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kimdavishb's review against another edition
4.0
A DEADLY BREW is the latest Tourist Trap Mystery novella by Lynn Cahoon. This fun, quick read definitely got me in the mood for Halloween with a ghost story as the central theme. I enjoyed how it started with the author’s dedication to her mother and their shared love of Dark Shadows. It brought back memories of my childhood when I would sneak over to my best friend’s house to watch that scary fun program! It wasn’t allowed in my home but I was intrigued by the peek into the supernatural and looked forward to the program each week.
Protagonist Jill Gardner, along with her boyfriend (the handsome detective Greg King) and 3 other couples are participating in a haunted house lock-in. The owner of the house disappeared fifteen years previously and had never been found. One of the friends participating is Esmerelda, who purportedly has psychic abilities and hopes to contact the owner from the “other side” to find out what happened. Most of the group is skeptical but when Jill starts experiencing strange things in the house, she finds her beliefs are challenged. Ms. Cahoon weaves in a tight tale of the cold case concerning the missing woman who was a supposed witch, a ghost searching for a lost child, and things that go bump in the night! Even though it is a short novella, I felt the story contained all the necessary elements to make it a delightful read: good characters, a mystery or two to be solved, clues sprinkled around, and an exciting conclusion. You’ll definitely want to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows while reading this “spirited” book!
I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Protagonist Jill Gardner, along with her boyfriend (the handsome detective Greg King) and 3 other couples are participating in a haunted house lock-in. The owner of the house disappeared fifteen years previously and had never been found. One of the friends participating is Esmerelda, who purportedly has psychic abilities and hopes to contact the owner from the “other side” to find out what happened. Most of the group is skeptical but when Jill starts experiencing strange things in the house, she finds her beliefs are challenged. Ms. Cahoon weaves in a tight tale of the cold case concerning the missing woman who was a supposed witch, a ghost searching for a lost child, and things that go bump in the night! Even though it is a short novella, I felt the story contained all the necessary elements to make it a delightful read: good characters, a mystery or two to be solved, clues sprinkled around, and an exciting conclusion. You’ll definitely want to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows while reading this “spirited” book!
I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
A nice novella that I read due to the October/Halloween theme and to get my page numbers up with a quick cozy. Having not read any of the series before reading this one that takes place late in the series game, I didn't know any of the characters or setting or premise. That didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story, but I wasn't overly invested in the characters lives. I do have the beginning of the series on my Nook, so will go back and read soon. Likely in November and December as those are typically my 'cozy months'.
A tinge of paranormal, perfect for my October reading tastes. A mystery from the past to solve quickly since it's a 67 page novella and it didn't cut too many corners to get to the solving.
Appetite for the rest of the series is whet and I look forward to my learning about the characters and the setting.
I can recommend this author, this book and likely the series.
A tinge of paranormal, perfect for my October reading tastes. A mystery from the past to solve quickly since it's a 67 page novella and it didn't cut too many corners to get to the solving.
Appetite for the rest of the series is whet and I look forward to my learning about the characters and the setting.
I can recommend this author, this book and likely the series.
karen_the_baroness's review
5.0
A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon has Jill and Greg spending a weekend with three other couples at a haunted house.
Will Jill get to the bottom of the mystery?
Jill Gardner
Jill has set up a good Halloween fun for her, her boyfriend, and three other couples to have a fun night at the haunted house. Okay, so Jill didn't actually set it up; someone else did, and she just talked Greg into doing it. Anyway, Jill discovers there is a mystery to solve, and she wants to solve it. I love the fun, carefree way they try to keep the weekend going despite getting locked in the house at night. Another thing that I love is how they all pitch in to solve the mystery, but it's unlike there is anything else for them to do. Well, unless someone brought board games with them.
Jill is a fantastic character. I am looking forward to reading more of the tourist trap mysteries.
The Mystery
Maryanne Demerit, the last owner of the Demerit House, disappeared fifteen years ago, and everyone thought that she had just left town to go wherever she wanted to go. Except there has been no trace of her for the past fifteen years. Now, Jill, Greg, and their friends are determined to solve the mystery. Mainly so that Maryanne's ghost can finally get some peace.
I had a hard time figuring out who did it, even though it was just a short book. Ms. Cahoon got me.
Five Stars
I am giving A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon five stars and recommending it to anyone who wants a short read during Halloween or the weekend before Halloween. Ms. Cahoon has done a fantastic job, and I love this series. Yes, this book can be read even if you haven't read the others. As you can tell, I'm reading way out of order on these books. Jill is a fantastic character who I love seeing grow more and more with each book.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.
jamiezaccaria's review
2.25
What could have been a cute Halloween murder mystery felt "Deus ex machina"-ed, as if the author got bored halfway through and decided to wrap it up quickly.
peggyemi's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fun quick novella set at Halloween. I am a fan of this series and I think the novella's give fans and readers their South Cover fix until we get another full length book in the series. I love Jill and Greg. They are a fun couple and are surrounded by a terrific group of friends that add to the enjoyment of the book and series. The mystery is engaging and based upon what happened to the owner of an old house that is believed to be haunted. With Esmeralda along for the weekend, the group is hoping to see if the house is really haunted. There are a few little surprises along the way and I thought the mystery wrapped up neatly for a short novella. As I said, I am a fan of the series and find these novellas to be a great way to check in with the characters while I wait for the next full length book.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
m_elissa_m's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
melmo2610's review against another edition
3.0
This was another fun trip to South Cove to see the gang and solve a decades old mystery. This was an interesting story set in abandoned old house where the woman that lived there disappeared years before. This story has a definite ghost angle which wasn’t my favorite aspect but the story kept my attention and kept me guessing. Looking forward to my next trip to South Cove.
I was provided this book through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I was provided this book through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
slferg's review against another edition
4.0
There is an old house outside South Cove due to be torn down. It is been taken over by the city for non-payment of taxes and is being rented out for spooky "ghost" weekends to groups since it is supposed to be haunted. So Jill, Greg, Amy, Justin, Darla, Matt, Esmerelda and her friend Jake rent it for the weekend. They are going to try to contact the spirit. There are spooky things happening in the house and they ind stuff moved when they come back to a room. Most of them suspect a human agent, like the creepy caretaker, although Esmerelda doesn't agree. And they are curious as to what happened to Maryanne all those years ago when she disappeared.
xkay_readsx's review against another edition
3.0
Halloween theme short story audio. Not her best short story but I'm glad it's one from a favorite series with characters I love.