Dollycas’s Thoughts

Village Blend has hit a rough patch. The customers are not pouring in for their coffee fix as much as they had before the pandemic. There are some real slumps in the day. So, master roaster and manager Clare Cozi pulls her great team of employees together to brainstorm some new ideas to get people in the coffeehouse and drinking their fine brews. Soon they land on the idea of the Writer’s Block Lounge with many thoughts on how to make it a success.

Strangely, Madame, the owner of Village Blend, has reservations about the plan. She explains this is not a new idea. Years ago, talented authors would gather in the lounge on the second floor and help to inspire and motivate each other, but the group fell apart when something terrible happened. Without a lot of details, Claire decides to give the Writer’s Block Lounge a try, and it is a rousing success, much better than she hoped. The second floor overflows with writers working on their craft.

An attack behind the coffeehouse sets off a series of shocking events. Clare needs to remain ultra-caffeinated as she tries to figure out if what is happening now is connected to the happenings in the past while trying to roast the person responsible. She also needs to find out what in the heck Matt’s up to. She knows it can’t be anything good.

The cast of characters Ms. Coyle has created for this series is fantastic. Clare Cosi and her staff are family; she values their opinions, and they take care of each other and truly care about their customers. In this story, Esther forms a unique and genuine bond with an older customer, whom they know as Mr. Scrib. When he has a medical emergency and is later attacked, it is “all hands on deck,” but with Esther in the lead to help her new friend. She takes on a huge obligation in the process.

I truly enjoy how the relationship between Clare and her fiancé, Lieutenant Mike Quinn, has progressed. They have built a high level of trust. They have great discussions, and their daily banter is priceless. They make a wonderful couple and team when things get complicated.

Madame, Blanche Dreyfus Allegro DuBois, Matt’s mother and Clare’s mentor, and owner of the Village Blend, is the connection to Writer’s Block Lounge of yesteryear. Clare wants to find out everything she can about the group, and she needs Madame to open some doors for her. The very active octogenarian is always on the go, and I find it delightful and inspiring. She also has a very interesting new man in her life. He had some great ideas for Clare about the business and the writer’s lounge.

Matt drove me a little crazy in this story. The wild wanderer made some curious moves, but you’ll have to read the story to learn more.

Ms. Coyle has wrapped her wonderful characters into a complex mystery with an abundance of moving parts. Linking the past to the present added many layers to what started as a single case of assault. A sign hung at the coffeeshop sent the entire story into motion. Missing manuscripts, a notebook full of codes, scary chases, a hit and run, secrets, lies, loaded gummies, an unusual pet, and I can’t forget murder had Clare, Esther, Nancy, Tucker, and Dante chasing clues around the city in search of the truth. Twists, turns, red herrings, and more had the pages flying. I loved following along, but the reveal was a total OMG! moment.

I have never traveled to the Big Apple, so I always enjoy the New York City details as the characters travel around the city. The Grand Maison hotel, the skyscrapers of the Financial District, the Theater District, and more, the taxi rides pointing out the sights really added to the story.

Cleo Coyle never disappoints. The husband and wife writing duo hit it way out of the park with No Roast for the Weary. They seem to top themselves with each new installment. This book receives my highest rating – A Trip to Paradise. I escaped right into the story and enjoyed every minute. Easily one of the best books I have read this year. Run, don’t walk to get your copy today!

Clare Cosi tries to drum up business for her coffee shop by starting a writers group. But it isn't long before one of the group is found murdered right there in her coffee shop. As Clare puts her detecting skills to work to try to solve it, it becomes apparent that she must also look into the past, as the last time the coffee shop had a writers group, it also involved a murder of one of it's members. Clare has to look into the members of each group to find out just what kind of secrets they are all hiding.

Master coffee roaster Clare Cosi is co-owner of the Village Blend coffee shop in Greenwich Village in New York City. It’s been a popular place for many decades, especially with the coffee blends they provide. Clare’s partner in the shop is her ex-husband, who travels around the world to source the coffee beans, which she then roasts to perfection. They provide coffee beans to local restaurants, which is a profitable part of the business. But since the coffee shop was closed for a while to film a show, it’s struggling. They’re just not getting the foot traffic that they did before.

