The Malt in Our Stars
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
There's some shady business in Shady Creek, Vermont, this spring—in the third mystery by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox featuring pub owner and amateur sleuth Sadie Coleman . . .
Sadie is delighted to have booked famous romantic suspense novelist Linnea Bliss for an event at The Inkwell, her literary-themed pub, housed in a renovated grist mill. The author and her personal assistant Marcie are staying at Shady Creek Manor, a grand historical hotel that was once a private mansion and is rumored to still hold hidden treasure somewhere within its walls.
But the hotel's storied past is nothing compared to its tragic present when Marcie plummets to her death from an open window on the third floor. After Sadie discovers signs of a struggle in the room, it's clear that someone assisted the assistant out the window. But Marcie is new in town—who would have a motive to kill her?
In between pulling pints and naming literary-themed cocktails, Sadie takes it on herself to solve the case, wondering if the crime is connected to the vandalized vehicles of a film crew in town to do a feature on local brewer Grayson Blake, with whom Sadie shares a strong flirtation. Or could the poor woman's defenestration have anything to do with the legendary treasure? As Shady Creek Manor prepares for a May Day masquerade ball, Sadie is determined to unmask the killer—but when she uncorks a whole lot of trouble, will she meet a bitter end?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Fox's appealing third Literary Pub mystery (after 2019's An Ale of Two Cities), rumors of hidden treasure surround the historic Shady Creek Manor during novelist Linnea Bliss's visit to Shady Creek, Vt., for an appearance at Sadie Coleman's book-themed pub, the Inkwell. When Linnea's assistant, Marcie Kent, takes a fatal fall from a third-story window of the manor, Sadie wonders whether there might be a connection between Linnea and the treasure, and can't resist doing a little snooping. Meanwhile, a film crew's equipment is vandalized while they're in town to do a piece on a local brewer, so maybe that has something to do with Marcie's death. The pressure is on to solve both mysteries before the upcoming May Day Masquerade hosted by the manor's owners. Sadie has multiple potential suspects and motives, not to mention a third mystery regarding family heritage. The Inkwell's charming atmosphere, solid plotting, and several enticing recipes are sure to please cozy fans. Readers will look forward to Sadie's further adventures.