Publisher: Severn House
Pages: 201
Source: Received a review copy
Genre: Adult, Mystery
Book #7 in the Maggy Thorsen Mystery Series
I love a good mystery, and trust me this is a good one. We enter a town in Wisconsin and are immediately taken inside the “Uncommon Grounds” Coffee house. Once inside we begin to meet the well developed cast of characters. Maggy Thorsen is the owner of the coffee house along with her partner Sarah Kingston. Sarah is also a local realtor and the owner of the building the coffee house sits in. Sarah and Maggy are so different that they compliment each other. Sarah voices her opinion on everything with a slight sarcasm. She calls another group of realtors who are also coffee shop customers “The Barbies, Broker Barbies or Holly Hobbies”. Maggy takes uncomfortable situations and moves ahead no matter what. Some of those uncomfortable situations involve her friend Sarah.
Maggy opened the coffee shop and realized they had a strong odor throughout the place. No one knew where it was but it seemed to be stronger in certain areas. Things really turn interesting when Ward Chitown enters the coffee shop. He has come back to do a live show that will bring up a past that his father was involved in. It seems the small town was home to the mafia. During a shoot out that involved his FBI father, several men were killed and over a million dollars disappeared. Now real estate agents are being killed. Upon investigating the smell Maggy learns from Sarah that the historic train station that houses their coffee shop had a waiting room used by the mafia. They waited there until their train was called and slipped aboard. Imagine the surprise when they not only find the room but a dead body inside.
The author did such a wonderful job of describing things I could almost smell the coffee, and the stench. I could picture the train tracks and the special hidden room. I loved the fact that Maggy, who wasn’t always sure she liked her friend Sarah, decides she has to solve the death of the young girl who worked for Sarah because they are friends. We also meet Maggy’s boyfriend a sheriff who feels like he is always rescuing Maggie. I learned after reading this that it was the seventh book in the series. It stood quite well on its own. I will however need to get the previous six books just so I can see what else has happened to Maggie and her friends.
If you like a good mystery, then this is one you must put on your list to read.
About the Author:
Sandra Balzo is an award-winning author of crime fiction, including eight books in two different mystery series--one set in the High Country of North Carolina and the other outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, while being recommended to readers of Janet Evanovich, Charlaine Harris, Harlan Coben, Joan Hess and Margaret Maron. A recent member of the National Board of Directors for the Mystery Writers of America, Sandy now splits her time between South Florida and North Carolina.
Website: www.SandraBalzo.com
List of Books in the Maggy Thorsen Mystery Series: ** Available for Kindle and Nook
Uncommon Grounds **
Grounds for Murder**
Bean There, Done That**
Brewed, Crude and Tattooed**
From the Grounds Up
A Cup of Jo
Triple Shot
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