"Murder Most Frothy," the fourth in a series featuring coffee steward and barista Claire Cosi, is an enjoyable and interesting late summer read.
The action begins right away when a waiter is murdered in Claire's employer, David Mintzer's Long Island mansion. Claire, who manages Mintzer's Manhattan (coffee-themed) restaurant was invited by him to spend the summer at the shore and help launch his new venture in the Hamptons. The action unfolds as she uses her spare time to investigate the murder, convinced that the intended victim was really her friend, David.
Coffee Culture
One of the most delightful aspects of this short (250 pages) cozy mystery novel is the interesting coffee facts that are interwoven into the story. For example, are you familiar with Bagisu Sipi Falls coffee beans from Uganda? According to the narrative, they have a slight strawberry finish and pair well with summer fruit. That's just one of many such tidbits in Murder Most Frothy. There's even a collection of coffee recipes, including one for Claire's Chocolate Walnut Espresso Brownies, at the end of the book.
Catching a Killer
The story ends with a 3am trip to Mintzer's Hamptons restaurant, a close call with death, and a steamy summer romance. The prose is nothing that will win a Pulitzer Prize, but enjoyable none the less.
About Cleo Coyle
Cleo Coyle is a pseudonym for the husband-and-wife writing team of Marc Cerasini and Alice Alfonsi. Their previous mystery novels include Latte Trouble, Through the Grinder, and On What Grounds.
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