Review by Booklist Review
Brewer Sloan Krause's nanobrewery Nitro is gearing up for the popular Maifest in Bavarian-themed Leavenworth, Washington, located in the Northern Cascade Mountains, when a woman who claims to be her Aunt Marianne tells Sloan that she and her family are in terrible danger due to events in Sloan's past. As a former foster child, Sloan knows very little about her childhood. However, Marianne seems deranged at times, so Sloan is hesitant to believe her. When a housekeeper at the inn where Marianne is staying is murdered, Marianne insists that she was the intended victim. As Sloan investigates the housekeeper's murder, it looks more and more likely that Marianne is right about the danger to Sloan and her son, Alex, leading to round-the-clock police protection. Plot twists, interesting details about brewing beer and running a brewery, and a quaint small-town setting define this cozy populated by well-delineated characters as Sloan's backstory dominates the plot and she learns to accept the love surrounding her.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In Alexander's taut fifth mystery featuring Leavenworth, Wash., craft brewer Sloan Krause (after 2020's Without a Brew), Marianne DuPont--a woman from Sloan's past--confronts her with a wild claim: Sloan's life is in danger from a man linked to the death of her biological mother. Wary of the erratic Marianne, the levelheaded Sloan consults police chief Meyers , who assigns an officer to protect Sloan and promises to check out Marianne's story. Meanwhile, the housekeeper at the Hotel Vierter Stock, where Marianne is staying, is murdered amid the busy town festival of Maifest, and Sloan speculates about Marianne's possible involvement with the crime, as she was seen arguing with the housekeeper. Sloan also learns of a poisonous atmosphere among the hotel staff as well as a string of thefts, wondering about potential connections to the housekeeper's death. The fascinating details about brewing, activities of Leavenworth's colorful residents and tourists, and steadily ratcheting suspense keep readers turning the pages. Alexander continues to please with Sloan's complex personal story and intelligent sleuthing. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Alexander's fifth "Sloan Krause" mystery (after Without a Brew) opens on the Maifest celebration in Leavenworth, WA--Sloan's small, well-loved hometown. Leavenworth has ties to Bavaria and is known for its festivals that uphold the German traditions of breweries, bratwursts, and gorgeous scenery, with green mountains and vibrant flowers. This year's Maifest brings more than just crowds; it also brings murder, a mystery to solve, and Sloan's Aunt Marianne, who arrives with secrets and more questions than answers. Then Sloan's son Alex is kidnapped, and she realizes that it's time to confide in those closest to her. Soon, the Krause family and Sloan's friends at the Nitro nanobrewery are gathering around her to help solve the mystery and keep Leavenworth safe. Sloan finds that love is the most powerful safety net of all, but can she figure out who murdered one of the maids at Hotel Vierter Stock before someone else is killed? VERDICT Fans of Kate Carlisle and Ellery Adams will love Alexander's latest Sloan Krause cozy mystery; enjoy with a cold beer.--Jane Blue, Northumberland P.L., Heathsville, VA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In a thorny tale of hidden secrets, a brewer with a complicated past uncovers a murderer. Sloan Krause grew up in foster homes with little memory of her early childhood. When she married Mac Krause, she became part of a close-knit family of brewers in the German-themed destination town of Leavenworth, Washington. After Mac cheated on her, Sloan took a job at Nitro, a microbrewery where she and her brew partner, Garrett Strong, make a great team. But she and her son, Alex, are still involved with Der Keller, the Krause family brewery. Although Sloan recently heard a devastating rumor about Otto and Ursula Krause from her former foster care caseworker, her ex-in-laws have finally been exonerated of having Nazi ties. Now Sloan has to deal with the arrival of the elusive Marianne, the woman who dropped her into foster care and who may be either her protector or her enemy. The town is packed for the Maipole festival, and Sloan and Garrett have brewed a special citrusy beer for the occasion. Marianne appears at Sloan's house, reveals that she's her aunt, and warns her of danger. An old enemy is bent on killing Sloan, who witnessed her mother's murder but remembers nothing. Now Sloan must prove that Marianne didn't kill a hotel housekeeper while protecting her family from a dangerous killer. A touch of humor and plenty of brew lore and tasty food suggestions add to the determined heroine's charm. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
