Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Trouble Brewing by Heather Day Gilbert

Posted October 30, 2021 by meezcarrie in contemporary, cozy mystery, giveaway, Heather Day Gilbert, mystery/suspense / 9 Comments

TROUBLE BREWING
SERIES: Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery #5
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
PUBLISHER: Woodhaven Press
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2021
PAGES: 200

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
Convinced that the elderly lady in her care didn’t die of natural causes, Macy’s friend Della determines to look into the broken relationships surrounding the woman. She books a Halloween-themed getaway at a local inn and talks Macy into coming along with her to spy on her prime suspect.
As they join a ghost tour of the candlelit town, Macy and Della feel their guide is a little too fanatical as he shares his spooky tales. He tells the story of the Greenbrier ghost, a newlywed who supposedly came back from the grave to tell her family that her husband murdered her.
When a disturbing apparition makes its presence known, guests at the inn become apprehensive…and for good reason, because soon after, a young bride turns up dead. Although everything points to a copycat killer replicating the historical Greenbrier murder, Macy has her doubts. She’s discovered that the inn harbors secrets of its own, and when she pokes into one darkened corner too many, she might not stand a ghost of a chance.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.

Other Books In This Series

This time of year – when the trees are changing colors and the air is crisp – makes me want to snuggle under the covers with a spooky read for the foreseeable future. Trouble Brewing, the latest Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery from Heather Day Gilbert, is the perfect choice for just that very thing!

Siblings Macy & Bo are immediately likable – as is their unique cafe concept in their picturesque West Virginia hometown. The Appalachian setting lends itself to spooky legends, which in turn added to the overall vibe of Macy & her friend Della’s adventure at the local inn. A mysterious death or two and an inn full of people whose trustworthiness is questionable combine with those aforementioned legends to keep Macy & Della – and readers, too – on their toes! The plot is smartly drawn, and I couldn’t put it down until the culprit reveal (which I was way off about, by the way lol). The characters, too, have so much heart and I really liked spending time with them on the pages.

Bottom Line: Heather Day Gilbert crafts an excellent mystery – whether it be cozy or suspense – and Trouble Brewing is no exception. I loved every word of this latest Barks & Beans Cafe novel, from the charming setting to the engaging characters (4 legged and 2 legged) to the clever plot. It’s very easy for readers to imagine themselves in the story along with Macy & her crew, and I loved the fall vibe with dashes of Halloween spookiness. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the other books – the author does a good job of catching you up while also teasing just enough info that you will want to go back and read the other books, too. Delightful and entertaining, this mystery is not one to miss!

(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read via Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it!

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Also available to read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Award-winning novelist Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters—no matter what century—feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginia gal can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.

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Other Books by Heather Day Gilbert