Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Characters you'll love--others you'll hate!, September 30, 2008
The Coffeehouse Mysteries (Espresso Shot is the seventh in the series) are written by a multi-published author and is a collaboration with her husband. The couple has also co-authored the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries under the pen name Alice Kimberly.
Clare Cosi is the manager of the popular New York coffeehouse, the Village Blend. Clare's been hired to create a new gourmet coffee and dessert bar for a New York wedding that will be held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What a plum job! All sorts of famous people will be in attendance and that's not only good for business but it's a personal coup for Clare. But wait! Clare isn't smiling.... It could be because the groom is her very own business partner and ex-husband Matteo Allegro.
Why is Clare so upset? It's not like she'd ever consider marrying the guy again. But she is concerned enough about him that she doesn't want him to make a mistake, and his bride-to-be is in bridezilla mode. Trend magazine editor Breanne Summour has it all. She's smart, beautiful, sexy, very rich and is the ultimate high-maintenance gal. But when people who happen to be close to Breanne begin dying, it is up to Clare to solve the case. It's not clear if there is another victim waiting for death and if that victim could be the bride-to-be Breanne.
Oh, Espresso Shot is a fun read. I love Clare, really dislike Breanne (she deserves her comeuppance) and kept turning the pages long after I should have turned off the light. It's an intriguing plot with many interesting characters and a satisfying conclusion. I've never read Cleo Coyle's books before but I will look for them now. The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries are particularly intriguing.
Armchair Interviews says: Murder is delightful business in Espresso Shot.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Left a bitter taste in my mouth, October 5, 2008
It's difficult to give Espresso Shot a 2-star rating. Coyle's writing is as strong as ever: a solid mystery, excellent character development and a dollop of romance.
Two things left a bitter taste in my mouth:
One: I didn't like the direction Coyle takes this series. With Joy working and studying abroad, by declawing Matt and Bree, the characters who brought interesting conflict to Clare's life are "gone." My guess is that Coyle will either turn up the conflict or turn up the romance between Det. Quinn and Clare in the next book.
Two: <SPOILER ALERT> It really tweaked me that there were no consequences to Matteo or Bree for their cruel actions. The combination of Matteo's womanizing ways and Bree's "announcements" resulted in a suicide. Quite frankly, what father would not want revenge if his daughter was used so crudely? And yet, the vengeful father is painted as the villian. And the suicide is dismissed as, "Oh well, she was unstable anyway."
Bree's manipulative, selfish ways seem to stem from a "bad childhood." When Bree is confronted with her past, she seems vulnerable and contrite--an acceptable wife for Matteo--yet Bree's very next action is blackmail. So, she's still a creep. <END OF SPOILER ALERT>
I think most readers will find Espresso Shot an enjoyable read. It just hit me the wrong way. I don't plan to be back for the next book in the Coffeehouse series.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lightweight mystery for foodies. And that's a GOOD thing., August 19, 2009
I've followed the adventures of Claire Cosi since the first book in this series, set in a Greenwich Village coffeeshop. Although I'm a dedicated foodie and coffee geek, I've managed to learn something new about coffee in every novel. For instance, in the first scene Clare describes the Panama Esmeralda Gesha beans to be used at the upcoming wedding (the centerpiece of the plot); the next morning I was excited to see them listed as Available when I was ordering green coffee beans to roast at home and reached for the Buy Now button. (When I saw the $38/pound price, my excitement was severely tempered.)
In this book, Claire's ex-husband -- with whom she runs the coffeehouse -- is set to be married to a magazine editor who'll make you think of The Devil Wears Prada. (Fortunately, Breanne is not like any editor I've had to deal with in real life. That's just in case you're listening, editors.) Matt is convinced that someone is trying to kill his intended bride, and asks Claire to help find out who.
The situation is plausible enough for me to suspend my disbelief, and (unlike some reviewers) I like all the characters. Cleo Coyle keeps up the tension between the people involved in the story (especially since I think some of us did want Claire and Matt to get back together) and I wanted to know what happened. This isn't great literature, but it's a fun read, and a perfect mental getaway. The author did keep me guessing, too.
Most books in series like this really require you to start at the beginning. While I'm sure you'd get more out of it if you began with On What Grounds, in truth this book would stand alone pretty well.
In short: a fun novel. If you like the previous books in the series, I think you'll like this one, too.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
