Poor Jules/Juliet. All she really wanted to do was relax, soak up some coffee know-how, and enjoy herself. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen. Things go wrong quickly after the arrival in Costa Rica. She's there with husband Carlos and young coffee roasting fanatic Andy to relax and learn. Then there's a murder. Even more astonishing, it seems to happen so unexpectedly and quickly right in front of potential witnesses, including Andy, but no one sees what happened. Seems Jules and Carlos' old friend from their days working on the cruise ship Amour of the Seas is facing both family drama and possible financial ruin. There's much more going on behind the scenes and tensions are high. Pregnant with twins, Jules is hardly at her sleuthing best as pressures mount, all while dealing with friend and frequent sleuthing buddy Lance's over-board wedding plans.
That's all I'll say aside from, yikes, what a murder weapon. This is a favorite series I've been reading since way back before Jules and Carlos found their way together again, and the well-rounded, likable characters are what keep me coming back. True, I sort of missed the comfort of the usual setting, Ashland, Oregon, and Lance's presence, though he did make up for it with texts and emails. Let's face it, in this modern world, you're rarely completely out-of-touch. In other words, although not together physically, we get regular updates on how things back home are going. The setting of the coffee farm sounds luscious and if you're a foodie or coffee-addict, you'll enjoy the bits of info you pick up along the way. Just the process of preparing the coffee beans alone is amazing. And, oh, my, the food. Don't read this one on an empty stomach.
So, who killed Miguel? He had big plans, plans not only Valentina but others opposed. Thus, lots of suspects to sort through, language barriers and all. What made the machinery malfunction? Did or didn't Miguel sign the contract others so strongly opposed? Will Andy manage to learn everything he needs to even after being attacked? Who....Oh, never mind. Read the book. It's well-written with great descriptions and food/coffee talk and intriguing characters. Thanks #StMartin'sPress = #Minotaur for allowing me this early peek into what's going on in the world of Juliet/Jules Capshaw and Carlos. True, sorta missed the abundance of Shakespeare quotes but, hey, there's always the next book!
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