On What Grounds

By: Cleo Coyle

Narrated by: Rebecca Gibel

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Clare Cosi used to manage the historic Village Blend coffeehouse…until she opted for quieter pastures and a more suburban life. But after ten years and a little friendly cajoling from the owner (a fresh pot of Jamaican Blue Mountain was all it took), she's back to the grind. With a sprawling rent-free apartment directly above the Village Blend, her cat Java by her side, and plenty of coffeehouse redecorating ideas, Clare is thrilled to return to work. Until she discovers the assistant manager unconscious in the back of the store, coffee grounds strewn everywhere. Police arrive on the scene to investigate. But when they find no sign of forced entry or foul play, they deem it an accident. Case closed. But Clare is not convinced. And after the police leave, there are a few things she just can't get out of her mind… Why was the trash bin in the wrong place? If this wasn't an accident, is Clare in danger? And… are all detectives this handsome?

©2003 The Berkley Publishing Group. All rights reserved. (P)2011 AudioGO

Enjoyable story

I enjoy these mysteries. Gentle read lets you use your imagination. Narrator has a pleasant voice.

Wonderful!! A great mystery!

This was a great story. It kept my attention throughout and I can't wait to hear the next in the series.

very good

this was a really good cozy story, glad I found it. there r many stories I have purchased that r not good. the narrator was very good too

Great easy listening! Love the narration!!

Would you consider the audio edition of On What Grounds to be better than the print version?

Depends on your taste. Personally, I enjoyed Rebecca Gibel's narration immensely!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like that Claire is not obnoxious or overly awkward, as some leads in these types of chick lit seem to be. She's just an everyday person who is passionate about something as everyday as coffee. To me, that makes her interesting. I'm hoping to find out more about Matt, Quinn and Madame in the following books.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I practically did!

Any additional comments?

I really loved the fact that this novel wasn't all about steamy sex scenes. I'M SO OVER THAT!!! Just give me a good story! Thankfully, Cleo Coyle has done just that! I'm purchasing the entire series.

A fun and well written who-dun-it

This was good enough for me to buy another -- not a masterpiece but a good whodunnit! Loved the characters, the narrator is great, captured all the voices without me wincing once. Bought as a daily for a few bucks, and possibly introduced me to a good author.

Entertaining but I had some reservations

What did you like best about On What Grounds? What did you like least?

The main character was fairly relatable and the mystery wasn't too predictable. Overall I found it entertaining, although I drank a great deal more coffee while listening and learned a lot about coffee as I assume the facts were researched. I just found some false notes init that were incredibly distracting. From the forced sterotype in the one bit of dialog from a young black dancer to the characterization of a nice guy character acting like a sexual predator in a social setting but it being okay or normal because the interaction is supposedly between two men (a predator is a predator and all the gay men I know will confirm that this behavior is NOT socially acceptable. No means no to everyone.) to the larger issue of the employer whose living arrangements for her employee are wildly inappropriate and violate anyone's sense of decency... These false notes or acceptance of lack of consent as normal were incredibly distracting to me. Which was a huge disappointment because they kept me from completely enjoying something that otherwise would have become a new favorite series! I loved the coffee facts, the history, the hint of the character having unusual intuition. As is it, I found it so distracting that the main character who is otherwise smart, interesting, capable, and empowered accepts circumstances that are by anyone's definition not even remotely okay that I won't be picking up any more of this series.

Would you recommend On What Grounds to your friends? Why or why not?

No. As mentioned above, too many false notes. Which is such a shame. Otherwise thoroughly entertaining.

What does Rebecca Gibel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She's an excellent narrator. I may check to see if I can find other books she has performed on.

Do you think On What Grounds needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It was too obviously written to be the beginning of a series (which was also somewhat distracting) and I wasn't surprised to see that it was one. I hope that the writer finds her character's backbone and basic sense of decency and rectifies the issue of lack-of-consent plot details in her future books. But I found it too stressful to hear an otherwise lovely book ruined to put myself through that again.

Not as bad as some.

I try to read new things, so when a book I wanted was in a 2-for-1 sale, I grabbed this too. It looked interesting, and I'm a sucker for a good mystery. Unfortunately this follows the same tired formula as other themed mystery novels. Bad romance shoehorned in, way too much information on the theme (which I honestly don't mind too much), too much erroneous details on what the character is wearing and way too many tangents that just seem like the author was trying to fill space.

I will give credit to a mystery that was interesting and didn't have the expected ending I thought, but the mystery took up less than half the time due to descriptions on coffee making and her ex's biceps. The coffee details I didn't mind, as I am an avid coffee drinker, but it did come off as stuck up sometimes. The descriptions of her ex's ripped biceps and bare chest was way distracting and in no way enhanced the story.

I liked the reader, she wasn't the best, but her voice took away from some of the conceited coffee comments and sometimes made it seem a bit more genuine than arrogant.

As an add-on to a story I was already planning on getting, this was an interesting listen. I do not regret listening. I don't think I'll be buying them on their own though. I may go see if my local library has them, so I can skip the annoying ex parts. And as I said, I'm a sucker for mystery.

If you are a coffee lover then this book is for you

There is so much talk of coffee and how to make the coffee and the ins and out of coffee. I found it both fascinating and distracting.

I really wanted to like this series.....

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Cut out the cussing!! I'm not a prude, but this series has the premise of being awesome. Most cozy mysterious don't have all the swear words. Also, lots of words of Clair's thoughts. Sometimes that just unnecessary. I was disappointed. Read two of these books, most likely won't finish the series.

Would you be willing to try another book from Cleo Coyle? Why or why not?

If they are written like this series, no.

What about Rebecca Gibel’s performance did you like?

Everything!!! She is the best narrator for these books. That's what kept me trying to like these books.

Could you see On What Grounds being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Ok but not great

This is a sort of interesting book but too wordy. And, I love coffee but I don't need to hear all the details. I'll keep the author on my list but it'll take awhile before I listen to another. Too many other better authors out there. Good narration though.