Cleo Coyle - Decaffeinated Corpse

Decaffe i nated

Corpse

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BERKLEY PRIME CRIME, NEW YORK

Praise for the first Coffeehouse Mystery

On What G rou nds

#1 Paperback Bestseller

Independent Mystery Booksellers Association

The first book in Coyles new series is a definite winner!

The mystery is first rate, and the characters that leap from the page are compelling, vivid, and endearing. The aroma of this story made this noncoffee drinker want to visit the nearest coffee bar.

Romantic Times

[A] clever, witty, and light-hearted cozy. Cleo Coyle is a bright new light on the mystery horizon. The Best Reviews

On What Grounds introduces Clare and the Village Blend. The setting is wonderful and New York is portrayed with absolute accuracy. Clare is a character I would love to see more of. She is honest but never brutal and her intelligence is what shines through. I will be looking forward to the next book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series!

Cozies, Capers & Crimes

A great beginning to a new series... Clare and Matteo make a great team... Plenty of coffee lore, trivia, and brewing tips scattered throughout the text (and recipes at the end) add an additional, enjoyable element. On WhatGrounds will convert even the most fervent tea drinker into a coffee lover in the time it takes to draw an espresso.

The Mystery Reader

A hilarious blend of amateur detecting with some romance thrown in the mix... I personally adored this book and cant wait to read the rest of the series!

Cozy Library

A fun, light mystery. Recommended.

KLIATT

For those who enjoy not only a mystery but a chance to learn about a favorite beverage and a chance to try out new recipes at homethis book is for you.

Gumshoe Review

Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle

on what grounds

through the grinder

latte trouble

murder most frothy

decaffeinated corpse

Decaffe i nated

Corpse

c

BERKLEY PRIME CRIME, NEW YORK

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0745, Auckland, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors

imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business es

tablishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for authors or third-party websites or their content. PUBLISHERS NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervi

sion. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.

A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the authors Copyright 2007 by The Berkley Publishing Group. Interior text design by Kristin del Rosario. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form with

out permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions. For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. ISBN: 1-4362-4700-4

BERKLEY PRIME CRIME

Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. The name BERKLEY PRIME CRIME and the BERKLEY PRIME CRIME design are trademarks be

longing to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

This book is dedicated with affection and admirationto a brilliant sister and a fellow java lover

Grace Alfonsi, M.D.

A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s

Special thanks to the woman and man

behind the curtainEditor Katie Day

and Literary Agent John Talbot

_

Visit Cleo Coyles virtual Village Blend

at www.CoffeehouseMystery.com

Even a bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee at all.

David Lynch

P ro lo g u e

xyxyxyxyxyxyxyxyxyxyxyxy

In 1862 New York instituted its first gun control law, ban

ning rifles to discourage hunting within the city limits.Over one hundred and fifty years later, at least one hunterfailed to be discouraged.

Strolling along the wet, wide sidewalk of Sixth Avenue,this particular hunter found stalking prey a simplistic pur

suit. Actually overtaking it, however, was a trickier matter.Unlike mouse or bird or lesser mammal, this prey wasntsmall, and it wasnt weak. This prey was at least six feet inheight and possessed muscles enough to fight back should itfeel threatened.

Street after street, the two walked, pursuer and pursued,the little covert parade taking them from quiet Perry tobustling Bleecker then picturesque Grove, by pizzerias,novelty shops, bistros, bookstores, and boutiques.The setting sun had swept in a passing storm, killing thereassuring warmth of the clear October day. Having failedto dress for the weather, the hunter shivered. The newly 2

C l e o C oy l e

purchased windbreaker and Yankee cap were thin protec

tion against the rapidly plunging temperature. But condi

tions werent all bad. The location, at least, was anadvantageous place to tail a pedestrian.The narrow, winding lanes of this small historic districtwerent nearly as congested as other parts of Manhattan

downtowns glass-and-steel Financial District, for instance,or the sardine-packed sidewalks of Midtown with its hordesof tourists stopping dead to take cell phone photos of twenty-story digital billboards and send them god knew where.Here in this quaint little town within a town, genteel res

idents roved at their leisure, walking groomed dogs, cartinghome groceries, clustering on corners to chat with neigh

bors. All obstacles were easy enough to dart around in pur

suit of the moving target, and the elegant brick row housesprovided ample doorways to hide should the prey decide todouble back.

But the prey never did. Not once did he glance over theshoulder of his fine suede jacket. With the compact um

brella now collapsed at his side, the dashing, accomplished,ebony-haired entrepreneur strode forward with confidence,