Krissy Hancock is a little nervous leaving her bookstore-café in Pine Hills, Ohio, in someone else's hands while she visits family in California. But when a killer strikes during her week out west, it's a good thing she packed her sleuthing skills . . .

When she arrives in her hometown, the owner of Death by Coffee is startled to see a store called Death by Java. She soon realizes the name belongs to a copycat business run by her mean-girl high school rival, Valerie. It may not be grounds for a lawsuit—but when they stop in and witness a bitter argument with a health inspector, the whole scene leaves a bad taste in Krissy's mouth. Valerie has even imitated Death by Coffee's resident feline—except this one is a hissing stray who's more likely to terrorize customers than delight them.

Despite her irritation, Krissy finds herself trying to help the hapless Valerie. But her old classmate needs a different kind of help when the health inspector is found dead on the premises. As Krissy's boyfriend cozies up to local law enforcement, she collects a carafe of clues, drip by drip . . .