The Village Blend is the central location for a comedy tv show staring a comedian from Madam’s days at the coffee shop. Strange and dangerous events occur during shooting and Claire wants to get to the bottom of the mysteries. Tuck is shot with a real bullet and is so fortunate to think of wearing armor! Who is behind the sinister plot and why?

Cleo Coyle continues her coffeehouse series with Bulletproof Barista Clare Cosi caters her Village New York coffee to a movie company filming in her coffeehouse and New York city as background. Accidents multiply to murder. Drugs are present which brings in Clare's fiance the New York cop.

I absolutely love the Coffeehouse Mystery series and this newest installment was so good! I adore Clare and all the cast of characters surrounding her. This book felt darker than the others in the series, but in a good way. Clare has opened of the Village Blend to allow a filming crew and her favorite comedian to shoot episodes of their streaming show. But then Clare's assistant manager is shot with a gun that was supposed to have a blank in it and it almost killed. So Clare and the gang jump in to figure out what is going on. There are lots of secrets and a new drug on the scene that her fiancé, Mike, jumps in to help. I cannot wait for the next installment of the series!

a delightful mix of intrigue, humor, and culinary delights. Cleo Coyle's masterful storytelling will leave readers eager for another cup of coffee and another thrilling adventure with Clare Cosi

Whenever I pick up one of Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mysteries, I feel like I’m hanging out in my favorite coffee shop with old friends! I can practically smell the coffee brewing, and my mouth waters thinking about their delicious goodies. I love hanging out with manager Clare Cosi and the Village Blend staff. I can’t believe Bulletproof Barista is the 20th book in this wonderful series that shows no signs of slowing down. Some series start feeling stale by this point, but not this one! It is just as fun and well done as the 19 books before it.

In Bulletproof Barista, a popular streaming show called Only Murders in Gotham is filming at the Village Blend. This show is famous for filming in real New York locations and using real New Yorkers as extras. Clare is thrilled that Village Blend was chosen, not only for the publicity but also because she is a huge fan of the lead actor, Hollywood legend Jerry Sulivan. When an unfortunate incident involving the show’s craft services puts one of the film’s crew in the hospital, Clare and her crew are called upon to take on that role. When a real bullet is fired from a prop gun that could have killed one of Clare’s baristas working as an extra, she knows she has to get to the bottom of what is really going on before someone dies. As she investigates, she learns that the cast and crew are full of secrets, and that Madame, the owner of the shop, has her own secrets and a connection to Jerry from the past.

Even though Jerry swears her to secrecy for the sake of the show while she investigates, Clare finds a way to carefully share her situation with her fiancé Detective Mike Quinn and he helps her out with information where he can. Could Mike’s current drug investigation tie into what’s happening on set? Could a crazy fan of Jerry’s be behind all of this?

This mystery is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing and turning the pages to find out what happens next. I loved the obvious homage of Only Murders in Gotham to the wonderful streaming show on Hulu, Only Murders in the Building. It made a great book even more fun, and I totally pictured Steve Martin in my head as Jerry. But the best part of this series is the eccentric and delightful characters, the setting, and the coffee! Clare is tough, smart, witty, and never gives up. Her baristas are interesting and fun. Her ex-husband Matt is always ready to help and come to the rescue when needed. Madame (who is also Matt’s mother) is delightful. And Clare’s romance with Mike is both spicy and sweet. The Village Blend is the kind of coffee shop you wish you could hang out at in real life, and I can’t wait to try out the delicious recipes in the back of the book.

While this book can easily stand on its own, I highly recommend reading the entire series—you won’t regret it. If you love coffee, great characters, a wonderful setting, and a well-written mystery, be sure to check out Bulletproof Barista, as well as the rest of the Coffeehouse Mysteries.

One Sentence Summary: When the Village Blend is used as a filming location for a popular TV series, an actual shooting on set puts Clare in the middle of another mystery while tangling her in what goes on behind the scenes.

