Roast Mortem [Large Print] [Paperback]

I first discovered this mystery series in early 2006 and at that point, three books had been published in the series so I read all of them in about two weeks. Since then, I have read each book as it becomes available and have yet to be disappointed. I read several other mystery series and only two come to mind as holding up much past book 7 - this one and the Tea Shop Series by Laura Childs. The others just seem to start out strong and then something happens. The author runs out of ideas or becomes bored and doesn't put forth the effort? Whatever the problem is, they start dropping in quality around that point and I either hang in there hoping for better (and being disappointed) or sadly give up and no longer invest the time and effort as new books are released. This series has beaten the odds in my estimation and the quality has remained at a level beyond my expectations, especially for a series that has now run nine books long.

This particular novel again features Clare Cosi, manager of The Village Blend, an independent coffee shop in the heart of Greenwich Village. This installment has a slightly different twist as the main focus of the mystery is that coffee shops around the city are being set on fire and people are being hurt or killed in the process. Clare happens to be in one of the cafes when the first fire starts so she is immediately caught up in trying to understand what is happening and trying to ensure nothing happens to her own, much-loved, Village Blend. Much of the story line revolves around the NYFD and when you read the afterward you will better understand why. While I miss the Village Blend and the baristas located there, they do make appearances which made me happy. Also, the characters of Mike Quinn and his cousin Michael Quinn are both further developed throughout the story.

A good mystery with a heavy emphasis on both fire-fighting and coffee brewing, this latest effort continues with snappy dialogue, humor, and a cast of characters that are evolving and developing over time. I think one of strengths of the novels is the setting of New York. It allows the author to continue to add fresh characters, an incredibly strong sense of place, and more "realistic" situations than many other books. Some of the stories will resonate more than others, based upon your interest and personal preferences, but the series is wonderful and this is another solid installment that the author should be proud of.

An interesting primer on coffee roasting is included in the back as well as recipes which will make your mouth water !

Roast Mortem I have to say, is my favorite book by Cleo so far. This book hit close to home for me as my dad is a retired Fire Chief after 48 years of service and I could totally relate to what was happening through out the book. Clare out does herself this time. It was nice to see more of Mike's Cousin Michael Quinn and the big secrets between the two. I also enjoyed Clare coming to Mike's rescue for a change. Clare does her best work when she is at the firehouse trying to teach a few of the guys how to use the Espresso machine. Matt also surprised me this go around. Each character is getting stronger and even more interesting as the time goes. There are a few hilarious parts in the book that make it all come together nicely. I look forward to the next book and so glad I got to read this one.

I have liked all of the books in this series and I was very happy with this latest installment. All of the New York details have always been an essential backdrop to all of the Coffee House stories, and this book is no exception. I loved that the author found a way to bring the FDNY into this story, as they are a key part of the New York landscape. We've had the NYPD represented with Clare's boyfriend Mike, and it was great to see the FDNY and Mike's cousin Michael play such a big part of the book. All of my favorite characters were well represented here, particularly Madame and Clare's ex-husband Matt. Thankfully Matt's wife Breanne was only mentioned in passing. I really do like the Clare and Matt scenes and Matt's wife tends to get in the way of that.

There were so many red herrings scattered throughout the book that the mystery really doesn't get unraveled until the end. You'll think (along with Clare) that you've got the mystery solved several times, but chances are you haven't. This was another great cozy to curl up with!