Wednesday, October 08, 2025

Five mysteries with caffeine-fueled plots

Naomi Kaye Honova is a freelance writer based in Germany and originally from California. She's written for numerous publications, including New Lines Review, Wine Enthusiast, Lonely Planet, and Nameberry. Some of her myriad research interests include cults, the history of Disney parks, rare diseases, and the Mitford sisters.

At CrimeReads she tagged five novels in which coffee, tea, and mate fuel the plot, including:
The Coffee Trader by David Liss

David Liss is quite possibly the only writer of the genre, humorous economic historical thrillers. The good news is, he’s great at what he does. Set in 1650s Amsterdam, the book centers on Portuguese Jewish immigrant Miguel Lienzo who fled the Inquisition and is looking to recover from a major financial loss after a stock market investment goes awry. Getting a whiff of potential earnings, Miguel decides his next investment project will be the up and coming drink of coffee—“How is it that this magic potion has not swept through Europe already?” is one character’s musing, but a more cynical take is “This devil’s piss is going to make both our fortunes.” As to whether the coffee market makes Miguel’s fortune, you’ll have to delve into this captivating historical mystery to find out. Heady strong coffee fumes punctuate the background of 17th-century Netherlands from squalid back alleys to dimly lit pubs, and you might also learn a bit about commodity trading along the way.
Read about another entry on the list.

The Coffee Trader is among Matt Rees's ten top historical thrillers.

--Marshal Zeringue