Title:	Mug Shot: A Java Jive Mystery
	Author:	Carolyn Fardig
	Published:	April 19, 2016, Alibi
	No. of Pages:	289
	Cover Price:	$3.99 Kindle

---

Juliet Langley and her best friend, Pete Bennett are back in the second installment of the bestselling Java Jive series, Mug Shot. Juliet is running Pete’s coffee shop near Vanderbilt University in Nashville for him and doing an excellent job. She’s also in charge of a 5K race and is working with Pete’s girlfriend to set it up. Pete’s girlfriend is a spoiled, entitled brat, and Juliet doesn’t like her – in fact, nobody but Pete seems to like her. On the morning of the race, Juliette discovers her dead body, and Pete is arrested for the murder. Besides running the popular coffee shop, Juliette must find the real murderer before Pete goes to jail for a very long time.

The Java Jive series is fun to read; the novels are cozies, which means they are light and have no graphic violence, sex, and profanity. That also means they are suitable for all ages, so younger cozy readers can enjoy them too. Fardig writes in a no-nonsense, straightforward manner. Mug Shot is easy to understand, and, although it’s never a good thing to have a murder, the character who is, isn’t liked, and most likely won’t be missed. Fardig fills this novel with plenty of humor, and while it isn’t edge-of-your-seat suspense, it definitely has a way of keeping the interest of readers.

Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from a heavy, involved thriller, and this series - especially this installment, Mug Shot - is the perfect antidote. This novel is a well-written fast read with well-developed characters who are likeable and believable. For those who want to read something non-violent this is an excellent choice.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.