[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Samantha really needed the distraction of the historic home tour. This was supposed to be her wedding day. But Greg had dumped her and moved away. Her friends had sweetly suggested her as a temp bartender for the tour. Not only did it give her plans for the night, but it also provided a way for her to use the bitters she had made up as wedding favors.
There was no way she could have predicted someone would use one of her drinks to kill a man.
When the widow names Samantha in a wrongful death lawsuit and it starts to impact her freelance writing gigs, the former reporter can’t help digging into the case. The question becomes whether she will solve it before someone else is killed.
Review
This was a great mystery! The whole “bitters” and cocktail mixing hook wasn’t a great fit for me. But the mystery itself is solid – an interesting set up, plenty of suspects and action, and some great twists along the way.
I liked Sam for the most part. She was little too wishy washy about her ex at times for my preferences. But I loved her quick thinking and her investigative reporting skills and instincts.
I was disappointed by the lack of an endearing group around her. Her “friends” never felt warm or emotionally supportive to me. Sam seemed to click better with a murder suspect than her so called friends. Maybe those relationships – and the love interest – will develop more in future books, but it was a gap I noticed in this book.
Cozy readers who love mixology – or who are looking for a unique hobby hook for their mysteries – should check out this launch for the Cocktails and Catering Mystery series.
Rating: ♥♥♥½*
*♥♥♥½ = Good +