Wisconsin coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen's cousin, Jacque Oui, is in trouble. Big trouble! Not only is his cash-strapped Schultz's Market facing competition from a new grocery chain, but his supposedly ex-wife Paulette has arrived from Paris, spectacularly claiming that she and Jacque are still married, despite Jacque being engaged to Maggy's friend and star barista Amy Caprese.

When a huge fire rips through Schultz’s Market and a gruesome discovery is made in the shop's upper flat, Maggy is reluctantly drawn into her cousin's affairs. But where is he? With Jacque suddenly missing, can Maggy uncover the truth behind the disturbing events triggered by Pauline's arrival, or is she about to be scorched by a determined killer?

Publishers Weekly: Vividly drawn characters and dialogue crackling with wit propel the fair-play plot

Kirkus: The body count rises quickly as Balzo’s quirky cozy turns darker than a freshly brewed espresso

Maggy Thorsen's new neighbours, Philip and Vivian Woodward, are forging ahead with their plans for The Big Steep tea shop. Philip's enthusiasm to turn the neglected cottage once owned by Vivian's reclusive grandparents, the Koepplers, into a tea lover's paradise is infectious, but Vivian seems less excited. And when Maggy's sheepdog Frank arrives at Uncommon Grounds coffeehouse bearing a 'gift' he discovered in the Woodwards' compost heap, the tea shop project takes a chilling turn . . .

Lively, intelligent characters and Maggy's refreshingly anxiety-free relationship with her fiance, Brookhills County Sheriff Jake Pavlik, make this stand out from the cozy pack. This is a perfect entry point for newcomers ― Publishers Weekly

Connecting murders past and present provides a welcome challenge for coffeehouse cozy fans ― Kirkus Reviews

Maggy Thorsen and her business partner Sarah Kingston have taken on a new barista at their Wisconsin coffee house, Uncommon Grounds, to fill Amy Caprese's boots while she takes a much-needed vacation. Unfortunately Christy Wrigley's barista skills are as underwhelming as her love life, but is her luck about to change with her new beau?

Christy gushes about her long distance, online relationship with Barry Margraves from Denver, leading Maggy to urge caution. When the new love of her life turns up unexpectedly on the coffee shop's doorstep on a snowy winter morning, Christy is shocked - but what follows next is even more staggering, and Maggy is soon drawn into a deadly blend of betrayal, deception and lies.

Publishers Weekly: Readers who like their heroines on the spunky side will enjoy Maggy’s company