The Cure for What Ales You by Ellie Alexander

Sloan Krause is once again in the middle of a mystery, this time concerning her own past. When a woman, Maureen, comes to town who strongly resembles her, Sloan's past starts to affect the present at full force. Maureen has some strange tales and Sloan is not sure what to believe. Plus, there seems to be a mysterious "bad guy" who Maureen says is coming for Sloan and her family. And some of that urgency is even more strongly conveyed when the head housekeeper at the hotel where Maureen was staying is murdered in Maureen's room. 

Is Maureen right? Is Sloan in danger? Or are these the ravings of a woman who has been running for too long?

This story didn't hold together as well as some of the earlier books. The last story ended on a rather shocking note that seemed to be leading to a greater story but was wrapped up in a few sentences in the front of this book. Sally seems to be a greater and greater part of Sloan's life but I"m struggling to remember if we've ever seen her on page. And this book was very full-speed-ahead then slow then full-speed-ahead and a slow down. 

Three stars
Follows Without a Brew

This book comes out October 5th, 2021
Ebook kindly provided by Macmillan and Edelweiss
Opinions are my own

Without a Brew by Ellie Alexander

When you're in a tourist town that's based on a Bavarian village, winter is the time to rake in the cash. Sloan Krause and her boss haven't officially opened the B&B that is attached to the microbrewery but a sudden winter storm during a festival means that their rooms are the only place for stranded people to stay. That includes a lovey-dovey couple, four rather entitled young people, and a young woman who seems to be hiding something even though more than one person recognizes her.   And it is the young woman who ends up dead.
This was a solid addition to the Sloan Krause series. There were a few too many suspects and the murder victim's history was a little overcomplicated. I am also sort of curious where the storyline with Sloan's former in-laws and her own past are going.

Three stars
Follows Beyond a Reasonable Stout

Followed by The Cure for What Ales You
This book comes out November 10th
Ebook kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Beyond a Reasonable Stout by Ellie Alexander

Sloan is up against murder again. This time, the victim is a man who was trying to make their town dry. Considering the fact that most of the town makes money off the tourism based around the local breweries. If the town went dry, there would be no money coming in. It's just too bad the man is found in April Amblin's office. The "official ambassador " to Leavenworth may have been annoyed by Kristopher but that doesn't mean she killed the man.
In the course of trying to (some what ambivalently) April's name, Sloan runs up against a number of people who were indebted to Kristopher who seemed to be tricking townspeople into borrowing money from him and then trying to swindle them out of their business.
A nice addition to the series but it took me a little bit to get into it. Definitely worth a read if you like the rest of the series.

Three stars and a half stars
This book came out October 1st
ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Beyond a Reasonable Stout by Ellie Alexander

Sloan is up against murder again. This time, the victim is a man who was trying to make their town dry. Considering the fact that most of the town makes money off the tourism based around the local breweries. If the town went dry, there would be no money coming in. It's just too bad the man is found in April Amblin's office. The "official ambassador " to Leavenworth may have been annoyed by Kristopher but that doesn't mean she killed the man.

In the course of trying to (some what ambivalently) April's name, Sloan runs up against a number of people who were indebted to Kristopher who seemed to be tricking townspeople into borrowing money from him and then trying to swindle them out of their business.

A nice addition to the series but it took me a little bit to get into it. Definitely worth a read if you like the rest of the series.

Four stars

Followed by Without a Brew

This book came out October 1st

ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Live and Let Pie by Ellie Alexander

Julie Capshaw is helping her mother look for a home when she hears shouting from the lake below. Two girls were swimming in an abandoned town that was flooded and one of them found a skull. Julie immediately calls her stepfather. This mystery overlaps with the current day where a lot on Julie's block is up for sale and there are a lot of sharks circling to take the land.
I thought this was one of Alexander's other series and was surprised to find myself in the middle of a series but read it anyway. While it was good, I'll probably stick to the other series.

Three stars
This book came out December 18
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley

Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander

The book opens with brewer Sloan Krause walking in on her husband in flagrante delicto with one of their new barmaids. She'd had a general sense that he might be cheating on her but now there's proof. So she leaves. Not only him but his family's brewery.
But her start at the new brewery in town (a destination town where beer is king) is more than a little rocky. Her ex seems determined to win her back, the supplier seems squirrelly, and Sloane discovers the body of a rival brewer in one of Nitro's beer tanks.
It's an interesting start to a new series but I'm a little trepidatious about whether it will be one that I will continue to enjoy. This book includes a LOT of set up so not as much story.

Three stars
This book comes out October 3