Cleo Coyle Books in Order
Browse Cleo Coyle books in order, with quick summaries, series guides, and tips on where to start with the Coffeehouse and Haunted Bookshop mysteries.
Last updated: July 12, 2026
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Cleo Coyle books in publication order
32 books
On What Grounds
by Cleo Coyle
2003
Clare Cosi returns to manage Greenwich Village's Village Blend and finds her assistant manager badly hurt in the back room. When police call it an accident, Clare starts asking sharper questions.
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure
by Cleo Coyle
2004
Widowed bookseller Penelope Thornton-McClure is just trying to keep her aunt's Rhode Island shop afloat when a famous author dies at an event. Her strangest clue comes from the resident ghost, Jack Shepard.
Through the Grinder
by Cleo Coyle
2004
A customer's apparent suicide draws Clare back into sleuthing when Detective Quinn suspects foul play. The case gets personal when Clare's promising new romance lands in the center of the investigation.
Latte Trouble
by Cleo Coyle
2005
The Village Blend caters a fashion week launch party, and one poisoned latte turns the evening into a murder case. Clare has to clear her trusted barista before the real killer strikes again.
The Ghost and the Dead Deb
by Cleo Coyle
2005
A sensational true-crime book stirs up old family grudges in coastal Rhode Island. When Pen's event turns deadly, she and Jack dig into a cold case the town never really buried.
Murder Most Frothy
by Cleo Coyle
2006
Clare spends the summer in the Hamptons, training staff at a luxury restaurant's coffee bar. A murder and a suspicious fire turn the seaside getaway into serious trouble.
The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library
by Cleo Coyle
2006
A rare Poe collection may hide a coded trail to treasure, and people start dying around the books. Pen and Jack have to solve the puzzle before the next buyer pays with a life.
Decaffeinated Corpse
by Cleo Coyle
2007
A coffee grower's breakthrough plant could change the industry, until someone tries to kill him. Clare follows the trail into scandal, sabotage, and an international suspect list.
Poetry in Motion
by Cleo Coyle
2007
A creative project gives East High students a chance to express what they really feel. Poems, crushes, and performance nerves all get tangled together.
Espresso Shot
by Cleo Coyle
2008
Clare is hired to create a gourmet coffee bar for a society wedding, but the bride brings drama everywhere she goes. Then deadly accidents make the job much darker.
French Pressed
by Cleo Coyle
2008
Joy's work at a top French restaurant turns deadly, and the police start looking at Clare's daughter. Clare dives into the restaurant world to clear Joy's name.
The Ghost and the Femme Fatale
by Cleo Coyle
2008
A film noir festival brings old Hollywood glamour and present-day danger to Quindicott. Pen and Jack investigate when an aging screen legend's return turns deadly.
Holiday Grind
by Cleo Coyle
2009
Christmas in New York takes a grim turn when Clare finds a charity Santa shot in an alley. She refuses to believe it was random and starts digging.
The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion
by Cleo Coyle
2009
A supposedly haunted property and a threatened exorcism put Jack's own afterlife at risk. Pen has to solve the case before her favorite ghost disappears for good.
Roast Mortem
by Cleo Coyle
2010
When a friend's café is torched, Clare looks into the fire and finds murder waiting behind it. The deeper she digs, the more danger spreads to firefighters and friends.
Murder by Mocha
by Cleo Coyle
2011
A dangerous new coffee product and a murder investigation pull Clare into online hype and very real greed. What starts as a trendy business idea turns deadly fast.
A Brew to a Kill
by Cleo Coyle
2012
Clare's Washington trip turns risky when the President's daughter disappears and her own name lands on a suspect list. The case forces her to run toward the truth, not away from it.
Holiday Buzz
by Cleo Coyle
2012
At a festive cookie swap, Clare finds a young baker's assistant badly beaten and soon learns the holiday cheer is hiding murder. The trail leads through parties, publicity, and plenty of suspects.
Billionaire Blend
by Cleo Coyle
2013
After Clare helps save a tech billionaire from a car bomb, he hires her to create an outrageously expensive coffee. The richer his world looks, the more dangerous it becomes.
Once Upon a Grind
by Cleo Coyle
2014
A fairy-tale themed festival in Central Park turns sinister when Clare finds a model's body in the woods. The case mixes cold-war shadows with very modern suspects.
Dead to the Last Drop
by Cleo Coyle
2015
Clare heads to Washington, where the new Village Blend branch is struggling until politics and scandal take over. A kidnapping and a deadly twist pull her straight into the case.
Dead Cold Brew
by Cleo Coyle
2017
Mike Quinn's proposal uncovers a cold case tied to a sunken ocean liner and an old family scandal. Romance and danger rise together as Clare follows the trail.