In Brief
The 20th in the Coffeehouse Mystery series, Bulletproof Barista offers a bulletproof plot with starring characters and a filming crew full of secrets. Despite only being tapped as a filming location for a popular TV series featuring an older man and a young woman who solve crimes that happen in their apartment building, Clare’s Village Blend gains a much more substantial role when an unfortunate accident involving the crew’s craft services provider suddenly leaves them without craft services. Clare is happy to step up, but also determined to find out what happened, especially when it’s one of her baristas on the other end of an actual on set shooting. Even if her idol, and the lead actor, Jerry Sullivan, would rather find reasonable explanations for all the accidents that have marred filming, Clare isn’t so sure and, when they keep happening, she’s determined to get to the bottom of things before anyone else gets hurt or dies. This is a fun, engaging story that gives the reader a look into filming in NYC. There are twists and turns as Clare’s suspect list grows and twists, keeping the story moving at a fast pace, but also providing quieter moments for Clare, and the reader, to process what’s happened and where to go next. Bulletproof Barista delivers a smart, delightful story full of charm, wit, and eccentricities that bring both fictional show and murder mystery to life in an engaged, fast-paced way.

Extended Thoughts
Bulletproof Barista is the 20th in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. As a cozy mystery series, it can be read on its own, but the characters and their relationships grow from book to book and the regular secondary characters really shine in this one. As the 20th book in a series that’s been in print for 20 years, it’s a ton of fun and I loved how all the characters shone. I also loved how it drew inspiration from all the filming that happens around NYC to give readers it’s own Only Murders in Gotham and giving the characters not just small roles but also a front row seat to the drama that unfolds behind the scenes. This feels light a delightful way to really put the spotlight on characters who have played integral roles off and on for 20 years and, now, 20 books.

I’ve loved this series for almost 20 years. It’s been my one constant for all of my adult years and, over time, Madame has come to feel less like the kind of grandmother I’d love and more like a mentor who reminds me of all the charms of life while offering some very important advice. Clare, too, has felt less like a mother figure and more like someone I’d like to be friends with. She’s sharp and fun and so protective of her baristas, but, mostly, I love how courageous and dogged she is, doing everything in her power to solve the murder mysteries that fall in her lap because, usually, it protects her, her people, and her beloved Village Blend, which has become a sort of virtual home in my head, a lovely place to retreat to and quietly follow Clare on her cases from relative safety. All that to say I may be a little more biased than I like to be in this review, but this one was certainly a lot of fun and very clever with some interesting twists and turns and incredible characters who really shone.

It’s a quiet, normal day in NYC when Clare’s idol, Jerry Sullivan, arrives at the Village Blend ahead of filming. He’s not quite what Clare expected, but he has a way of getting her to agree to what he wants. When filming does start, things immediately go awry as, to her horror, Clare discovers her professional rival is providing craft services, right outside of her Village Blend. But things take a turn for the worst when the armorer is poisoned after drinking from a cup from the craft services provider, resulting in them being fired and Clare being hired. But that’s just the start of problems, which actually began some months before when an on set accident injured Jerry Sullivan’s assistant. Now, during filming involving Clare’s assistant manager Tucker, a live gun is accidentally used, bringing out the amateur sleuth in Clare. From there, secrets, scares, deaths, and an obsessed fan are found at every turn, all of which are brushed under the rug by Jerry, but Clare is determined to get to the bottom of it.

I’m so used to reading about actors and Hollywood in books set in LA, so this was a welcome breath of fresh air. I loved that so much of this book has to do with show biz and all the drama that can happen behind the scenes. While I missed the Village Blend being open and having Clare be based there, it was really fun to go along to all the filming locations and really get to know a particular set of characters. I didn’t really get the sense that NYC opened up in the same way it has in previous books, but, after reading so many books set in the same location, I really enjoyed getting to know about the filming that takes place in this city. It was fun, and even taught me a little about how filming works. While the mention of recent actual on set shootings might touch a nerve, I thought it was handled well and the story didn’t linger beyond what it needed.

But what really shone in Bulletproof Barista were the characters. I loved that Clare’s team was front and center, not just providing drinks and food, but also serving as extras. I loved how they were all involved and really got their moments to shine. They took their own personalities into it and breathed life into the story. Tucker, in particular, had a big role to play in this book, not just as Clare’s assistant manager, but also as an off-off Broadway actor who knows the ins and outs of show biz. I loved learning from him and loved getting a peek at his acting skills. He was fantastic and just so smart. I was a little disappointed Matt, Clare’s ex-husband, and Detective Mike Quinn, Clare’s fiancee, didn’t play bigger roles, but I appreciated how level headed Matt was and I always love how Quinn’s cases as the head of NYPD’s OD (over dose) Squad intersect with Clare’s. Their romance was just as lovely as it usual is, and I like that they’ve clearly grown thanks to some misunderstandings in a previous book almost tore them apart.

