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~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~
-- 'A SCOOP OF DECEIT' --
AUTHOR LENA GREGORY
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A Scoop of Deceit (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory
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About A Scoop of Deceit
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting - New York
Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing
Publication date : March 10, 2026
Digital ASIN : B0GHZMWLBV
From author Lena Gregory comes another decadently delightful cozy mystery ...
Spring has finally sprung on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York, and Danika Delaney is ready to take a break from running her old-fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, to help her mom start planting for the season. With visions of colorful tulips and delicate daffodils in mind, Danika and her mother browse through the local garden center, where they can’t help but notice a confrontation between out-of-towner Sebastian Krane and the local cashier. Unfortunately, as Krane storms off, aggravated and not paying attention, he hops into his BMW, and crashes right into Mrs. Delaney as she’s backing up in her borrowed pickup truck. As if that weren't enough to put a damper on her sunny mood, Krane then has the nerve to file a lawsuit against her. But when Dani shows up at his mansion to try to straighten things out, she finds him dead, with a knife in his back. Apparently, someone had it out for Sebastian. Someone other than her mother. A fact Dani sets out to prove with the help of her sidekicks, Gwen and Eli, wading through a slew of shady suspects from the victim's stormy past. Can Dani clear her mother's name and find the truth behind Krane's murder? Or will Dani be in danger of pushing up daisies herself this spring?
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EXCERPT:
When I
began writing A Scoop of Deceit, I was inspired by the idea that even
the sweetest places can hide the darkest secrets. I wanted to create a cozy
seaside atmosphere filled with warmth, humor, and close-knit friendships—but
also a mystery that would challenge my main character, Danika Delaney, in new
and unexpected ways. As I wrote this story, I enjoyed peeling back the layers
of Watchogue and revealing the tension simmering beneath its charming surface.
In this excerpt, you’ll see the moment when the sense of small-town comfort
begins to shift.
From A Scoop of Deceit
“Well,
will you look at that.” Sally propped her hands on ample hips and stared toward
the checkout counter.
I’m
ashamed to admit my first thought went to, What did Aunt Miriam get herself
into? But in all fairness, the thought wasn’t unwarranted.
Instead of
finding Aunt Miriam, though, I spotted a man I’d never seen before. His
cream-colored slacks and jacket paired with a green shirt and Doce &
Gabbana loafers certainly drew attention, but it was his attitude that kept it.
I kept
pace with Sally as she moved closer. No way would Sally miss whatever was about
to go down.
The guy
shifted Versace sunglasses to the back of his head (a look I’d never
understand) and tucked them into a dark-colored fade held in place with enough
hairspray to pop another hole in the ozone layer. He scowled at Kendall, the
young girl behind the checkout counter.
“I’m
sorry, but we don’t have anyone available to make a delivery today.” The girl
gestured at the crowd waiting by the register and blew her strawberry blonde bangs
off her forehead. “As you can see, we’re swamped.”
I leaned
back against a nearby counter, folded my arms, and watched the drama unfold.
There was no sense pretending I wasn’t paying attention since pretty much
everyone in the place was fully focused on the interaction. Some rolled their
eyes, others tsk-tsked or spoke in hushed whispers—not out of courtesy
for the man involved, but because no one wanted to miss anything. Plus,
whenever a young woman was being harassed you could count on the citizens of
Watchogue to step in.
“Look,
young lady, I don’t care how swamped you are. I just spent a small fortune for
plants, and my landscaper will be at my house early tomorrow morning, and I
need my purchases delivered before that.”
“Look, Mr.
Krane, as I’ve already told you…”
I had to
give the girl props for courtesy. She maintained her even tone and forced smile
no matter how loud and obnoxious the customer got.
She met
his stare with a cool one of her own. “The best I can do is come in and open
early tomorrow morning so you or your landscaper can pick up the plants.”
“Ha!” The
man scoffed. “You expect me to pick up my own plants? Then what am I paying you
for?”
“You’re
paying for the plants you purchased. But if you’d like to pick them up
yourself, I’ll be happy to refund your delivery fee.” Her smile never faltered,
but her right eye twitched a few times.
I
straightened when Mom moved onto the line behind him.
Aunt
Miriam gave him a quick up and down then turned her attention elsewhere. Good
for her.
Mom cleared
her throat, and I took a few steps closer. “Excuse me, Kendall.”
Kendall
turned away from him and shot her a grateful smile. “Yes, Mrs. Delaney. I’m
sorry. How can I help you?”
“I’d like
to pay, please.”
I braced
for the coming argument from the entitled a—uh… gentleman, because no way would
I let him speak to my mom with anything less than respect, and moved to stand
next to her.
When he
whirled on her, Mom met his confrontational gaze with one of her own, the one
that said I ain’t takin’ none of your nonsense, buddy. The same one
she’d always pinned my sister, Meghan, and me with whenever we’d acted up. His
gaze skipped from her, to me, to Aunt Miriam (then did a double take. Not that
I could blame him.). When he returned his attention to Mom, he opened his
mouth, seemed to think better of the idea as the three of us stood shoulder to
shoulder in solidarity, then snapped it shut, and turned back to the cashier.
“Fine. I will expect a delivery tomorrow, though, as soon as possible.”
