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For Clare Cosi, 
the holidays 
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WHO IS
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COYLE?

 

**NEW** 

FORBES 

INTERVIEWS

CLEO COYLE



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Forbes
interview.

 

 


 

To read Cleo's
essay "Brewing
up Murder"

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 The essay
appeared in
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Readers Journal  


 


 

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PAST

INTERVIEWS

 

American
University
Magazine 
interviews
Cleo Coyle

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to read it.

 

 

Another 
Cleo Coyle
Q& A interview
with reader
comments
HERE

 

*

 

Older Cleo Coyle
Interview, Click Here
to read it at the 
award-winning blog:
Lesa's Book Critiques 

 

 

 Older -
"Mists & Stars"
Cleo Interview
click here
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Gumshoe
Review
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Cleo Here


 

What is a cozy mystery?
The Cozy Mystery
List tells you!

 

 


 

Sprudge.com
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coffee publication
on the planet."

Read Cleo's 
interview with
Sprudge by

clicking here.

 


  

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THING

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A BLOG 
POST FOR 
WRITERS:

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Guest Post

"Genre Blending
and Your Character's
Love Life"

at the
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Mystery Writing
Is Murder


 

 


Cozy Murder
Mysteries Blog
Interviews
Cleo

Part 1
click here

Part 2
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Fun Foodie
Book Resort
Interview
with Cleo
Here.

 


 
Cleo's Q&A
with the
Hartford
Examiner


 


 

FREE
READING
GUIDES

 

COFFEEHOUSE
MYSTERIES
 
 
Book Club
Discussion
Questions
 

 

 


 

 

How to Clean
Your Drip
Coffee Maker...

Your best tasting
cup of java will
come from a clean
coffee maker!

*

CLICK HERE
TO SEE VIDEO

 

*

For more coffee
tips, scroll down
this left column...

 


 

 

NYPD DET. 
MIKE QUINN'S 
BEAT

   

Click »  NYPD: Official Website for New York's Finest

Click »  NY Crime File (Daily News)

Click »  Police Blotter (NY Post)

 



 

 How to Make
Cuban Coffee
 

CLICK HERE
for video

* * *

For more
info on the
Moka Express
stovetop pot
used in the
above video,

Click Here
 

 

 


 

 

  

 *Starred Review*
~Library Journal


  

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or buy...

 CLICK HERE 
TO READ A 
FREE EXCERPT

 

 

 

 



 

How to Make
Coffee in a
French Press

To see video
click here.

 

 


 


 

 

 

 

Cleo's Past 
Coffee Pick was...

 

Kafe Lespwa
"Coffee of Hope"
from Haiti


Click here to
visit Just Haiti.org
and sample the
coffee for
yourself!

 

A
Good
Cause!

 

See more of
Cleo's past
coffee picks
by scrolling
down the 

right column.

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

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vibrant characters
I've ever read."
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"This one will keep
your cup
piping hot."
~ Kirkus

vif   

  

 

 


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November 21, 2025

Cleo Replied to - How do you know so much about coffee?! :)

Really enjoy listening to your Coffeehouse mysteries and always end up craving coffee! I was curious how you know so much about coffee. I don’t imagine it is typical for example for even a barista to have such specialized knowledge. I realize some people professionally study coffee.
 

Cleo Coyle's Reply -- Thanks for your question. I have done primary and secondary research on all aspects of the coffee trade and coffee shop business since before the series began in 2003. That's a lot of years of study and experience and speaking to coffee professionals (such as coffee shop owners and coffee importers). I have taken classes in barista training, and I try to add to my knowledge as the years go by.

My mystery series is (of course) "coffee" themed, and I know readers expect that theme to be well researched. They should. The fact is: providing well-researched backgrounds for characters is one of the things that makes a fictional world feel real to a reader. My amateur sleuth is a master roaster who manages a coffeehouse. I need to know what she knows in order to portray her properly. In other words, presenting a fictional world that feels real is what every serious author strives to do. That starts with building a foundation of knowledge for the cast of characters. This is part of what we writers call worldbuilding, creating a fictional world that feels real to the reader. You may also hear the the terms authenticity or believability. All that begins with knowing your characters and being intimately familiar with their world and/or professions and passions. And for Clare, Madame, and Matt, that passion is quality coffee (also known as "specialty" or third-wave coffee).

FYI - I also started out as a "coffee cart" girl at the age of 13! I have a very good college education (on scholarship at Carnegie-Mellon U.), extending into journalism studies at American U. in DC, and have worked as a journalist in Pittsburgh PA, Washington DC., and here in New York City (at the New York Times). In other words, I'm a professional writer and novelist who has acquired the skills to do both primary and secondary research into any subject matter, including (in this case) the business of growing, processing, importing, roasting, brewing, and selling coffee. I hope that helps answer your question!

And thanks very much for being part of my Coffeehouse world.

Cleo

 

 

 




RETURN TO ALL FORUM POSTS


On What Grounds Cover Through The Grinder Cover Latte Trouble Cover Murder Most Frothy Cover Decaffeinated Corpse Cover French Pressed Cover Espresso Shot Cover Holiday Grind Cover Roast Mortem Cover Murder By Mocha Cover A Brew To A Kill Cover Holiday Buzz Cover Billionaire Blend Cover Once Upon A Grind Cover Dead to the Last Drop Cover Dead Cold Brew Cover Shot in the Dark Cover Brewed Awakening Honey Roasted
Click here to learn more about the Coffeehouse Mystery novels.
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