Cleo Coyle

Name: On What Grounds
Author: Cleo Coyle

American · 2 series

Amateur sleuth Culinary mystery Romance subplot

By The Editorial Team · Last reviewed April 2026

Who is Cleo Coyle?

Cleo Coyle is the pen name of husband-and-wife writing team Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini, both experienced authors who joined forces to create some of the most beloved culinary cosy mysteries in the genre. Together they have built two long-running series that combine sharp mysteries, richly drawn communities, and a genuine love of food and books.

Their flagship series, the Coffeehouse Mystery, is set at the Village Blend, a storied Greenwich Village coffeehouse managed by Clare Cosi. A divorced mother juggling a teenage daughter, an ex-husband she cannot quite let go of, and a boss she has complicated feelings for, Clare has an inconvenient gift for stumbling into murder. The series launched in 2003 and has run to 21 books and counting — a remarkable achievement that speaks to how completely the authors conjured both their protagonist and her world. Every novel includes coffee recipes, barista tips, and seasonal drinks that readers actually make at home. The blend of Manhattan atmosphere, coffeehouse culture, and Clare’s warm but wry voice has made the series a perennial favourite.

Their second series, the Haunted Bookshop Mystery, was originally published under the pen name Alice Kimberly before being reissued under the Cleo Coyle name. Set in a small-town Rhode Island bookshop, it follows bookshop owner Penelope McClure and the ghost of a 1940s private detective named Jack Shepard who haunts the premises and helps her solve crimes. The series blends cosy mystery with a light supernatural twist and a charming will-they-won’t-they dynamic between the living and the dead.

New York Times bestselling authors, Alfonsi and Cerasini bring genuine craft to both series: the plotting is tight, the characters are warmly consistent across many books, and the recipes and atmosphere are never an afterthought.

Quick facts

Pen name for husband-and-wife duo Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini
New York Times bestselling authors
Every Coffeehouse Mystery novel includes coffee recipes and tips
Coffeehouse Mystery: 21 books, ongoing since 2003
Haunted Bookshop Mystery: originally as Alice Kimberly, reissued as Cleo Coyle
Set in Greenwich Village (Coffeehouse) and Rhode Island (Bookshop)

What order should I read Cleo Coyle’s books?

Each series is independent, so you can start with either. Most readers begin with the Coffeehouse Mystery as it is longer and more firmly established. Start at book one, On What Grounds, and read in publication order — Clare’s personal life and the Village Blend’s ensemble develop in ways that reward sequential reading. For the supernatural mystery flavour, begin the Haunted Bookshop Mystery with The Ghost and Mrs. McClure.

