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A Coffee Lover's Mystery #1
Grounds for Murder
Barista Lana Lewis's sleuthing may land her in a latte trouble as Tara Lush launches her new Coffee Shop mysteries.
When Lana Lewis' best -- and most difficult -- employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café's chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil's Beach, Lana's normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio "Fab" Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he's found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana's café, she becomes the prime suspect.
Even the island's handsome police chief isn't quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn't the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach.
With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana's prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer. After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship -- or will she come to a bitter end?
When Lana Lewis' best -- and most difficult -- employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café's chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil's Beach, Lana's normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio "Fab" Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he's found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana's café, she becomes the prime suspect.
Even the island's handsome police chief isn't quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn't the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach.
With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana's prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer. After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship -- or will she come to a bitter end?
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2020
About the author
Tara Lush
17 books493 followersTara Lush is a RWA Rita finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow and the winner of the George C. Polk award for environmental journalism.
She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations under the name Tamara Lush. For many years, she was a journalist with The Associated Press.
Tara is a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and newspapers. She lives on the Gulf coast with her husband and Shih Tzu.
She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations under the name Tamara Lush. For many years, she was a journalist with The Associated Press.
Tara is a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and newspapers. She lives on the Gulf coast with her husband and Shih Tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
December 12, 2020
This is the first book in a new series about a failed journalist called Lana who returns home to manage her family coffee shop.
Lana is a sad case really - failed career, failed marriage, mother not long dead and father on medical marijuana and not really acting like a father at all. Against all this she learns how to make good coffee, adopts a cute dog, makes some good friends, and falls in love with the local chief of police. Of course she also solves a murder.
This was a quick and entertaining read. I will probably read the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book
Lana is a sad case really - failed career, failed marriage, mother not long dead and father on medical marijuana and not really acting like a father at all. Against all this she learns how to make good coffee, adopts a cute dog, makes some good friends, and falls in love with the local chief of police. Of course she also solves a murder.
This was a quick and entertaining read. I will probably read the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book
October 18, 2021
Grounds for Murder and Cold Brew Corpse by Tara Lush are the first and second book respectively in the cozy A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each book in this series has it’s own mystery that will be fully solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There will be character development that carries over from book to book though for those that follow the series from the beginning.
Lana Lewis has returned to Devil’s Beach, Florida and started a new career after leaving her journalist job. Lana is now in charge of her family’s coffee shop, Perkatory, which is a whole new world for Lana. In the first book of the series, Grounds for Murder, Lana is just about to enter the Sunshine State Barista Championship when her best employee quits on her. When Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci is found murdered right after leaving Perkatory of course Lana ends up a suspect and needs to do everything to clear her name.
Cold Brew Corpse finds Lana back in action at Perkatory when the neighboring business owner is found murdered. With things heating up at the Dante’s Inferno yoga studio next door Lana finds herself balancing her coffee shop and also taking a job part time for the local newspaper covering the murder. Lana discovers that the owner of Dante’s Inferno has more than her share of enemies so even after her initial story is turned in Lana can’t help but keep rooting out new suspects in hopes of finding her second murderer.
When I first spotted the A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series I was torn on whether to give this one a try or not. First I love beachy settings and with this one being in Florida I was drawn to the covers and wanted to dive right in. However, I’m not a coffee lover so this one seemed like I may not be the reader since sometimes cozies can dive really deep into their themes but thankfully this one wasn’t too overpowering to be a turn off for me. When finished with the first book I had it at three and a half stars enjoying the characters, setting and mystery enough to want to return. Now having read the second I am enjoying the series even more as it really showed the main characters journalistic side. There’s also a budding romance with the detective involved and I like when the law enforcement side is involved and not made out to be useless. So now after two books of this series I definitely call myself a fan and will return for more in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Lana Lewis has returned to Devil’s Beach, Florida and started a new career after leaving her journalist job. Lana is now in charge of her family’s coffee shop, Perkatory, which is a whole new world for Lana. In the first book of the series, Grounds for Murder, Lana is just about to enter the Sunshine State Barista Championship when her best employee quits on her. When Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci is found murdered right after leaving Perkatory of course Lana ends up a suspect and needs to do everything to clear her name.
Cold Brew Corpse finds Lana back in action at Perkatory when the neighboring business owner is found murdered. With things heating up at the Dante’s Inferno yoga studio next door Lana finds herself balancing her coffee shop and also taking a job part time for the local newspaper covering the murder. Lana discovers that the owner of Dante’s Inferno has more than her share of enemies so even after her initial story is turned in Lana can’t help but keep rooting out new suspects in hopes of finding her second murderer.
When I first spotted the A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series I was torn on whether to give this one a try or not. First I love beachy settings and with this one being in Florida I was drawn to the covers and wanted to dive right in. However, I’m not a coffee lover so this one seemed like I may not be the reader since sometimes cozies can dive really deep into their themes but thankfully this one wasn’t too overpowering to be a turn off for me. When finished with the first book I had it at three and a half stars enjoying the characters, setting and mystery enough to want to return. Now having read the second I am enjoying the series even more as it really showed the main characters journalistic side. There’s also a budding romance with the detective involved and I like when the law enforcement side is involved and not made out to be useless. So now after two books of this series I definitely call myself a fan and will return for more in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 29, 2022
A debut coffee lover’s cozy series that gives off a youthful vibe and humor, plus, the seriousness of a murder. With interesting characters—Lana’s Dad was my favorite—Author Lush sets up a great cast for future stories. The pages flew by quickly, and I enjoyed the sunny beach setting. Stanley, the victim’s ShihTzu puppy is an adorable cozy character. The killer reveal came as a surprise to me. I’m looking forward to reading book two.
