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Death Before Decaf (A Java Jive Mystery #1)
by
Caroline Fardig (Goodreads Author)
Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich and Diane Mott Davidson, Caroline Fardig’s captivating new mystery novel takes readers behind the counter of a seemingly run-of-the-mill coffeehouse . . . where murder is brewing.
After her music career crashes and burns spectacularly, Juliet Langley is forced to turn to the only other business she knows: food service. Unfortunately, bad ...more
After her music career crashes and burns spectacularly, Juliet Langley is forced to turn to the only other business she knows: food service. Unfortunately, bad ...more
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(showing 1-30 of 1,045)
Dnf at 25%
I didn't like the heroine she was dumb and whiny and the book was first POV(hers) ! The other characters weren't that interesting either!
I didn't like the heroine she was dumb and whiny and the book was first POV(hers) ! The other characters weren't that interesting either!
Dec 26, 2015
Elaine
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
authors-to-look-out-for,
mystery,
contemporary-romance,
contemporary,
thriller,
adventure,
romance,
cooking,
chicklit,
adult,
favorites,
detective,
suspense,
murder
What a brilliant, light hearted read this is, despite being a murder mystery! Just great for when you’ve had enough of darker reads but still want something with a great plot, humour and plenty of intrigue in a well written, page-turner story.
I was impressed by how the author used flashbacks to fill in the history of the main characters, Juliet and Peter, explaining their re-connection and Juliet’s return to Nashville and his business. Gertie is another brilliantly portrayed stalwart character i ...more
I was impressed by how the author used flashbacks to fill in the history of the main characters, Juliet and Peter, explaining their re-connection and Juliet’s return to Nashville and his business. Gertie is another brilliantly portrayed stalwart character i ...more
Promising first installment in a new and cute mystery series.
With Death Before Decaf, author Fardig introduces readers to a spunky and quirky heroine, Juliet Langley. After series of devastating misfortunes, Juliet finds herself back in her college town, working at the same coffeehouse she worked at in college. The coffeehouse is now run by her best friend, Pete, and she is back to take over for him so he can focus solely on his music career. Within the first few days on the job, Juliet finds on ...more
With Death Before Decaf, author Fardig introduces readers to a spunky and quirky heroine, Juliet Langley. After series of devastating misfortunes, Juliet finds herself back in her college town, working at the same coffeehouse she worked at in college. The coffeehouse is now run by her best friend, Pete, and she is back to take over for him so he can focus solely on his music career. Within the first few days on the job, Juliet finds on ...more
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Fun, light, cozy mystery of the kind you get from Janet Evanovich. In fact there are a couple of characters that bear a vague resemblance to counterparts in JE books. This book is just what you want to read if you are burnt out on serial killers and mass murderers, like I am right now. Moments of TSTL mar an otherwise great cozy mystery.
Juliet is back in Nashville, TN after her fiancée took off with all her money and ca ...more
Fun, light, cozy mystery of the kind you get from Janet Evanovich. In fact there are a couple of characters that bear a vague resemblance to counterparts in JE books. This book is just what you want to read if you are burnt out on serial killers and mass murderers, like I am right now. Moments of TSTL mar an otherwise great cozy mystery.
Juliet is back in Nashville, TN after her fiancée took off with all her money and ca ...more
Death Before Decaf: A Java Jive Mystery by Caroline Fardig
Juliet Langley, recently moves to Nashville after a break up with her fiance to manage an old friend’s coffeehouse, Java Jive. The Cafe is in financial difficulties and on her first day, finds one employee dead in the dumpster.
The dead man is the cook who argued with Juliet over the health code, earlier that day. The other employees are not too happy with her management style, and are eager to tell the detective about her temper. Soon Jul ...more
Juliet Langley, recently moves to Nashville after a break up with her fiance to manage an old friend’s coffeehouse, Java Jive. The Cafe is in financial difficulties and on her first day, finds one employee dead in the dumpster.
The dead man is the cook who argued with Juliet over the health code, earlier that day. The other employees are not too happy with her management style, and are eager to tell the detective about her temper. Soon Jul ...more
I received this book as an ARC from Random House Publishing via NetGalley in return I will give my honest review.
This was a well written, funny, and have you guessing to the end book. I absolutely loved all the characters! Gertie had me laughing my butt off. The love triangle is frustrating and I am sure most people are Team Pete but I am Team Ryder and I sure do hope in the next book there is more of Ryder. I don't want to say too much and ruin the book. The funeral scene was hilarious!!!
