Maggie Thorsen, former PR exec and current partner in Uncommon Grounds, walks into her new coffee shop on opening day only to discover her partner Patricia dead, death by espresso machine. Who could have killed Patricia, and what does this mean for the future of the shop?[return][return]Signs point to their third partner and friend, Caron, as the possible killer but Maggie won t believe it and sets out to save her friend and their business. During her mission to find the murderer and save Uncommon Grounds, Maggie discovers more than she bargained for, including marital affairs, objectionable politic maneuvers, and an unexpected attraction to the most bothersome character in town.[return][return]Will Maggie s meddling go too far? Was Patricia really the intended victim? And, does Uncommon Grounds have a future or will it take the espress route to bittersville?[return][return]I originally read this book because I d discovered there was another coffeehouse series published besides Cleo Coyle s Coffee House Mystery series and I wanted to see how they d differ. As you can see from my current banner, I love coffee, and the coffee house setting feels like home to me.[return][return]Let s just say right now that Sandra Balzo is a hoot! I love the series heroine, Maggie, because we see her faults and love her anyway. She s got a good heart, the desire for justice, and the cajones to do the dirty work required to ferret out the truth. I especially enjoyed her relationship with Frank, her dog, and the way she knocked Sheriff Pavlik down a peg or two when she d had enough of his bullying.[return][return]Plenty of red herrings keep the reader from guessing who the killer is, which I appreciated since all too often I figure it out early and am then left with deciding whether or not to finish the book. As Maggie uncovers clue after possible clue, she discovers her Brookhill community and the people she cares for are not all they seem. I liked that she was willing to risk danger to get to the truth but at times she seemed reckless and a bit naive. Gotta love her, though, and the humor throughout this book is reason enough to read it.[return][return]You won t be disappointed in Sandra Balzo s Uncommon Grounds. It s a fun read that keeps you guessing. I know I look forward to the next book in the series, Grounds for Murder (Maggy Thorsen Mysteries).
What do You think about Uncommon Grounds (2004)?
Uncommon Grounds is the selection for the Cozy Mystery Corner Group on Goodreads. This is the first in a cozy series based around a coffee shop. Maggy Thompson, partner in a coffee shop venture to the murder victim Patricia Harper, takes her turn as a sleuth to solve Patricia’s death.I read another coffee shop based mystery, Cleo Coyle’s Coffee House Mystery series and could not help making comparisons between the two. Unfortunately Uncommon Grounds comes out the loser in this comparison. Maggy is no Clare Cosi. In fact, Maggy seems to have entered into a business venture with someone she knows very little about or is just woefully uninformed and didn’t care to investigate. Wouldn’t the fact that your new business partner was the member of some cult like church be of concern to the average person?I will just leave it with this book didn’t work for me.
—Fanficfan44
I must say, I read a lot of mysteries and usually have an inkling of who-dun-it or my suspicions al least. With Uncommon Grounds, I had no idea until the last chapter who had killed Patricia Harper on opening day of her coffeeshop. And to an avid reader, that makes this book a winner.I was thoroughly engrossed in the story of Maggie Thorsten, co-owner of Uncommon Grounds and suspect in the murder, and the town of Brookhills. It is easy to see why this first book in the series was nominated for an Anthony and Macavity Award. Balzo is at the top of the mystery genre with this book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.Victoria Allmanauthor of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
—Victoria Allman
