Death by Irish Coffee by Alex Erickson: ARC Cozy Mystery Brewed to Perfection

Read time: 4 minutes

📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 Genre: Cozy Mystery: 320 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Cozies: Release Date 27 January 2026
📚 ARC provided by NetGalley

Book Blurb:

In Pine Hills, Ohio, bookstore-café owner Krissy Hancock dives headfirst into a festive, if fatal, St. Patrick’s Day. Teaming up with bar owner Bucky to serve Irish coffee, Krissy hopes for distraction from her upcoming nuptials and household pet drama. The fun takes a dark turn after Bucky’s untimely death post-celebration, leaving Krissy with a murder on her hands and a parade of suspects, all while she juggles brewing, bookselling, and planning her future.

Let’s talk about the book:

Honestly, how is Alex Erickson not a woman? It still blows my mind every time he writes Krissy so well you’d swear he lived half his life running a small-town coffee shop with a stack of to-be-read murder mysteries behind the register. Krissy Hancock is back for her fifteenth round, stronger, sharper, and so delightfully real. She joins forces with Bucky for an Irish festival drink, and that’s right where everything unravels: Bucky keels over, and suddenly coffee isn’t the only thing at risk of getting cold in Pine Hills.

This St. Patrick’s Day installment brings cozy small-town vibes with a shot of intrigue. Fast where it counts, but never skimping on small-town charm. The supporting crew, Vicki, Mason, and Rita, are lively as ever, while the Chief’s retirement twist knocked me out of my chair (retiring? In Pine Hills? We’ll see about that). Erickson has a knack for letting real-life anxieties simmer alongside the whodunits. Krissy’s cat-dog drama and wedding jitters add just enough heart. And let’s give it up for that utterly unexpected killer! Rarely does a cozy mystery genuinely surprise, but this one threw me a curveball in the best way.

By the end, I was pleading for the next installment, ARCs and all. There’s just something about Krissy’s mix of grit and warmth, and Erickson’s easy, unshowy humor, that turns even the third act suspects into characters you root for, and worry about long after the final chapter closes.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely. Death by Irish Coffee delivers exactly what I crave in a cozy, charming town, clever mystery, and characters who feel like old friends. If you’re a fan of series like Bakeshop Mysteries or Coffeehouse Mysteries, this is a must-read addition to your TBR. ☘️

If you like this…

Then you would also like…

• Coffeehouse Mystery Series by Cleo Coyle
  If you love Krissy Hancock’s café vibes, you’ll adore Clare Cosi’s bustling New York coffeehouse and the perfect blend of mystery and espresso. With rich coffee lore, strong female leads, and well-plotted murders, this long-running series is pure cozy comfort.
• Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series by Jenn McKinlay
  Humor, friendship, and frosting meet foul play. Set in Scottsdale, Arizona, this series gives off that same “light but engaging” energy, with witty banter and surprising twists, much like Krissy’s adventures in Pine Hills.
• Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series by Lauren Elliott
  If you crave even more bookshop drama, this series features rare books, amateur sleuthing, and New England coziness. Addie Greyborne’s knack for sniffing out trouble (and old tomes) pairs perfectly with Krissy Hancock’s energy.
• Secret, Book, & Scone Society by Ellery Adams
  Curl up in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, where an unlikely group of friends combines comfort food, healing secrets, and murder mysteries, plus, the scones are to die for. These stories lean into themes of friendship and redemption.
• Magical Bookshop Mystery Series by Amanda Flower
  Violet Waverly inherits a Charming Books shop where pages predict crimes in Cascade Springs. Blends light magic, bookstore sleuthing, and quirky townsfolk. Must-read if you want Krissy’s independence with a whimsical spell. Start with Crime and Poetry.

Brewing Up Suspects: Your Take?

That killer twist… did it shamrock your world too? Spill your fave Pine Hills moment or cozy mystery recs below! Who’s grabbing this on release day?

Book Links:

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Check out more books from Kensington Publishing