December 14, 2020
Lana Lewis had moved back to her hometown of Devil’s Beach after she was put off at the Miami newspaper where she was a reporter. Reporting was in her blood, so she was dejected but when her dad asked Lana to join him in their café – Perkatory – as a second barista along side Fabrizio Bellucci, she was keen. Fab and Lana worked well together – until, with the Sunshine State Barista Championship only days away, Fab left Perkatory without a word and went to the opposition. Lana was angry – and told Fab so, as she was on her way to Miami.
When Lana arrived back at Perkatory just before 6am the following morning, she was shocked and distressed to discover Fab’s body not far from the café. When the Chief of Police, her friend Noah, arrived with more police, Lana found her café was to be closed all day. It wasn’t long before Lana’s journalist instincts kicked in and, against Noah admonishments, decided to discover who had killed her friend and fellow barista. With Stanley, Fab’s Shih Tzu, by her side, and new barista Erica keeping a close eye on the café, Lana followed her gut. But it wouldn’t be long, and danger would be following her as she came too close to answers. And what would happen with the championships? Would she have to pull out the Perkatory team at the last minute?
Grounds for Murder is the 1st in A Coffee Lovers Mystery by Tara Lush and I really enjoyed it. With plenty of action, lots of suspects and a Police Chief who wouldn’t listen to Lana’s theories, I didn’t work out the perpetrator until almost the reveal. An excellent cozy mystery, Grounds for Murder is one I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Lana arrived back at Perkatory just before 6am the following morning, she was shocked and distressed to discover Fab’s body not far from the café. When the Chief of Police, her friend Noah, arrived with more police, Lana found her café was to be closed all day. It wasn’t long before Lana’s journalist instincts kicked in and, against Noah admonishments, decided to discover who had killed her friend and fellow barista. With Stanley, Fab’s Shih Tzu, by her side, and new barista Erica keeping a close eye on the café, Lana followed her gut. But it wouldn’t be long, and danger would be following her as she came too close to answers. And what would happen with the championships? Would she have to pull out the Perkatory team at the last minute?
Grounds for Murder is the 1st in A Coffee Lovers Mystery by Tara Lush and I really enjoyed it. With plenty of action, lots of suspects and a Police Chief who wouldn’t listen to Lana’s theories, I didn’t work out the perpetrator until almost the reveal. An excellent cozy mystery, Grounds for Murder is one I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2022
Lana Lewis has moved back home to Devil’s Beach, an island off the Florida coast, and taken over running her late mother’s coffee shop. One of the best and worst things about her new life is her employee, Fabrizio "Fab" Bellucci. Fab is a great barista, but his shameless flirting gets on Lana’s nerves, especially since Fab has a reputation as a lady’s man to go along with it. When Fab quits without any warning, Lana has a public confrontation with him. The next morning, she discovers his dead body. The police are saying it was a tragic accident, but Lana thinks something else happened to him. Can she prove it?
After a bit of a slow start, this book picks up and presents some interesting twists along the way to a logical conclusion. There are plenty of suspects, and they are well-drawn enough to keep us guessing. I did wish that we learned a little less about Fab’s love life and that Lana’s attraction to the police chief were turned down a notch, but both are minor issues overall. I feel like we have a small core of regulars here, but I really like them. As a non-coffee drinker, I didn’t find the talk of coffee went too far, and I’m sure that coffee lovers will find this book makes them reach for their favorite mug. This is a fun debut, and I hope to visit Lana again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
After a bit of a slow start, this book picks up and presents some interesting twists along the way to a logical conclusion. There are plenty of suspects, and they are well-drawn enough to keep us guessing. I did wish that we learned a little less about Fab’s love life and that Lana’s attraction to the police chief were turned down a notch, but both are minor issues overall. I feel like we have a small core of regulars here, but I really like them. As a non-coffee drinker, I didn’t find the talk of coffee went too far, and I’m sure that coffee lovers will find this book makes them reach for their favorite mug. This is a fun debut, and I hope to visit Lana again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 7, 2021
After being laid off from her job and finding herself divorced, Lana Lewis, a former investigative reporter, finds herself back in her home town of Devil's Beach running her late mother's coffee shop called Perkatory. She is helped by Fabrizio 'Fab' Bellucci a hot looking popular barista with a talent for whipping up delicious coffee drinks and cappuccino art and being a womaniser. Things are going great and both Lana and Fab have entered the Sunshine State Barista Championship with the aim to win. Then, out of the blue Fabrizio quits, he and Lana have a huge fight and the next day Fabrizio is found dead by Lana. Fabrizio's death is termed a suicide by the local police but Lana is not too sure and decides to use her investigative reporting skills to get to the bottom of the matter.
Grounds for Murder is the start of a new cozy mystery series by the author Tara Lush. I really liked the description of Devil's Beach and the constant mention of cappuccino, mocha, lattes and yummy pastries did not help my hunger pangs. It's a good start to the series with interesting and quirky characters and one adorable and quirky dog, Stanley.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
The book was published on 8th December 2020.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐💫
Grounds for Murder is the start of a new cozy mystery series by the author Tara Lush. I really liked the description of Devil's Beach and the constant mention of cappuccino, mocha, lattes and yummy pastries did not help my hunger pangs. It's a good start to the series with interesting and quirky characters and one adorable and quirky dog, Stanley.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
The book was published on 8th December 2020.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐💫
December 14, 2020
Grounds for Murder is a fun debut novel with the setting of a small beach town in South Florida and some colorful characters. What fun to have the story revolve around a coffee shop with the Gulf of Mexico close by.
