Print Length: 241 pages
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
ASIN: B07ZPKTWCZ
Amazon
A whip smart librarian’s fresh start comes with a tart twist in this perfect cocktail of murder and mystery—with a romance chaser.
MURDER ON TAP
With Chicago winters in the rearview mirror, Chloe Jackson is making good on a promise: help her late friend’s grandmother run the Sea Glass Saloon in the Florida Panhandle. To Chloe’s surprise, feisty Vivi Slidell isn’t the frail retiree Chloe expects. Nor is Emerald Cove. It’s less a sleepy fishing village than a panhandle hotspot overrun with land developers and tourists. But it’s a Sea Glass regular who’s mysteriously crossed the cranky Vivi. When their bitter argument comes to a head and he’s found dead behind the bar, guess who’s the number one suspect?
In trying to clear Vivi’s name, Chloe discovers the old woman isn’t the only one in Emerald Cove with secrets. Under the laidback attitude, sparkling white beaches, and small town ways something terrible is brewing. And the sure way a killer can keep those secrets bottled up is to finish off one murder with a double shot: aimed at Chloe and Vivi.
From Beer to Eternity is the first book in a new series by Sherry Harris. As a lover of all things Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries, there was no way I was missing out on the first book in the Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon Mystery series. I was not disappointed at all. Chloe Jackson is everything I need in a cozy mystery heroine. She is likable (always important), realistic, imperfect - but the perfect person for this series, a little clueless, fiercely protective, and someone I would love to be my best friend. The story is not, however, all grins and giggles as Chloe tries to find out who murdered a long-time resident of Emerald Cove.
From Beer to Eternity is probably the most heart-wrenching cozy mystery I've ever read. The reason Chloe finds herself in Florida helping Vivi run the Sea Glass Saloon causes an emotional reaction in me that I never have happen with cozy mysteries - I cried. The author is such a wonderful writer and I love her ability to instill true emotional reactions in her readers, and not just shock, awe, and humor. This book has a theme threaded through it a lot of people have, are, or will work through at some point in their lives. Realism - that's where it's at for me in any book.
Chloe is actually in Florida under false pretenses. No one knows why she's staying in Florida while having an enjoyable career as a librarian in Illinois. When she finds the local resident dead behind the Sea Glass Saloon, Chloe knows she really can't go back home now until she tries to clear the police's number 1 suspect - Vivi Slidell. As a newbie to the town, Chloe stands out so sleuthing doesn't work as well for her as she would like.
Book 1 is a great start to a new series. I love the introduction of an assortment of secondary characters. Chloe considers several of the characters to be suspects, giving the reader several viable murderers. Her process of elimination leads to a twist I didn't see coming. The story is original and I was able to visualize the entire story as each scene played out. A fantastic story, a potential love interest, some tears, and a capable and competent main character make this 5 stars for me. The author has another hit on her hands!
I was provided a copy of this book to read.
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