Death Before Decaf

Java Jive Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Caroline Fardig

Narrated by: Callie Beaulieu

After her music career crashes and burns, Juliet Langley is forced to turn to the only other business she knows: food service. Unfortunately, bad luck strikes yet again when her fiancé robs her blind and runs off with her best waitress. Flushing what's left of her beloved cafe down the toilet with her failed engagement, Juliet moves back to her college stomping grounds in Nashville to manage an old friend's coffeehouse.

At first glance it seems as though nothing's changed at Java Jive. What could possibly go wrong? Only that the place is hemorrhaging money, the staff is in open revolt, and Juliet finds one unlucky employee dead in the dumpster out back before her first day is even over. The corpse just so happens to belong to the cook who'd locked horns with Juliet over the finer points of the health code. Unimpressed with her management style, the other disgruntled employees are only too eager to spill the beans about her fiery temper to the detective on the case. Add to the mix a hunky stranger who's asking way too many questions, and suddenly Juliet finds herself in some very hot water. If she can't simmer down and sleuth her way to the real killer, she's going to get burned.

©2015 Caroline Fardig (P)2017 Tantor

Frustrating

I liked the story but the main female character was so frustrating, she was always complaining and talk about lying. She just could not understand that an undercover cop just could not tell her and even when she finds out about why he lied she still so self centered. I don’t know if I will pay to listen to the next book I don’t like getting so aggravated at the way a character is written and it takes away from listening to book.

Disappointed

Very slow & dull. There was nothing to it to keep me focused on the story. Can't say for sure if it's the story or the narrator.

Predictable and a bit one dimension.

Ok for a light easy read. The plot was predictable to everyone except the protagonist. The characters were entirely good or entirely bad, no nuances, so fell flat. I don't plan on spending more money on the series.

Good story... didn't like cursing

I liked the story line. I just wish there was not so much unnecessary cursing.

Loved It!

I loved this book and intend to buy more in the series. I went into it with low expectations because of some of the reviews, but I loved it. Callie Beaulieu is one of my favorite narrators. Hearing her voice was a pleasant surprise since I didn't pay attention to who the narrator would be. The only drawback to the story, for me, is the love triangle. I'm not a fan of them. Otherwise, I truly liked the story and the characters. I found it funny, the main characters are likable, and the plot held my attention throughout the book.