Death by French Roast
Krissy’s helping a friend clean out her late mother’s house when she learns that although the deceased died peacefully at an advanced age, her brother did not. In fact, Wade was killed more than thirty years ago, and the case was never closed. What surprises Krissy even more, is that she has a personal connection to the story—her friend Rita was seeing Wade at the time, scandalizing the town with the couple’s large age difference.
With an older Rita now part of Krissy’s writing group—and another member with police experience—she starts digging up gossip, talking to the victim’s local coffee klatsch, and trying to find real clues amid the old rumors. But things just seem to grow muddier as she fights to identify whodunit.
Series: A Bookstore Cafe Mystery – Book #8
Author: Alex Erickson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Bookstore/Coffee
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 288
Rating: 
It takes a certain amount of stubbornness and ego to be an amateur sleuth; Krissy doesn’t lack either. In the latest in the “A Bookstore Cafe Mystery” series, Death by French Roast, Krissy is trying to solve a cold case. Mainly because her disagreeable neighbor died, and she is feeling a bit guilty after finding out why the old lady was such a cantankerous person. As always, Krissy’s need to solve the crime takes over from common sense, and she dives deep into the past to track down a killer.
I enjoy this series and have from the beginning, but I have to admit, Krissy takes some getting used to. The constant lack of normal human caution wears on a reader after a while. Her need to outdo the police, her own boyfriend, included, makes the story too predictable, which really needs to be addressed. I would love to see her use some slight caution in the next book to make her more human and less egotistical. I would also like to see the bookstore and cafe play a more significant role in the plot than it did in this latest addition.
There are quite a few suspects, and the premise is interesting. I enjoy cozies that have a cold case involved, and this one did not disappoint. There are plenty of twists and turns, and the evidence is there; it just takes some work to find it. Most of the repeating characters are still here, but there wasn’t enough Vicki for my tastes. As mentioned earlier, I would like to have the bookstore/cafe play a more prominent role. If I were a new reader picking up this book, I would not have realized that Krissy even had a job, much less ran a business.
Of course, Krissy finds the killer, and many readers will be surprised by who it turns out to be. The motive may cause some readers a moment or two of disquiet. Overall Death by French Roast was an easy to read story, well written and fast-paced. Hopefully, we will see more of the bookstore and cafe and less ego in the next addition.
More wonderful bookstore or cafe style cozies readers will enjoy include Lynn Cahoon’s delightful “A Tourist Trap Mystery” and Cleo Coyle’s tantalizing “A Coffeehouse Mystery”.
About the Author:
Alex Erickson is the author of both the Bookstore Café and the Furever Pets mysteries. When he’s not writing, he enjoys spending his time gaming or playing music. Alex has always wanted to write, even at a young, impressionable age. He’s always had an interest in the motive behind murder, which has led him down his current path. He’s always ready with a witty, at least in his opinion, quip and tries to keep every conversation light and friendly. Alex lives in Ohio with his family and resident felines, who provide endless amounts of inspiration.
Contact Alex: 
Find Alex on Social Media
Contact The Cozy Review
Leave a Reply