On What Grounds
About On What Grounds
The first charming mystery in the New York Times bestselling Coffeehouse Mystery series—where caffeine and crime are always brewing... Clare Cosi used to manage New York City’s historic Village Blend coffeehouse, until she opted for quieter pastures and a more suburban life. But after ten years away she’s back in action and back to the grind, serving up steaming hot caffeine one cup at a time. With a sprawling rent-free apartment directly above the coffeehouse, her cat Java by her side, and plenty of redecorating ideas, Clare is thrilled to return to work—until she discovers the assistant manager dead in the back of the store, coffee grounds strewn everywhere. NYPD Detective Mike Quinn finds no sign of forced entry or foul play and deems the whole thing an accident. But despite the attractive investigator’s certainty, Clare isn’t convinced. Now, if she wants to get to the bottom of things she’ll have to do some sleuthing of her own—before anyone else ends up in hot water...
Includes recipes and coffee-making tips!
What readers say
Clare returns to manage a Greenwich Village coffeehouse and finds her assistant at the bottom of the basement stairs. Readers enjoy the coffee knowledge, the cozy historic setting and a twisty mystery. Critics find the opening slow, the coffee explanations frequent, Clare's sleuthing implausible and the ex-husband romance distracting. Many say later books are stronger, while some readers stop here.
Best for: Readers who love coffee culture and want a light urban cozy.
Summary of public reader reviews, updated October 2026.