Lana Lewis moved home to Devil's Beach from Miami after her husband cheated on her. She needed to leave to lick her wounds and her dad wants her to run her family's coffee shop, Perkatory. It was her mom's dream and her dad has been running it since her mom died. He wants to slow down now. She is working hard to make the shop a success and one way is by entering a state wide barista contest held in Devil's Beach. She is betting on her barista, flirty Italian Fab Bellucci to help her in the contest but he leaves without notice to work with a competitor. Thankfully, Erica, a customer with experience as a barista had shown up a couple days prior. But then Lana finds Fab's body behind the shop. He had fallen from the roof of the shop where he lived in the apartment. He loved to entertain his lady friends on the roof. Could he have fallen accidentally, committed suicide, or been pushed?
Handsome police chief Noah Garcia thinks it could be suicide but Lana thinks that with all Fab's huge group of adoring women fans and girlfriends, he wouldn't kill himself. Since she worked the crime beat for a newspaper in Miami and the love of journalism is still in her blood, she uses her skills to investigate and write an article for the local newspaper. She finds some interesting things about Fab that she wasn't aware of and meets some interesting characters.
This is a great debut book with a mystery that kept me guessing about happened to Fab and who was involved. The storytelling made the setting easy to picture and this an entertaining read.
I hope to see more of Lana, her new best friend Erica, her wacky hippie father, her swoony new friend Noah and her new puppy Stanley, formerly owned by Fab.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
Lana Lewis moved home to Devil's Beach from Miami after her husband cheated on her. She needed to leave to lick her wounds and her dad wants her to run her family's coffee shop, Perkatory. It was her mom's dream and her dad has been running it since her mom died. He wants to slow down now. She is working hard to make the shop a success and one way is by entering a state wide barista contest held in Devil's Beach. She is betting on her barista, flirty Italian Fab Bellucci to help her in the contest but he leaves without notice to work with a competitor. Thankfully, Erica, a customer with experience as a barista had shown up a couple days prior. But then Lana finds Fab's body behind the shop. He had fallen from the roof of the shop where he lived in the apartment. He loved to entertain his lady friends on the roof. Could he have fallen accidentally, committed suicide, or been pushed?
Handsome police chief Noah Garcia thinks it could be suicide but Lana thinks that with all Fab's huge group of adoring women fans and girlfriends, he wouldn't kill himself. Since she worked the crime beat for a newspaper in Miami and the love of journalism is still in her blood, she uses her skills to investigate and write an article for the local newspaper. She finds some interesting things about Fab that she wasn't aware of and meets some interesting characters.
This is a great debut book with a mystery that kept me guessing about happened to Fab and who was involved. The storytelling made the setting easy to picture and this an entertaining read.
I hope to see more of Lana, her new best friend Erica, her wacky hippie father, her swoony new friend Noah and her new puppy Stanley, formerly owned by Fab.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
December 12, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci, the beach’s hottest barista is dead and former investigative journalist turned coffee shop manager Lana Lewis is at the top of the suspect list if the cause of death is indeed murder. You see Fab was her star employee until he quit without notice to work for her competitor. On top of that, they were registered as a team for the Sunshine State Barista Championship. So when she couldn’t hold in her fury any longer she confronts him in front of a crowd of people at Island Brewnette, the competing coffee shop.
The trouble is, the chief of police, who seems to have a bit of a crush on Lana, is leaning toward calling Fab’s death a suicide until the evidence proves otherwise. Lana knows Fab was a great casanova/gigolo with some shady connections so she finds plenty of other suspects and theories. She just needs to convince Chief Noah Garcia to follow her clues with her. If not, she and her new barista Erica Penmark will steam out the killer on their own.
I liked Lana Lewis right away. Divorced and unemployed she comes home to Devil’s Beach to manage Perkatory. The cafe was her mother’s dream so after her death her dad kept the business going but his heart wasn’t really into it full time. Lana takes over admitting she has a lot to learn about being a great barista but she has great employees and her dad to help her out. She is intelligent and kind and her investigative skills come in handy as she tries to catch a killer. Erika and Lana get along right away and they make a wonderful team whether it comes to sleuthing or coffee brewing. Lana’s dad is a laid back hippie kind of dude that does seem fazed my much but supports his daughter 100%. Police Chief Noah Garica also escaped the big city to come to Devil’s Beach never expecting to have a murder case on his plate but he sure does like dropping in at Perkatory to see Lana. All of these characters developed nicely over the course of the story but there is so much more to learn. The author has done an excellent job of giving readers characters we can care about.
The mystery she has brewed up is darn good too. Personally, I wish the suicide theory would have been put to rest much earlier with more focus on the variety of people who could have been suspects in Fab’s death. He left quite a path of ladies in his wake and at least one was married. The pushy reporter in Lana came out and she just wasn’t going to give up. Her actions lead to a really exciting big reveal.
I do love the beachy small-town setting. While jumping with tourists and busy residents it still had a relaxing vibe and a place I would love to visit.
Grounds for Murder was a delightful whodunit and has set this series off to a grand start. It’s entertaining with just the right amount of humor. I am looking forward to visiting these characters again soon.
Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci, the beach’s hottest barista is dead and former investigative journalist turned coffee shop manager Lana Lewis is at the top of the suspect list if the cause of death is indeed murder. You see Fab was her star employee until he quit without notice to work for her competitor. On top of that, they were registered as a team for the Sunshine State Barista Championship. So when she couldn’t hold in her fury any longer she confronts him in front of a crowd of people at Island Brewnette, the competing coffee shop.
The trouble is, the chief of police, who seems to have a bit of a crush on Lana, is leaning toward calling Fab’s death a suicide until the evidence proves otherwise. Lana knows Fab was a great casanova/gigolo with some shady connections so she finds plenty of other suspects and theories. She just needs to convince Chief Noah Garcia to follow her clues with her. If not, she and her new barista Erica Penmark will steam out the killer on their own.