While I absolutely adored this book and thought the characters were as strong as they’ve ever been, I was thrown a little when the time line was longer than I expected. I’ve grown so accustomed to Clare solving a case within a few days that having to wait weeks and months was a little discombobulating. There were frequent time jumps, especially in the second half, that took me a little bit to adjust to, but it helped me understand why Jerry would want to explain things away since they weren’t happening all the time. The secrets, though, carried over day to day, and I found myself thoroughly intrigued by them all. There’s a director who seemingly vanishes from time to time and gives the appearance of possibly being on drugs, an overprotective production manager, and a costar who’s so unsure of her acting that she relies on her married director, not to mention an obsessed fan who follows filming from place to place just to get close to Jerry. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns these characters added, contrasting all the fun of the TV show with all the serious of the behind the scenes.

Bulletproof Barista is an excellent installment in this series, offering plenty of food and coffee trivia while delivering up a twisty mystery with characters who carry around secrets. I loved that the baristas got to step into the spotlight. While I would have loved to see more of Quinn’s cases woven into Clare’s, I really liked his supporting role in this book,and really appreciated how calm and cool Matt always seemed. Every bit was played to perfection, and the ending really was a fun, stand out moment I absolutely loved. This book took the idea of filming and ran away with it in the best possible way. It was fun and engaging, and I didn’t want it to end even if I did manage to figure out who probably did it and wanted to see how Clare caught the culprit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle are a cozy mystery series that I dip in and out of as new books come out. Its not a series I find necessary to read in order. The characters are so lovely and warm that picking up a book from this series is like visiting good friends and having a great chat to catch up, cozy indoors with a mug of incredible coffee. I plan to eventually read all of them, but this isn’t a series that I feel needs to be read in order to enjoy.

The latest Coffeehouse Mystery is book number 20, and the author’s note at the beginning mentioned that they wanted to build a mystery around what New Yorkers experience all the time—the challenge of “making art in a city that often doubles as an elaborate movie set” and around their love for comedy. In Bulletproof Barista, the Village Blend is chosen as a filming location for a hit television series, but a series of unfortunate events suggest that someone is out to sabotage the show, or maybe Village Blend!

The format of Bulletproof Barista was a lot of fun. While Clare’s is the main POV as usual in cozy mysteries, there is also another narrator who refers to themselves as The Player who is set on sabotaging the show filming at Village Blend, Only Murders in Gotham.

Adding in the short monologues from the Player enhanced the on-set vibe of the book. I thought setting the mystery around a film set and the complicated relationships of show-biz was both fun and fresh. This was a really way to set up a mystery—it felt sort of old school like the Nancy Drew books I read as a child. There was definitely a few plus a computer game set at a movie or theater production.

As the story opens, Clare is nervous and excited to meet one of her favorite comedians, Jerry Sullivan. For season 2 of his television series, Only Murders in Gotham, they’re filming an episode at the iconic Village Blend coffeehouse, which also happens to be an old haunt of Jerry’s from early in his career. If only their own baristas and their well-crafted blends could be the chosen refreshments for the cast and crew, but they soon learn that rival coffeehouse Driftwood Coffee landed that gig, and they’ve set up their truck right in front of Village Blend.

They may not have to worry about Driftwood Coffee for long, though, when one of the crew members drops to the ground after drinking a cup of coffee from their truck. It wasn’t just the burnt beans that had him in distress, someone has poisoned the coffee. When filming resumes the next day, a prop gun goes off with a blank bullet in it though it was supposed to be empty, and one of the Village Blend baristas is injured.

As more things go wrong, it becomes clear that someone is sabotaging the television show. Now that they’ve moved to Village Blend as their homebase and official caterer, Clare is in a prime position to do some investigating and find out who is behind the sabotage, before things escalate to murder.

