Love all the books in the Java Jive Mystery Series and this is not an exception.
Although it could be read as a standalone, the author incorporates new characters in each installment that will make you want to read them all.
The main characters are amazing and fun to get to know all the quirks and flaws.
Since the beginning, Juliet is a magnet for trouble and a sleuth at heart. Now she has her PI licence and is ready put it in practice.
There is a lot of action, funny situations, and unexpected twists.
Cant wait to see where the author takes her next.

A really fun read with the feisty protagonist, Julie. This is a great cozy mystery series where the characters and settings are unique.

Another book in the Java Jive Mystery series, and another entertaining book. To be honest i don't think i enjoyed this one as much as the previous ones, probably due to the fact I enjoyed the coffee shop setting more rather than relationship troubles Juliet has with Ryder. The plot had plenty of twists to keep me guessing and the characters behaved true to form.

Brew or Die: A Java Jive Mystery
By Caroline Fardig
Alibi
April 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Juliet Langley enjoys managing Nashville’s Java Jive coffeehouse, but she loves her challenging new part-time job as a licensed private investigator. Working at her friend Maya Huxley’s agency, Juliet’s newest assignment has her working undercover to discover how and why one of the partners of Wonder-Gen Fabricators is funneling money into the accounts. It’s Juliet’s first case working alone, but scrubbing office toilets while disguised as a nighttime cleaner is not exactly the glamorous job she may have envisioned.

Pete Bennett, Juliet’s best friend and the owner of Java Jive, is usually the first one to voice objections to her detecting adventures; and not just because it could endanger her life. Pete and Juliet have never quite managed to find the perfect time for a relationship, but what he detests more is how often her investigations have placed her in the vicinity of one Detective Ryder Hamilton. That shouldn’t be a problem, considering that after leaving a wounded Juliet to pursue a criminal three months ago, Ryder completely disappeared from her life. Until now. Not only is Ryder warning Juliet away from her first official case, he is also telling her to back away from her perfectly agreeable boyfriend, Detective John Stafford. In a reversal of the usual natural order, it is Pete who is encouraging Juliet to also investigate the overdose death of Josie Prescott, an event planner at Leonidas Luxury Events. Josie’s fiancé swears that she would never have touched a drug and he wants his bosses at Java Jive to prove that she was murdered.

Throughout this series Juliet and Pete have toed the line between being friends and something more, never wanting to risk their friendship for a relationship that wouldn’t last. It’s going to test their resolve when they end up working undercover at a wedding expo as a model bride and groom, but perhaps not as much as seeing the other move on. Their friends all have varying opinions on what they should do, but it remains to be seen as to what the pair will ultimately decide. Juliet’s investigative exploits unravel several surprisingly complicated plots, with a thrilling conclusion that will surprise both her and readers. Juliet may have tamed her impulsive, Redheaded She-Devil, but she that doesn’t mean that she still won’t find herself acting first and thinking about her own safety later. Leading with her heart and never backing away from a fight frustrates her friends, but it also makes her a worthy champion. While Juliet’s stage fright has her shying away from showcasing her singing talents, she never lacks confidence in her intelligence or investigative abilities. Her spunky resilience and snarky sense of humor is continually entertaining, two traits she will need both as she confronts her future and the choices she has made.

This was a GREAT book. Fast reading and kept my interest. What i liked best about it was that it kept you guessing. Every time I thought the book had come to an end and you thought you knew the outcome it took a different twist. It definitely kept you guessing.

I have been debating with myself for a few days as to what to say about this latest addition of The Java Jive Mysteries. I absolutely loved it, didn't want it to end and when it did I couldn't get it out of my mind. The ending haunts me. One bit of hope was ripped away and another bit with Juliet's singing was established. There was so much going on in 'Brew or Die' and it built layer upon layer from the previous books. Juliet is complex and engaging, with a wonderful surrounding cast of characters. I am going to feel slightly anxious until the next book in the series is released. It can't be too soon for me!

I have to admit, at first I was thinking this series was just ok but every time I see a new one on the shelf I pick it up! There is just something about the books that draws you in. This one gives the main character Juliet Langley a reason to be involved with all these deaths. A plausible reason. I am so happy with this direction that they're taking Juliet!! I must say although I'm not a red head I love that Juliet is so fiery! I get bored reading the damsel in distress books all the time. She's tough yet not so tough that you don't like her. I finished reading the book in less than a week which with a 2 year old who wants to "see" what I'm doing on my iphone is a major accomplishment. After I finished though I was left feeling sad and a bit empty. It's over already?? hahaha. I have been determined to find the first book of the series though and now after this one I am even more determined. I can't find it in my library or the store I looked. Hopefully I can find it on Amazon!!

