Latte Trouble: 03/14/18

Latte Trouble by Cleo Coyle is the third of the Coffeehouse mysteries. I listened to the 2011 audiobook. Clare Cosi, the manager of the Village Blend has let her place be overrun during Fashion Week. Her delicious coffee inspired a new line of fashion jewelry, resurrecting the career of Lottie Harmon after a thirty year hiatus. Everything is going well until one of the high profile guests ends up poisoned during the party, and her best barista is in jail on suspicion of murder.

I am not a fashionista. I don't personally care about Fashion Week. The set up and setting, though, reminded me fondly of Ugly Betty. Clare is written though as a character who also isn't interested in Fashion Week, but does know more about fashion than I do. But even she comes across numerous times in this mystery as a fish out of water.

In the second book, a lot of the narrative time was taken up with insights into the workings of the "genius" — the murderer. This time, that space between scenes, is given to flashbacks. Much of what transpired in the Village Blend was the result of events that unfolded at the initial end of Lottie's career. To uncover the truth, Clare must find people with local knowledge to piece together the story.

My only quibble is the narrow focus on Jackie O's style of dress. It makes sense for Clare's former mother-in-law to be enamored with her look as she is of the same generation. Clare and I through are closer in age and she would have taken her female role models from the women of the late 1970s and 1980s both for attitude and fashion.

Four stars

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Thursday, April 05, 2018 at 08:57:13

Laura Pond

I read this book years ago and loved it. You have made some good points though about Clare's choice of role models being from the wrong generation.

Comment #2: Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 21:52:00

Pussreboots

I'm also enjoying the series even with my quibbles with this particular title.