Dollycas’s Thoughts

It’s summer in Boggy Creek and Gia is excited to help her BFF Savannah plan the perfect wedding. They just have to find a venue that meets their needs without breaking the bank. A big commission could really help real estate agent Savannah have the wedding of her dreams. She sets off to meet a wealthy client at the priciest home for sale in the area planning to meet Gia for some dress shopping later.

There were some concerns about her meeting this man by herself and when Savannah fails to pick up Gia and doesn’t answer her phone Gia sets off to find her friend. She arrives at the mansion and finds Savannah’s convertible in the driveaway but no Savannah. She does however find her client, dead, looking like he was hit upside the head with the nearby two by four full of nails. The police arrive and also find a woman’s body in the nearby lake. Thank God, it wasn’t Savannah, but where is she? Friends and family gather at Gia’s cafe while the police start a search. Everyone is frantic with whole latte worry. Will they find Savannah? and will they catch the killer before they strike again? Gia will not rest until they do!

The characters in this series have grown so much over the course of five books. Gia and Savannah are such a great team. When Savannah goes missing you can feel Gia’s pain jump off the pages. Savannah’s fiance Leo and her cousin Hunt along with most of the community search to find the real estate agent. It was heartwarming the way everyone came together.

With Savannah in peril, we get to see her brothers and father in action. They are a close-knit family and have welcomed Gia as one of their own. Trevor also has a larger role in this story and Alfie returns for a little technical support. All the cafe regulars return as well. Ms. Gregory has created a cast of truly genuine characters.

What I really love about the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mysteries is the emphasis on friends and family. The characters really feel like old friends who would open their arms and hearts to anyone in need.

The mystery gets off to a very quick start. Savannah’s client has a shady past and possible mob connections. Gia’s house gets broken into and the treatment of a certain Bernese Mountain Dog had me absolutely livid. Money is missing from several places and there is something hinky going on at Savannah’s real estate office. All these things are tangled together in a way that had the pages flying so fast I think my Kindle was steaming. Again the girls go to some crazy and dangerous lengths that had me holding my breath but I wouldn’t expect any less from this dynamic duo.

Whole Latte Murder is a Whole Latte good! Great characters and a fantastic story full of twists and turns along with just a little humor and romance make this book a Perfect Escape!

I am excited about Savannah and Leo’s wedding and look forward to pulling up a virtual seat for it and whatever murder mystery the author comes up with. I highly recommend every book in this series!

Whole Latte Murder is the 5th book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series.

Gia Morelli runs the 'All-Day Breakfast Café', a diner in Boggy Creek, Florida. Gia is on a mission to help her BFF property and estate agent Savannah Mills find a wedding frock for her upcoming nuptials. Before they go shopping together Savannah has an appointment showing potential buyer Buster Clarke around Oakley Manor House, a large empty property out in the woods. When Savannah doesn't show up for their shopping trip, Gia begins to fret and heads out to Oakley Manor to look for her friend taking Trevor Barnes, the owner of Storm Scoopers, an ice cream parlour, with her. They don't find Savannah, but they do find Buster... dead in the bath.

Whole Latte Murder was my 2nd in this series as I dived in late at book four in A Waffle Lot of Murder. I had no difficulties keeping up with characters and events and it worked for me as an individual story. Gia and Savannah have a brilliant friendship and protagonist Gia is a great character who I find to be instinctive and keen. Cole Barrister and Willow Broussard, a cook and a waitress at the café work with Gia and are eager to help her out when Gia needs to go and search for clues. The great cast of characters, including the hilarious townsfolk, and strong friendship bonds, help to zhoosh up this summer cozy as does Thor, Gia's Bernese Mountain Dog. I was sold on this summer-themed compulsive story from the very beginning, and Lena Gregory once again really impressed me with her fluid writing. The details of the plot were very well-executed, the story was amusing and easy to follow, and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on. The story was scattered with scrumptious food references, and clues were sprinkled throughout. As a lover of a good breakfast myself Lena Gregory's mentions of delectable sounding meals and treats were pure joy and I could almost taste the iced chocolate macadamia nut lattes! The killer's identity eluded me until the very end.

This was an amazingly good cozy and I am looking forward to reading book six, Mistletoe Cake Murder. If you adore a great cozy mystery, don't miss out on Whole Latte Murder!

Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, Lena Gregory and Kensington Books for a complimentary copy of Whole Latte Murder at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

WHOLE LATTE MURDER by Lena Gregory
The Fifth All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery

Everyone at the All Day Breakfast Cafe is nervous when Savannah leaves to show the Oakley Manor House to a potential client. The estate is in a secluded location outside of town and her client happens to be a known member of a local crime family. When Savannah doesn't return to the cafe on time, Gia Morelli and Trevor decide to risk Savannah's wrath and head out to the estate only to discover Buster's murdered body and no sign of Savannah.

When reading a murder mystery I expect a murder, but I generally don't expect a missing person. When Gia found Buster's body, I figured Savannah would become the prime suspect. Her disappearance, however, colored the whole book, raising the emotions of everyone involved...mine included.

I love the sense of community in this series, not only with Savannah's relatives, but with Gia, Trevor, Harley, and the whole All Day Breakfast Cafe family. Practically everyone in the whole town of Boggy Creek, in fact, turns up to show support and search for Savannah.

WHOLE LATTE MURDER is about family, loyalty, and doing whatever you can for each other. It's about sticking together and trying to make things right...even by doing something wrong. I enjoyed the mystery involved in this fifth All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery. While I deduced one aspect of the mystery about half way through, I didn't know all the whys and wherefores...or what exactly was going on leading to a surprising finale.

WHOLE LATTE MURDER is a pulse pounding mystery that pulls at the heart strings. I look forward to the upcoming wedding and can't wait to see what Gia and the gang get up to next!

Warm weather in Boggy Creek is here. Gia and Savannah are preparing for Savannah and Leo's upcoming nuptials. Savannah is also getting ready to show a million dollar house. When Savannah is late for an appointment after the showing, Gia treks out to the mansion. She discovers the dead body of Savannah's client and Savannah missing. Now Gia, Hunter, Leo, and the rest of the crew must locate Savannah, find out who murdered the client, and keep their heads on straight when all they want to do is panic.

Whole Latte Murder is another great book in the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. The book is perfectly paced - not too fast and not too slow. I was pulled in from the very beginning and engaged in the plot. The character development continues as we learn more about the characters, old and new, without being bogged down with useless filler. The story was fun, exciting, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. I had a wonderful time trying to figure out just what happened and who was responsible. The continued world building is great, and I was able to visualize the story. This book was especially emotional for me, not from personal experience, but because the author does such an exceptional job with Gia, Savannah, Hunter, and Leo during a very traumatic experience.

Gia came from New York one person and has since evolved into another as she gets used to the differences in Florida. Gia is a very strong character and I enjoy the books about her world. I love that the author does not, at any time, write her as weak or unstable. She's just had a very rough past that she thought she would escape by moving away from her former life and completely starting over. Samantha and Hunt are stability characters for Gia. Savannah is a wonderful best friend and Hunt proves to be another person who has Gia's back.

Every single character in this book is likable, the setting in Florida is nice, and the assortment of suspects kept me on my toes. The chemistry between Gia and Hunt is sweet and believable. I prefer a little bit of soft romance in my cozy mysteries and this series hits the mark. I really enjoy the author's writing style and devour every book she publishes.

This is the 5th book in this popular cozy series. i have enjoyed this series from the beginning and highly recommend it for your cozy reading enjoyment. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.,

Our savvy protagnist Gia is busy running her popular breakfast cafe and getting used to the unrelenting Florida sun in Boggy Creek. Her best friend Savannah is getting married and they are both busy with details of the wedding. Savannah vanishes when she goes to show a house and a man is found brutally murdered inside. Gia is desperate to find her friend and investigates both her disappearance and the murder. This mystery was very well plotted and had clues abound to keep every reader guessing to conclusion.

This was such a exciting read with non stop action. I loved the sleuth and the all the suspense the author built for the reader. The charcters all add to the series. This was a very enjoyable next in series that I highly recommend for your cozy mystery reading enjoyment.

An entertaining and well written cozy mystery. Great plot and character dynamics. Mystery fans will love this book.

I said in my review of A Waffle Lot of Murder that my favorite part of this cozy mystery series is the friendships Gia has formed with the people of Boggy Creek. In this latest book, Whole Latte Murder, those friendships are brought into sharp focus yet again when Savannah goes missing. Gia is living proof that family isn’t just the lineage you’re born into; it’s also who you’ve gathered around you. And though Gia didn’t have a bustling family upbringing with lots of siblings for support, she has built that very thing with her close friends (and their families) in Boggy Creek. Savannah is a big part of the glue that brings the whole group together, and watching everyone deal with her disappearance and the search to find her was quite touching.