Clare knows that her team can turn things around, if they just come up with a new idea. She starts by redecorating the second floor room, switching out the art and adding a sign she found in the attic that says Writer’s Block Lounge. Clare knew that many years ago, that room had been used by writers and artists, where they could work in peace and drink coffee and bounce ideas off each other when they needed help. But one of their regulars doesn’t take well to the changes and has an anxiety attack in the store. The customer, Mr. Scrib, was a store favorite, and he comes back later that night. Clare catches him going through the dumpster out back, and that’s where he gets attacked.

Barista Esther takes charge of his notebook as well as his pet duck while he’s in the hospital, and she wants to find out who would attack him in the back alley. But while all the baristas are talking to their artist friends about the new Writer’s Block Lounge, Clare is finding out why the lounge stopped all those years ago. It had formed organically, as artists came together and became friends. But it ended abruptly when one of them, an actor, was found dead. His murder had never been solved, and Clare can’t help but wonder if his death had something to do with Mr. Scrib’s attack, especially when she and Esther find out that he’s in the process of writing a true crime book about an unsolved murder.

As Clare tries to find out what happened to the actor all those years ago, there is another murder, up in the new Writer’s Block Lounge. Could it be related to the old murder? Clare needs to figure it out quickly, because if the coffee shop loses more business, they may be forced to sell the shop to a competitor.

No Roast for the Weary is book 21 in Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery. The mystery in this one is complicated, a little twisted, running back through decades to uncover secrets from the past. Between the cold case murder and the newer crimes, the concerns about the business and competitors breathing down their necks, there is a lot going on in this story. And once you read to the end of the mystery, there are a handful of recipes for the tasty treats described throughout the book.

I enjoyed No Roast for the Weary. The twists in the story kept me guessing until the end. It’s well written, with strong characters and an interesting story line. This has been one of my favorite Coffeehouse Mysteries so far.

Egalleys for No Roast for the Weary were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

This was my first book by Cleo Coyle and I gotta say…I’m hooked!
I love Clare! Talk about when life gives you lemons!
Survive everything and do it with style! 😍
This was such an entertaining mystery read. It kept me guessing and turning pages long before my coffee got cold. 10/10

With No Roast for the Weary we return to the Village Blend, a coffeehouse in Greenwich Village, New York City. The shop has been faltering since the pandemic. Clare, the manager, and her baristas come up with a plan to drive more traffic to their store, opening a writer’s lounge. Madame, Clare’s ex-mother-in-law and owner of the shop, has bad memories of a similar plan decades before that ended in murder. In the present day, a brutal attack occurs behind the coffeehouse that may, or may not be, related to the old murder case. Clare wonders if the writer’s lounge idea should have been left buried in the past but feels she must try and solve both the current incident and the cold case anyway.

It is always nice to visit Clare and the Village Blend staff. They feel so real they might as well be family now after 21 books in this series. The mystery within No Roast for the Weary has plenty of suspects as well as clues hidden among the red herrings. It is an enjoyable cozy tale perfect for a sunny Spring day or a beach read this summer. 4 stars!

Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced review copy.

NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY by Cleo Coyle
The Twenty-First Coffeehouse Mystery

Manager and master coffee roaster Clare Cosi is worried. With a troubling economy and many people working remotely the Village Blend has noticed a dramatic decrease in business. The truth is the coffeehouse is in financial trouble. In order to turn things around the baristas decide to restart the Writer's Block Lounge. The upstairs portion of the shop would transform into a place where writers could work, bounce ideas off each other, and hopefully buy lots of coffee and pastries! As the crew try to implement their plan one of their regulars is in a coma. Mr. Scrib came in daily for a coffee and to give Esther a poetry challenge. At least until he appeared to have a psychotic break. When he returned to look for his notebook, he was attacked in the alley. Could what's happened to Mr. Scrib be related to the murder of a member of the original Writer's Block Lounge? Will Clare be able to close a cold case, solve the current attack, and keep the Village Blend solvent?

I've loved Clare Cosi for years and this book made me love her even more. Dedicated to the Village Blend and her baristas, she's loyal, smart, and savvy. She also treats others with respect. This twenty-first Coffeehouse mystery touched on some serious topics and I appreciated that mental illness, drug addiction, and the people dealing with these issues were treated with respect.

