Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am happy to share my thoughts today about
Flat White Fatality by Emmeline Duncan.
Flat White Fatality (A Ground Rules Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Oregon
Kensington (May 23, 2023)
Paperback : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496733436
ISBN-13 : 978-1496733436
Kindle ASIN : B0BFC4D7XN
To top off her coffee business, Sage is now helping out with her boyfriend Bax’s gaming company. Conveniently for Sage, it’s located next door to her Ground Rules Roastery. That makes it easy for her to pitch in with Bax’s employee team-building event. The plan is to boost morale with a scavenger hunt. And it seems to be going well—until Robbie, a programmer known for being a prankster, turns up dead in Sage’s roastery . . .
There are two suspects so far: Sage, who has no idea how the victim ended up in her space; and Bax, who was allegedly spotted arguing with Robbie the day before. But could it be a disgruntled employee? After all, Robbie’s sense of humor was known to have rubbed some coworkers the wrong way. Now, it’s up to Sage to find the culprit—before another life grinds to a halt.
Recipes Included.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Duck, Duck, Duck, Goose!
Sage Caplin’s Ground Rules coffee business is growing but she still has time to help out her boyfriend Bax with his gaming business, Grumpy Sasquatch Studio, and take part in the company’s team-building event. Bax’s partner has organized a scavenger hunt to boost morale. The employees break up into teams but the fun comes to an end when Sage finds something not on the scavenger list. Another employee dead on the floor at the Ground Rules Roastery. The police quickly put Sage, her partner Harley, and Bax at the top of their suspect list. It turns out the deceased loved to prank people and some of the pranks were pretty nasty so Sage decides to do some investigating herself knowing the police are focusing on the wrong people. Can she roast out the killer? or will there be another fatality?
In Double Shot Death
There were plenty of suspects regarding the victim’s death and the author poured over several twists and diversions. I really enjoyed following along with Sage as she tried to solve the murder and a couple of other mysteries. The conclusion of the murder mystery had me smiling because the real culprit was who I wanted it to be throughout the whole book.
Again the author brings the Portland, Oregon area alive with the places we were able to visit on the scavenger hunt and the food truck lot, and the area where Sage and Harley’s first brick-and-mortar shop will be. I think the focus of Bax’s video-game-creation company was fresh and set up some funny moments. It was fun to see what happens behind the scenes about something that takes up a lot of my children’s and grandchildren’s time. Ms. Duncan does a great job at setting a scene with just the right amount of details.
I was especially impressed that the author shines the spotlight on current environmental issues and the homeless, even having ways for people to buy items in advance for the homeless to get a coffee and/or a baked good when they stop by the coffee cart.
There are six recipes after the story including one for Ground Rules Espresso Brownies that I will have to try. The author also includes a great way to use coffee grounds as a Fridge Deodorizer.
Flat White Fatality
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Emmeline Duncan is a mystery writer based out of Portland, Oregon. Her novels include the Ground Rules series, starting with 2021’s Fresh Brewed Murder
Emmeline also writes YA novels as Kelly Garrett. Her debut YA, The Last To Die
Emmeline/Kelly is a board member of the Northwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and co-organizes Friends of Mystery’s Bloody Thursday lecture series. She’s also a member of Sisters-In-Crime, Willamette Writers, and SCBWI.
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Coming March 26, 2024
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