The mystery is somewhat two-fold in Whole Latte Murder, and honestly Gia sorta takes a back seat in the crime solving this time around. Savannah spearheads most of the investigation in the latter half of the book, but of course Gia is right there by her side. And both of them stay just a step ahead of their policemen beaus, Leo and Hunt… much to the law officers’ fond-but-anxious dismay. There’s all sorts of twists and turns and layers to this mystery, and while I figured out a couple of things ahead of the female dynamic duo I was way off on others.

Bottom Line: Whole Latte Murder by Lena Gregory keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. The mystery takes several surprising detours, and the cast of potential suspects could easily fill Gia’s cafe to capacity. Savannah’s storyline in this installment is heartwarming and touching – but you’ll also cheer at her courage and strength. Along with the complexities of the whodunnit & the yummy breakfast food sizzling on the griddle, the power of friendship and community shines brightest of all.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Whole Latte Murder by Lena Gregory
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Publication Date: April 27, 2021

Whole Latte Murder by Lena Gregory is the fifth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series. I read the previous book, but found that this could easily be read as a standalone mystery.

I love that this is set in Florida. It makes me feel nostalgic and helps a little with my homesickness.

This is such a fun cozy mystery! I love the characters and how they all look out for each other. The story was so much fun to read and very interesting! The mystery was great! There was a lot of depth to it with great twists and turns!

I can't wait to read the other books in the series! I would definitely recommend this to cozy mystery fans!

I'm so grateful to Lena Gregory, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This mystery didn't really do it for me. CAUTION: SEMI-SPOILERS AHEAD. There were just too many things that called attention to the writer's choices--that felt like devices needed to make things happen. For instance, everyone's insistence that Gia stay at the cafe in case a ransom demand comes in is ludicrous. Savannah has a boatload of family in town--all of whom she's close to. The idea that a kidnapper would approach her best friend instead of her family boggles the mind. And it's repeated over and over again. And then the thought that Savannah's entire family would gather all day at the cafe, when their loved one is missing...so Gia should stay at the cafe in case of a ransom call, but the kidnapping victim's actual family doesn't need to be at home? And then it turns out there's a plot reason that the family needs to be out of their home that day. The whole thing just feels like an awful lot of machinations put in place to make the plot work out. On top of all that, the whole feuding crime families angle just seems silly, especially since there's no details about the kinds of crime they are into, and the basis of the longstanding feud, and the motive of the killer(s)...ugh. Not for me.

I feel sort of guilty being so negative, because the writing on a scene-by-scene level is generally fine. But the whole thing feels very heavy handed and illogical to me.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gia owns the All Day Breakfast Cafe and has found a life that makes her happy. Usually. She's a New York transplant and summer in Florida is out to get her, so to speak. One thing that will distract her is spending time with her best friend Savannah in preparation for her upcoming nuptials. Before they meet for shopping, Savannah, a top notch real estate agent, has to meet a prospective buyer. Things go sideways when she fails to show up for their shopping date. What does turn up? The buyer, who has a very shady side, is found dead at the house Savannah was going to show him. Savannah is missing but later is found after having been drugged. That's only the beginning. An unknown woman turns up dead, Gia's home is tossed and her sweet pup, Thor, is also drugged. Time to defy the police and do her own investigating.
Besides the satisfying puzzle to keep me guessing and the people who Gia calls friends, I really enjoy the animals and how Gia and her friends love them. It's a nice thread that runs through the series. This is a series that makes for a lovely escape during these stressful times. I'm already saving a spot for book #6, Mistletoe Cake Murder due out October 12, 2021.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely love this series, and this installment did not disappoint me. I love the diner setting, and the characters are so fun. The twists and turns of the plot were so fun, and I enjoyed trying to predict what would happen.

Whole Latte Murder is a cozy mystery that takes place in Boggy Creek, Florida, near Ocala. Gia Morelli owns an all day breakfast cafe. When her best friend Savannah, a realtor, disappears after showing an old Florida estate, Gia goes looking for her ... and finds herself embroiled in a complex murder with lots of local drama and danger between warring families.

I wanted to read this book because I liked the first book in the series. I have not kept up with the other books but remembered enjoying it.

This was a fairly complex mystery with a large cast of characters. The author, thankfully, included a cast of characters list -- and it was so helpful!

I enjoyed the small town Florida setting, especially the breakfast cafe (owning a similar cafe is one of my dream jobs!). Gia is a smart and resourceful amateur detective - although she and Savannah take some big risks that put them in jeopardy.