The relationship between Esther and Mr. Scrib was heartwarming and I love Wacker! I also enjoy seeing Clare's relationship with Mike, and how it differs from her relationship with Matt. I wanted to smack Matt and loved how Clare ultimately handled the situation with Driftwood. I highly approve of Madame's new beau and the tips he shared with the writers were not only great, but eminently useful. I may just utilize some of the ideas myself!

The mystery was baffling and the last few chapters had me shocked. You'll be on the edge of your seat wondering what will go wrong...and who is behind all of the problems.

Temperamental artists, cut throat entrepreneurs, and a scramble to save a historic landmark that happens to be home make NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY a fast paced caffeinated mystery. Grab yourself a coffee and perhaps a Twinkie Tribute cupcake and prepare yourself for a fabulous read, just don't try a Kismet!

Cleo Coyle’s No Roast for the Weary is the 21st installment in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. A few years back, I read the first in the series. Sadly, I remember enjoying that one more than book 21. While reading, the mystery seemed interesting but as it continued on and on and as I finished the story, I felt fatigued. It seemed overcomplicated, so many characters, so many connections between the past the present situations. It seems many readers who have enjoyed the entire series loved this one so I may be in the minority. I wouldn’t recommend but maybe this series is exactly what you are looking for!

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for my free e-arc. No Roast for the Weary released on April 1. #netgalley #cozymystery

Clare Cosi is worried about slow traffic post-pandemic at her beloved Village Blend coffeehouse in Greenwich Village. When her staff brainstorms and comes up with idea of the Writer's Block Lounge at the coffeehouse, traffic picks up - and so does mystery! A regular customer is found seriously injured and an old, decades ago, mystery surfaces. Clare works to solve both mysteries.

I wanted to read No Roast for the Weary because I love the Coffeehouse Mystery series. I enjoy the Greenwich Village setting and the coffeehouse ambiance.

This is an intriguing mystery! I especially was interested in the decades old mystery. Clare uses her amateur detective skills to solve the case after encountering a number of unlikely situations including a pet duck and a writers' gala including some of the most famous names in fiction.

I like the whole cast of characters, including Clare's fiance Mike, her mentor Madame, the baristas and staff, and her cute cats, Java and Frothy.

The mystery is fast paced with lots of short chapters, and readers will travel enjoy spending time in New York City with Clare as she solves this mystery.

I recommend No Roast for the Weary - and the entire Coffeehouse Mystery series - for other cozy mystery fans!

It's still the same great coffee-brewing, mystery-solving barista. This is a great long-standing series by a great author, Cleo Coyle. They (husband and wife) have come up with another caffeinated mystery to solve. This book does not disappoint.

We find Clare serving coffee, worrying if the Coffee House will survive financially, and finding a dead writer in the lounge area.

Another well written story that will envelope you right away.

Master roaster and cafe manager Clare Cosi is fretting over the fate of the Village Blend. While her business’ wholesale distribution of coffee beans is doing just fine, sales at their historic flagship cafe in Greenwich Village are taking a hit. Foot traffic just isn’t what it used to be, and after the morning rush and a small bump in the evening, the coffeehouse is mostly dead.

A mixture of redecorating the second floor and brainstorming with her employees leads them to reestablish the Writer’s Block Lounge, a no-entry-fee writer’s conclave that the Village Blend once hosted as part of its bohemian past. The original organization fizzled out – for reasons that Madame, the cafe’s owner and Clare’s beloved former mother-in-law, seems deliberately vague on – but with the advent of the 21st century, it feels like high time to reinstitute the tradition. Besides, the Village Blend’s artistically-inclined staff have the perfect array of talents to help give struggling writers a leg up on both creativity and productivity. The cafe’s caffeinated creations and sweet treats can only help.

Oddly, one of the Village Blend’s most loyal customers has an extraordinary reaction to the change, suffering a mental breakdown in the newly transformed second level. The elderly Mr Scrib, as he’s known, is good friends with barista Esther Best, so she takes it especially hard when he’s institutionalized. Things get worse when he’s released from the hospital and is assaulted in the alley behind the Village Blend. Clare and Esther are already investigating why someone would want to hurt the kindly old man when murder enters the picture. Will they be able to figure out whodunnit and why, before anyone else gets hurt?

The twenty-first installment of the Coffeehouse mystery series delves into a dark chapter of the Village Blend’s past and explores its ramifications on the 21st century, as Clare and crew engage with a colorful cast of writers, performers and academics in their pursuit of the truth. It takes a while to get there, but the final reveal is both astonishing and poignant. The machinations of Clare’s biggest business rival only add to the suspense as he senses blood in the water at the Village Blend and attempts to move in for the kill.