My on ...more
This was a well written, funny, and have you guessing to the end book. I absolutely loved all the characters! Gertie had me laughing my butt off. The love triangle is frustrating and I am sure most people are Team Pete but I am Team Ryder and I sure do hope in the next book there is more of Ryder. I don't want to say too much and ruin the book. The funeral scene was hilarious!!!
My on ...more
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This is the first time I have read anything by this author. I found the story very well written and entertaining. The plot was well thought out and everything came full circle at the end.
Juliet Langley is returning to Nashville, back to her college job days and back to her best friend Pete. Juliet is returning to Nashville by choice, her rotten ex-fiance stole her money and her life. Now she has t ...more
This is the first time I have read anything by this author. I found the story very well written and entertaining. The plot was well thought out and everything came full circle at the end.
Juliet Langley is returning to Nashville, back to her college job days and back to her best friend Pete. Juliet is returning to Nashville by choice, her rotten ex-fiance stole her money and her life. Now she has t ...more
After her fiancé cheats and steals from her, Juliet Langley pulls herself up out of despair and begins to repair her life. You have to love a heroine that doesn’t let herself stay down for long. She heads back to her hometown of Nashville and agrees to manage her old friend Pete’s coffee house, Java Jive. Pete recently lost his father and is more than happy to let Juliet take over the reins of the coffeehouse.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy for Juliet as the entire staff of Java Jive seems to hate ...more
Unfortunately, it’s not easy for Juliet as the entire staff of Java Jive seems to hate ...more
So I started off reading this book being totally unfamiliar with the author. I received an advertisement saying it was perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, which I am. I can say I don't find it similar to the Stephanie Plum series with the exception of the two different semi love interests. Honestly, it started off a bit slow for me, and I wasn't sure I was going to like Juliet. She grew on me quickly though, and I was soon sucked into the story and the characters. Juliet is a bit off a loose ca
...more
As the first book in a new series (fingers crossed) "Death Before Decaf" is a great start.
The story zips along with the occasional flashback to fill in the back story of the heroine, Juliet, and her best friend Peter.
Both these characters and "Seth",the other main protagonist, are well rounded, personable and totally believable.
What makes this book stand out from what is a crowded genre, "cozy", is the humour, not only the occasional wry smile but true laugh out loud moments. I can easily imagin ...more
The story zips along with the occasional flashback to fill in the back story of the heroine, Juliet, and her best friend Peter.
Both these characters and "Seth",the other main protagonist, are well rounded, personable and totally believable.
What makes this book stand out from what is a crowded genre, "cozy", is the humour, not only the occasional wry smile but true laugh out loud moments. I can easily imagin ...more
Juliet comes back to Nashville to manage a cafe for her friend Pete after his father dies and her fiancee steals all of her property and money so she had to close her own cafe. In just her first week on the job an employee turns up dead and Juliet is suspected because she had a few arguments with him. To save herself from jail she decides to investigate and see who else could have had it out for him. But she gets herself involved with some shady characters and winds up in more trouble than she k
...more
I really enjoyed this. It's a good mystery. I did not have it figured out before the reveal, which in my opinion gives it extra brownie points. I thought the characters were great and amusing and well written. I would put this on the same general plane as the Stephanie Plum books, even though they are not quite on the same level of funny. I listened to this on the text to speech option on a fairly long road trip. It certainly kept me entertained. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a ligh
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I was sent a copy of the book for review through NetGalley, as always, all opinions are my own.
Now this is was a fun read, I can’t wait to see where this series goes. There is a great cast of characters, from Juliet with her red-headed devil side that tends to pop out frequently, to the unfiltered Gertie, whom I absolutely love. I was absolutely captivated by the cringe worthy—you know this is going to be a bad idea—antics of Pete and Juliet as they try to discover the murderer.
Now this is was a fun read, I can’t wait to see where this series goes. There is a great cast of characters, from Juliet with her red-headed devil side that tends to pop out frequently, to the unfiltered Gertie, whom I absolutely love. I was absolutely captivated by the cringe worthy—you know this is going to be a bad idea—antics of Pete and Juliet as they try to discover the murderer.
Death Before Decaf by Caroline Fardig is the first in a new series by this author and a very enjoyable read.
Juliet Langley has moved back to Nashville after being cheated on by her fiance'as well as completely ripped off by him. I liked Juliet because she is filled with attitude, strong, smart, totally upfront with most people and independent.
The secondary characters totally make this book work as we get to see some of Juliet's history via stories that her best friend, Pete, brings up during th ...more
Juliet Langley has moved back to Nashville after being cheated on by her fiance'as well as completely ripped off by him. I liked Juliet because she is filled with attitude, strong, smart, totally upfront with most people and independent.