I liked Lana Lewis right away. Divorced and unemployed she comes home to Devil’s Beach to manage Perkatory. The cafe was her mother’s dream so after her death her dad kept the business going but his heart wasn’t really into it full time. Lana takes over admitting she has a lot to learn about being a great barista but she has great employees and her dad to help her out. She is intelligent and kind and her investigative skills come in handy as she tries to catch a killer. Erika and Lana get along right away and they make a wonderful team whether it comes to sleuthing or coffee brewing. Lana’s dad is a laid back hippie kind of dude that does seem fazed my much but supports his daughter 100%. Police Chief Noah Garica also escaped the big city to come to Devil’s Beach never expecting to have a murder case on his plate but he sure does like dropping in at Perkatory to see Lana. All of these characters developed nicely over the course of the story but there is so much more to learn. The author has done an excellent job of giving readers characters we can care about.
The mystery she has brewed up is darn good too. Personally, I wish the suicide theory would have been put to rest much earlier with more focus on the variety of people who could have been suspects in Fab’s death. He left quite a path of ladies in his wake and at least one was married. The pushy reporter in Lana came out and she just wasn’t going to give up. Her actions lead to a really exciting big reveal.
I do love the beachy small-town setting. While jumping with tourists and busy residents it still had a relaxing vibe and a place I would love to visit.
Grounds for Murder was a delightful whodunit and has set this series off to a grand start. It’s entertaining with just the right amount of humor. I am looking forward to visiting these characters again soon.
September 18, 2020
An entertaining new series to read with a spunky and intelligent main character and an interesting cast of supporting characters that help to enhance a well thought out plot. The main character has come home to run the family coffeehouse after being laid off as a journalist so her inquisitive nature is definitely a well honed personality characteristic that is to be expected. Her pot smoking dad is a hilarious side kick, her new bff is also a fun side kick and the hunky Chief of Police gives a bit of flirt to mix in and give the plot a bit more depth. I really enjoyed the plot especially the murder (or is it a murder???) which is the meat of the story. I am quite looking forward to reading more about these characters and seeing where the next book takes them!
November 8, 2020
Grounds for Murder is the debut cozy mystery book by author Tara Lush. I thought this book was well done, providing the reader with a very enjoyable combination of characters and mystery. Lana Lewis is a strong likable protagonist who returns home to pick herself up after losing her job and going through a divorce. Just when she thinks her life is starting to turn around, her former barista is found dead. The question is whether he committed suicide or was this murder. This is where Lana's journalistic instincts start to kick in. What follows is her attempt to prove that the victim was murder. The author does a nice job of surrounding Lana with a good cast of secondary characters. I love her dad - he has a nice hippie vibe going on, and her new employee Erica is just the new friendship that Lana needs to push her outside of her funk. Throw in a hot local police chief who could provide a love interest and an adorable puppy named Stanley and the core secondary cast of character is complete.
The mystery kept my attention throughout the book. There are not a lot of clues that point to murder, so Lana has her work cut out if she wants to prove her gut instinct is correct. There are plenty of suspects as the victim was a womanizer, but most have a plausible alibi for the murder. As Lana asks questions she eventually uncovers the killer's identity but in a rather climactic conclusion.
I enjoyed this book and will be looking to see what the author has in store for these characters in future books. I think cozy mystery readers are going to be entertained by this story and will want to see what happens next.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy that was provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley. The thoughts expressed are my own.
The mystery kept my attention throughout the book. There are not a lot of clues that point to murder, so Lana has her work cut out if she wants to prove her gut instinct is correct. There are plenty of suspects as the victim was a womanizer, but most have a plausible alibi for the murder. As Lana asks questions she eventually uncovers the killer's identity but in a rather climactic conclusion.
I enjoyed this book and will be looking to see what the author has in store for these characters in future books. I think cozy mystery readers are going to be entertained by this story and will want to see what happens next.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy that was provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley. The thoughts expressed are my own.
December 8, 2020
Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush has Lana Lewis back home in Devil’s Beach, Florida after a series of setbacks. She is now the manager of the family coffee shop, Perkatory. Lana has entered herself and employee Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci in the Sunshine State Barista Championship. With Fab at the helm, Lana is sure Perkatory will take home the prize. Then Fab quits and goes to work for the competition leaving Lana high and dry. Lana takes out her anger out on Fab at Island Brewnette in front of a crowd. The next day, Lana finds Fab dead behind Perkatory. The forensics point to suicide. Lana knows that Fab would not harm himself and wants to prove he was murdered. Lana puts her investigative journalist skills to work tracking down Fab’s killer. Can Lana find the guilty party, or will she end up the next victim? Grounds for Murder is the debut of A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. I like that the author took the time to establish the town and our main character. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Devil’s Beach (I want to visit). The words describing the coffee will have you heading to your local coffee shop for a caffeine fix. The mystery was interesting with multiple suspects and few clues (best type of mystery to solve). We follow Lana as sets out to prove Fab was murdered and find out who killed him. I could have done with less of Lana’s thoughts regarding Noah Garcia (how handsome he is, his big muscles, how good he smells). I prefer a more subtle romance that plays out over the course of the series. I do like the chemistry between Noah and Lana. I am curious to see how their relationship will progress. Grounds for Murder is an entertaining start to A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. Grounds for Murder is a fun lighthearted cozy mystery with creative coffee art, a precious puppy, a laid-back dad, an eye-catching police chief, a curious crime, and jaded journalist.