As always with this series, there’s an entire section of amazing recipes for the delicious dishes and drinks described in the novel. I definitely had a hard time deciding which one I wanted to try this week but finally settled on these cookies. The recipe is lightly edited here for space:

QUOTE
Juliet’s Mocha Blossom Kisses

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spoon into cup and level off)
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon espresso powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup granulated white sugar plus ¾ cup, for rolling
½ cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, whisked with a fork
24 unwrapped chocolate Kisses (milk, dark, almond, etc.)

First, preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (Note: The parchment paper not only prevents sticking but also helps protect cookie bottoms from burning.) In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set the dry ingredients aside. In a second bowl, combine the softened butter, ½ cup granulated white and ½ light brown sugar, and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, beat until creamy. Add the fork-whisked egg and continue blending on low until a smooth batter forms, but do not overmix.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for about 15 minutes in the refrigerator. Chilling will make the dough easier to handle, but don’t chill longer than 15 minutes or the dough will become too hard.

Place the remaining ¾ cup of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Using clean fingers, roll the dough into balls of about 1 inch in diameter. Drop the dough balls in the bowl of sugar and lightly coat. Place balls on your lined baking sheet, leaving room for spreading.

Bake for about 12 minutes on the middle rack in your well-preheated 350°F oven. Within 1 minute of the cookies coming out of the oven, give them a kiss! Gently press an unwrapped chocolate Kiss into the center of each cookie. Carefully transfer the cookies onto a cooling rack. Hot cookies are fragile when handled.
END QUOTE

I actually wound up making 45 of these, which was quite a surprise given my own natural tendency to make larger cookies. I thought that the ones I baked came out a decent size, though I can certainly see why others would make them larger. I’d thus recommend keeping at least 24 Kisses available for this recipe: my youngest kid and I actually unwrapped our 45 together while the cookies were baking.

I also used less than half a cup of white sugar for the rolling – and a little less than half a cup of light brown sugar in the batter itself – and thought that made for the perfect sweetness for these cookies. They’re especially delectable while still warm from the oven, as the melting chocolate kisses are a wonderful texture over the tender but still chewy cookies. Keep in mind, too, that you might need to cool them for a while before packing any extras away, especially if you’re planning on stacking them, in order to help the Kisses retain their iconic shape.

Next week, we travel cross-country to bake up even more cookies while investigating the murder of a rival business owner. Do join me!

This is a very long running series centered around a coffeehouse that has been around for decades. Clare is the main character and currently in charge of Village Blend though with oversight from her former mother-in-law, Madame. Added into the mix is Madame's son and Clare's ex-husband Max who is usually up to something on the shady side which is one of the subplots in this series. The coffeehouse is filled with a collection of quirky baristas all with their own arty interests.

Even though I've only read a few books in the series I had no problem at all jumping into this one. The mystery was an intriguing one and I always love when a modern-day mystery has links to the past. I'm also a huge fan of digging into the past and researching potential suspects. I did figure out a few things ahead of Clare but I did enjoy the mystery overall.

While I had no trouble figuring out the characters and how they related to each other I do think this would be a better series read in order. There is a lot of banter and non-mystery related interactions. I imagine this would be a delight if you were invested in the characters but if you're coming in fresh it gets a bit tedious and slows the pace.

Overall, this is a good mystery with an urban setting that is a bit unusual for a cozy mystery. There's a full cast of quirky characters who all bring a bit of unique knowledge to the investigation.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for offering me the chance to read and comment on this book.

I have read all of the earlier books in this delightful (dare I say delicious?) series, and I wish there was a coffeehouse just like the Village Blend in my town. Alas, there is no such place. This latest installment does not disappoint, with a sufficient number of twists and turns and red herrings before the secrets are revealed. Other reviewers have offered more extensive synopses, and I will not repeat their efforts here. I can only encourage folks who haven't read this series to remedy that immediately. They are in for a real treat.

Cleo Coyle, you continue to hold my heart with your Coffeehouse Mysteries! This is #21 in the series. You’d think the magic might start to fade. Not so. I love every single book, and No Roast for the Weary continues the trend in fine fashion.