The secondary characters totally make this book work as we get to see some of Juliet's history via stories that her best friend, Pete, brings up during th ...more
[I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank them for their generousity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising]
"I could almost hear George saying his famous catchphrase, “that coffee isn’t going to pour itself.” I hadn’t expected how ...more
"I could almost hear George saying his famous catchphrase, “that coffee isn’t going to pour itself.” I hadn’t expected how ...more
Juliet Langley has come back to Nashville after losing her fiancé and business partner, her best waitress, and ultimately her café when the fiancé skips town with the waitress and every penny in the company's accounts. Now, days short of her thirtieth birthday, she's starting over, taking over as the manager of Java Jive, a café owned by old friend Pete Bennett.
The existing staff isn't thrilled to meet her, especially Dave Hill, the head cook. Dave's been acting manager in the café Pete inherite ...more
The existing staff isn't thrilled to meet her, especially Dave Hill, the head cook. Dave's been acting manager in the café Pete inherite ...more
This book is a first in a new series by Caroline Fardig. If you love coffee with a great murder mystery stirred in, this is your book. I must say it wasn't my typical mystery read but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a sassy rea. I will warn you there is some language and suggestive scenes but it definitely doesn't deter from the great storyline. You actually need some of it to get across some of the main characters personality. For example, Gertie is a hoot! I loved her from the start. She is
...more
Death before Decaf by Caroline Fardig tells the story of murder at a local college coffee shop and the antics that follow. When Juliet’s life falls apart, her best friend Pete, owner of Java Jive, offers her the manager position at his family owned café. Her first day on the job proves ominous when she discovers the body of one of her employees in the dumpster.
Juliet is led to believe that she is the prime suspect in the murder. To clear her name, she elicits her friends’ help in tracking down c ...more
Juliet is led to believe that she is the prime suspect in the murder. To clear her name, she elicits her friends’ help in tracking down c ...more
First things first, I received this in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
I really wanted to give this book a 4.5! In good "snobby reader" conscious I can't give a cozy mystery 5 stars. But it probably is one of the best modern mystery novels I have read. I could guess part of the solution, but I certainly did not have it all together. So I loved the surprise at the end. I loved the characters and that surprises me. I'm not one that normally falls in love with mystery novel characters. ...more
I really wanted to give this book a 4.5! In good "snobby reader" conscious I can't give a cozy mystery 5 stars. But it probably is one of the best modern mystery novels I have read. I could guess part of the solution, but I certainly did not have it all together. So I loved the surprise at the end. I loved the characters and that surprises me. I'm not one that normally falls in love with mystery novel characters. ...more
Juliet had worked her way through college at the Java Jive, along with the owner’s son, her best friend, Pete. Now, at the age of thirty she’s accepted the position of manager at the coffee shop that Pete now owns after having to close her own in another town when her fiancé, a co-owner of her shop, wiped out the accounts and stole everything from their apartment. The staff doesn’t like the idea of someone new taking over and that night, after find a body in a dumpster after hours, she’s the lea
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Kindle Copy for Review
We meet Juliet Langley who music career crashes as she then opened a café. But that also failed when her fiancé emptied her bank account and run off with one of her waitress. She finds herself back in her old college area working for her an old friend coffee shop that she used to work for.
Her first day at work does not go well as the staff is not too friendly. To make her day even better, she finds one of the cooks dead in the dumpster after closing. She becomes the number ...more
We meet Juliet Langley who music career crashes as she then opened a café. But that also failed when her fiancé emptied her bank account and run off with one of her waitress. She finds herself back in her old college area working for her an old friend coffee shop that she used to work for.
Her first day at work does not go well as the staff is not too friendly. To make her day even better, she finds one of the cooks dead in the dumpster after closing. She becomes the number ...more
I just finished reading this amazing book. I received a digital edition from Net Galley in exchange for a review. I sincerely believe that this series is going to go all the way to the top of the cozy genre! The protagonist, Juliet, is managing a coffeehouse owned by her best friend Pete. On her first day (which also happens to be her 30th birthday) she finds the head cook dead in the dumpster. Since she has a couple of very public arguments with the chef, she becomes the prime suspect. Caroline
...more
This is the first book in Caroline Fardig's Java Jive Mysteries Series. It's off to a great start too. I found this one hard to put down.