This is an easy and fun mystery to jump into, whether you’re already a fan of the Coffeehouse Mysteries or this is your first introduction to the series. The cast of characters at Village Blend are always a delight, but this book brings in a whole new cast of characters working as the crew and actors on set, many of whom have stakes in the show being successful. Which makes it all the more puzzling that one of them must be sabotaging it. As security tightens up, it becomes clear that one of the main players is behind the sabotage, and Clare is looking to find out which one.

Plenty of suspects with varying motives, a few red herrings, and some good old-fashioned sleuthing make this a breezy and entertaining mystery. While some cozy mystery series run out of steam after several books, the Coffeehouse Mysteries are going strong at book twenty with no signs of stopping. The whodunnit got me, and I loved the way the mystery pieced together. A fun and fresh cozy mystery that gives us a peek behind the curtain on a tv show set and plenty of recipes to round out the book. So fun!

Clare Cosi manages the Village Blend coffee shop in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City, along with her ex-husband Matt Allegro. She is excited that a local television series will be filming in the coffee shop. She’s excited to meet the star of the show who she has admired for a long time and also for the publicity it could bring to Village Blend. However, Clare soon learns that the set has been plagued with difficulties which may or may not have been accidents. However, when one of her employees has a near miss when the latest “accident” almost turns deadly, Clare is determined to get to the truth of these incidents before anyone else gets hurt.

Bulletproof Barista is the twentieth book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series but is accessible to readers who are new to the series. Because of the emphasis on the television shoot, this book stands on its own more than others in the series that I’ve read. The TV show being filmed is called Only Murders in Gotham and the two stars resemble those from the real show Only Murders in the Building, but their personalities are different from the real-life actors, and the show they’re filming is different as well.

Clare is smart and is good at knowing what questions to ask to get the information needed to help solve the case. However, at one point, her sleuthing crosses a line and it’s her sometimes impulsive ex-husband who has to be the voice of reason and pull her back. In spite of this Clare is a good amateur detective and a caring employer, which makes her likable. I really like it when she teams up with Matt. I like their friendship, the way they work together, their banter, and the chemistry that is still there when they’re together. Matt made a lot of mistakes in the past, but he seems to have changed and I really like him. I wish I felt the same about Clare’s fiance, Mike Quinn. As an NYPD detective, Mike is busy a lot so doesn’t play much of a role in the investigation. There is a spark between Mike and Clare, but I’m not seeing much more than their physical relationship. I hope Mike either does something to show he’s there for Clare in all areas of her life, then I wish she would consider reconciling with Matt! Leaving Clare’s personal life aside, the investigation comes to a dramatic conclusion. I was completely wrong about who I had pegged as the killer. I enjoyed the ending, which was followed by several delicious-sounding recipes.

~ Christine

Claire Cosi is back in the 20th book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series.
There’s a TV show filming at the coffeehouse, and when a man who’s part of the show is found dead Claire and her NYPD boyfriend start investigating. Delicious recipes at the end!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Centered around the filming of a hit TV show in Clare’s coffee shop in New York, this was an enjoyable read. Soon after the director shoots “action,” the troubles begin, starting with the shooting of one of Clare’s employees – just the first of many suspicious accidents surrounding the production. Naturally, Clare is determined to find out who is behind the sabotage, and does just that with the help of her friends. The diverse cast of well-developed characters include a barista/would-be actor, Clare’s ex-husband/business partner, and the eccentric Madame. I found it to be a nicely paced and entertaining cozy mystery.

Village Blend is about to make its streaming debut when the coffee shop will be featured in the poplar series Only Murders in Gotham. The brainchild of former comedian Jerry Sullivan, the first season of the series helped revive the career of pop star Kylee Ferris, and the filming of the second season is going strong, using locations in New York City as the backdrop.

Shop manager Clare Cosi is excited to see Village Blend as one of the locations, as it’s been an icon in the New York art world for decades. But she’s dismayed to see that they handed the job of catering over to Driftwood Coffee, a national chain that buys inferior beans and roasts them at too high a temperature. A master roaster, Clare is professionally offended by this and is happy to offer their coffees to any one of the cast and crew who wants one. And when Driftwood Coffee sets up their food truck right outside of their shop, Clare is even more annoyed.

