The Coffee Detectives (reference page)

I wrote the first story, The Costume Party Murder, just for the heck of it, to see if I could write a murder mystery in 24 hours. Little did I realize this was going to be a continuing hobby! After the second story I gave up on trying to turn them around in 24 hours.

The stories revolve around two amateur sleuths, Caesar Campbell, who works as a barista at BaxCam Coffees, and his boyfriend Innocenzio James, a delivery driver for NPS. They live in the (fictional) city of East Kingsley, which has a population of about 700,000 and includes a British diaspora. Supporting characters include Dainty Busch, a Cockney expat who won the National Lottery before moving to America, her boyfriend Junnosuke Hashisaki, and Lieutenant Simon Tennant of the East Kingsley Police Department. Dainty has solved a couple of cases of her own.

Here is a list of the stories I’ve written so far, with links, dates, and synopses. Eventually I might expand this page to include a list of characters and locations.

The Costume Party Murder – May 25, 2020
A man is stabbed to death at a costume party, but everyone has an alibi.

2 Victims, 1 Shot – May 30, 2020
A man fires a single shot but two people, standing nowhere near each other, are struck.

Mr. Hashisaki’s Bronze Buddha – July 6, 2020
Mr. Hashisaki is beaten unconscious and robbed of a priceless statue, but what does the note in his hand mean?

The Scarf and The Noose – Aug 1, 2020
At a bed-and-breakfast, a man commits suicide—or was it murder?

Birthday or Deathday? – Aug 22, 2020
A matriarch, sick in bed on her birthday, suddenly disappears.

Peccari’s Peril – Sep 13, 2020
Peccari is arrested for the murder of an investment banker.

And With Soft Deceitful Wiles – Oct 8, 2020
A woman at a catering company is poisoned when a box of chocolates arrives at the office.

Black Coffee, Blackmail – Nov 1, 2020
Benjy and Caesar receive a blackmail note.

The Brooch and The Pooch – Nov 24, 2020
An imitation Victorian brooch goes missing during the taping of a TV show.

The Love Polygonal Chain – Jan 3, 2021
Caesar and Innocenzio go on a surveillance job to collect evidence in a divorce proceeding.

Paradise Place – Feb 27, 2021 (revised Mar 3, 2021)
A man is murdered in a club in the middle of nowhere.

On a Vase-by-Vase Basis – Apr 15, 2021
When the Lady Tepelline hosts the ambassador from Limordin, a priceless vase goes missing.

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The Dog Days of Murder
The five stories in The Dog Days of Murder each have a self-contained mystery, but they also represent my attempt to introduce some story arcs. There will be some references to older stories, so be aware there may be spoilers.

1. Where Shall I Murder? Upstairs and Downstairs – Apr 17, 2023
What appears to be a botched burglary ends in murder.

2. Diamonds Are A Pig’s Best Friend – Aug 17, 2023
A murder happens in a locked room at a bed and breakfast.

3. Street’s Fair in Love and War – Apr 11, 2024
At the annual East Kingsley street fair, a vendor is violently murdered.

4. TBA

5. TBA