DEATH BY ICED COFFEE

A woman with an overwhelming need to know things finds herself investigating yet another murder.

Krissy Hancock co-owns Pine Hills, Ohio’s Death by Coffee bookstore and cafe; dates police officer Paul Dalton, the police chief’s son; and is always in trouble with Det. John Buchannan, Paul's colleague. The steaming hot summer weather in Pine Hills isn’t the best for a marathon—the town's first—but Krissy is determined to run even though she’s no athlete. Since tempers are already flaring, it’s not surprising when Krissy witnesses a heated conversation between Glen Moreau, who’s unhappy with the hilly route, and race organizer Rod Maxwell. It is a surprise when she sees Johan, her friend Rita’s boyfriend, sneak off with another woman, and an even bigger surprise when Glen is found strangled along the race route. Worried about Rita’s romance and ever curious, Krissy ignores Paul’s warnings and starts some sleuthing of her own. Even a bad case of sunstroke can't keep her down. Krissy learns that Glen was a hot-tempered guy with a reputation as a womanizer and a shady businessman. A conversation she overhears gives her some new clues to follow, but she feels guilty about keeping her knowledge of Johan’s possible involvement from Paul. When she gets a threatening note, she knows she’s on the right track—if only she can live long enough to put the pieces together.

Plenty of quirky characters and misleading clues keep the story moving.