But then one of their customers takes an espresso from them and keeps over on the sidewalk. She and a couple of her baristas jump into action, trying to help the man. An ambulance arrives to take the man away, and because of the viral footage of what had happened, Driftwood got fired and Clare was asked if they could take over craft services for the shoot. As a big fan of Sullivan’s comedy through the years, she agrees. Plus, supplying the coffee for the series shoot would be a lot of good publicity for them.

But it turns out that the man collapsing was not the first issue on the set. Sullivan’s assistant and been injured by falling lights, a live snake suddenly appeared, and a prop gun had been loaded with a live bullet, which could have proven deadly under different circumstances. While Jerry insists that they’re typical issues that can be found on television sets, Clare isn’t convinced and decides to nose around on her own. But when it seems like there is more than coffee that is keeping the cast and crew going. Clare’s boyfriend, a detective in the New York Police Department, is working on chasing down a new designer drug, and Clare is starting to wonder if the cases overlap.

But when Clare gets a little too close to the person sabotaging the shoot, will she be able to figure out the answer and find a killer? Or will she be the one to get roasted?

Bulletproof Barista is book 20 in Cleo Coyle’s popular Coffeehouse Mystery series, and this one is a lot of fun. The shoot for Only Murders in Gotham (clearly a play on Only Murders in the Building) adds lots of interest, and the mystery of how Jerry knows the coffeehouse owner, Clare’s former mother-in-law and mentor, adds a lovely sense of legacy to Village Blend. And there are even recipes at the end, so you can create your own tasty treats like the ones they made for the cast and crew, including cookies, some savory dishes, and festive holiday lattes.

I am enjoying this series a lot. These characters are interesting and smart, and the mysteries just get more and more fascinating. I loved the storyline about the coffee shop being a location for the television shoot, and the history of Village Blend. Like a really good coffee, these books are layered with nuance and deep flavor, and topped with a little froth and foam, perfectly blended and delicious.

Egalleys for Bulletproof Barista were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

BULLETPROOF BARISTA by Cleo Coyle
The Twentieth Coffeehouse Mystery

The Village Blend has seen its share of celebrities, but Clare Cosi is star struck when comedian Jerry Sullivan decides to film at the coffeeshop. The excitement quickly fades, however, when Driftwood Coffee sets up shop right outside their doors. Then Clare becomes aware of "accidents" plaguing the show. While Jerry brushes off the incidents, Clare is ready to believe that someone is sabotaging the production. But who? Clare will have to keep her baristas safe and the cast and crew caffeinated as she tries to uncover the culprit.

I've enjoyed the Coffeehouse mysteries for almost two decades but this, the twentieth novel, knocked it out of the park. Like the Village Blend pastries, nothing is stale. The mystery is fresh with apparent insider knowledge of show business and filming. There are clues mixed in with red herrings, action laced with humor, and character depth and development...along with depravity. The dirty dealings of Driftwood made me grit my teeth and grrrr. That's just one instance indicating how invested I am in these characters.

I loved the storyline with its aging comedian and young pop star odd couple filming a television series that ultimately is a story of redemption...at least for some characters. The plot was reality based, at least the reality that is show business, and kept me intrigued, not only by wondering what the Player would do next, but what the endgame really was.

Smart sleuthing and perfect pacing with scenes that will give you an adrenalin rush BULLETPROOF BARISTA is a stellar mystery full of caffeinated goodness that will keep you quickly turning the pages.

The Village Blend Coffeehouse has become the filming location for a smash hit streaming program. Not only does the historic location get to become a star of the show the Village Blend crew get to spend some time on screen showing off not only their coffee, but personal skills as well. Just as filming begins all kinds of weird accidents and incidents start to begin. The people of show business have their way of keeping things quiet, however are amazing coffee master Claire Cosi uses more than her Java skills to get to the bottom of this caffeinated mystery.

