Grounds for Murder by Sanda Balzo

In Grounds for Murder, Maggy Thorsen has reluctantly agreed to manage the barista competition at Java Ho, a speciality coffee convention. There's tons of competition going on behind the scenes too, but when Maggie finds a body underneath one of the tables, things get even uglier. She soon finds out that nearly everyone had a beef or argument with the victim, including herself. To clear her name, she talks to all those involved to see if she can smoke out the culprit.

I really liked this cozy mystery, the second book in the Maggy Thorsen Mystery series. The story is interesting and relevant, especially with coffee shops popping up everywhere and the little independent ones trying to contend with the corporate giants. I loved that this one took place at a convention. I could just imagine what that's like! Caffeine, headaches and tons of fun! Well, until someone turns up dead, but you know what I mean.

Balzo's characters are wonderful. Some of them a little larger than life, but that's true in a lot of cozy mysteries. I especially loved Maggy. She's trying to get on with her life after her son goes away to college and her good-for-nothing-cheating husband left her for his hygienist. Her coffee shop is just starting out but she's determined to make a go of it. There were lots of great more minor characters, but my favourites were: her love interest, Pavik, Antonio, the lactose-intolerant milkman and Frank, her oversized dog. All of them were fun to read about.

New Words:
apoplectic (page 9): furious
dragooned (page 128): intimidated

Favourite Quote:

I yelled, thereby joining every fictional character I've ever disparaged for giving the bad guy warning before grabbing them. (page 221)

I also read and really enjoyed the first one, Uncommon Grounds (my review). I have the third one, Bean There, Done That and Triple Shot on my virtual to-be-read shelf. I hope to get to them soon.

Highly recommended. I can't wait to read the others in the series.

For more information about this book, please visit Amazon.com.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Sandra Balzo's website.

Many thanks to the author for sending me this eBook to review.

Grounds for Murder by Sandra Balzo, Severn House, ©2007. ISBN 9781847510273(e-book/PDF), 224p.