This was one of my favorite books in this series. There were so many twists and turns that I did not know the killer until the ending. I loved the talks about having babies. I enjoyed having Aunt Maxie and Loretta in a lot of this story. They are such fun characters. The animals help make this a fun series also. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

Barista Bump-Off by Tonya Kappes is the eleventh A Killer Coffee Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Roxy Bloom and her dog, Pepper are ready to head home. Roxy is a little afraid to be along on the boardwalk after the purse snatching earlier in the day. After locking the door, Roxy hears footsteps and Pepper takes off for the pier. Roxy turns on her flashlight app and pears into the water where she finds a woman floating in the water. She quickly calls Sheriff Spencer Shepard. The woman is identified as someone who has been renting a cabin from Aunt Maxi. Her purse is missing as well making people wonder if the purse snatcher has escalated into a killer. Roxy soon discovers that the victim was hiding a large secret. Loretta Bebe is up in arms over the crime rate in Honey Springs and decides to run for mayor. She is making Roxy her campaign manager and has set up shop in the Bean Hive. Roxy has her hands full with running her coffee shop but that will not stop her from investigating the murder as well as the purse snatching. Being Loretta’s campaign manager is not a task she wishes to take on. Roxy will need to stay on her toes so she will not become the next victim. Barista Bump-Off is easy to read courtesy of Tonya Kappes’ engaging writing style. It is like visiting old friends when you dive into one of this author’s books. The characters are fun and quirky which is typical of a small Southern town. I like the animals included in the story. A talkative parrot is up for adoption at the Bean Hive this time. The mystery had Pepper and Roxy finding body floating in the lake. There are a limited number of suspects. Roxy searches online and asks questions of various people in order to solve the whodunit. I like that she actively investigates and works with Sheriff Shepard. Both crimes are neatly wrapped up at the end of the book. Roxy is also anxious about her mother, Penny who has begun dating and is being secretive about it. We must wait to see who will become the next mayor of Honey Springs, Kentucky. There are two recipes from the Bean Hive at the end of the book. Barista Bump-Off is a charming Southern cozy mystery with a gabby parrot, a mysterious murder victim, an impudent purse snatcher, tasty pastries, a resolute Loretta, and precious plans. ( )