December 8, 2020
Usually when we think about "cozy mysteries," we think of a stodgy English village and a detective like Miss Marple snooping around for clues to who offed the vicar with a vase full of posies. Never in my dreams would I have conceived of a cozy like the one that Tara Lush has come up with.
It's sent in a quirky Florida beach town, where the mysterious death of a horndog barrista sends an ex-journalist coffee-shop owner searching for the killer amid reports of monkeys attacking tourists and an odd giant eyeball washing up on the beach. (Tara, by the way, is a longtime friend & fellow reporter, but I'm being honest when I tell you that I was quite taken with this book and zoomed through the whole thing in about four days.)
After being laid off from her dream job at a Miami newspaper and divorcing her two-timing TV reporter hubby, a disappointed Lana Lewis, age 30, returns to her home town of Devil's Beach and takes over her mom's coffee shop, Perkatory. Lana is our narrator, with a bright line of chatter and a serious problem with her self-esteem after what she's been through. She is prone to occasionally blurting out, "Blergh!" to express her disgust with herself.
Her star barista is Fabrizio, a guy so sold on himself he's thinking of starting a pro wrestling career under the name "the Italian Stallion." Fab's got women lining up to get coffee from him because he's Instagram-famous and not at all shy about flirting with anyone with 2 X chromosomes. But one day he shows up working at Lana's competitor, and she yells at him for quitting without giving notice. Even worse, it's right before the big statewide barista competition. The next day, as she pulls her car into the alley behind Perkatory, she finds him dead, an apparent suicide. He must have jumped from the roof four stories up.
At least, that's the judgment of Noah, the hunky police chief who may or may not have eyes for Lana. But Lana's got a nose for news and a suspicious mind. She wangles an OK from the local newspaper editor to write a feature story about Fab, thus giving her a reason to question all the potential suspects. Also, she winds up adopting Fab's little Shih-Tzu, Stanley, who becomes crucial to catching the killer.
As Lana conducts her investigation, she uncovers all kinds of secrets in a town she thought she knew -- swinging couples, S&M play, gator poaching and possible Mafia involvement in the local drug trade. We're a looooong way from Miss Marple when Lana goes to interview a woman who makes a living sewing tails for wannabe mermaids, but hey, that's Florida!
All in all, a fun book, even for a non-coffee drinker like me. You'll be rooting for Lana to solve the crime AND win the contest, and then you'll start looking for the second book in this series.
It's sent in a quirky Florida beach town, where the mysterious death of a horndog barrista sends an ex-journalist coffee-shop owner searching for the killer amid reports of monkeys attacking tourists and an odd giant eyeball washing up on the beach. (Tara, by the way, is a longtime friend & fellow reporter, but I'm being honest when I tell you that I was quite taken with this book and zoomed through the whole thing in about four days.)
After being laid off from her dream job at a Miami newspaper and divorcing her two-timing TV reporter hubby, a disappointed Lana Lewis, age 30, returns to her home town of Devil's Beach and takes over her mom's coffee shop, Perkatory. Lana is our narrator, with a bright line of chatter and a serious problem with her self-esteem after what she's been through. She is prone to occasionally blurting out, "Blergh!" to express her disgust with herself.
Her star barista is Fabrizio, a guy so sold on himself he's thinking of starting a pro wrestling career under the name "the Italian Stallion." Fab's got women lining up to get coffee from him because he's Instagram-famous and not at all shy about flirting with anyone with 2 X chromosomes. But one day he shows up working at Lana's competitor, and she yells at him for quitting without giving notice. Even worse, it's right before the big statewide barista competition. The next day, as she pulls her car into the alley behind Perkatory, she finds him dead, an apparent suicide. He must have jumped from the roof four stories up.
At least, that's the judgment of Noah, the hunky police chief who may or may not have eyes for Lana. But Lana's got a nose for news and a suspicious mind. She wangles an OK from the local newspaper editor to write a feature story about Fab, thus giving her a reason to question all the potential suspects. Also, she winds up adopting Fab's little Shih-Tzu, Stanley, who becomes crucial to catching the killer.
As Lana conducts her investigation, she uncovers all kinds of secrets in a town she thought she knew -- swinging couples, S&M play, gator poaching and possible Mafia involvement in the local drug trade. We're a looooong way from Miss Marple when Lana goes to interview a woman who makes a living sewing tails for wannabe mermaids, but hey, that's Florida!
All in all, a fun book, even for a non-coffee drinker like me. You'll be rooting for Lana to solve the crime AND win the contest, and then you'll start looking for the second book in this series.
September 3, 2020
When Lana Lewis, former journalist and now manager of her family's coffee shop - Perkatory - finds her "casanova" barista Fabrizio (Fab) dead of an apparent suicide, she's on the trail of a killer who has her in their sights. With the help of her eccentric father, punk/goth new barista, Stanley the Shih Tzu puppy and the quirky townsfolk of Devil's Beach Florida - Lana decides to find out why Fab was murdered.
I love Lana! She's complicated, smart, kind and curious. The mystery was fast-paced and well-written and had some of the best "red herrings" I've seen. Lana is not the perfect sleuth but that's part of her charm and makes the book believable and fun to read. The characters of her father, Erica (the new barista) and police Chief Noah Garcia all are strong characters and enhance the book. The descriptions of the town of Devil's Beach were lovely and made me feel as if I was there!
I can't wait for Lana and company's next mystery!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I love Lana! She's complicated, smart, kind and curious. The mystery was fast-paced and well-written and had some of the best "red herrings" I've seen. Lana is not the perfect sleuth but that's part of her charm and makes the book believable and fun to read. The characters of her father, Erica (the new barista) and police Chief Noah Garcia all are strong characters and enhance the book. The descriptions of the town of Devil's Beach were lovely and made me feel as if I was there!