Coffeehouse Mystery

1
On What Grounds (2003)
Clare Cosi returns to manage the Village Blend and discovers one of her baristas dead in the alley — her unwilling introduction to amateur detection in Greenwich Village.
2
Through the Grinder (2004)
A string of deaths among women who frequent the Village Blend forces Clare to investigate whether a serial killer is targeting her customers.
3
Latte Trouble (2005)
A coffee trade show brings industry rivals and a murder to Manhattan, drawing Clare into a world of competitive business and deadly secrets.
4
Murder Most Frothy (2006)
Clare takes a summer job managing a Hamptons coffee bar and finds that wealth and privilege do nothing to prevent murder among the social elite.
5
Decaffeinated Corpse (2007)
A rare coffee bean and a dead importer pull Clare into a mystery that reaches from the streets of New York to the coffee farms of Central America.
6
French Pressed (2008)
A fashion world murder brings Clare into Manhattan's glamorous and cutthroat design industry, where everyone has something to hide.
7
Espresso Shot (2008)
A celebrity wedding at the Village Blend goes tragically wrong when a murder threatens to derail the event and Clare's investigation puts her in danger.
8
Holiday Grind (2009)
A department store Santa is found dead near the Village Blend, and Clare must untangle a seasonal mystery while keeping her coffeehouse running through the holiday rush.
9
Roast Mortem (2010)
When a series of suspicious fires strikes New York coffeehouses and a firefighter is killed, Clare investigates a case that hits dangerously close to home.
10
Murder by Mocha (2011)
A chocolate and coffee aphrodisiac product launches into scandal when its creator is murdered, and Clare must navigate a world of culinary business rivalries.
11
A Brew to a Kill (2012)
Food truck culture comes to Greenwich Village and brings murder with it, as Clare investigates a poisoning amid the competitive New York street food scene.
12
Holiday Buzz (2012)
A charity cookie swap at the Village Blend turns deadly when a guest is found poisoned, and Clare must find the killer before the holidays are ruined.
13
Billionaire Blend (2013)
A group of young tech billionaires commissions an exclusive coffee blend from Clare, and when one of them is murdered, she is drawn into a world of vast wealth and vaster secrets.
14
Once Upon a Grind (2014)
A Central Park fairy-tale festival provides the backdrop for a kidnapping and murder that Clare must solve while managing a special event for the Village Blend.
15
Dead to the Last Drop (2015)
Clare manages a pop-up coffeehouse in Washington DC and finds herself entangled in a political conspiracy when a government official is murdered.
16
Dead Cold Brew (2017)
The cold brew coffee trend collides with an old Village Blend rivalry when a competitor is found dead and Clare must dig into decades-old grudges.
17
Shot in the Dark (2018)
A series of drugged drinks at Manhattan bars sends Clare undercover into the city's nightlife scene to find a predator before another victim falls.
18
Brewed Awakening (2019)
Clare wakes up with no memory of the past week and must piece together what happened to her — and who is trying to make sure she never remembers.
19
Honey Roasted (2022)
A rooftop beekeeping project at the Village Blend leads Clare into a murder investigation tied to New York's urban farming community and local food politics.
20
Bulletproof Barista (2023)
A film shoot at the Village Blend brings Hollywood drama and a very real murder, forcing Clare to investigate among actors and crew who are all playing roles.
21
No Roast for the Weary (2025)
Clare's world is upended when a murder at a prestigious coffee competition puts her closest relationships under threat and tests everything she has built.

Haunted Bookshop Mystery

1
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure (2004)
Widowed Penelope McClure moves to Quindicott to run her aunt's bookshop and discovers she can hear the ghost of a murdered 1940s private eye who is determined to help her solve a very modern crime.
2
The Ghost and the Dead Deb (2005)
A wealthy socialite is found dead after a Buy the Book event, and Pen must work with Jack's ghost to navigate a world of old money and buried scandal.
3
The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library (2006)
A rare book collection brings a dangerous buyer to Quindicott, and when a body surfaces, Pen and Jack must untangle a mystery rooted in literary crime.
4
The Ghost and the Femme Fatale (2008)
A film noir festival at Buy the Book attracts a mysterious woman with a deadly past, and Pen finds herself in a real-life noir plot with Jack's guidance.
5
The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion (2009)
A local historical mansion's renovation uncovers old secrets and a very fresh murder, sending Pen and Jack deep into Quindicott's hidden history.
6
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller (2018)
A self-published thriller becomes a runaway hit under suspicious circumstances, and when the author is found dead, Pen suspects the success was built on something darker than clever marketing.
7
The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait (2020)
A painting with a troubled provenance arrives in Quindicott and its owner is murdered, leaving Pen and Jack to investigate a mystery woven through decades of art world deception.
8
The Ghost and the Stolen Tears (2022)
A legendary diamond necklace with a history of tragedy resurfaces in Quindicott, and when theft turns to murder, Pen must trace a trail of greed across generations.
9
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs (2023)
A dog show comes to Quindicott and brings a community of passionate competitors — and a murderer — to Pen's doorstep, with Jack offering his usual sardonic assistance from beyond.

If you enjoy Cleo Coyle, try...

Diane Mott Davidson — Culinary mysteries with recipes and small-town charm
Joanne Fluke — Food-themed cosy mysteries with long-running series