Claire has a lot on her mind. Times are lean for the Village Blend. Customers aren’t coming in like they used to. When she asks her staff for thoughts on how they can get folks in the door, they hit on the idea of rejuvenating something the Blend sponsored many years ago – the Writer’s Block Lounge. But instead of sharing Claire’s excitement about bringing back a piece of Blend history, Madame is upset. A dark deed was associated with the previous Writer’s Block, and Madame thinks it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie, so to speak. Claire presses forward, though, and it isn’t long before she’s in a historical whodunit up to her eyeballs. And if she can’t unravel this one, well, soon the sign on the door may not say “Village Blend” anymore.

Esther has a special connection with one of the Writer’s Block patrons who was there back in the day, so she takes it especially hard when he’s hurt. She finds his notebook and takes on a new animal companion when they find the key to his apartment and a note about Wacker. Who’s Wacker? Read and find out.

And what is Claire’s ex Matt up to? She sees him meeting up with subpar coffee peddler Cody “Drifter” Wood, but when she tries to get hold of him to ask why, Matt keeps ghosting her. Does Cody have designs on the Blend? And is Matt seriously considering a deal?

A coded notebook, an unsolved crime from decades past, a shadowy figure who keeps turning up, people who are not what they seem – I found plenty to keep the pages turning. And of course, there are recipes at the end. Y’all know I’m a sucker for good recipes.

I don’t know that I’ll ever get tired of this series. I feel like I’m getting together with friends when I open the pages of each new book, and it makes me smile. You can read this as a stand-alone, but I recommend starting at the beginning of the series and getting the whole story!

The Village Blend is facing economic challenges and in an attempt to drum up business, a part of the coffee shop becomes a writer’s lounge – the resurrection of a concept from a decade earlier, which ended in the mysterious death of one of the writers. Not unlike the original Writer’s Block Lounge, conflicts emerge and when one of her clients is mugged, Clare is determined to find out if the current crime is connected to the unsolved murder of days gone by, and does just that with the help of her friends. The diverse cast of well-developed characters includes a barista/would-be actor, Clare’s ex-husband/business partner, and her eccentric ex-mother-in-law. Overall, an interesting plot in a nicely paced and entertaining cozy mystery.

After binging this, I can confidently say that even twenty-one books in, this series remains as fresh and enjoyable as ever! I've been a long-time fan, and each time I finish one of these books, I declare it my new favorite. Well, this one has now officially taken that title! What a fun whodunnit!

These atmospheric books immerse you in the setting, and you can almost smell the coffee brewing. Our sleuth, Clare Cosi, runs The Village Blend, a charming coffeehouse in a landmark Greenwich Village historical building. It may be a big city, but this coffeehouse feels like a cozy community, and these books are a love letter to Greenwich Village and its eclectic, artsy vibe.

Clare and her crew are endearing and welcoming, with a strong found family element. I enjoy spending time in this world. Clare is relatable and intelligent, and Madame is one of my favorite characters in the series. But for me, Esther stole the show this time and played a big role in the investigation.

The story opens with a dramatic scene, and the mystery revolves around writers' lounges, one current and one historical, that the coffeehouse has hosted. There are literary references, lots of author talk, celebrity author sightings, dark secrets, and a few twists and turns. It was fast-paced with short chapters, and the mystery is well-crafted and intriguing. I had a hard time putting this down.

A husband-and-wife writing team created this series, and I truly enjoy their writing style. These books are exceptionally well done. Clever and fun, I always recommend this series to friends who are new to reading cozy mysteries, and this book can easily serve as a standalone for anyone who wants to jump in here. Additionally, this series features incredible covers, including this one!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted ARC

4.25

This was a ride! And I’m not talking about all the rushes in taxis to save various people’s lives and the Village Blend.

We start off with someone dead in the Village Blend only to then flash back a couple of weeks. Those tend to annoy me, but I persisted.

This installment is pretty elaborate and I won’t lie and say I was always sure I was prepared to pay the fare for this trip, but when I got into it, I was hopped up on the excitement like the Rwandan beans Matt just shipped home and Claire roasted in the basement.

A very old crime took place, though the information we get throughout the book doesn’t necessarily convince me that it happened anywhere near the café. The characters from back then who are alive are evasive and that does get annoying at times. There are a few frustrations and our gullibility is questioned on occasion. We all know happens when it is repeatedly announced that some important evidence is in their possession and is waved around willy-nilly. If you think it getting stolen is a spoiler and didn’t see it coming, I refer you back to book one, “On What Grounds”, since this is obvious your first mystery novel.