Juliet comes back to Nashville after she gets totally trashed by her double-crossing, two-timing fiance. She's lost her true love and the love of her life, her cafe that they started together. She's looking for a new start and her old friend Pete gives her the chance to come back to work at the Java Jive where she got her first job working while she was going ...more
Juliet comes back to Nashville after she gets totally trashed by her double-crossing, two-timing fiance. She's lost her true love and the love of her life, her cafe that they started together. She's looking for a new start and her old friend Pete gives her the chance to come back to work at the Java Jive where she got her first job working while she was going ...more
After falling in love with Lizzie Hart, I was unsure how I’d react to a new character and a new setting, but Caroline Fardig has a way of capturing your attention at the very first page and holds you all the way to the last. Death Before Decaf is a quick and easy read about complex characters embroiled in a whodunit of drugs, deceit and death. I enjoyed the bantering relationship between Juliet and Pete, but throw in Ryder aka Seth, and the sparks begin to fly. It’s not often I get caught up in
...more
Great mystery blended with suspense, intrigue,
adventure, danger, many twists and turns plus
humorous shenanigans and romance.
Juliet Langley is back in her college town of Nashville.
She returned here after her fiancé fleeced her out of
all her money and personal belongings then ran off
with the head waitress.
Juliet has nothing.
Juliet is returning to the job she had during college.
Juliet is working for Peter, the son of the deceased
owner for whom she had work. She will be Manager
of the Java J ...more
adventure, danger, many twists and turns plus
humorous shenanigans and romance.
Juliet Langley is back in her college town of Nashville.
She returned here after her fiancé fleeced her out of
all her money and personal belongings then ran off
with the head waitress.
Juliet has nothing.
Juliet is returning to the job she had during college.
Juliet is working for Peter, the son of the deceased
owner for whom she had work. She will be Manager
of the Java J ...more
great new cozy series (at least I hope it will be a series!) set in a coffeehouse and reminds a little bit of Cleo Coyle's coffeehouse series.
This book had me hopping from murder to love interest and back to criminal activities. Juliet is spunky (could be the red hair) and does not let a little danger get in her way, although maybe she should be a bit more cautious! Then there is Pete, long time best friend and now owns the coffeehouse where Juliet is now managing. I think there are unresolved ...more
This book had me hopping from murder to love interest and back to criminal activities. Juliet is spunky (could be the red hair) and does not let a little danger get in her way, although maybe she should be a bit more cautious! Then there is Pete, long time best friend and now owns the coffeehouse where Juliet is now managing. I think there are unresolved ...more
When I first heard about this book the promo suggested it was a good fit for fans of Janet Evanovich. That coupled with the story blurb and funky, fresh cover told me I had to read it. And I'm happy to say my instincts were right on this one!
When Juliet returns to manage the Java Jive, a cozy college town coffee shop, after having been away for 10 years she is a little nervous, but it's nothing she can't handle. Having owned her own cafe she's well prepared for running someone else's established ...more
When Juliet returns to manage the Java Jive, a cozy college town coffee shop, after having been away for 10 years she is a little nervous, but it's nothing she can't handle. Having owned her own cafe she's well prepared for running someone else's established ...more
I received an ARC of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first introduction to the author Caroline Fardig but I will be on the look-out for more books written by her. Death Before Decaf is the first in a new series and offers a promising start. I found the book to be well written, with an engaging story line and a lot of fun and interesting characters. The story does begin slowly but builds as the book progresses. I love all of the characters and the author d ...more
This is my first introduction to the author Caroline Fardig but I will be on the look-out for more books written by her. Death Before Decaf is the first in a new series and offers a promising start. I found the book to be well written, with an engaging story line and a lot of fun and interesting characters. The story does begin slowly but builds as the book progresses. I love all of the characters and the author d ...more
This was my first introduction to Caroline Fardig, and I was really interested because the book was was deemed "perfect for Janet Evanovich fans", which I am, immensely. I started this book and it took me about 1/3 of the way in the book to really get sucked in. The story started out slow and worked it's way to the great characters. However, once I hit about 1/3 of the way in I became sucked in to the story, but mostly the characters and by the last few chapters of the book I couldn't put it dow
...more
This is the first book in a new series and is an exciting and hilarious mystery. Although it begins slowly, this book held my attention until the reveal. Ms. Fardig has written a hilarious and well-plotted story, with well-developed characters. This is a fun read that is full of interesting characters and crazy situations. Ms. Fardig has a unique knack for witty dialog and a sense of humor that comes alive in her written words. There is adult language in this book, but no graphic violence or exp
...more
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CAROLINE FARDIG is the USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the Java Jive Mysteries series and the Lizzie Hart Mysteries series. Fardig's BAD MEDICINE was named one of the "Best Books of 2015" by Suspense Magazine. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and
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More about Caroline Fardig...
Other Books in the Series
A Java Jive Mystery
(3 books)
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