I can't wait for Lana and company's next mystery!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 7, 2021
Lana Lewis is sure her coffee shop will win the Sunshine State Barista Competition but when her best employee jumps ship to the competition her anger boils over in front of a crowd.
When this employee is found dead the next day under a palm tree in the alley behind her cafe things start to heat up in this Florida town when she is the main suspect.
Even the police are unsure of her innocence but when it turns out there are a lot of suspects from jilted lovers to a shrimp boat captain will this take some of the heat off of her?
Will she be able to clear her name and win the competition or will she be just plain steamed?
Great cast of characters kept me on my toes guessing who the suspects were. Looking forward to more books by this author.
Pub Date 08 Dec 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
When this employee is found dead the next day under a palm tree in the alley behind her cafe things start to heat up in this Florida town when she is the main suspect.
Even the police are unsure of her innocence but when it turns out there are a lot of suspects from jilted lovers to a shrimp boat captain will this take some of the heat off of her?
Will she be able to clear her name and win the competition or will she be just plain steamed?
Great cast of characters kept me on my toes guessing who the suspects were. Looking forward to more books by this author.
Pub Date 08 Dec 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
November 10, 2020
This book was not my cup of coffee. Although I liked the main character and her passion for journalism as a means to investigate and solve crimes, there was too much sexual innuendo for my cozy genre taste such as multiple mentions of bondage and sex voyeurism and her constant mention of the police chief's physical physique.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
November 22, 2023
Struggling to reclaim happiness after losing her job and a divorce Lana returns home to manage the family's coffee shop. Things were beginning to turn around but then a suspicious death changes that and her crime reporter past kicks in to find the truth.
This story has all the components that make my favorite kind of cozy - likeable protagonist, humor and a tease of romance. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This story has all the components that make my favorite kind of cozy - likeable protagonist, humor and a tease of romance. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 2, 2021
I absolute loved this cosy mystery!!!
Especially the florida setting, the coffee shop, and the main heroine!!
Am desperate for a second book!!!!
Especially the florida setting, the coffee shop, and the main heroine!!
Am desperate for a second book!!!!
December 9, 2020
I usually steer clear of cozy mysteries. They are too “soft” for me, too often fronted by a snarky female whose main job seems to be entertaining me enough so I don’t set the book down. In many cases the murderer is a long shot, pulled out of a back pocket at the last minute as a “gotcha.” I was glad to see that “Grounds for Murder” did its best to stay away from some of those pitfalls.
The lead character, Lana, has a bit of snarkiness about her, but only for a moment here or there. Mostly she is down to earth and someone who exhibits realistic qualities, such as excitement, disappointment, frustration with the situation and where her life has led her, etc. The setup for the discovery of the murder victim is perfect. In fact, I was so caught up in some of the back stories that I forgot that there would be a character who wouldn’t make it through the entire book.
While I wouldn’t call the book extraordinarily exciting, it did manage to keep my interest all the way through. Lana is a complicated lead and the supporting characters all have varying degrees of depth. I was extremely glad that the story didn’t turn into a soppy romance. Yes, there is a little bit of sexual tension but the end result is G-rated and the romance bits were not enough to cause me to skim ahead to another chapter.
Author Tara Lush’s handling of the plot was a breezy style of writing that carried me along from beginning to end. Recommended for cozy mystery lovers and anyone who wants to lose themselves in a fun read for a few hours. Four stars.
My thanks to Meryl Moss Media for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
The lead character, Lana, has a bit of snarkiness about her, but only for a moment here or there. Mostly she is down to earth and someone who exhibits realistic qualities, such as excitement, disappointment, frustration with the situation and where her life has led her, etc. The setup for the discovery of the murder victim is perfect. In fact, I was so caught up in some of the back stories that I forgot that there would be a character who wouldn’t make it through the entire book.
While I wouldn’t call the book extraordinarily exciting, it did manage to keep my interest all the way through. Lana is a complicated lead and the supporting characters all have varying degrees of depth. I was extremely glad that the story didn’t turn into a soppy romance. Yes, there is a little bit of sexual tension but the end result is G-rated and the romance bits were not enough to cause me to skim ahead to another chapter.
Author Tara Lush’s handling of the plot was a breezy style of writing that carried me along from beginning to end. Recommended for cozy mystery lovers and anyone who wants to lose themselves in a fun read for a few hours. Four stars.
My thanks to Meryl Moss Media for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
August 3, 2020
Sand, snark, and a Shih Tzu...what's not to love?
I read an ARC of Grounds for Murder, the first book in this new mystery series, and I'm so glad I did. Lush excels at painting the perfect backdrop for quirky, funny characters. The setting is a Florida beach town, and you can practically smell the coffee and sunscreen. The heroine Lana is a down-on-her-luck lady just trying to keep her coffee business afloat, when a body shows up in her alley. Like any good cozy, there are a ton of oddball characters, from Lana's hippie dad to a shifty shrimp boat captain to a dog named Stanley (who is SO cute). Will Stanley help Lana solve the crime? Will Sheriff Hunk kiss her or put her behind bars? Will Lana's coffee shop win the barista competition? All these questions and more will only be answered on the very last page of Lush's fun, flirty, foamy Floridian caper. I'm definitely adding this whole series to my TBR list.
I read an ARC of Grounds for Murder, the first book in this new mystery series, and I'm so glad I did. Lush excels at painting the perfect backdrop for quirky, funny characters. The setting is a Florida beach town, and you can practically smell the coffee and sunscreen. The heroine Lana is a down-on-her-luck lady just trying to keep her coffee business afloat, when a body shows up in her alley. Like any good cozy, there are a ton of oddball characters, from Lana's hippie dad to a shifty shrimp boat captain to a dog named Stanley (who is SO cute). Will Stanley help Lana solve the crime? Will Sheriff Hunk kiss her or put her behind bars? Will Lana's coffee shop win the barista competition? All these questions and more will only be answered on the very last page of Lush's fun, flirty, foamy Floridian caper. I'm definitely adding this whole series to my TBR list.