Coffee and I go hand-in-hand. Just like books and I go hand-in-hand. I have been reading the coffeehouse mystery series for well over a decade. I am happy to say that Bulletproof Barista is as exciting as the first book I discovered in this series. Claire Cosi is confident and amazing. She has truly honed in her craft. She cares deeply about the coffee she serves, and the people that work for her. She is such a People person. She can’t help but to be involved with those around her. She also is not gonna let someone dictate how things will go once something happens to those she cares about. ShowBusiness is not gonna keep her quiet, and I loved her unique way of finding a way around to keep being able to nose around to find out what happened. Bulletproof Barista is a fun and thoroughly entertaining read. We get to see all of our favorite characters from Madame, all of the coffeehouse crew, and the men in Claire’s life that keep it interesting. Reading a coffeehouse mystery book is like visiting with old friends. Bullet proof barista is spot on as to what I have come to love of the series.

Clare Cosi is more than thrilled that the Greenwich Village cafe she part owns is about to be a featured location on the hit streaming series Only Murders In Gotham. Aside from the exposure and uptick in business that being on the show will definitely bring to The Village Blend, being featured means she’ll get a chance to meet its star Jerry Sullivan in person. Clare has long been a fan of the veteran comic, and is awed when their first meeting is nearly everything she’d ever dreamed.

Jerry not only loves her cafe but wants to add the staff to his cast too. As if this weren’t amazing enough, Jerry is soon forced to fire Driftwood Coffee, The Village Blend rival who originally snagged the craft services contract for the show. After the show’s prop master is hospitalized in the wake of drinking Driftwood’s (admittedly inferior) coffee, Jerry happily offers the contract to Clare and her cafe instead.

Giddy as she is at how well the experience is going, even Clare has to start to wonder whether something sinister is afoot when further mishaps and accidents, some near-fatal, continue to plague the set. Jerry is convinced it’s all bad luck, but Clare soon has good reason to believe that someone is deliberately sabotaging the series, and that a new illegal street drug is somehow involved. When people start dying, will Clare be able to get to the bottom of what’s going on before she becomes the next victim of a murderous mastermind?

This twentieth book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series is one of its most wildly entertaining, as Clare mingles with some of the biggest names in Hollywood in order to catch a cunning killer. The behind the scenes action was so much fun, with an excellently plotted mystery to boot. I loved, too, the callbacks to some of Clare and her ex-husband Matt’s previous exploits in navigating the perilous heights of New York City.

There were over fifteen recipes included here, with others available to reference online. After last week’s delicious savory dish, I decided to try out this sweet treat, lightly edited here for format:

QUOTE
The Village Blend’s Cafe-Style Chocolate Chip Cookies with Hints of Caramel and Sea Salt

Makes about 8 large flat cookies (or 16 medium-sized)

1 stick (½ cup or 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
⅛ teaspoon finely ground sea salt
4 large egg yolks (lightly beaten with fork)
½ cup white, granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup + 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips (see recipe note below)

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and set it into the freezer to cool for 5 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350°F and separate the eggs. You’re only using the yolks for this recipe. Lightly beat them with a fork.

Once the butter feels cool to the touch, whisk in the following ingredients in this order: the vanilla and salt; the beaten egg yolks; and the two sugars (white and light brown.) Measure in the flour, sprinkle on the baking soda, and switch to a rubber spatula to stir into a sticky, loose dough. Finally, fold in the mini chocolate chips.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop the dough in large, equal-sized mounds on the lined pan, leaving plenty of space between the cookies for spreading. For perfect-looking, cafe-style rounds, flatten the mounds very slightly with the back of a spoon and shape them into circles. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes. Remove cookies when golden brown but still slightly underdone. Allow to finish cooking by sitting on the hot baking sheet, outside of the oven, for another 8 minutes, and eat with chocolate chip joy!

Recipe note: For best results, use mini chocolate chips. If you only have standard chips, discs, or chocolate chunks on hand, chop them into smaller pieces and measure after chopping.
END QUOTE

Oh dear, I’m not sure if it was because my kitchen was unusually cold, but these did not bake quite as well as I wanted them to! They definitely did not cook very much further while sitting on the hot baking sheet. I actually had to pop the whole sheet back into the oven for five more minutes to get them closer to done.

I was also a little surprised at how widely the cookies spread. I thought I’d given them enough space, but since I’m a fan of cookie cakes regardless, I didn’t mind so much that they all ran together. While the increase in area didn’t really help in getting the dough cooked through, the end result was good enough, especially after the extra time in the oven. My family happily broke off large cookie-sized pieces and ate them all.

