A blast from the past gets Nashville PI and coffeehouse manager Juliet Langley in hot water in this explosive mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Death Before Decaf. As a newly minted private eye, Juliet Langley has sworn to leave homicide to the authorities, limiting the scope of her investigations to cheating spouses and dirty business partners . . . like her ex-fiancé, Scott … like her ex-fiancé, Scott O’Malley. When Scott shows up unannounced at her coffeehouse, Java Jive, Juliet’s first instinct is to punch him in the nose. Her second is to turn down his desperate plea for help with a case that’s way too dangerous for her liking. But when Scott drops dead before her eyes, Juliet isn’t going to wait around for someone else to clear her name.
It’s only a matter of time before her tumultuous past with her ex-fiancé comes out, so Juliet teams up with her ex-boyfriend, police detective Ryder Hamilton, to figure out who poisoned Scott. They soon confirm that Scott was involved in an illegal scheme that’s definitely grounds for concern.
Just as romance is finally beginning to percolate for Juliet and her best friend, Pete Bennett, she has no choice but to head back to her hometown to seek out the truth. And she’ll need help from the locals to find the real killer—otherwise her happily ever after could easily end up including an actual ball and chain.
Caroline Fardig’s thrilling Java Jive mysteries can be read together or separately:
DEATH BEFORE DECAF | MUG SHOT | A WHOLE LATTE MURDER | BREW OR DIE | MURDER OVER MOCHAS
“I was hooked from the first page. I loved it!”—Dorothy Cannell, award-winning author of the Ellie Haskell mysteries, on Death Before Decaf
“This series is delightful, well written, and wildly entertaining.”—Suspense Magazine
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This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but certainly won’t be the last! This book is skillfully written with a tight plot and complex, believable characters. I’ll definitely be reading more of this author’s work. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
This series and cast of characters have consumed my life the past couple days. I read all 5 books since last Friday (6 days). I couldn’t get enough of this cast of characters and the story lines. Caroline Fardig did a great job in keeping the reader invested in the story lines. She certainly did a good job in developing the plots of each book. I will admit, some of it seemed far fetched but never too far. It was just unbelievably far fetched just enough.
Of course I read this series for the characters just as much as the story lines. I was fully invested into Juliet’s life and the romantic entanglements she had.
SPOILER AHEAD: (Read at own risk):
I was so fully invested into Ryder. I was about 95% rooting for Ryder & Juliet to end up together. Even though it was always referenced that Pete & Juliet had deep seated feelings for each other for years. Their timing just always sucked. However, even with that “relationship” always in the peripheral vision, I always looked to see Ryder’s name came across the page. I hated that they did not end up together. I enjoyed the series but I am sad about this relationship. It was fitting on how it ended, but it didn’t feel right to me. I felt like, as readers, we were thrust into falling in love with Ryder. And I did – booooo.
I like a good story. This one was very interesting and enjoyed reading it and getting to know the characters. I read it out of order. There are other books that lead into this plot line. I had no trouble catching up, but wished I had read the others first. So I bought those too!
Good reading!
Have loved the entire series. Highly recommend.
This series just keeps getting better and I particularly liked that Fardig brought characters from her Lizzie Hart series into the story. Murder of her ex obviously means Jules is going to run afoul of the law – again! She’s teamed up with Ryder to investigate, but that’s a relationship now based in friendship only as it appears Jules and Pete are finally together forever. This book is fun, fast paced, the characters are fabulous and this entire series is one I’d recommend to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in a really good set of books. So what’s up next for our favorite author? It will be interesting to find out.
I love reading it and I recommend it for my daughter also
Fun read
“Murder Over Mochas” earns 5/5 Clever Karma Conclusions!
I am new to Caroline Fardig’s Java Jive Mystery series, so when I was given the opportunity to read book five, apparently the final book in the series, I immediately sat down with my own frothy Mocha and was thrilled right off! Caroline started the adventure with “ex-boyfriend turned friend” Ryder (seems an oxymoron, but a very delightful dynamic) inviting Juliet Langley to a gun and knife show…Wouldn’t that be a better invitation for his current girlfriend and Juliet’s BFF Maya (another interesting dynamic, but it works)? But, it’s when ex-fiancé Scott pops into the Java Jive Coffeehouse asking for her help, he gets a fist in the face…OK, that’s more like it! I couldn’t stop turning the pages! Juliet, coffeehouse manager/amateur investigator, should have controlled her self better because that outburst and her history of being abandoned, left broke, stolen from, and holding the reins of a failing business puts her on the suspect list when Scott ends up dead. She’s got motive with a capital “M,” but murder?
Caroline Fardig has penned a delightfully engaging story with well-developed characters, clever mystery with ample clues, twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end, and more than a few giggles…it’s a purse! LOL! I really like Juliet and her band of exes and friends, and the relationship with her quiet indulgence Cooper, 23-year-old psych grad student. All are realistic, quirky at times, but definitely entertaining. The details behind the investigation seem right out of the headlines leading the group to the dark side of pharmaceuticals, kidnapping of the victim’s wife, and more ‘nail-biting’ personal jeopardy, but the twists and turns and clues all pop up due to Caroline’s writing an effective investigative style for Juliet. I really enjoyed this book, but I’m not done as I am eager to read the rest of the series as prequels…
The RedHeaded She Devil has returned!!!!
Juliet Langley finds her former ex-fiancé just
walked into the Java Jive coffeehouse.
Without a thought the RedHeaded She Devil
( Juliet’s nickname when she loses her cool )
lands a blow right into his face!!!
Her ex-fiancé fleeced Juliet out of all her money
and personal belongings running off and marrying
the head waitress of the cafe they had owned
jointly.
Now he is requesting for Juliet’s help in finding
his missing wife plus he tells her he uncovered
something that has put him in a dangerous
situation then he falls over DEAD.
Now Juliet is the prime suspect.
In addition to being manager of the Java Jive
coffeehouse, Juliet is a licensed private investigator
with singing and song writing abilities.
With the help of her friends, Juliet sets out to
solve the murder and clear her name.
You will enjoy her humorous escapades filled with
danger, suspense, kickbacks, illegal use of various
pharmaceutical samples, intrigue plus murder.
While trying to put together the pieces of the murder
mystery, Juliet runs into a lot of twists and turns
that complicate her efforts. Great plot and subplots.
The reader will enjoy spending time with the feisty
red head, her old and new romantic situations and
her supporting cast.
The characters are well created, well defined,
colorful and zany.
This is book # 5 in A Java Jive Mystery series. It
can be read as a stand alone.
Great entertaining, highly recommend read.
I volunteered to read the Advanced Reader Copy.
Thank you to Alibi via Net Gallery for this eBook.
My opinion is my own.