Shot in the Dark
by Cleo Coyle
2018
Gunfire erupts inside the Village Blend, and Clare's quick actions save a young woman. The viral aftermath wrecks business and leads Clare to a body in the water.
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller
by Cleo Coyle
2018
A runaway bestseller brings lethal trouble to Pen's little shop when readers start dying around its secrets. Jack helps trace the fiction back to a very real old crime.
Brewed Awakening
by Cleo Coyle
2019
Clare wakes up in Washington Square Park with days missing from her memory and people insisting she is engaged. To clear herself, she has to recover what she forgot before police decide she helped a killer.
The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait
by Cleo Coyle
2020
A haunting painting and a string of accidents convince Pen that art can be as dangerous as it is beautiful. Jack's old detective knowledge may be the only way through.
Honey Roasted
by Cleo Coyle
2021
When Clare finds a famous urban beekeeper badly hurt after an apparent fall, she doubts the easy explanation. Her search leads into food startups, chefs, and competitive beekeeping.
The Ghost and the Stolen Tears
by Cleo Coyle
2022
An eccentric librarian's death looks wrong from the start, and Pen sets out to clear an innocent woman. Jack's help leads the case from graveyards to grand old homes.
Bulletproof Barista
by Cleo Coyle
2023
A streaming show films at the Village Blend, and make-believe murder quickly turns real. Clare and her crew end up in the middle of a true crime scene.
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs
by Cleo Coyle
2023
Pet Mystery Week brings a lost dog to Pen's door and leads her to an injured local woman. When police call it an accident, Pen and Jack follow the canine clue trail themselves.
No Roast for the Weary
by Cleo Coyle
2025
Clare launches a writers' lounge to revive business, only to uncover dark history tied to the very room she is reopening. Then a shocking secret turns literary ambition fatal.
Eat, Drink, and Get Buried
by Cleo Coyle
2026
A rooftop party catered by the Village Blend should be a glittering success. Instead, a shocking murder steals the night and sends Clare after the truth.
Where to start with Cleo Coyle
If you want the signature coffeehouse mysteries: On What Grounds → Through the Grinder → Latte Trouble
If you like paranormal cozy mysteries: The Ghost and Mrs. McClure → The Ghost and the Dead Deb → The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library
If you want newer Coffeehouse books first: Honey Roasted → Bulletproof Barista → No Roast for the Weary
If you want the younger tie-in side of their work: What You See Is What You Get → Path of Revenge → Poetry in Motion
Cleo Coyle sub-series and character series
Coffeehouse Mystery (Cleo Coyle) books in order
Explore this series
On What Grounds
by Cleo Coyle
2003Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 1
Through the Grinder
by Cleo Coyle
2004Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 2
Latte Trouble
by Cleo Coyle
2005Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 3
Murder Most Frothy
by Cleo Coyle
2006Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 4
Decaffeinated Corpse
by Cleo Coyle
2007Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 5
Espresso Shot
by Cleo Coyle
2008Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 7
French Pressed
by Cleo Coyle
2008Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 6
Holiday Grind
by Cleo Coyle
2009Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 8
Roast Mortem
by Cleo Coyle
2010Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 9
Murder by Mocha
by Cleo Coyle
2011Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 10
A Brew to a Kill
by Cleo Coyle
2012Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 11
Holiday Buzz
by Cleo Coyle
2012Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 12
Billionaire Blend
by Cleo Coyle
2013Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 13
Once Upon a Grind
by Cleo Coyle
2014Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 14
Dead to the Last Drop
by Cleo Coyle
2015Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 15
Dead Cold Brew
by Cleo Coyle
2017Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 16
Shot in the Dark
by Cleo Coyle
2018Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 17
Brewed Awakening
by Cleo Coyle
2019Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 18
Honey Roasted
by Cleo Coyle
2021Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 19
Bulletproof Barista
by Cleo Coyle
2023Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 20
No Roast for the Weary
by Cleo Coyle
2025Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 21
Eat, Drink, and Get Buried
by Cleo Coyle
2026Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 22
Coffeehouse Mystery (Cleo Coyle) books in chronological order

On What Grounds
by Cleo Coyle
2003Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 1
Through the Grinder
by Cleo Coyle
2004Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 2
Latte Trouble
by Cleo Coyle
2005Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 3
Murder Most Frothy
by Cleo Coyle
2006Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 4
Decaffeinated Corpse
by Cleo Coyle
2007Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 5
French Pressed
by Cleo Coyle
2008Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 6
Espresso Shot
by Cleo Coyle
2008Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 7
Holiday Grind
by Cleo Coyle
2009Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 8
Roast Mortem
by Cleo Coyle
2010Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 9
Murder by Mocha
by Cleo Coyle
2011Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 10
A Brew to a Kill
by Cleo Coyle
2012Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 11
Holiday Buzz
by Cleo Coyle
2012Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 12
Billionaire Blend
by Cleo Coyle
2013Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 13
Once Upon a Grind
by Cleo Coyle
2014Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 14
Dead to the Last Drop
by Cleo Coyle
2015Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 15