January 28, 2021
This has most of the negative things that tend to stick around in cozy mysteries - an annoying protagonist who butts in where she shouldn't be and isn't wanted, swooning over men when anyone with a sane mind would be focused on the fact there's a dead body of your employee in the corner, side characters that aren't fleshed out, and a focus on a pet dog that detracts more than it adds. And the mystery part is just okay. Another meh entry in a genre that always feels like it should be great but never seems to be.
April 16, 2021
Really enjoyed it! Fun and entertaining read! I can’t wait for the second one!
November 28, 2023
Grounds for Murder has me ready to reach for a piping hot cup of coffee, which is high praise considering I neither drink nor like it.
In author Tara Lush’s debut cozy mystery, former reporter and current coffee café owner Lana Lewis has worked hard to be in top shape for the Sunshine State Barista Championship. However, when her employee and teammate, Fab, quits at the last minute, Lana has some choice (and very public) words for him. So when Fab is then found dead in the alley near her shop shortly after, her outburst lands her somewhere near the top of potential suspects.
It’s a classic case of the main sleuth having to clear her name, even though the police pull away from that line of thinking fairly quickly. Instead of relying on Lana’s possible guilt, Lush finds tension by exploring the chemistry between Lana and the sheriff performing the official investigation. As their platonic relationship grows and the sheriff considers potential theories, so do their obvious feelings. Many cozies have their heroines fall for law enforcement officials, but this is one of the few times I can see sleuthing creating a wedge between them in future installments. Lana is complex and naturally inquisitive and being turned away from a case, even by a well-meaning person she cares for, won’t work. It’s a compelling roadblock with potential ramifications for later in the series.
As to the mystery itself, it’s coated in coffee. Sometimes in cozies, the hook can take a backseat to the action, but Lush makes them work in tandem. The sleuth is a barista. The victim is a barista. He’s a murdered outside a coffee shop. All the secondary characters are either drinking coffee or waiting on their next cup. And Lana knows the best way to get someone to spill the beans is with the bribe of a hot drink. Lush has created the perfect backdrop for starting an investigation.
Even so, Grounds for Murder is strongest outside the café, where Lana’s background in reporting takes over as she hunts for the killer. She has a knack for reading people, and the Sunshine States setting provides plenty of unique characters who could only be found there. From a pot-loving dad to an alligator poacher and a mermaid tail crafter, Lana tosses hardly a second glance at the off-kilter world she’s thrust into outside her shop, resulting in some genuinely funny encounters.
With fun characters, an interesting mystery, and plenty of romantic tension, Tara Lush has brewed up the perfect start to a series.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
In author Tara Lush’s debut cozy mystery, former reporter and current coffee café owner Lana Lewis has worked hard to be in top shape for the Sunshine State Barista Championship. However, when her employee and teammate, Fab, quits at the last minute, Lana has some choice (and very public) words for him. So when Fab is then found dead in the alley near her shop shortly after, her outburst lands her somewhere near the top of potential suspects.
It’s a classic case of the main sleuth having to clear her name, even though the police pull away from that line of thinking fairly quickly. Instead of relying on Lana’s possible guilt, Lush finds tension by exploring the chemistry between Lana and the sheriff performing the official investigation. As their platonic relationship grows and the sheriff considers potential theories, so do their obvious feelings. Many cozies have their heroines fall for law enforcement officials, but this is one of the few times I can see sleuthing creating a wedge between them in future installments. Lana is complex and naturally inquisitive and being turned away from a case, even by a well-meaning person she cares for, won’t work. It’s a compelling roadblock with potential ramifications for later in the series.
As to the mystery itself, it’s coated in coffee. Sometimes in cozies, the hook can take a backseat to the action, but Lush makes them work in tandem. The sleuth is a barista. The victim is a barista. He’s a murdered outside a coffee shop. All the secondary characters are either drinking coffee or waiting on their next cup. And Lana knows the best way to get someone to spill the beans is with the bribe of a hot drink. Lush has created the perfect backdrop for starting an investigation.
Even so, Grounds for Murder is strongest outside the café, where Lana’s background in reporting takes over as she hunts for the killer. She has a knack for reading people, and the Sunshine States setting provides plenty of unique characters who could only be found there. From a pot-loving dad to an alligator poacher and a mermaid tail crafter, Lana tosses hardly a second glance at the off-kilter world she’s thrust into outside her shop, resulting in some genuinely funny encounters.
With fun characters, an interesting mystery, and plenty of romantic tension, Tara Lush has brewed up the perfect start to a series.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
September 27, 2020
What an enjoyable read! My first thought after finishing was that I can't wait for the next one. This cozy mystery was full of funny lines. The author has a great sense of humor. With lines like "creep up on me while breathing like a monster and dressed like a ghost" and quirky names of businesses like Island Brewnette, Whim So Doodle, and main character Lana's coffee shop, Perkatory there is a lot of fun with words. Throw in fun characters like her yoga loving Dad and Noah the police Chief\potential love interest, plus a giant eyeball and there is a lot to love.
And then there's the mystery. Lana had a plausible reason for investigating the death of her barista, Fab, due to being a former journalist. I was pleasantly surprised by the different things she did in her hunt for the truth. It felt like a real investigation. I also loved who the first character on the scene was during the pivotal moment with the killer and how they helped. The setting in Devil's Beach was nice and I was able to imagine a lot of it. I was surprised to find this is the author's first book.