For you Claire and Mike fans, don’t expect much action on that front. Well, there’s a little action in front of the fire when Mike is not out of town but he is still just her status quo fiancée. One remark about getting married is rather inconsequential and their relationship status is never mentioned again.

Sub par coffee tycoon Cody “Drifter” Wood from the last book is part of the series, but mostly on the periphery. It’s kind of an interesting story but does interfere some and complicates the mystery, not always in the best way.

Overall, when the story really takes off, it’s a good result and a nice payoff for reading. I preferred it to some of the last few.

Thank you to Cleo Coyle, NetGalley, and Berkeley Publishing Group for providing me with a free advanced copy of this ebook for my unbiased review.

#NoRoastfortheWeary #NetGalley #coffee #mystery #greenwichvillage #cleocoyle

The Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle is one of my absolute favorite series, so every time there is a new book out,
I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
The latest book, No Roast for the Weary is book 21 in the series and it did not disappoint!
The story is filled with quirky characters, twists and turns, and even a little drama.
Cleo Coyle never fails to entertain! No Roast for the Weary was another fun, fast-paced mystery. Red herrings were artfully used to keep the reader guessing until the very end.
A fun cozy mystery that will keep you so entertained.

Thank You NetGalley and Berkley for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Claire's latest adventure was a more gentle ride than previous stories. The plot was excellent and the characters were spot-on as usual. The addition of visiting a writer's club from the Village Blend's past was a great move as readers tend to also be writers! However, this story was also lacking a bit of drama, as we usually see Claire herself in danger. This time her coffeehouse and baristas were under threats and this removed a bit of the thrilling suspense to which readers are accustom.

I would love to see more romance triangle between Matt/Claire/Mike again. It seems that situationship has stagnated and there isn't much there for readers to eagerly turn pages.

Finally, the mention of T***p Tower at one point took me completely out of the story and angered me. It's bad enough he's ruining the country, but bringing his name into one of my favorite series gave me the ick and I spent the rest of the book wondering why it was necessary. I would hope as authors they will simply lean into the creative empath of their profession and refuse to acknowledge the syphilis-brained rotten pumpkin again.

Overall, this is a good read for fans of the series.

No Roast for the Weary is book #21 in the Coffeehouse Mystery series by Cleo Coyle.

The series is still as fresh as when I read the first book years ago. Customer traffic hasn’t recovered from the pandemic and then with location filming blocking traffic, The Village Blend is in trouble. In order to increase business, the team brainstorms and decides to reopen the Writer’s Block Lounge. Of course, they didn’t anticipate what would happen as a result. This is another delightful entry in the series.

As the 21st book in the Coffeehouse Mysteries series, No Roast for the Weary brings readers back to the Village Blend. While Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini (the duo behind Cleo Coyle) do a solid job introducing new readers to the coffeehouse's history and its quirky found family, longtime fans might feel like they're treading familiar ground.

The story is set post-pandemic, with Clare struggling to keep the Village Blend afloat as customers stay home instead of enjoying their coffee in a third space. It’s a relatable setup for the times, but the plot stalls in its execution. There’s plenty of atmosphere—almost too much—as the pages are filled with descriptions and repetitive details that make it hard to stay engaged.

Early on, the story hints at an old unsolved murder, adds a dramatic mental break from one of the regulars, and throws in an alleyway attack for good measure. Clare, along with her flamboyant barista Esther, dives in headfirst—as always—to save the day, even rescuing a duck in the process. While these moments have their charm, they’re buried under slow pacing and excessive descriptions that drag the story down.

Thankfully, things pick up towards the end. The final chapters pull the threads together and offer a satisfying payoff that makes the effort feel worthwhile—though it’s hard to ignore how much of the book felt unnecessary. Recipes and tips in the last section are a fun bonus, but they don’t make up for the sluggish pace.

For devoted fans, No Roast for the Weary might test your patience. While the series still has its moments, the writing feels tired, and it’s hard not to wonder if the authors are as restless as the readers. If you’re new to the Coffeehouse Mysteries, On What Grounds, is a good place to start. But for longtime readers, this installment leaves you wondering if it’s time to find a new favorite series.