4 out of 4 stars
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Peppermint Mocha Murder by Pam Moll is a murder mystery book based on Molly Brewster. She was a 30-year-old coffee shop owner and a gardener who grew spices, such as oregano, thyme, dill, rosemary and lemongrass. In her coffee shop, the Bean, Molly had five employees, namely Aurora, Bales, Erica, Chris and Fiona.
Molly remained active in her business until a fisherman's death, Jim Grist, changed everything. Now all she ever wanted to do was to find the murderer. However, this desire made her the prime suspect. The more she was found investigating the murder, the more she got in trouble with the police. And with the forensic evidence gathered by the detectives, it became even more difficult for Molly to prove herself innocent.
The only thing I did not like about the book was the fact that it was very slow-paced in the beginning. The first few chapters were merely about the main protagonist's background, her coffee shop, her employees, delivery people and regular customers.
What I liked was Molly's good-hearted personality. She could do anything to help anyone. Even though Jim was disliked by everyone in Bay Isles, Molly took time off work and investigated his murder. How can I forget her loving and caring dog? I found myself tearing up when it defended Molly against the psychopath.
The story also taught me how to hide my true identity when playing undercover. For example, one should not state his or her real name, but rather use the family member's name that can easily be remembered. The surroundings in the book were vividly described. I felt like I was there touring Granny Dee's mansion. It was the huge brick and stucco residence with a massive kitchen, a large dining room, a ballroom for entertaining guests, a library and a cellar situated under the main floor.
Even though Peppermint Mocha Murder is the first book of the Holidays Are Murder series, it can be read as a standalone. It was easy to read, and its suspense and mystery kept me hooked the whole way through. Just when I thought I knew what to expect, I encountered subtle revelation in almost every page.
In conclusion, I am awarding Peppermint Mocha Murder 4 out of 4 stars. The book seemed to be professionally edited and proofread: out of 230 pages, I spotted only two errors. I recommend this book to everyone who loves murder mystery genre.
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Peppermint Mocha Murder
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