Dead Cold Brew
by Cleo Coyle
2017Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 16
Shot in the Dark
by Cleo Coyle
2018Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 17
Brewed Awakening
by Cleo Coyle
2019Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 18
Honey Roasted
by Cleo Coyle
2021Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 19
Bulletproof Barista
by Cleo Coyle
2023Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 20
No Roast for the Weary
by Cleo Coyle
2025Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 21
Eat, Drink, and Get Buried
by Cleo Coyle
2026Coffeehouse Mystery, Book 22
Haunted Bookshop Mystery (Cleo Coyle) books in order
Explore this series
The Ghost and Mrs. McClure
by Cleo Coyle
2004Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 1
The Ghost and the Dead Deb
by Cleo Coyle
2005Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 2
The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library
by Cleo Coyle
2006Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 3
The Ghost and the Femme Fatale
by Cleo Coyle
2008Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 4
The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion
by Cleo Coyle
2009Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 5
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller
by Cleo Coyle
2018Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 6
The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait
by Cleo Coyle
2020Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 7
The Ghost and the Stolen Tears
by Cleo Coyle
2022Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 8
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs
by Cleo Coyle
2023Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 9
Haunted Bookshop Mystery (Cleo Coyle) books in chronological order

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure
by Cleo Coyle
2004Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 1
The Ghost and the Dead Deb
by Cleo Coyle
2005Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 2
The Ghost and the Dead Man's Library
by Cleo Coyle
2006Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 3
The Ghost and the Femme Fatale
by Cleo Coyle
2008Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 4
The Ghost and the Haunted Mansion
by Cleo Coyle
2009Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 5
The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller
by Cleo Coyle
2018Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 6
The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait
by Cleo Coyle
2020Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 7
The Ghost and the Stolen Tears
by Cleo Coyle
2022Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 8
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs
by Cleo Coyle
2023Haunted Bookshop Mystery, Book 9
High School Musical: East High books in order
Explore this seriesAuthor bio
Cleo Coyle is the pen name Alice Alfonsi uses when she writes with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Together they have built one of the more distinctive careers in popular mystery fiction, mixing cozy setups, sharp humor, and a lot of real-world detail.
Alice and Marc both grew up in working-class Italian American neighborhoods in western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. They came to New York by different paths, but they shared the same pull toward publishing, journalism, and city life.
Alice studied journalism, spent a semester in Washington, D.C. interning at the Federal Times, and graduated from Carnegie Mellon before moving to New York in 1984. She began there as a cub reporter for The New York Times. Marc had arrived earlier, in 1979, and worked in publishing as a magazine editor, critic, and author, writing both fiction and nonfiction.
That publishing world is where they met.
They married in 2000, and before long they were writing together almost as naturally as some couples cook dinner. When they started shaping their own mystery series, they chose a setting that could bring all kinds of people through one door, a Greenwich Village coffeehouse with history, regulars, and a reason for everyone to stop in.
That idea became On What Grounds, the 2003 start of the Coffeehouse Mystery series. It also led to later books like Through the Grinder, Brewed Awakening, and Honey Roasted. Readers usually come for the murders and stay for Clare Cosi, the capable working single mom at the center of the series, along with the vivid New York setting, the café culture, and the fact that the coffee talk never feels fake.
Place matters here.
Again and again, Alice and Marc return to communities that feel lived in, workplaces, neighborhoods, small businesses, and groups of people who know each other's strengths and weaknesses a little too well. Their stories tend to care about working people, family ties, loyalty, and the moment when an ordinary person decides not to ignore something suspicious.
Food matters, too. Alice grew up around espresso culture, and both writers put serious research into coffee, roasting, brewing, and the changing café world. That knowledge gives the Coffeehouse books their texture. The mysteries are entertaining on their own, but the extra layer of recipes, local history, and day-to-day detail is a big part of why readers get attached.
They took a different but related turn with The Ghost and Mrs. McClure and the Haunted Bookshop mysteries, first published under the name Alice Kimberly. Those books move from Greenwich Village to small-town Rhode Island and add a ghostly 1940s private eye to the mix. The result is still cozy, but with a noir streak and a more openly supernatural twist.
Outside their mystery worlds, Alice and Marc have also written a wide range of media tie-ins for major entertainment properties. That helps explain why their books move so comfortably between comedy, suspense, fantasy, and fast plotting.
They still live in New York and continue to write both together and separately. When they are not plotting crimes on the page, they cook, research city details, and care for rescued stray cats.
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
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