Review by Amanda. Mug Shot by Caroline Fardig. 4 Tea Cups!!

Mug Shot
By: Caroline Fardig
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Former musician Juliet Langley has barely had a day off since taking over management of the coffeehouse owned by her best friend, Pete Bennett. But there's always more to be done—such as prepping for the annual Holiday 5K Race organized by Pete's snobby socialite girlfriend, Cecilia Hollingsworth. This year, Java Jive has a booth right at the finish line, and since Juliet and Cecilia don't always see eye to eye, everything has to be perfect. Nothing can go wrong. Nothing . . . like Juliet stumbling over Cecilia's dead body on the morning of the race.

When Pete is arrested for Cecilia's murder, Juliet sets out to clear his name. She'll do whatever it takes—even if it means standing up to the police, her ex-boyfriend, and the grande dames of Nashville. But there isn't enough espresso in the world for the greatest challenge in her path: infiltrating Nashville's high society to uncover the hidden hotbed of scandal without running afoul of the law herself. With her last dime staked on Pete's bail bond and her staff growing jittery, the last thing Juliet needs is for her trademark temper to land her behind bars. As time drips away, Juliet needs to crack this case before the killer comes back for another shot.

Review by Amanda

4 Tea Cups

If you are a fan of mysteries, the Java Jive Mystery series is a must read! The Mug Shot is the 2nd novel of the series, however it works as a stand alone. 

Quick summary of the first novel (you can also check out my Book Cafe review here: Review by Amanda- Death Before Decaf): Juliet took over as the owner of the Java Jive, a coffee cafe that she worked at when she was in college. She is now back in close contact with her best friend, Pete, which she has amazing chemistry with. Juliet has to work out her feelings between Pete and a new guy. There is also a mystery of who killed the cook that works in the cafe. 

In short, Juliet is amazing. Look at the cover above. She is a fiery redhead, who will protect those who are closest to her. She will not back down from a fight against anyone which gets her in a bit of trouble. 

Mug Shot continues the story of Juliet and Pete. Pete's girlfriend is found dead and of course Pete is the prime suspect, especially after some key evidence was found against him. Juliet needs to uncover the truth and save her best friend from jail time against a crime that he didn't commit. 

I love Juliet and Pete's friendship. They aren't afraid to say anything to the other and will both protect one another. It's pretty obvious that they are in love with each other, but I'm guessing that they won't get together for a few more books. In the meantime, Juliet is in a love triangle with Cecelia's (Pete's dead girlfriend) brother and a detective on the case. Juliet can more than handle herself and it's hilarious to see the interactions with her and the guys. 

I also love how the book has flashbacks. Juliet and Pete have been friends for years and it's interesting to read about their conversations from when they were younger. 

The mystery aspect was also excellent! I kept switching my opinion on who the murderer was multiple times and I was still surprised. 

Check out this series and you won't be disappointed!

A note to those cozy fans, there is more language and sexual content than a typical cozy, but it's not over the top! 

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Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mug-Shot