Brewing Up Murder

I have to admit I think the whole coffee shop cozy is overused but I did enjoy this one.
I hope the next in the series does not rely so much on the overused love triangle but expands on the characters themselves.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Blake Harper is the owner of the Mystery Cup Café in a town in Missouri built around murder. However, Blake gets a little TOO close to murder when one of her employees is found dead. With a vested interest in catching the killer, can Blake narrow down the suspects before more bodies pile up?

I received an ARC of this book, and when I began the book, I will admit I felt like this was a freebie e-book. You know - the kind they give away because the components of a good book are all there, but they don't really gel? Well, I was pleasantly surprised, because after a couple chapters in, I began to enjoy the interactions with Blake, her sister Kyle, and other shopkeeper friends. And then there is the not one but TWO love interests that appear before Blake (we should all be so lucky). Now, I do need to mention I was not impressed with either of the love interests, though they both sound dreamy to look at. I just didn't like the vibe they put off, but I'm hoping that will change in the next book (and I can't WAIT for the next book!). I thought there would be a twist, but it wasn't the twist I thought I saw coming. The ending was fantastic and I can't wait for more books in this series and from this author.

Entertaining and engaging cozy mystery. The two recipes sound fantastic. Every time one of the items was mentioned, I was hoping that a recipe for it would be included. Yes! The family relationships and romances added to the story. I look forward to reading the next one.

I really loved the characters in this book. While there seem to be a glut of cozy mysteries set in a coffee and/or book shop on the market right now, this one has the unique spin of the sister investigator and the fifty year old unsolved murders that have been exploited into creating a tourist destination. The plot was well crafted with viable suspects galore...have to admit I was surprised at the real culprit. The close family ties also added a new twist to the plot. All in all, an excellent read that I'd recommend highly. Looking forward to the second book in the series.

A nice start to hopefully a great series. I liked the interaction between characters and the plot twist at the end. The killer was not who I thought it would be. Love the inclusion of recipes at the end.

Blake Harper is used to hearing talk about murder. After all, she lives in Wilton, MO which is a huge tourist attraction because of an unsolved, 50 year old murder. But when a killer strikes at her own Murder Cup Cafe, Blake takes it very personally and sets out to investigate, despite warnings from her sister, Kyle, who happens to be the lead detective on the case. Blake doesn't want to think that her new, extremely handsome business neighbor is involved, but some things are just not adding up!

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one sitting. Blake's sister, Kyle, was probably one of my favorite characters. She was a hoot and I loved how she could transition from pesky little sister to all-professional, tough detective, then back to loving, sympathetic sister.

Not too many cozies that I've read offer two possible love interests for the protagonist, and while a triangle is not really my favorite thing, it was still interesting and I will want to find out in future books how this is working out for Blake. I like how close the community is and that they do stick together. The businesses (aside from Sabrina's, that is) have each other's backs. The mystery itself kept me guessing and I didn't suspect who the killer was until the reveal.

This was a very nicely written mystery that I hope gets a lot more in the series!

I volunteered to read an ARC of this. I would like to thank NetGalley and Red Adept for letting me read and review.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This was an exciting new cozy. Even though there are several other, "coffee shop", series out there, another one is good, and this one is in no way similar to the others. This one definitely has a different slant to it. The characters are very likable, the setting very mystery oriented, and the mystery oh so good. Really didn't figure it out 'til the end. Looking forward to the next in series.

What a fun fast paced murder, romance, mystery read. I enjoyed how the words flowed and came together for such a great debut book in Neila Young's new Coffee Cup Mystery series. Who doesn't love a little mystery with their coffee? From the start Blake's unique and spunky personality came through on the first page, as well as the love and exasperation she has for her family and friends. When mysterious attacks and murder occurs right in her very own shop how could Blake not help but involve herself in solving the mystery even though her sister tells her to stay out of it? Will Blake finally listen to her or will she become the sleuth to find the answers? On top of murder and mayhem Blake finally might have met a man that she is interested in or will he turn out to be Mr. Wrong? I am excited to read the next book in this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Neila Young for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC

Blake Harper is the owner of Mystery Cup Cafe, coffee is the love of her life and she loves horror movies. She lives in Wilton, a town put on the map for its serial killer almost 50 years ago. Small town, big gossip, and a love interest here and there. There is a new killer on the loose and Blake is determined to solve the mystery whether others like it or not!

Brewing up Murder is a fun, cozy mystery. The first of what seems to be a promising series. Trying to solve a mystery while also dreaming of coffee and brownies. Doesn't get any better than that. At the end of the book, there are two recipes for items mentioned in the book and I am absolutely looking forward to trying those out asap.

