Ground Rules Mystery

Master barista Sage Caplin is opening a new coffee cart in Portland, Oregon, but a killer is brewing up a world of trouble... Portland is famous for its rain, hipsters, craft beers... and coffee. Sage Caplin has high hopes for her coffee cart, Ground Rules, which she runs with her business partner, Harley-a genius at roasting beans and devising new blends. That's essential in a city where locals have intensely strong opinions about cappuccino versus macchiato-especially in the case of one of Sage's very first customers... Sage finds the man's body in front of her cart, a fatal slash across his neck. There's been plenty of anger in the air, from longtime vendors annoyed at Ground Rules taking a coveted spot in the food truck lot, to protesters demonstrating against a new high-rise. But who was mad enough to commit murder? Sage is already fending off trouble in the form of her estranged, con artist mother, who's trying to trickle back into her life. But when Sage's very own box cutter is discovered to be the murder weapon, she needs to focus on finding the killer fast-before her business, and her life, come to a bitter end . . .

Sage Caplin is taking her Portland coffee cart on the road to a sustainable music festival, but murder is an unwanted special guest... At Campathon, an annual eco-friendly festival held on a farm outside of Portland, fans celebrate the Pacific Northwest's music scene in quintessential PDX style-with gourmet food carts, reusable utensils... and lots of coffee. How else to get through three days of nonstop entertainment? Sage has scored a coveted place for her Ground Rules coffee cart thanks to her new-ish boyfriend, Bax, who's friendly with Maya, one of the musicians performing. The festivities begin with a stream of customers, friends, and acquaintances stopping by for Ground Rules' world-class blends, expertly brewed by Sage and her newest barista. But there are tensions between Maya and her former bandmates, who are on the cusp of making it big, and with Ian, the band's manager. When Sage stumbles upon Ian's dead body in the nearby woods-his hand still clutching one of her coffee mugs-it's clear that someone's grudge boiled over into murder. Can Sage work out who's responsible before another innocent life fades out, and the curtain falls on Campathon, and maybe her own future, for good?

With its hipster-run Portland food truck pod and focus on real-world social issues like homelessness, gentrification, school affordability, and bicycle commuting, this third Ground Rules Mystery is a fresh, modern cozy featuring coffee barista Sage Caplin. She's ready to take a shot at a new side hustle-her boyfriend's gaming company-until a programmer's pranks get him burned . . . To top off her coffee business, Sage is now helping out with her boyfriend Bax's gaming company. Conveniently for Sage, it's located next door to her Ground Rules Roastery. That makes it easy for her to pitch in with Bax's employee team-building event. The plan is to boost morale with a scavenger hunt. And it seems to be going well-until Robbie, a programmer known for being a prankster, turns up dead in Sage's roastery . . . There are two suspects so far: Sage, who has no idea how the victim ended up in her space; and Bax, who was allegedly spotted arguing with Robbie the day before. But could it be a disgruntled employee? After all, Robbie's sense of humor was known to have rubbed some coworkers the wrong way. Now, it's up to Sage to find the culprit-before another life grinds to a halt.

A fresh-voiced and witty cozy mystery series set in Portland, Oregon, from rising star Emmeline Duncan, starring twenty-something master barista Sage Caplin. Perfect for coffee-lovers, cozy listeners, and fans of Cleo Coyle's “Coffeehouse Mysteries.” Ground Rules isn't the only newcomer set to open in Portland's grand new Button Building. Fortunately, most of the fellow micro-restaurant owners and patrons are great, with two exceptions. There's Rose, a true-crime podcaster and active TikToker who's pestering Sage for an interview about her estranged con-artist mother; and Bianca, the familiar and perpetually unpleasant owner of Breakfast Bandits. Bianca is abrasive to everyone, so Sage doesn't feel singled out... Until Bianca falls dead at the building's grand opening, a to-go cup of Ground Rules coffee in her hand. Laced with Ketamine, also known as Special K. It doesn't help that just before she collapsed, Bianca was publicly rude to Sage. Or that Bianca's boyfriend points the police toward Sage. Or that Rose, still hung up on investigating Sage's mom, has declared she'll solve the murder. Now it will be up to Sage to sift through a complex blend of motives, blackmail, and old and new rivalries to get to the truth of a very bitter brew...

Twenty-something master barista and owner of Portland, Oregon's popular Ground Rules coffee cart, Sage Caplin is ready to celebrate her growing business at a weekend long maker's festival, complete with live music, a cornhole tournament, 4th of July fireworks-and murder . . . In addition to her beloved coffees, Sage is thrilled to be expanding her offerings in collaboration with the local whiskey company that is throwing the festival. But among the crowd of artists and creators, Sage is surprised to spot Left Coast Grinds owner Mark Jeffries, who has it out for Ground Rules. The distillery didn't invite Mark and they apologize. But nothing can make up for the glare Mark aims at Sage and her co-owner, Harley. And that's just a taste of what's to come . . . Soon Mark incites a loud argument with Harley and is ousted from the property. But later that night, Sage finds Mark's body by the Ground Rules Subaru. She knows that when investigators learn that Harley and Mark had a history of butting heads, Harley will be a prime suspect-and she's right. But Mark rubbed many people the wrong way, and several are at the festival. Now Sage will have to filter through secrets, grudges, and blackmail to get to the bitter truth-and as her sleuthing heats up, the closing fireworks won't just be the ones in the sky . . .