Score: 4/5 Bookmarks

Thank you to Minotaur Books for gifting me a review copy of Without a Brew by Ellie Alexander,!

This is the fourth in the Sloan Krause series, and while I haven't read the others I was able to jump right into this one and not feel like I had missed vital information. That being said, I enjoyed this one so much that I'll for sure be going back and reading the others.

This book is set in Leavenworth, WA which is just a bit of a drive from where I live now. All of the descriptions of this Bavarian-style village at this time of year, when it's basically a winter wonderland straight out of a fairytale, had me feeling seriously nostalgic for life back in Fort Collins, Colorado—which is also a small town with a serious love of breweries, and knows how to do the holidays right.

Our leading lady, Sloan Krause is working at a local brewery and taproom which has just opened a few rooms and is trying to get into the BnB business. But during their very first weekend with guests, there is a murder!

As the story progresses and we get pieces of information, it seems that a number of the guests (and locals) are involved in the mystery in some way. I don't want to say too much and give any spoilers but I really enjoyed the pacing of the book, and the way the characters all worked together.

Sloan was a lot of fun and I can't wait to read more of the series. So if you're in the mood for a cozy holiday mystery definitely check this one out! You can grab your own copy from an indie bookseller by clicking the button below.

Synopsis:

Amateur sleuth Sloan Krause delves into a murderous winter wonderland in another delightful mystery from cozy writer Ellie Alexander, Without a Brew.

It's winter in the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, which for local brewmaster Sloan Krause means lots of layers, pine and citrus-flavored craft beers, and getting the new guest rooms at Nitro into pristine condition before visitors flood in for IceFest—a local tradition filled with fireworks, ice carving, and winter games of all varieties. But Sloan and her boss Garrett quickly learn that being brewkeepers turned innkeepers may not be as idyllic as it sounded.

While one couple staying with them seems completely smitten, a flashy group arrives in the evening demanding rooms. Sloan and Garrett are less than impressed, but agree to rent to them anyway. The night takes a turn when brewery patron Liv Paxton finishes her frothy pint and, with no previous plan for an overnight stay in Leavenworth, eagerly takes Sloan up on the offer of sanctuary from the snow—until she has a strange run in with some locals and the other guests. Sloan could be imagining things, but when Liv's room is found trashed the next morning, a hateful message painted on her car, and Liv herself is nowhere to be found, Sloan is convinced another mystery is brewing. With many of the potential suspects hunkering down under Nitro's roof, she knows her co-workers and friends won't be safe until she serves up the killer a hoppy pint of justice.