I absolutely loved this book, I enjoyed the banter and most importantly, the mystery. I had my guesses throughout the book, but much to my surprise, I did NOT see it coming when the killer was revealed. I love when I am surprised in a mystery novel, it is such a buzzkill when the mystery is too predictable. The flow was well paced and If I did not need sleep to function or care for my children, I would not have put this book down! I honestly have zero complaints about the book, other than the fact that I wish there was more now and I didn't have to wait to read more!

Definitely Recommend

I really enjoyed this book. There was a good deal of world-building and development, making a great foundation for further novels. I am really looking forward to digging deeper into this town's history and getting details on this mysterious serial killer.

I loved this book! A coffee shop, a murder, and two gorgeous men, what more can you ask for. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book.

This book was pure fun! Neila Young is a new author to me and I didn’t quite know what to expect going in, but the book was a wonderful surprise. It combined some of my favorite things: coffee, cozy mysteries, and a great story.

Brewing Up Murder is the first book in the Coffee Cup Mystery Series. It follows barista Blake Harper through her life as a 30-something single coffee shop owner. When one of Blake’s employees is found murdered in the her coffee shop, Blake can’t just sit around and wait for the killer to strike again. She has to take action.

Here are my favorite reasons to read this book.

Family Love

Blake is part of a close knit group of siblings who are loyal, fierce, and fun. The siblings provide a strong family unit for each other and are enjoyable to get to know. Blake’s sister is also the police detective in the book. I thought that was an interesting touch – I don’t know if I’ve ever come across that dynamic in a cozy before.

Two Likable Love Interests

Many times when the protagonist is involved in a love triangle, I have one “horse in the race” that I am really rooting for. Blake has two eligible suitors in this book and I found myself liking them both! I kind of hope that Blake doesn’t pick a suitor for awhile. I feel both men are enjoyable to read about and add to the dynamic of the story.

I Had No Clue Who the Killer Was

Like, none. At all. Sometimes it bothers me when I feel the killer comes out of left field, but the author has a solid back story as to the motive for the crimes and after I read it, I found I enjoyed the twist. I also love that it set up a lot of different directions different characters can go in future books.

If you are a fan of coffee and cozies, pick up a copy of this book.

It is a quick and entertaining read and I know I have found a new author to follow for sure. I can’t wait to see what Blake and the rest of the gang are up to in future books!

Great characters, a fantastic cosy mystery, interested to see how this series develops.

Classic cozy mystery brought up to date in this entertaining and fast paced novel from Neila Young,

This would have been a 4 star read for me but the following things happened:

1. There is an [annoying] love triangle. VERY annoying.

2. There was, at the end of the book, an excessive [in MY opinion] use of curse words that grated on my last nerve.

3. Multiple [like every time Blake saw either Adam or Sean] references to how the man's jeans looked on his thighs. Yes, you read that right. Trust me, when I am looking at a cute guy, I am NOT thinking about how good his thighs look in his jeans. <eyeroll>. And there are MULTIPLE references to this. Enough that it gave my eyes an excellent workout while reading this.

4. The mean girl is annoying and not totally believable. But that just may be me.

5. I get that the detective is Blake's sister, but the whole police force seemed rather inept. I don't know - there was something about them that rubbed me the wrong way.

What I DID like about this book is the coffee. ALL. THE. COFFEE. ;-) And truly, for the most part, this is a great little cozy story. I like the characters, I liked the mystery and I had NO FREAKING IDEA who the killer was and it totally shocked the pants off of me when it was revealed.

I will read the second one because there was enough that I liked to continue on. But the love triangle HAS. TO. GO. Seriously.

A new author for me and I liked the book. it was all about a coffee shop with a murder and two lovely men who I wish I could meet!!! The book was a great read with a good plot and characters you can really relate to. I will be looking to read the next instalment of the series.

Exciting new series

This is Neila Young's debut book and she has done a fantastic job.
Blake was a wonderfully realistic character and I loved her interaction with the supporting cast of family, friends and potential love interests.
The story twisted and turned and held my interest from beginning to end, finishing the book in one sitting. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I enjoyed reading this book. I Have never read anything bt/y this author. Her character development is well fleshed out, so much so, that you feel that you're there. The subject matter was very interesting and the characters, especially that protagonist, are easy to fall for. l

I totally recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers.

I'd like to thank the author/publisher/netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion*

I really enjoyed this book. It is a lovely way to escape from the world for a few hours. There is a lot of action packed into this book. Blake is a likeable coffee shop owner who is trying to work out who killed her barista. There are plenty of suspects and Blake talks to all of them and tries to piece all the clues together. There is also some romance thrown in. I hope there will be more in this series.

