What does fall mean to you? The beginning of a new school year? Mystery thrillers? Ghosts, witches, and zombies? Pumpkins? I love fall, coffee, and mystery thrillers – making this blog my favorite thing to discuss. Along with Vanessa (@nessas.lair), I made (and drank!) these fun beverages; if you want to know how to make them, check out Vanessa’s blog: https://nessaslair.com/
So, maybe I have some expertise based on the numerous drinks and mysteries I have consumed?
Pairing: Maple Cold Brew
& Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
In Friends with Boys, Maggie is starting public high school after years of being homeschooled. She’s worried about going back to school, missing her mom, and making friends. And, she is haunted! Going back to school and ghosts make this a fantastic fall read, and Faith Erin Hicks, a Canadian author, makes the addition of maple a delicious choice.
Pairing: Cinnamon Spiced Tea
& The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
If you haven’t read this book yet, grab your nearest cup of tea for haunted graveyards, walking dead, and reading tea leaves. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
Pairing: Pumpkin Spiced Latte
& Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
Pumpkinheads is such a sweet read full of delicious fall treats. Deja and Josiah have worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world all through high school. They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1. But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. They turn their last shift together into an adventure that is going to have you wanting every pumpkin flavored food and drink that you can imagine!
Pairing: Caramel Apple Spiced Cider
& The Blue Witch by Alane Adams
Everyone loves a good witchy story in autumn. In The Witches of Orkney series, Abigail is a sweet, young witch. When I asked Alane Adams what kind of drink she would order, we agreed that nine-year-old Abigail Tarkana would definitely not be drinking caffeine but something warm and sugary. Abigail deals with low scores in her Spectacular Spells class because her witch magic hasn’t come in yet. Even worse, her nemesis, Endera, is making life miserable by trying to get her kicked out. Sneevils, spells, and soul mates make this series a super fall read.
Pairing: S’Mores Latte
& One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
I love to read a good murder mystery when the leaves change colors. Karen McManus’s stories are twisty-turny back-to-school mysteries that are perfect with a s’mores latte. In One of Us is Lying, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.
Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon is dead. Who killed him and why?
Pairing: Earl Grey
& Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
I am obsessed with back-to-school/boarding school murder mysteries and Truly Devious is right up my alley. Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists, but shortly after the school opened, there was a kidnapping. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.”
Now Stevie Bell, a tea drinking student, is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave.
The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers while meeting and interviewing suspects (often while drinking tea at the local café!).
Pairing: Witch’s Brew Frappuccino
& How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. This is Mean Girls meets Salem Witch trials (with a little history tied in), and I believe these characters are all drinking frappuccinos!
Pairing: Butterscotch Caramel Frappuccino
&Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
This is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery, and a parody of Harry Potter. So I chose a parody of Butterbeer. Carry On has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story – but far, far more monsters. Order yourself a butterscotch caramel frappuccino and read the book!
Pairing :’Oh Snap!’
& Skyhunter by Marie Lu
Skyhunter is so twisty-turny that you might literally be saying “oh snap!” to yourself. And, Marie Lu’s version of ghosts makes this a perfect fall read. The Karensa Federation has conquered a dozen countries, leaving Mara as one of the last free nations in the world. Refugees flee to its borders to escape a fate worse than death―transformation into mutant war beasts known as Ghosts, creatures the Federation then sends to attack Mara. The legendary Strikers, Mara’s elite fighting force, are trained to stop these monsters. As the number of Ghosts grows and Karensa closes in, defeat seems inevitable. I read an early copy of this book, and I am obsessed. If I can get you to read one book on this list, it’s Skyhunter!
Pairing: Orange Spiced Iced Coffee
& “The Five Orange Pips” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
“The Five Orange Pips” is a Sherlock Holmes story and alluded to in the Sherlock special: “The Abominable Bride”. What is a pip? A seed. Literally, this mystery is about 5 orange seeds. Enjoy these delightful mysteries (the show and the short story) with your orange spiced coffee.
Conclusion
Every August, I try to set up my to-be-read pile with upcoming mystery thrillers and my favorite drinks. Usually a pumpkin spice scone makes it into my snacks, too. While I look forward to reading new releases, the books I have listed above are all worthy of a re-read. So pick a drink and enjoy a mysterious (and thrilling) adventure! Tell me in the comments are there any of these drinks you want to try or any other Fall Drink recommendations? Happy Reading and Drinking this fall!
Sushirainbow 