Setting is Portland, OR – modern day. This cozy has a very modern vibe.
Main character is Sage Caplin. She and her partner, Harley, own a coffee cart named Ground Rules.
Her uncle Jimmy – owns the land, called “The Railyard” and rents out to several other food carts.
Sage finds a dead body in front of her cart, and the man turns out to be someone her estranged mother was very close to years ago. He was also killed by a box cutter from her coffee cart. Her mom is a criminal, she scams people. And she traveled with Sage all over the world running scams.
Sage’s father is a policeman in Portland.
Her older brother is an attorney who helps at risk youth and runaways in Portland.
Sage was homeless for a few days before finding her family and footing in Portland after her mother abandoned her.
Of course Sage wants to clear her name, find out the link between her mom and the deceased, David Stevens. She also has come across a young runaway named Gabby, who may be a part of the mystery/murder.
The mystery has several themes, including gentrification of Portland (new development raising rents and making locals homeless or struggling financially) the plight of runaways, and generally has a younger, hipster vibe and themes.
Once I became interested in the characters I liked the story and it read pretty quickly. There is a dog, Bentley, that Sage walks/watches sometimes – he belongs to her brother. There is some romance beginning in the book, Sage has two people that appear interested, Zarek, a fellow food cart owner in “The Railyard” and a young entrepreneur named Bax. Maybe she will choose in the upcoming installments. Still light – nothing spicy.
I will continue with the series.