What do You think about Through The Grinder (2004)?
Ooooohhhh the irony. The series is about a coffeehouse. I would naturally associate this with caffeine and thus, stimulating. This book is the exact opposite of that. It is so boring I can only get through a chapter at a time before I want to just cry from boredom. It has put me to sleep quickly for the last few nights.What I like about this book:-----What I don't like about this book:As the second of a series, you would think we have some established rules, characters, settings, slang. Nope. Not only do we have to be reintroduced to everyone, but we also have to describe the first coffee that person ever had in this coffee shop. Not only do we have to read about every single cup of coffee they enjoy, but we have to describe the exact nature of how that coffee bean was made and how it was prepared today. Lines of this coffee prose were copied from the first book.....The cliche. Ooooohhhh, it's so painful. The writing, the plot as it might like to be called, could have been written by a 12 year old. It lacks any depth, suspense, drama. It is so B-grade movie that I absolutely cringe! The murderer is refered to as The Genius. And then, every other character refers to themself in someoway, as a genius. (Oh my, it could be him! Or her! You, dear reader, are supposed to follow these bread crumbs like it actually means something and isn't painfully droll.) These writers (it's a husband and wife team under a pseudonym) seriously need to take notes from Carolyn Keene and Franklin Dixon.
—Jennifer K
3.5the second installment of Coyle's Coffeehouse mystery, i feel, is better than the first. Its actually a darker story than a usual cozy mystery, but I'm not complaining. Just like the fist book, we get a POV of the killers perspective and also our protagonist, Clare. i actually dont mind reading the killer's narrative, its something different. as much as i enjoy reading this book, it was still a bittersweet ending. You start to enjoy Bruce's character and all of a sudden, BAM! I'm not as heartbroken as some readers, since i do prefer another person to be Cosi's love interest.The more I read this series the more I'm starting to enjoy it. Can't wait for the next book.
—Nina
In the second novel in the series, Clare Cosi is starting to date again after divorcing her husband Matteo. While she has an attraction to Detective Quinn because of his martial issues, she knows now is not the time for them together if they ever do. But agrees to try online dating if only for the safety of her daughter Joy who is now single and is wanting to try a new platform for dating. Clare signs on to dating site. After a horrible date she decides to try speed dating at the Coffeehouse, only to check out the potential males for her daughter who has also signed up for it. While interviewing the males, she makes a connection with a business man by the name of, Bruce, who renovates antiques buildings to their proper glory. Bruce is recently divorced and has has a few relationships on the dating site. But because of failure of connection he has thought to speed dating. Clare is instantly smitten with him, after he asks her out a date for the next night. But when he leaves with a red headed woman she thinks her chances with him has fallen flat. She later learns that the woman was an old college friend. Coincidentally, three women have supposedly committed suicide by jumping off building or in front of moving cars. The women have also been customers of the Coffeehouse. And when Detective Quinn informs Clare that Bruce has had relationships with all three women, Clare can't help but think the Detective is wrong. No way the guy she has fallen for could be a killer. Not the one man she has started to like since her divorce.When her ex-husbands returns home and sees that Clare has started a relationship with another man he starts to understand the feeling that Clare had when they were married when he would have flings of his own. But desperate wanting to get back together, Matt assists in helping her clear Bruce's name. The mystery in the book was really good in my opinion. I love the fact that periodically through the book we got a look inside the killer mind and saw what they saw before they killed the person. I do wish we had gotten insight on how the killer had convinced one of the victims to jump off the building. I have to admit I couldn't figure out who the killer was. Who I thought it was, I was completely wrong. While I thought this book was really good, I really do need to say that the ending through me for a loop. I had not expected to be sad and feel for Clare. But the last paragraph of the book has stayed with me because it was so beautifully written. "Bruce was that to me, I decided. My lovely afternoon, my gorgeous evening. Not lasting, but remembered, and with something more than fondness." It is because of this quote that this book will stay with me.
—Moriah
