Bean There, Done That

Coffee shop owner Maggy Thorsen lost her husband, dentist Ted Thorsen, to another woman about a year ago: his then 24-year-old blonde dental hygienist, Rachel. So you can imagine Maggy’s surprise when Rachel, now Ted’s new wife, visits Maggy to brazenly ask for a favor: Can Maggy help her prove that Ted, while he and Maggy were still married, was betraying not just Maggy but Rachel with yet a third woman? Talk about chutzpah!

Although at first reluctant, Maggy finally agrees. That very evening, Rachel Slattery Thorsen disappears, and the No. 1 suspect is, of course, her husband Ted. As cops say, the nearest and the dearest have the motive with the mostest.

Big-hearted Maggy feels sorry for Ted, despite everything — and she also show more feels that she owes it to their son Eric to save him the heartbreak of seeing his father go to prison. Maggy sets out to investigate Rachel’s disappearance and prove Ted innocent — although even Maggy sometimes wonders whether he really is. How well do you know someone if he was able to betray you for years during your marriage without you ever suspecting?

Bean There, Done That is the best yet, even better than author Sandra Balzo’s first entry in the Maggy Thorsen series, Uncommon Grounds. (The second novel in the series, Grounds for Murder, wasn’t quite as good.) For readers looking for a quick read — a humor-laced mystery with a charming, plucky heroine and lots of surprises — here’s your cup of joe.

Merged review:

Coffee shop owner Maggy Thorsen lost her husband, dentist Ted Thorsen, to another woman about a year ago: his then 24-year-old blonde dental hygienist, Rachel. So you can imagine Maggy’s surprise when Rachel, now Ted’s new wife, visits Maggy to brazenly ask for a favor: Can Maggy help her prove that Ted, while he and Maggy were still married, was betraying not just Maggy but Rachel with yet a third woman? Talk about chutzpah!

Although at first reluctant, Maggy finally agrees. That very evening, Rachel Slattery Thorsen disappears, and the No. 1 suspect is, of course, her husband Ted. As cops say, the nearest and the dearest have the motive with the mostest.

Big-hearted Maggy feels sorry for Ted, despite everything — and she also feels that she owes it to their son Eric to save him the heartbreak of seeing his father go to prison. Maggy sets out to investigate Rachel’s disappearance and prove Ted innocent — although even Maggy sometimes wonders whether he really is. How well do you know someone if he was able to betray you for years during your marriage without you ever suspecting?

Bean There, Done That is the best yet, even better than author Sandra Balzo’s first entry in the Maggy Thorsen series, Uncommon Grounds. (The second novel in the series, Grounds for Murder, wasn’t quite as good.) For readers looking for a quick read — a humor-laced mystery with a charming, plucky heroine and lots of surprises — here’s your cup of joe. show less

This was a pretty good read. I was surprised by who the killer was and I love that in a mystery. Great character development and good strong female lead.

I think this is a great series - and this story might have been one of the best so far. The characters are really well written and the sense of place is done well. I'm really looking forward to reading the next one in the series.