REVIEW: Shot in the Dark

Shot in the Dark
Author: Cleo Coyle

I enjoy this series. It's on my list of go-to cozy mystery series when I want a cozy with a good story, well developed background theme and great writing. Set in a fictional NYC coffee house, Village Blend, the mysteries center around shop manager Clare Cosi. The supporting characters -- her detective fiance, coffee shop employees, her ex-husband and his mother who owns the company -- all have their own personalities and add to the richness of the plots. This series is like a coffee shop that serves a fabulous cup of java .... I will keep coming back!

Shot in the Dark is the 17th Coffeehouse Mystery. It seems everyone in the Village is using dating apps. Casual meet-ups seem to be causing all sorts of problems, and Clare is not comfortable with some behaviors she seems becoming commonplace. Then a woman brandishes a gun on the second floor of Village Blend, threatening a man she hooked up with using a dating app. A video of the incident at the coffee shop goes viral online quickly. Things go downhill from there, and the next day Clare discovers a body floating in the river. She recognizes the woman as a customer at Village Blend. The dead girl has a memory stick in her belongings. A video of the incident at Village Blend is saved on the memory stick. Are the two events related? Turns out there's a lot going on besides casual hook-ups.

The mystery is fast-paced and suspenseful, with lots of suspects and twists. The coffee house background theme is wonderful as usual. And all the characters just make these books enjoyable every time! As usual, at the end of the story there are recipes (my husband will LOVE the Italian Sub Quesadillas!), great info on the different types of coffee drinks and instructions on how to use a moka express pot.

The cover art for this book is perfect. Very eye-catching and ties in with the plot of the book. I love the look on the barista's face....she's like...WTF? lol

Cleo Coyle is the pen name for writer duo Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini. They also write the Haunted Bookshop cozy series under the name Alice Kimberly.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin via First to Read. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. And I'll take a venti skinny sugar free peppermint mocha with two shots. Cinnamon on top. No whipped creme. :)**