There is even a lovable dog (Thor, the Bernese Mountain dog) and kitten (Klondike). Pets always make cozy mysteries even nicer!

The mystery is well written and fast paced. It kept me guessing right up to the denouement!

I recommend Whole Latte Murder (and the series) to fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys southern settings, small town mysteries, and foodie fiction.

Twisted, Cozy Who Dunit
This was such a good mystery that I could not put it down. The action just never stops! Just as soon as I start suspecting one person, a better suspect shows up. The final denouement was quite a surprise. I love not being able to figure out a mystery, even with the clues all out there. I enjoyed this story so much that I know I will be reading more of this author's work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Whole Latte Murder by Lena Gregory is Book 5 in the All Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery. It can be read as a stand alone.
This is an easy to read Cozy with plenty of suspects, twists and turns, relatable characters, romance, humor, family and frendship. It was hard to put down.
I was given an ARC be Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.

Whole Latte Murder by Lena Gregory
*I love this series and have since the very first book Stone Cold Killer.*

This is book number five of the All-Day Breakfast Cafe. Those new to the series can enjoy the character index which carefully lists the recurring participants including pets.

Gia Morelli is in the soup in this book. It starts out simply enough she’s trying to help her best friend Savannah, a realtor plan her wedding to Leo, a local police officer. It picks up very quickly from there! Next thing you know there’s been a murder, now a brother is in trouble, the mob is becoming involved and Savannah's missing! Lordy! The twist and turns this book takes is fabulous! It consumed my attention and kept me reading well past my bedtime. I simply could not stop until I knew what happened, and before I knew it the clock said 3 am! I don’t regret anything Whole Latte Murder was worth it. Wanna know what happened, you know you do! Pick up a copy and you’ll quickly see why I love this series so much.

Author Lena Gregory gets better with every book! She also writes a second series called Bay Island Psychic.

All-Day Breakfast Cafe
1.) Stone Cold Killer
2.) Murder Made to Order
3.) A Cold Brew Killing
4.) A Waffle Lot of Murder
5.) Whole Latte Murder

As this story got underway, I found that I couldn't put my Kindle down and even read with an extra long charger cord. Yep, it was that good. This mystery was very Savannah-focused and just showed how close she and Gia have always been as friends. They'd literally do anything for the other and consider each other the sister they never were born with. Something was off with one of Savannah's brothers after she was abducted, and no matter what the danger was, Gia was determined to find her bestie.

I love that Trevor had a nice bigger role in this book too, and we did get some insight into one of Savannah's brothers and a little more visting with her dad--I like her dad a lot! Another fun character that I don't quite remember how he came into the previous stories (and I've read them all), but I really like him too is Alfie who has some mad hacking skills and loves electronics. I was thinking he was a lot like Sebastian on NCIS: NOLA and it'd be fun to see Alfie again sometime. I might have to cruise through the previous books and refresh my memory on him!

I had my suspicions about who was behind the abduction, but wasn't quite sure who the killer was. That was some showdown though, and both girls were extremely brave (and actually crazy to have gone there to begin with but hey, there'd be no plot if they didn't do stuff like that) during the showdown. That was another time when Alfie was pulled in to help.

Just reading about where and when Savannah's wedding might be makes me excited to read the next book when it comes out. From what I saw, it's definitely a Christmas theme and comes out in October. I can't wait!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

A WHOLE LATTE MURDER was a whole latte fun to read! Lena Gregory knows how to write a mystery to keep the reader alert, frothed at the bad guy/gal, and bummed when our reading cup is empty. This aromatic blend of a story, is one of my favorites so far.

When Savannah doesn't show to go shopping with Gia, Gia goes with another friend to a house Savannah was showing. Gia finds the body of the potential house buyer dead in a tub and Savannah missing. Does the murder have anything to do with the feud between two crime families? A pleasant and enjoyable series.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The latest in Lena Gregory's An All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series grabbed me from the very beginning and didn't let up. The mystery and tensions between crime families in town was interesting as dots were connected and reveals took place. The devotion of Gia to her kidnapped friend Savannah was touching, as was the support of the entire town during the crisis. I felt some characters pushed safety to the extreme (which was unbelievable) with the support that was readily available with local police (who happened to be the character's significant others). This entire series is well done and I recommend reading it all for full enjoyment.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A pleasant and charming series. Nice group of characters, with some baddies tossed in for action. The story kept my interest and involved. Not to be taken seriously. Light entertainment. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.