As the weather turns cooler, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up with a good book. Author Tyora Moody has the perfect read. I recently spoke with her about her latest release, Steamy Espresso Secrets.
Tell me about your latest book.
Steamy Espresso Secrets is the fourth book in the Joss Miller Mysteries. Joss works at Sugar Creek Cafe as a barista and also produces the Cold Justice Podcast which investigates local cold cases.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Barista and true crime podcaster Joss Miller is looking for her next cold case when her brother shows up unannounced in Charleston. She’s sure he’s hiding something—and her detective boyfriend, Andre Baez, seems to know exactly what it is. But neither of them is saying a word.
Before she can figure out what’s going on, someone seeks out Joss with what could be the perfect story for her Cold Justice Podcast. A gifted street photographer died two years ago under suspicious circumstances.
The deeper she digs, the more tangled the mystery becomes—and the closer she gets to the real reason her brother came home. If she’s not careful, Joss might uncover more than she bargained for.
Why did you decide to write it?
The Joss Miller Mysteries is actually a spin-off of the Eugeena Patterson Mysteries. It’s set in the same fictional Sugar Creek neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina. In fact, Joss lives next door to Eugeena.
I was looking to start a new cozy mystery series with a millennial character. Joss immediately came to mind. As a minor character in the Eugeena Patterson Mysteries, Joss developed a desire to investigate crimes like her senior next-door neighbor.
Who is your favorite character and why?
Definitely Joss because I have had a chance to see her character grow from when she was a character introduced in Oven Baked Secrets, book 2 in the Eugeena Patterson Mysteries.
Joss has a budding romance with Detective Andre Baez. It’s been fun to write the development of their romance alongside Joss’s investigations on her podcast.
When did you fall in love with the written word?
My mother and aunts bought and passed on books to me as a very young child, so I developed a love for storytelling early. I was a sophomore in high school when I realized I liked the art of writing stories.
If you could pick another profession, what would it be and why?
I’m not a full-time author so I love my current profession. I’ve spent most of my career in web development, and now I work as director of digital in public media. I love the ever-changing environment on the internet and keeping up with the latest trend. My team is currently exploring virtual reality and AI in their digital productions.
What author would you fangirl over?
That’s a hard question because I read so many authors. I’m also pretty introverted, so I don’t know if I would have the courage to. LOL!
What books have you read lately and loved?
My favorite books I have read lately are the Detective Harriet Foster series by Tracy Clark and the Ash Cayne series by Ian K. Smith
What books are you most excited to read next?
Beyond Midnight is the fifth book in the Ash Cayne series, and it’s coming up soon on my TBR list.
Edge is the fourth book in the Detective Harriet Foster series, and it comes out December 2, 2025. Already pre-ordered and ready to dive in.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on the second book in my romantic suspense series, Lowcountry Secrets.
The Reckoning releases February 24, 2026
She ran to escape a stalker. He walked away from a career chasing danger. The only person who can keep her safe… is the one she’s afraid to trust.
Fleeing a stalker who turned her life upside down, Katrina Bowen heads south to a sleepy coastal town, hoping to disappear. She cuts ties with her old life, including social media, and tries to blend in with distant relatives she barely knows. Falling for someone new is the last thing on her mind—especially when trust could cost her everything.
Benjamin “Ben” Wyatt left law enforcement to escape the ghosts of a case that went wrong. Now he finds peace in running his landscaping business and keeping his past buried. But when he meets Katrina, he recognizes the fear she tries to hide. She’s in danger—real danger—and no matter how much he tries to resist getting involved, his instincts and his heart won’t let him walk away.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
Thank you for the opportunity to share about my latest book.
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Steamy Espresso Secrets by author Tyora Moody.
To learn more about author Tyora Moody, visit her website, or connect with her on social media.
https://www.tyoramoody and/or https://linktr.ee/tyora_moody
Find her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube as Tyora Moody