Death of a Bean Counter

Balzo’s 12th Maggy Thorsen mystery (after 2019’s Murder à la Mocha) is as fresh as the pecan rolls Maggy serves at her Uncommon Grounds coffeehouse in Brookhills, Wis. Sarah Kingston, a partner in the shop, has recently sold her real estate firm and decided to devote her full attention to Uncommon Grounds. The gung-ho businesswoman is filled with ideas to improve, expand, and change the character of the business, much to Maggy’s chagrin. But any modifications to the coffeehouse move to the back burner when the shop’s faithful barista, Amy Caprese, becomes a suspect in the death of her boyfriend, Kip Fargo, a corporate attorney and owner of Fargo Financial, an investment firm. Kip was many things, including cheap and condescending, and as Maggy digs deeper in an attempt to clear Amy, she learns that most of his clients were dissatisfied and angry. Balzo smoothly blends eccentric characters, lively dialogue, and a fair-play plot with a touch of discreet romance. Cozy fans will happily keep turning the pages. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary. (Apr.)