About the Book

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.

After much cajoling, Macy gives in to her neighbor, Vera, and agrees to come to her book club’s Christmas party so she can share about the cafe. While public speaking isn’t Macy’s thing, she wants to brighten Vera’s lonely holiday season…and she can sell a little house blend on the side.

When a lively book discussion spirals into a public roast of the mayor—who happens to be sitting in their midst—things get uncomfortable. Soon afterward, the mayor shows up dead in Vera’s bathroom, and no amount of gingerbread cookies or eggnog can restore Vera to the club’s good graces. ‘Tis the season for Macy to find the murderer, or else Vera might be taking a long winter’s nap in a jail cell.

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.

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Other Books in the Series

In My Opinion

My favorite thing in Heather Day Gilbert’s Barks and Beans Café Cozy Mystery series is the relationship between Macy and her brother Bo. These two watch out for and care for each other deeply.

And you really see their kindness and hearts when they interact with their community. In Roast Date, readers learn more about Macy’s neighbor. Vera has been a fringe character in the past few books, but in Gilbert’s latest release, we get to see inside her home and her character more.

The mystery kept me guessing, the dogs are adorable, the coffee is warm and inviting, and the story is just the way I like it—a good mix of mystery, relationships, and romance. I’m already looking forward to the next installment.

Disclosure statement: I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.