Book review of Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush

From the publisher

Barista Lana Lewis’s sleuthing may land her in a latte trouble as Tara Lush launches her new Coffee Shop mysteries.

When Lana Lewis’ best – and most difficult – employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café’s chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil’s Beach, Lana’s normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he’s found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana’s café, she becomes the prime suspect.

Even the island’s handsome police chief isn’t quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn’t the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach.

With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana’s prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer. After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship – or will she come to a bitter end?

My review of Grounds for Murder

There are certainly no shortage of coffee-themed cozy mysteries and sleuthing baristas on the market these days. With that said, I enjoyed the coffee shop atmosphere and, of course, Devil’s Beach, Florida. After all, Florida is…well, Florida.

There are plenty of quirky crazies in Grounds for Murder. Those characters alone are sure to keep readers entertained. I was surprised by the sexcapades of the murder victim, which were never actually on the page, but did create a bit of a racy atmosphere in what would otherwise be a traditional cozy. The dialogue and plotting kept the story moving. There were red herrings that made figuring out the killer a bit of a challenge, but if you’re paying attention, you might have the straight shot on this one.

Overall, an enjoyable mystery that’s bound to please coffee lovers or those who need a little Sunshine State vacation without the hassle of traveling.

Learn more about Grounds for Murder and Tara Lush at taralush.com. While you’re here, why not check out my last book review, Review of Death in Tranquility by Sharon Linnea?