Next week, we get into the holiday spirit while crafting some delicious candy and investigating the death of a cooking contest competitor. Do join me!

This is the 20th book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series which is set in New York’s Greenwich Village. A new streaming show starring a comedian is filming at the Village Blend when Claire notices that many of the mishaps appear to be purposeful. Realizing someone is sabotaging the set, ending in two murders, leads Claire to pursuing the answers. The usual crew is present, including the Claire’s ex-husband, Matt, her fiancé and detective Mike, as well as the baristas, Tucker, Ester, and the rest of the gang. Always enjoyable and fun, recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Bulletproof Barista by Cleo Coyle is the first book I’ve read in this series (A Coffeehouse Mystery) though it’s the twentieth book! I’ve wanted to read them before, but I was afraid I’d be really lost. Since I was told that this book was a good place for new readers of the series to start, I gave it a read. It’s true! I wasn’t at all lost or confused about the characters. The authors do a great job at making you feel as if you already know them. They provide you with plenty of information, so you won’t be lost! Jump in here with me!

The premise of this book was so much fun. A streaming network is filming scenes for their hit show, Only Murders in Gotham, at the Village Blend, the coffeehouse setting of this series. Clare Cosi is the manager of Village Blend and the main character in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. She’s obviously thrilled that Only Murders in Gotham is filming in the coffeehouse, and she and the baristas are elated that they’re going to be extras in the episodes filmed there. But, when a crew member is rushed to the hospital after consuming a competitor’s coffee and one of the baristas is shot with a real bullet that was supposed to be a blank, Clare knows that danger lurks on the set.

I really enjoyed Bulletproof Barista, and I’m glad I didn’t worry about reading 19 books first! I thought that the characters were very realistic, and when Clare got to meet one of her favorite actors, I could see myself fan-girling right along with her. The baristas who work for Clare are all quirky and delightful. Clare’s ex Matt, who is the coffee buyer for Village Blend, is kind of a piece of work but also kind of a really great guy. You’ll see when you read this! I love Clare’s NYPD “OD Squad” Detective boyfriend, Mike Quinn. I know many women say they don’t like protective men, but as long as they aren’t controlling, I say, “Protect away!” I’d love to be protected by a guy like Mike. Matt’s mom, Madame, has owned Village Blend for decades. I adore her. She’s smart, sweet, savvy, and so much more! I can’t do her justice in a couple of sentences, and you’ll enjoy getting to know her through the book. The actors, crew, body guards, etc. are written so well that you’ll start to think you know them… You don’t! Of course, no one is based on real-life people, but because of Coyle’s descriptive writing, you’ll think they are!

The frenetic pace of the cast and crew make the mystery so much harder to solve! Just like on a “real” set, there are down times, but there’s no time for downtime in this cozy mystery. It takes you to different parts of the city and gives you lots of suspects. Plus, you never know who the next victim will be. I enjoyed the different settings with some being calming and cozy and others having a colder, industrial feel. Following the twists and turns in this mystery may make you feel as if you’ve had a triple espresso from Village Blend! Get ready for the rush!

I highly recommend Bulletproof Barista for its variety of exceptional characters, alternating settings, and twisty, turny mystery! I’m looking forward to the next Coffeehouse Mystery from Cleo Coyle!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Cleo Coyle's Bulletproof Barista is book #20 in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. With an engaging story filled with loveable characters, Cleo Coyle's Bulletproof Barista is a delightful mystery regardless of whether the reader is familiar with the series. The mystery is well-crafted and the characters are well-developed. The setting is vivid and the plot is compelling. This intriguing mystery by Cleo Coyle kept me hooked to the very end.

Clare's coffee shop Village Blend is hosting renown comedian Jerry Sullivan. In an unexpected move, he invites her to join his show. Clare uncovers a plot to sabotage Jerry's hit show, and that plan leads to murder. When Clare becomes involved in a murder mystery, her life is turned upside down, and she must race against time to uncover the truth. Using her wits and savvy, she must track down the mysterious killer before it's too late.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to review Bulletproof Barista. Alice Alfonsi writes under the pseudonym Cleo Coyle in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. The Coffeehouse Mysteries have been published for twenty years now, and both authors have been New York Times bestselling authors. Cleo Coyle's books have garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. In the cozy mystery genre, this series is beloved. Cleo Coyle's books have been translated into multiple languages and are available in print and e-book formats.

