Didn't feel as cozy as advertised and reads as fairly YA. Enjoyable enough but not racing to find more. I found there were too many characters introduced as important but not fleshed out enough and a few too many love plot lines.

Grab your glass pour-over carafe, put in a Kalita wave filter, grind up your coffee, add exactly 21 grams of Fair Trade single-origin beans and gently, in circular motions, pour 375 grams of 200 degrees Fahrenheit water over the beans. Wait two minutes. Pour into a reusable cup, grab Emmeline Duncan’s “Fresh Brewed Murder” and sip while you read! Sound excessive? Then you aren’t ready for the hipster Portland coffee scene. Good news - you’ve got time to brush up on your coffee knowledge as this book is to be published March 30, 2021.

Sage Caplin knows her coffee; good thing, because she’s just opened Ground Rules, a coffee cart, in Portland’s Rail Yard. She’s got her Uncle Jimmy backing her as a silent partner, Harley helping her roast the beans and the best location in her uncle’s Rail Yard. She’s made it two full days before disaster strikes. A customer, the construction manager from the site across the road, is found dead beside Ground Rules. Sage is immediately considered a person of interest as it was her box cutter that dealt the final blow. As the investigation deepens, Sage’s past starts to catch up with her. Will Saffron Jones derail Sage’s attempt at forging a new future? Will Ground Rules meet its bitter end? Just who killed David Stevens?

If your day doesn’t start until you get coffee, this book is for you. Not only will you get to learn about coffee culture, but you will also be treated to a well-written cozy mystery. I love Duncan’s writing style. She’s obviously in touch with the Portland foodie scene and familiar with the hipster vibe. In addition, it’s refreshing to see someone write about the homeless, the challenges of running a small business, gentrification, the concept of suspended coffees for those in need, and food choices for those with different health concerns; all issues millennials and generation Z readers will appreciate. You’ll find yourself giggling at some of her descriptions: “a college-aged girl with sleepy eyes and an almost terminal case of bedhead ordered a caramel mocha.” The pacing and characterization is on point. The coffee culture is secondary to the character development and the sprinkle of humour rounds out the overall flavour. This is book one of a new series and I look forward to hearing more about the customers who frequent Ground Rules.

Thank you to Emmeline Duncan, Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What I read: Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

Why I picked it up: It looked fun when I perusing the new release shelf at the library.

How I read it: On paper in just a few hours n

What it’s about: Sage and Harley have opened a coffee cart on her uncle’s property. There are a few carts there, and she begins to make friends with the other owners. One morning she discovers a dead body right in front of her cart, and so begins an investigation by the police into her and by her into the actual murdered.

What I liked: There’s a lot of back story included which I think will make for a great series. So many more things to begin to unpack.

What I disliked: There was a small romantic element to the story, but I’m curious as to how that will end up in the series.

Genre: Cozy mystery.

Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and if you like cozy mysteries, this will be fun.

This was a great first outing in the mystery series. I hope this one goes for awhile because I have so many questions about her family dynamic that is going on in the background.

A new detective series, set in Portland. Our hero runs a coffee cart, and everything is very Portland (evil developers! no affordable housing! street kids!) and I sound like I'm scoffing, but it's very authentically Portland. I'm probably just self-conscious. Everyone seems younger than their peers in other mysteries, probably because of the t-shirt / food cart / bicycle vibe as opposed to being corporate lawyers or artists in a quaint village. Our hero's assets include empathy and self-confidence, and I like her quite a bit. The plot is somewhat unpracticed, but the cast of characters is promising and the series as it continues will be quite fun.

The only thing I didn't like was that you get introduced to all the characters very quickly. I did the audiobook version and it made it hard to keep up with the characters because I was meeting them one after the other in the first couple chapters. Otherwise great book.

Coffee cozies are my faveeee

Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan is the first book in the new cozy A Ground Rules Mystery series. Overall it is an okay read. I was surprised by the murder in the end. I have hope from future books in the series. There is a lot to be discovered in Sage's past. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Wow this series is already a wild ride her mom is a trip like I don’t even know what to say about her.