I received this is a first read and was not disappointed until the very end. The last of its series met with Juliet officially a PI. She has been place on surveillance to find out why a business have all this extra money that cannot be accounted for. Then her worker at Java coffee house fiancée was found dead. Juliet and Pete found themselves in a heap of trouble in another town unsure how they got there.
This novel like the others had so many twice and turns it left you unable to put the book down. I was disappointed to find out this was the end of the series because it left so many unanswered questions.

Fun mystery with plenty to keep the reader going. Julie has a great sense of humor., which she needs as her personal life is such a mess. In this book, she finally finishes her classes and becomes a PI. While still working at the cafe, she ends up dealing with two separate cases - or are they?

i liked but did not love this book. It felt complicated, cumbersome. Depressing. But still worth the read.

This is the first book I have read by this author and found the mystery part to be quite good but got bogged down with the main character and the men in her life. Not one or two but three. It just didn't click for me. I might try another book by the author to see if there is a more cohesive relationship between Juliet and the men in her life. I received this book in return for an unbiased review.

I love the Java Jive mystery series! Book 4 does not disappoint. I was curious how Juliet would continue her sleuthing. Becoming a private investigator (along with being the manager of a coffee house) opens up even more possibilities! Another enjoyable read!!

Another light-hearted romp with Juiliet; work, love-life, murder! An easy reading, face paced escape

The 4th book in the Java Jive cozy mystery series finds Juliet Langley is now a certified PI. Watch out Nashville! But is she taking too much on her shoulders? Between managing the coffee house, working undercover to investigate a case of possible corporate espionage, and trying to solve a possible murder of a coworker's fiancee, how will she find time to do it all? No worries with best-friend Pete to have her back, Red-headed She-Devil is on the case! All the same lovable characters are back and the reader is in for another mad-cap adventure with the occasional boyfriend/girlfriend drama thrown in to keep things hilariously interesting. This book is worth the read.

Another good episode in this storyline.
An engaging mystery with good characters.
I just have to mention, though, that there were two times when she went into the horror movie like situation of: "Don't go in there!" But she did. I found it rather irritating that she was portrayed as that foolish.
Even so, a good read.

The weakest novel in the Java Jive series. Didn't like the mysteries at all and I'm getting tired of the romance/non-romance aspect.

Juliet has actually done something that I have never seen in a cozy mystery series, she got her PI license. Now she has a bit more authorization when she is investigating murders. Juliet has 2 crimes that she is working on. One is an undercover investigation in a factory and the other is one of Juliet's employees wants her to solve the death of his fiancee. The fiancee looks like she died of a overdose, but anyone who knows her knows that she would never do drugs, so it must be murder.

The 2 mysteries weren't at all intriguing, by the end of the novel I didn't care who had done it in either case. The best part of this novel (and the series) is the relationship between Juliet and her boss/best friend Pete. They have such a fun friendship and I'm rooting for them to get together. Unfortunately we are no where closer then at the start of the novel.

Sadly this novel just wasn't for me, which is too bad since I really enjoy the series.

Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me: liked, didn't love.

This is the 4th book in the Java Jive cozy mystery series, semi-set in a coffee house. I say semi-set because most of the action is set outside Java Jive especially since Juliet has just gotten her P.I. license.
In addition to running Java Jive, Jules is working with her friend Maya on a couple of cases, one at a warehouse that has them undercover as the cleaning crew. Meanwhile, a Java Jive employee's fiancee has died of an overdose and the employee (Shane) is convinced it was murder so Jules and Pete, her boss, best friend and potentially unrequited love wants to work with her to solve the case--as much as he is unhappy about her PI work and the potential danger it puts her in. Not only does Jules have a crazy work schedule with everything going on, she seems to be getting more serious with current boyfriend, police cold case investigator John Stafford and old boyfriend and fellow detective Ryder Hamilton is back, lurking about and warning her about John.

Overall this is a fun and good series but this was not my favorite book. The mysteries were fine for a cozy and I like that Jules got her license and is more official in her PI work but I felt like the book and Jules needed a bit more focus. As much as I like her as a character, in this book especially, Jules is scattered between her feeling for three men: Pete, John & Ryder and three career focuses: the coffee house, PI work, and her music. In both areas--romance and career she jumps around more than I'd like to see. Although cozies in general are about more than the mysteries, I'd like to see more focus there and less on Jules's romantic life--which is just one case of bad choices and/or bad timing after another. Still, Jules is likable and I will definitely read the next book to see the direction it takes.

As I recommend in most/all series--start with the first book: "Death Before Decaf" and read them in order.

Love this series. Great characters! Hard to put down.

A solid mystery with interesting characters. This was the first in the series that I have read, I will definitely read the previous ones.

A delightful diversion. Juliet has just received her investigators license and finds herself involved in two cases that get her further involved with the local police department as well as some truly unsavory characters.