“Sure
thing, Mr. Krane.” She offered her thousand-watt smile. “You have a nice day
now.”
He
muttered something unintelligible as he stalked away.
Kendall
blew out another breath, her shoulders slumping. “Is summer almost over yet?”
I laughed.
Summer and fall on Long Island’s east end brought flocks of tourists to the
beaches and farmstands, giving local businesses a much-needed financial boost,
my own included. Unfortunately, not all of the visitors were friendly. And a
few, like Mr. Krane, were downright nasty and entitled and thought the whole
world owed them something. “Sorry to say, but not by a long shot.”
I stuck by
Mom while she paid for her purchases, lest Mr. Krane decide to make another
appearance, then hauled them to Uncle Jimmie’s truck and loaded it up. As I
squeezed back in behind Aunt Miriam, I noticed Mr. Krane just climbing into a
fancy, black Beamer (no surprise), cell phone pressed against his ear, arms
gesturing wildly. Sympathy for whoever was on the other end of the line flared.
“I wonder
what he’s all in a state about.” Apparently, he’d drawn Aunt Mirima’s attention
as well.
“Who
knows?” Mom glanced in the rearview mirror, then shifted into reverse, and
waited for the Harts to haul their weeping cherry past. “Some people are just
nasty for no reason.”
“Well, it
seems to me it’s just as easy to be kind.” Aunt Miriam turned back to Mom. “So,
what are you making for dinner tomorrow night?”
Sunday
dinners were a huge deal in the Delaney household when the entire clan met up
at Mom’s to eat, drink, and catch up on current events.
“I don’t
know. I was thinking a barbeque might be nice…” With one more look around for
stragglers, Mom glanced in the rearview mirror again, then turned to look over
her shoulder, and backed out of her spot. “But I’m not sure the weather will
cooperate.”
“Oh, hold
on. I know.” Aunt Miriam started to rummage through a bag the size of a
suitcase. “I have one of those weather apps on my phone.”
From the
corner of my eye, I caught movement as Mr. Krane’s BMW accelerated at rocket
speed.
“Mo—”
The crash
came before I could finish my warning, hard, fast, and loud, knocking me to the
side. My head slammed against the passenger-side window, and the contents of
Aunt Miriam’s purse scattered across the interior. Stars circled my head like
in the old-fashioned cartoons Meghan and I used to look forward to on Saturday
mornings, before streaming services allowed round the clock access to whatever
you might like to watch. I contemplated why that’s where my thoughts might have
gone, wondered briefly if I might have a concussion, then plucked a red thong I
seriously hoped hadn’t been worn yet from my lap with two fingertips and set it
aside on the backseat.
My gaze
bounced from Mom to Aunt Miriam and back again, but before I could assess
either of their conditions, the screaming started.
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Author Guest Post
Creating
the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries
By
Lena
Gregory
I enjoy writing cozy mysteries for so
many reasons! First, there’s something undeniably comforting about a cozy
mystery.A small town where everybody knows your name. A close-knit community
full of quirky personalities. A charming local business that feels like home.
And, of course, a murder that threatens to unravel it all.
When I first had the idea for the Coffee
& Cream Café Mysteries, it didn’t begin with a murder. It began with the ice
cream parlor—the kind of place where families gather after Little League games,
teenagers share secrets over double scoops, and regulars have “the usual”
waiting before they even reach the counter.I kept picturing a charming
small-town shop—the kind with handwritten flavor boards, a bell on the door,
and regulars who feel like family. I wanted to write a story that captured that
warmth and nostalgia. Ice cream is comfort. It’s celebration. It’s childhood
summers and sticky fingers. I wanted to create a place that brought me back to
my own childhood and what it was like growing up in a small town.
And then I asked myself: what would
happen if something terrible disrupted that sense of peace?
That question became the start of the
Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries.
Small towns are often seen as idyllic,
but close communities also mean close secrets. When tragedy strikes, it hits
differently. It’s not just news—it’s personal.
I wanted to create a protagonist who
feels real, who’s capable and determined, but (mostly) not reckless. She makes
mistakes. She second-guesses herself. She worries about her business, her
reputation, and the people she loves. The kind of person you’d want on your
side if you ever found yourself in trouble.
She doesn’t investigate because she’s
fearless.
She investigates because she cares.
Danika Delaney cares deeply about her hometown
and the people in it. She isn’t looking for trouble, but each time someone she cares
about becomes entangled in a murder investigation, she refuses to stand by and
do nothing. Her determination comes from love andloyalty, despite the danger
she often finds herself in—and Detective Dreamy’s insistence that she stay out
of his murder investigations!
That emotional core is what drives this
series. Beneath the clues, red herrings, and twists is a story about loyalty,
friendship, and standing up for what’s right—even when it would be easier to
look away.
This series isso much fun to write. I
love coming up with new ideas, discovering what kind of trouble Dani will get
herself and her cohorts into next, and creating new ice cream flavors (yes,
there is taste-testing involved!). Most of all, I love the sense of nostalgia I
get each time I write about Watchogue, which is based on the town I grew up in,
and its cast of quirky residents.
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About Lena Gregory
Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.
Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.
Author Links:
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Facebook Fan Page
Twitter (X) Goodreads Pinterest
Purchase Links
Amazon – Barnes & Noble
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