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read!
And then there's the mystery. Lana had a plausible reason for investigating the death of her barista, Fab, due to being a former journalist. I was pleasantly surprised by the different things she did in her hunt for the truth. It felt like a real investigation. I also loved who the first character on the scene was during the pivotal moment with the killer and how they helped. The setting in Devil's Beach was nice and I was able to imagine a lot of it. I was surprised to find this is the author's first book.
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read!
July 28, 2022
After crashing and burning in both her personal and professional life, Lana moves back home to run the family coffee shop. After having an argument with a former employee on her way out of town to accept an award, she comes back only to discover his body outside the store. Lana, as a former journalist feels the need to investigate what is being considered a possible suicide. She does not believe it is. Fab was a ladies man, a man about town with more women as suspects, and some men than Lana can count. On top of that, there’s some other illegal activities going on that may be connected to Fab’s death.
From a marijuana addicted, hippie father, a new employee who is more concerned with where her next drink is coming from, but is super supportive, and is an awesome barista, to a possible relationship with the new chief of police, Noah, Lana has a lot in her mind as she investigates Fab’s death and cares for his dog Stanley.
From a marijuana addicted, hippie father, a new employee who is more concerned with where her next drink is coming from, but is super supportive, and is an awesome barista, to a possible relationship with the new chief of police, Noah, Lana has a lot in her mind as she investigates Fab’s death and cares for his dog Stanley.
December 3, 2021
What a fun book! Author Tara Lush has created the perfect little quirky Florida-Island town just ripe for murder. With a collection of interesting characters and a little romance sprinkled throughout, this cozy kept me guessing and wondering who-dunnit to the very end. And, if you're any kind of coffee lover, there is plenty here to keep your taste buds brewing as you follow Lana and her investigative instincts as she tries to find the killer among her island neighbors. Tara Lush has mixed in everything a great cozy needs to keep you hooked from the first page to the very last line.
May 9, 2022
Questo libro è stato una piacevole sorpresa. Sono contenta che la protagonista cerchi sempre di aggiornare il capo della polizia con le sue scoperte, tenendo anche conto che è una ex-giornalista, ma trovo che alla fine si prenda un rischio troppo alto. Anche perché per me era chiaro da un po' chi fosse il colpevole...
January 3, 2021
Such a fun cozy mystery! I especially enjoyed the Florida setting and humor, Lana using her journalism skills to solve the case, her quirky dad, and the love interest :) Looking forward to what happens next in Devil's Beach!
December 2, 2020
This is my kind of cozy. Bawdy. Smart. Emotional. Funny. Sexy. I loved every aspect of the heroine and the chief. The mystery kept me guessing throughout. I loved the reveal at the end. This is my first cozy by Tara Lush, but it won't be my last. I can't wait until her next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a chance to read this awesome cozy mystery. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a chance to read this awesome cozy mystery. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
December 26, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
What a great start to a new series! We meet Lana as she is running the family coffee shop on an island off the coast of Florida. An adorable small town feel comes with this location as everyone knows everyone else. She has one main employee who is quite the character posting online all the time while flirting with everyone. Things are great until he doesn't show up for work one day. Her dad, who is all into the local gossip, finds he is working at the other coffee place having given absolutely no notice. Lana goes off on him in a very public way before she leaves on an over night trip to Miami. Upon her return she finds him dead in the alley behind the shop. She quickly becomes a suspect making it necessary for her to look into things. This makes for quite the investigation as her hippie dad helps in a cooky way and a puppy adds his own two cents. The laid back island vibe makes for a relaxing adventure as the clues start popping up as the secrets reveal themselves. Makes for a well written cozy that readers are sure to love. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
What a great start to a new series! We meet Lana as she is running the family coffee shop on an island off the coast of Florida. An adorable small town feel comes with this location as everyone knows everyone else. She has one main employee who is quite the character posting online all the time while flirting with everyone. Things are great until he doesn't show up for work one day. Her dad, who is all into the local gossip, finds he is working at the other coffee place having given absolutely no notice. Lana goes off on him in a very public way before she leaves on an over night trip to Miami. Upon her return she finds him dead in the alley behind the shop. She quickly becomes a suspect making it necessary for her to look into things. This makes for quite the investigation as her hippie dad helps in a cooky way and a puppy adds his own two cents. The laid back island vibe makes for a relaxing adventure as the clues start popping up as the secrets reveal themselves. Makes for a well written cozy that readers are sure to love. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
January 15, 2021
**I listened to this as an audiobook after the release and the narrator was great as Lana.
I read an ARC of Grounds for Murder and Tara Lush is definitely on my auto-buy list for future cozy mysteries. A coffee shop murder, a quirky Florida town, a savvy former-reporter sleuth, and the cutest little rescue shih-tzu: so much to love here.
Lana's hometown of Devil's Beach, Florida is filled with an eccentric cast of characters and suspects. I found myself wanting to hang out with Lana, Erika, and Lana's hippy dad while they baked and prepped for the barista contest and solved Fab's murder. The writing was sharp and witty. The mystery provided a fun puzzle to unravel. Basically everything I love in a cozy. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
I read an ARC of Grounds for Murder and Tara Lush is definitely on my auto-buy list for future cozy mysteries. A coffee shop murder, a quirky Florida town, a savvy former-reporter sleuth, and the cutest little rescue shih-tzu: so much to love here.
Lana's hometown of Devil's Beach, Florida is filled with an eccentric cast of characters and suspects. I found myself wanting to hang out with Lana, Erika, and Lana's hippy dad while they baked and prepped for the barista contest and solved Fab's murder. The writing was sharp and witty. The mystery provided a fun puzzle to unravel. Basically everything I love in a cozy. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
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