As the manager of the Village Blend coffee shop, Clare Cosi is always on the lookout for a better way to roast the shop's premier coffee beans. So, she agrees to accompany her ex-mother-in-law (and boss) Madame Dubois to Queens to visit her old friend, Enzo Testa, owner of the Caffe Lucia, to pick up an antique 1921 coffee roaster for the shop. But while they are there, an explosion destroys the old coffeehouse, despite the efforts of the brave New York firefighters to save it.

Having barely escaped the flames, there is something about the suspicious fire that has Clare wondering if it was an accident or set on purpose-- especially when the list of suspects becomes as long as her arm! Being the natural sleuth that she is, Clare begins nosing around trying to find out exactly what happened, much to the chagrin of her boyfriend, NYPD Detective Mike Quinn.

Things really begin to heat up when Mike's cousin, NYFD Captain Michael Quinn, puts the moves on Clare when she comes to the firehouse to teach his firemen how to use a new espresso machine. The long-time family rivalry between the two cousins smolders as Clare continues to look for clues to the rash of coffeehouse fires that has broken out across the five boroughs of New York City. She hopes to catch the arsonist before her own coffeehouse is targeted, and before any more firefighters are endangered.

ROAST MORTEM is the 9th book in Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse Mystery Series. In my opinion, this is the best story to date in this thrilling series. Coyle incorporates a taste of the real-life bravery of the New York City Fire Department into her brilliantly fast-paced mystery, giving readers a glimpse into the lives of some of the hardest working men and women in America. Dedicating this book to the fire fighters, paramedics, and police officers who lost their lives on September 11th, Coyle pays tribute to the their bravery and selfless acts of courage, the likes of which this country has rarely seen.

As always, Coyle includes a bevy of delicious mouth-watering recipes plus an in-depth guide to roasting coffee beans that will thrill any foodie/cozy mystery fan.