This book was a delight! I love this series for its character, location, and the very punny writing that is full of chuckles even in the darkest time. This time, with a tv show being filmed here there were some fun "behind the scenes" moments that truly brought an even more buzzing atmosphere to the story. I love how this is an edgier cozy, a bit more graphic, more face to black / closed door romance scenes (I think those are the right terms….), the discussions about substance abuse. There was A LOT of drama and danger and it kept me guessing until the end. AND I especially love how Clare’s police detective boyfriend trusted her to make the right decision, held her confidences, and treated her with love and respect (we frequently do NOT see this by detectives and/or significant others in mysteries).

I already can't wait for more!

Dollycas's Thoughts

Clare Cosi was smiling ear to ear when she learned that a hit streaming show Only Murders in Gotham would be filming at, in front of, and around the Village Blend. She is a huge fan of one of the show's stars, comedian Jerry Sullivan and she has been absolutely gushing about him and his career. She didn't know he had quite a history at the Village Blend and with Madame, her ex-mother-in-law and owner of the coffeehouse though. He did do his best to help everyone feel at ease around himself, his crew, and other members of the cast. He couldn't wait to try Clare's bulletproof coffee and he liked it so much that he gave her the craft services contract.

Shortly after the production started rehearsing and filming strange "accidents" began to happen. One man was severely injured on a stage, another appeared to be poisoned right in front of the coffeehouse, and then a live bullet was fired from a prop gun. Thankfully the victim was wearing a bulletproof vest.  Clare knows these are not harmless pranks or accidents, someone is trying to sabotage the show.

With the cast and crew spending so much time at Village Blend Clare has the opportunity to start her own investigation but if she's not careful she could be the killer's next victim and a cup of bulletproof coffee won't be able to save her.

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I love the theme of this story. A show shooting at Village Blend is so New York. It is clear that the author drew inspiration from Only Murders in the Building with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. A show I sadly have fallen behind watching but have seen enough of to see the parallels between the two shows.

The production does bring all kinds of new characters into the story. Each it seems has their own agenda and secrets. Clare comes in contact with all of them so it should be easy for her to figure out what is going on. Mike would like Clare to leave any investigating to the police but he is busy with his own cases, so much so he even asks her for some help. I like that Matt is around for Clare and that she even gets some one-on-one time with Madame where she learns some pertinent information. All the employees at Village Blend really got involved in this storyline too. There were a lot of characters to keep straight but Ms. Coyle does an excellent job at creating characters that are unique and memorable.

Ms. Coyle gives readers a look at all the drama that happens behind the scenes of a successful show. The fan club president, the grips, the gaffer, the costumes, the prop master, the director, the actors, and the craft services. It takes a lot of people to bring a show to our television screens. In this story, there is also "The Player" would has a mission all their own. Clare really had her eyes opened as she saw how cut-throat show business really is.

There is a lot going on within these pages. Injuries, death, drugs, stalking, secrets, lies, a snake, a bulletproof barista, and more are all twisted together to make a heck of a story. Twists and turns galore make this a very hard book to put down which is something I have come to expect from this author so I plan accordingly. I enjoyed the way all the way all the clues came together for Clare but what I loved was that she had a plan to expose the killer and she got all the right people on board. That showdown was fabulous.

I can't believe this is the 20th book in the series and how far the core characters have come. Honey Roasted is still my favorite but BulletProof Barista is impressive too. Readers had to wait a while for this book. I hope we don't have to wait as long for the next one because I am beyond excited to see what the author has in store for these characters next.

I have been waiting for this next installment to be published for so long! The writing team that makes up Cleo Coyle's authorship does a wonderful job of blending elements from past stories into this one, so that readers who a) don't remember, or b) haven't read the previous books, can jump right in and enjoy. I thought it was clever to have a thinly veiled version of Only Murders in the Building, along with it's stars, as the plot elements of this story.

There are a lot of quips between the main characters (a la Law & Order the original series) that can seem a bit cheesy, but the barista characters are all very lovable.