A wonderful new cozy series ! This is a very enjoyable read. Brewing Up Murder is the first book in Neila Young’s Coffee Cup Mystery Series, it is always fun to read a mystery set in a coffee shop and this did not disappoint. It is delicious descriptions of the food and coffee that will have you craving your next latte.
Blake is a smart independent protagonist. She is also a great sleuth and good at finding nefarious clues. Because she is single she is at the mercy of her well meaning family who are committed to fixing her up on dates. She has two interested suitors in this book leaving romance open for the next in series. I like that the sleuth was the primary focus and not the romance. It is just enough back story with the romance. The clues were well crafted and the book kept me guessing until the end. . I enjoyed this visit to Brewing Up Murder and look forward to the next in series. Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review. This is a not to miss cozy series !

What a fun book! Brewing up Murder is the first installment in the Coffee Cup Mysteries series by Neila Young. If you are looking for fast-paced action scenes and twists and turns at every corner, this book probably isn't for you. But if you love a light read with a bit of romance and murder thrown in, then look no further! The characters in this book were all well-written and likable, if a bit stereotypical. And, while I didn't find the ending shocking, I still stayed up late to finish the book! I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Neila Young's Brewing Up Murder is the first book in the Coffee Cup Mysteries series. Blake is the owner of Mystery Cup Cafe in Wilton, a town made famous by a series of murders years ago. When Blake's flighty barista is found dead in the cafe, Blake finds herself drawn into the mystery. This was a strong first book. The mystery was interesting, and the characters engaging. I enjoyed the unusual theme of the setting. The story includes a bit of romance and plenty of family shenanigans.

I was starting a reading slump when I picked this book up – and then it was gone!

Brewing up Murder is a perfect cozy mystery for reading in one sitting on a lazy day or during a long commute. I was travelling when I read this and didn’t even feel the hours pass!

I loved the setting in Wilton, MO, the sleepy town famous for a series of murders whose perpetrator was never caught. The close-knit community was very interesting and full of personality, and I particularly liked the Book Club ladies. They were so much fun! I totally would have joined the club!

I was not a fan of the Harper sisters’ names, from time to time I had to remind myself they were actually women. Blake was not very easy to relate to, although having a coffee shop and working right next to a bookstore did sound like a dream. I thought her a bit too emotional and not giving too much thought to the consequences of her actions, neither too cautious with her own safety. Kyle, on the other hand, was a really nice character! She was tough but also empathetic. I thought it problematic, though, how much she shared with Blake the details of the case – shouldn’t Blake have been sort of a suspect, too?

The love triangle annoyed me a little, but oh well. I totally cheered for the cute doctor all along – Book Hottie was too grumpy for my taste.

The pacing of the book felt just right – although at some points I wanted to yell at Blake for wasting precious time, the story never really got slow or boring. It was fun and I wanted to eat the book up. I didn’t guess the murderer at all – that was quite a surprise, as I thought the clues were pretty clear. Nicely done!

Oh, and the recipes of the spiced mocha and the chocolate bean brownie were such a nice surprise! I need to try them!

I look forward to reading the sequence to this book and see what other mysteries will happen in the Mystery Cup Café!

Veredict: This is a really nice cozy mystery, it’s a quick and fun read, set in a sleepy town in Missouri. If you love coffee, you’ll probably like this book even more! It’s not a revolutionary book and a lot of it is quite predictable, also Blake was a little frustrating, but I still enjoyed it very much and look forward to the sequence.

This is a new cozy series, Coffee Cup Mysteries, that is set in a small town famous for a serial killer that was never arrested. The town encourages the tourist trade curious about the 12 murders. Blake Harper runs the local coffee house and finds her barista murdered in the kitchen. Someone in town wants Blake dead but no one knows why. With two new men in her life and dodging a murderer, Blake's life is in turmoil. I enjoy the family interaction with Blake, her sister and brother. Some good humor mixed with the mystery and a couple of yummy recipes.

I love cozy mysteries! And this one did not not disappoint. It was a fast and easy read, and very enjoyable. The characters were well-developed and likeable. The storyline was also very good. This is the first book in a new series and I do look forward to reading more in this series. Hopefully soon!

This was a great murder mystery with two victims. I think the title is great! I also really want to try the coffee and expresso brownies that were mentioned in this story. There is a little bit of romance too- which one should she choose? I didn't see it coming- the killer. The break ins were crazy. Recipes included. You should read this book.

Blake Harper lives in a town that attracts visitors because of an unsolved murder that occurred years ago. Blake then has to investigate when there is a murder at Murder Cup Cafe. Love the premise, and the characters were great. Very well developed, and I think this series can go a long way. It was a nice addition to the mystery cozy line. I can't want for the next one! Thank you to Net Galley and Red Adept for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not a bad cozy mystery. The best part, of course, is the coffee, and I have to try the Spicy Mocha recipe.

This was a super fun read for me. Neila Young is a new author to me but I'll be reading more by her.

Brewing up Murder was set in a coffee shop. The town is well known for a series of murders long past & the new murder raises a lot of unsolved questions.

This was the first book in the Coffee Cup series & I look forward to reading more! Can't wait to see which guy Blake ends up with.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.