Shot in the Dark

A new smartphone dating game turns the Village Blend into a hookup hot spot, until one dark night, when a gunshot leaves a dead body behind and the landmark coffeehouse becomes the center of a whole new scene--a crime scene.

As Village Blend manager Clare Cosi attempts to finalize a date for her wedding, her ex-husband becomes addicted to making dates through smartphone swipes. Clare has mixed feelings about these quickie matchups happening in her coffeehouse. Even her octogenarian employer is selecting suitors by screenshot! But business is booming, and Clare works hard to keep the espresso shots flowing.

Then one dark night, another kind of shot leaves a dead body for her to find. The corpse is a successful entrepreneur who became notorious for his behavior: prowling for women on dating apps, then devastating his conquests with morning-after insults.

Though the NYPD quickly arrests one of his recent victims, Clare finds reason to believe she's been framed. Now, with the help of her ex and crew of quirky baristas, Clare starts 'swiping' through suspects in her own shop, determined to find the real killer before another shot rings out.

Includes a bang-up menu of tempting recipes.