culinary cozy fans who like a little more complexity in their mysteries. Dead Cold Brew is a popular and longstanding series with many fans, and I'm among them. Don't be put off by the number of Clare Cosi books, you can jump right in. This book sets some of the main characters off in new directions, so it's not a bad place to start.
The Giveaway

Thanks to the nice people a Berkley Prime Crime I can offer a copy of Cleo Coyle's Dead Cold Brew to one of my readers. All you need to do to enter for a chance to win is to have a US or Canada mailing address and fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner via a random number generator on January 16. Once the winner has been confirmed and his or her address has been passed on to the publisher, I'll erase all personal data from my computer. Good luck!

19 comments:

Kay 1/10/17, 7:40 AM  

I've read books in this series for years and love it. I'm a bit behind and want to catch up this year. Love the sound of this one.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea 1/10/17, 7:57 AM  

Years ago I was hooked on these and read maybe the first 3-4 but then stopped reading cozies. I'm curious though.

Laura 1/10/17, 8:01 AM  

I love a good mystery. Going to add this series to my TBR. My Teaser is from The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian.

Unknown 1/10/17, 8:01 AM  

Strong writing for a cozy. You can feel her discomfort. This is already on my cozy list!

My TT from Carpe Bead'em

Unknown 1/10/17, 8:18 AM  

This is a wonderful series , I love the audio versions as well, the narrator is excellent!

Kathy Martin 1/10/17, 8:22 AM  

Your teaser raised lots of questions in my mind. I'm curious about this one. I have two this week - Beheld by Alex Flinn and A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn. Happy reading!

(Diane) bookchickdi 1/10/17, 9:25 AM  

I think I would enjoy the NYC setting.

bermudaonion 1/10/17, 9:38 AM  

I don't read enough cozies! This sounds like a fun one.

Laurel-Rain Snow 1/10/17, 10:40 AM  

I have enjoyed a couple of the books in this series, so I am eager to read another. Thanks for sharing.

Here's mine: “THE MARRIAGE LIE”

Nise' 1/10/17, 11:58 AM  

I need to read more cozies too!

Reading with Jade 1/10/17, 12:25 PM  

I've been meaning to read cosy crime for the longest time... I would continue reading.

Unknown 1/10/17, 12:51 PM  

I will never turn a cozy down! This one sounds like it has the storyline writing style that I found in some of Nora Roberts more substantial books.

https://girlof1000wonders.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/tuesday-teaser-intro-somebody-like-you/

Sandra Nachlinger 1/10/17, 1:02 PM  

The author does a great job of creating tension in the opening. Sounds like this book has more substance than most cozies (which I enjoy, regardless). I'm wondering "what was coming."
Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments.
Sandy @ Writing With a Texas Twang

Anonymous,  1/10/17, 1:24 PM  

I'd read this. I'm hoping to win a free copy. Thanks for sharing. Here's the link to my intro/teaser for this week: http://wp.me/p4DMf0-1rl

Monica's Bookish Life 1/10/17, 2:55 PM  

This series is new to me, and this book looks like a fun read!

Emma Litttlefield 1/10/17, 3:34 PM  

I like the sound of this. I don't read cozy's enough.

Margot 1/10/17, 3:35 PM  

This book sounds good. I've read some of the author's other mysteries and she's good.

rhapsodyinbooks 1/11/17, 8:54 AM  

That cover looks so much like a Charlaine Harris cover!

Daryl 1/11/17, 9:31 AM  

now, of course, i am curious about the previous books .. thanks!!!!

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