Kathy: In NO FILTER we are introduced to the Barks and Beans Cafe where customers can mingle with shelter dogs as they drink their coffee. I've heard of cat cafes, but never a dog one. Is this your idea or do dog centric cafes exist too?
HDG: Yes! They do exist, although rarer than cat cafes in the USA. Here's a link to one (although currently closed for coronavirus): https://www.thedogcafela.com/.
Kathy: I love dogs, all sorts, but mainly big shepherd types. Macy winds up adopting a Great Dane. Do have any favorite breeds?
HDG: I do (in fact, it's a big shepherd type!). I've had dogs for years (medium to large sized), and not to play favorites, but my Shiloh shepherd (link here to see more about the breed: https://www.firesideshilohs.com/), Liesel, recently died in late 2019 at only ten years old from bone cancer. She was such an intelligent dog and weighed in at 115 pounds, so I am familiar with larger dogs. So yes, my fave breed thus far is a Shiloh shepherd.
After she died, we bought a Borderdoodle (border collie/poodle mix), and I named her Agatha after—you guessed it—one of my fave authors ever, Agatha Christie. In No Filter, I had a blast writing all the scenes featuring the black Great Dane in this series, Coal—I've talked to some Dane owners about their idiosyncrasies.
Kathy: I admit, I am a tea person who doesn't like the taste of coffee. Are you a coffee fan?
HDG: I'm definitely a coffee fanatic, but I have to limit how much I drink. Tea is also a lovely choice. Some of my fave teas are Earl Gray (the London Fog drink in particular, which is mentioned in this series), Orange Pekoe, and Oolong.
Kathy: The Barks and Beans Cafe Mystery series is set in West Virginia with a protagonist named Macy Hatfield. Coincidence? Or is there any relation to those infamous Hatfields who also lived in West Virginia?
HDG: Actually, I do know someone in West Virginia who is a descendant of THOSE Hatfields, so yes, I wanted to include that authentic element in this series, just to add a heritage that'll play into the series in various ways.
Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?
HDG: I love the idea of featuring a sibling relationship, and Lewisburg is a quaint nearby town that my husband and I like to visit. It seemed the perfect place to set a cozy series like this. The dog cafe idea was something I'd read about and thought it was a fantastic venue to merge two of my loves—dogs and coffee.
Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Macy Hatfield?
HDG: I definitely have many books planned for the Barks & Beans Cafe mystery series, as Macy regains her footing after an unexpected divorce. Not to mention her brother, Bo, who has some love issues...and other secrets...of his own as well.
Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?
HDG: Sure! Book 2 in the Barks & Beans Cafe series, ICED OVER, is already up for preorder here: https://www.amazon.com/Iced-Over-Barks-Beans-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08651VYB3
Here's the blurb:
BOOK TWO in the ALL-NEW BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java...and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
Black Friday turns fatal when an armored security truck hits an icy patch and runs over an embankment near the cafe. With one driver dead and the other in a coma, police are baffled by the discovery that $500,000 is missing from the truck's cache.
When strangers show up at Barks & Beans asking nosy questions about a young cafe employee, Macy's mama bear instincts kick in. She can't ignore what her gut is telling her—that things aren't all they seem on the surface—and with a little help from her brother, Bo, and her Great Dane, Coal, Macy follows up on a few leads of her own. But if the ruthless thief beats her to the stash, the thin ice she's been skating on might just crack.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown...with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
Review
NO FILTER by Heather Day Gilbert
The First Barks & Beans Mystery
After a massive betrayal, newly divorced Macy Hatfield is ready for a change. So when her brother, Bo, suggests she comes home to West Virginia and help in his new business venture, she's more than willing to agree. The siblings open Barks & Beans, a coffee cafe where people can also mingle with shelter dogs, with Bo in charge of the coffee aspect and Macy concentrating on the dogs. Macy soon meets and makes a connection with a very special dog. Coal is a purebred Great Dane whose owner, a golf instructor at a nearby spiritual center, has been murdered. When Macy comes home to find Coal missing she's sure he's been abducted. Now she'll move heaven and earth to find her beloved companion, and if that involves looking into his late owner's murder, so be it!
NO FILTER is a great start to a new series. I love the sibling relationship between Bo and Macy, both of whom have severe trust issues. I appreciate the slow character development we see, learning about their past that so influences their current behavior. One of the things I like best is that Macy, generally, doesn't run off half cocked, like so many cozy mystery heroines. While she's able to take care of herself, she also keeps the police and her brother apprised of her actions. She's not hot on the heels of a killer, although she gets involved inadvertently. Macy is smart and behaves rationally and I look forward to getting to know her better.
The first Barks and Beans Mystery provides a mature mystery. While there is no doubt it's a cozy, the characters act responsibly and there are serious themes at work. There are less zany antics and more in depth character study. There's a compelling mystery and though fun, and funny at times, it has a more serious mien.
NO FILTER combines coffee and dogs to create a wonderful treat for mystery lovers. Intelligent characters, an interesting setting, a wonderful Great Dane, and what looks to be a very interesting and dangerous story arc make me eager to read the next book.
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NO FILTER is a great start to a new series. I love the sibling relationship between Bo and Macy, both of whom have severe trust issues. I appreciate the slow character development we see, learning about their past that so influences their current behavior. One of the things I like best is that Macy, generally, doesn't run off half cocked, like so many cozy mystery heroines. While she's able to take care of herself, she also keeps the police and her brother apprised of her actions. She's not hot on the heels of a killer, although she gets involved inadvertently. Macy is smart and behaves rationally and I look forward to getting to know her better.
The first Barks and Beans Mystery provides a mature mystery. While there is no doubt it's a cozy, the characters act responsibly and there are serious themes at work. There are less zany antics and more in depth character study. There's a compelling mystery and though fun, and funny at times, it has a more serious mien.
NO FILTER combines coffee and dogs to create a wonderful treat for mystery lovers. Intelligent characters, an interesting setting, a wonderful Great Dane, and what looks to be a very interesting and dangerous story arc make me eager to read the next book.
***********************************************************************
No Filter (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert
About No Filter
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: WoodHaven Press (May 26, 2020)
Number of Pages: ~280 Pages
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java...and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
Fed up with her go-nowhere job, newly single Macy Hatfield moves back to her small hometown in West Virginia. She joins forces with her brother Bo in his crazy new venture—the Barks & Beans Cafe, which caters to dog lovers and coffee drinkers alike.
When a golf instructor is murdered at the nearby spiritual center, Macy winds up adopting his Great Dane. Just after Macy finds a mysterious message sewn under the dog's collar, her Dane is dognapped. She launches into a relentless search for her newfound canine friend, but along the way, she digs up a cruel and confident killer.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown...with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order: Book 1: No Filter Book 2: Iced Over
About Heather Day Gilbert
HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an ECPA Christy award finalist and Grace award winner, writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren't afraid to protect those they love. Like her amateur sleuth heroines, she enjoys reading Agatha Christie, playing video games, dogs, and coffee.
Author Links:
Website: http://heatherdaygilbert.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/heatherdaygilbert
Twitter: @heatherdgilbert
Instagram: @heatherdaygilbert
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heather-day-gilbert
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7232683.Heather_Day_Gilbert
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