Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

Aphra Connolly is back in another danger-filled adventure. This time, she’s off to find her mom in Seattle, something she’s never been able to do until she met the Mulos, the family Aphra’s mother swore to protect. But the familial reunion isn’t as happy as Aphra thought it would be. Instead, her mother seems cold and disconnected while her partner Joe insists Aphra be send home immediately. Plus, Seth Mulo, the boy she fell in love with when he visited her father’s island resort, shows up again in Aphra’s life, this time to ask for something back. It turns out he needs the ring he gave to her back, but he won’t tell her why. And when Joe turns up dead at a coffee shop, what started out as an innocent trip turns into a deadly nightmare. Aphra, her mother, and Seth are now on the run from their enemies, with little supplies and knowledge of what they can do next. Their lives are on the line – especially because they don’t even know who they are running from.

In this sequel to the fantastic and fast-paced Death by Bikini, Linda Gerber brings readers back into a dangerous world of rogue CIA agents and sleeper cells. This novel is just filled with suspense and excitement, especially when Aphra is on the run. The fact that Aphra doesn’t even know who to trust only adds to this effect. I was immediately sucked into this story from the very first line and was hooked all the way until the end. The story does rely a lot on the plot, which isn’t an issue since the plot is so exciting, but Aphra’s character is also well-developed. I could really hear the gears in her head turning as she tried to figure out how to get out of various dangerous situations and felt her confusion over where several people’s loyalties lied. I admire her determination, especially in the face of death. Death by Latte, much like its prequel Death by Bikini, has much to look forward to: great characters, plot twists, and non-stop action and excitement.

Death by Latte appeals to readers who enjoy spy and action novels, although I think pretty much any girl can get into this short but fun read. If you haven’t already read Death by Bikini, I recommend you do so and then pick up Death by Bikini to read too. I definitely look forward to the continuation of this great series.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from author Linda Gerber