Death Before Decaf

This was an excellently written mystery with engaging characters!

Death Before Decaf by Caroline Fardig is A Java Jive Mystery novel. Juliet Langley is turning thirty years old and is returning home to Nashville. Juliet is a lovely singer, but unable to perform because of severe stage fright. Juliet was running a café of her own until her scum bag (pardon my language) fiancé cleaned out her accounts, apartment, and left town with the café’s best waitress. Juliet has gotten a job as manager of the Java Jive where she worked while she was in college. On her first day Juliet has a run in with the chef, Dave (who likes to violate the health codes). The next thing you know Dave is dead behind Java Jive. Juliet is told by Detective Cromwell (of the MNPD) that she is a person of interest. Juliet sets out to prove her innocence (no matter what the consequences). Pete Bennett (who owns the Java Jive) who is Juliet’s best friend helps her clear her name. Juliet also gets help from Seth Davis, a professor from the college, who has been hanging out at Java Jive. Pete distrusts Seth (he has good instincts), but Juliet refuses to listen (especially since she cannot stand Pete’s girlfriend who is her arch nemesis). Will Juliet be able to clear her name and find the culprit (and stay alive)? I liked the mystery in Death Before Decaf. It was not as easy to solve as I thought it would be. It was more complicated which I enjoyed (I like difficult puzzles). I did not enjoy the foul language or the sex in the book. I like to read cozy mysteries because they do not contain bad language (there are many creative alternatives) or overt sex (I am not a prude. I just get tired of it being shoved in our faces). I give Death Before Decaf 3 out of 5 stars. A good start to a new series. I am hoping the next book will be much better (I am trying to be optimistic). I received a complimentary copy of Death Before Decaf from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in the Java Jive Mystery Series by Caroline Fardig. This is my first book by the author, but after reading this I am going to make a point of reading more from her. Juliet Langley returns to her old college town to run her best friend Pete's coffeehouse, after losing her own cafe after her no good ex-fiance ran off with her money, her belongings and her best waitress, and lands herself smack-dab in the middle of a murder. This is a great cozy mystery that has great characters, and my favorite part some zany-hilarious antics. The funeral scene was epic! Very enjoyable.

I really enjoy Caroline Fardig's Lizzie Hart Mysteries, so I knew I'd love this! She's created another cast of instantly likable characters. It's well written and the mystery kept me guessing. Juliet moves back to her college town to manage a coffee shop for her best friend Pete. I love when Juliet unleashes red headed she devil! And you got to love Gertie! That woman has no filter and had me cringe laughing! Lots of laughs, mystery, and romance kept me from putting this book down! I really hope there are more planned in this series. I can't get enough of Juliet, Pete, AND Ryder! And I have to admit, I'm Team Rider.

I had a good time reading this first book in a new series by Ms. Fardig. She knows how to tell a good story. She got me interested in what was going on right from the start. I immediately liked her main character, Juliet Langley. She is fun and fierce. She says that she has to break out the Redheaded She-Devil when she needs to get tough. Pete Bennet is her longtime best friend and owner of the Java Jive, the coffeehouse in Nashville. She met Pete 10 years ago when she was a freshman in college. She needed a job, so she applied at Java Jive. Pete was behind the counter. His dad was the owner. They connected right away, as friends, never anything more, even though the urges may have been there. They kept it on a safe level all these years. Pete gave her the moniker of “The Redheaded She-Devil” when she found out that her college boyfriend, Danny Wright, had cheated on her with her roommate. She taught him a lesson! I liked everything about Death Before Decaf. The characters are fun but believable. The mystery kept me guessing right up until the final chapter. And who doesn’t love a book based in a coffeehouse. I’m a nut for anything coffee related, and that is what drew me to the Java Jive series, but the quality of the writing kept me interested. I’m going to keep my eye out for the next book in this series, Mug Shot, scheduled for April 2016. I give Death Before Decaf 4 1/2 Stars out of 5, and a Big Thumbs Up! If you like fun, light, somewhat sexy mysteries that feel very today, then you will love this new series by Caroline Fardig. I received a Digital Review Copy from the Publisher.

editMy Review Oct 11, 2015 rating5 of 5 stars bookshelvesread edit shelves statusRead from October 11 to 12, 2015 formatebook (edit) reviewThis book is a first in a new series by Caroline Fardig. If you love coffee with a great murder mystery stirred in, this is your book. I must say it wasn't my typical mystery read but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a sassy rea. I will warn you there is some language and suggestive scenes but it definitely doesn't deter from the great storyline. You actually need some of it to get across some of the main characters personality. For example, Gertie is a hoot! I loved her from the start. She is Pete's grandmother and has a mouth that would put a sailor to shame. Pete is the owner of Java Jive. His father was the previous owner but he passed and Pete took over. Pete is your mild mannered good southern boy raised in Nashville. He is a sound engineer for a recording studio and knows nothing about running a coffee shop. That is where Juliet comes into play. She used to work at Java Jive in college with Pete and has been offered the job of manager. Jules is a red head with a temper to match. She tells it like it is and uses f bombs to get her point across at times. She has a great nickname that I can totally relate too being a red head myself. She is called a "Redheaded She Devil" when she gets really angry. She ends up with her hands full trying to get to know her new employees some of which are not to fond of her from the start. Dave for instance is not the neatest person and keeps doing things to push Jules buttons. They get into a few arguments and everyone hears. Then things go from bad to worse for Jules. She goes to take out the garbage only to find poor Dave dead in the dumpster out back. Of course not only does she have to deal with a detective being suspicious of her she has a reporter hounding her every minute. Since everyone seems to think she is the prime suspect instead of waiting for the police to find the killer she convinces her best friend Pete to help her find other suspects to take the heat off of her. This is where the fun begins. The adventures these two get mixed up in will have you laughing out loud. So what will happen to Jules, will she be arrested or will she find the real killer before they find her and put a stop to her snooping? I loved every character in this book. This is a great start to a new series. I can't wait to read more adventures of Java Jive's with Pete, Jules, Gertie, and friends. I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. (less) flagcomment · see review (2 people liked it) · edit review

This was an absolute stitch. It was funny, well written and complex enough to hold the reader's interest. I would strongly recommend for Evanovich fans and even for Dorsey or Hiaasen fans. Thanks to Net Galley and Alibi for an ARC for an honest review.