Clare Cosi is a single mom (of a young woman who is studying abroad) who manages the Village Blend coffee shop, which is owned by her former mother-in-law. Her employees are an eclectic mix of students and aspiring actors that, after awhile, become like family. Clare's newest venture is to allow her coffee beans to be used in Mocha Magic, a coffee laced with an herbal aphrodisiac.

Mocha Magic is going to be sold exclusively by Aprodite's Village, which is an online community for women. There are several "Temples" in the Village, which are analogous to departments, and within the Village, there has been some in- fighting about which Temple this project should be in. Overseeing each Temple is a "Sister," or a departmental head. Because there are only seven Temples (and Sisters), the pressure to prove oneself as the best and brightest at all times is always high.

At the launch party for Mocha Magic, one of the Sisters, Patrice Stone (from the Arts and Entertainment Temple) is murdered. Clare is sure that someone is after the top- secret formula for Mocha Magic, and she sets out to find out who might be willing to kill to get it. In the meantime, Joy (Clare's daughter) has popped back to New York for a surprise trip and appears to be reigniting her relationship with Manny Franco, a police officer who Clare doesn't entirely trust. And Mike Quinn, Clare's own boyfriend, doesn't seem to be giving up the idea of pursing something more serious with her, which Clare isn't entirely comfortable with.

Just as Clare seems to be making headway on her independent investigation, another body turns up. Then Clare receives a mysterious message which ends up endangering her life. Will she be able to solve this mystery before more lives are taken, including her own?

MURDER BY MOCHA is an enjoyable adventure, with several fun subplots. The main plot at times can get a little muddled, especially at the beginning - trying to understand the Temples, the Sisters, which Sister was which, how each one fit into the plot, etc. However, once I had a handle on the characters, I was able to enjoy the book. I really like how the coffee shop staff interacted with each other and with the customers. The subplot with Joy and Manny is great, as is the one with Clare's former mother-in-law. Overall, this is a solid book.

Book Summary

A divorced, single mom in her forties, Clare Cosi is a coffee shop manager by day, an irrepressible snoop by night. When something is wrong, she considers it her mission in life to right it, and murder is as wrong as it gets.

Can coffee enhance your love life? Clare's Village Blend coffee beans are being used to create a new java love potion: a Mocha Magic Coffee that's laced with an herbal aphrodisiac. The product, expected to rake in millions, will be sold exclusively on Aphrodite's Village, one of the most popular online communities for women. But at the product's launch party, one of the website's editors is murdered. Clare is convinced someone wants control of the coffee's secret formula and is willing to kill to get it. Can she stir up evidence against this bitter killer? Or will she be next on the hit list?

This tenth entry in Cleo Coyle's bestselling Coffeehouse Mystery series includes a special bonus section of delectable chocolate recipes!

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