Fresh Brewed Murder
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“Coffee-lovers, this book is for you…I foresee many enjoyable Ground Rules mysteries to come.” —Criminal Element Master barista Sage Caplin is opening a new coffee cart in Portland, Oregon, but a killer is brewing up a world of trouble. . . . Portland is famous for its rain, hipsters, craft beers . . . and coffee. Sage Caplin has high hopes for her coffee cart, Ground Rules, which she runs with her business partner, Harley—a genius at roasting beans and devising new blends. That’s essential in a city where locals have intensely strong opinions about cappuccino versus macchiato—especially in the case of one of Sage’s very first customers. . . . Sage finds the man’s body in front of her cart, a fatal slash across his neck. There’s been plenty of anger in the air, from longtime vendors annoyed at Ground Rules taking a coveted spot in the food truck lot, to protesters demonstrating against a new high-rise. But who was mad enough to commit murder? Sage is already fending off trouble in the form of her estranged, con-artist mother, who’s trying to trickle back into her life. But when Sage’s very own box cutter is discovered to be the murder weapon, she needs to focus on finding the killer fast—before her business, and her life, come to a bitter end. . . . “Lively characters help propel the intricate plot. Cozy fans will hope to see a lot more of Sage and friends.” —Publishers Weekly
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4 primary books#1 in A Ground Rules Mystery
A Ground Rules Mystery is a 4-book series with 4 primary works first released in 2021 with contributions by Emmeline Duncan and Kelly Garrett.
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I knew this book wouldn't be anything revolutionary, but it was still a fun time. This is my first cozy mystery and I liked the setting and all the talk about coffee. My favorite part I think was the sense of community amongst all the food truck owners. The mystery was fine, but I feel like there were more side stories going on, and some I really didn't care for. Some of the characters felt a little flat. I didn't like either of the love interests, and I found that those parts were unneeded and felt forced. I didn't expect who the killer was, so that's a plus. I may pick up the next book in the series, but it definitely won't be a priority.
There are some great details that makes the setting feel real; gentrification, homelessness, and small business stress.
Sage is very aware of her advantages and concerned about benefiting everyone. Her concern felt real and her background logically contributes to her desire to benefit others.
The romance could develop into a love triangle, but it is developing slowly and logically. There is still room for the romance to not become a triangle.
The side characters, her dad, uncle, brother and cousin have a good start. I would like to see a little more development with her business partner. The detective is mean and almost incompetent, but seems to come around a little bit in the end.
The murder happens quickly and has a lot of complicating factors. While Sage does get herself a little involved, it isn't an all out “abandon my new business to investigate.” It is more “I want to help these people and happen to get involved in the investigation in the process.” The clues are there, but not obvious. So looking back I can see what the clues were, but I didn't catch them at first. The solution surprised me, but looking back it makes sense.
