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Krissy Hancock is a little nervous leaving her bookstore-café in Pine Hills, Ohio, in someone else’s hands while she visits family in California. But when a killer strikes during her week out west, it’s a good thing she packed her sleuthing skills... When she arrives in her hometown, the owner of Death by Coffee is startled to see a store called Death by Java. She soon realizes the name belongs to a copycat business run by her mean-girl high school rival, Valerie. It may not be grounds for a lawsuit—but when they stop in and witness a bitter argument with a health inspector, the whole scene leaves a bad taste in Krissy’s mouth. Valerie has even imitated Death by Coffee’s resident feline—except this one is a hissing stray who’s more likely to terrorize customers than delight them. Despite her irritation, Krissy finds herself trying to help the hapless Valerie. But her old classmate needs a different kind of help when the health inspector is found dead on the premises. As Krissy’s boyfriend cozies up to local law enforcement, she collects a carafe of clues, drip by drip...
A bookstore owner's vacation is cut short when her rival's new coffee shop becomes the scene of a murder. Krissy Hancock returns to her hometown of Pine Hills, Ohio, to find her rival, Valerie, has opened a copycat business called Death by Java. When a heated argument between Valerie and a health inspector escalates, Krissy finds herself drawn into an investigation after the inspector is found dead on the premises. With her boyfriend involved with local law enforcement, Krissy must gather clues to solve the murder before the killer strikes again.
The premise sets up a classic cozy mystery with a familiar amateur sleuth protagonist and a small-town setting. The rivalry between Krissy and Valerie, combined with the murder of the health inspector, provides the central conflict and intrigue. The narrative framework appears to be a straightforward third-person perspective, focusing on Krissy's investigation as she gathers clues. The inclusion of a copycat business and a feline mascot suggests a lighthearted tone often found in the genre, while the murder introduces the necessary suspense.
Page Count:
320
Publication Date:
2025-10-28
Publisher:
Kensington Publishing Corp
ISBN-10:
149674554X
ISBN-13:
9781496745545
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