The Cure for What Ales You by Ellie Alexander

 The Cure for What Ales You

Book Summary

Amateur sleuth and brewer Sloan Krause contends with her past--and a murder related to it--in The Cure for What Ales You, another delightful mystery from cozy writer Ellie Alexander.

After a long cold winter, spring is beginning to bloom in the alpine village of Leavenworth, Washington, where craft brewer Sloan Krause and her partner in crime Garrett Strong are putting the finishing touches on their bright and refreshing Lemon Kiss ale. They’ll be debuting their new line at the Maifest celebration, which will bring visitors from near and far to dance around the Maipole and shop at the outdoor flower markets.

Despite the festive spirit in the air, Sloan is brewing over her past. She’s spent months following leads that have turned into dead ends. But when she spots a woman who strongly resembles Marianne—a long lost contact who may be her only connection to piecing together her story—she hopes that things might be taking a turn in her favor. That hope is quickly smashed when Marianne is involved in the murder of a local housekeeper. To make matters worse, Marianne issues a dire warning that Sloan and her entire family are in danger. If Sloan can’t figure out who the killer is and what happened in her past, she won’t find any hoppy endings.

My Thoughts

The Cure for What Ales You by Ellie Alexander is the 5^th A Sloan Krause Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  It is spring in Leavenworth, Washington which means it is time for the Maifest Festival which includes booths, parade, costumes, food, and good brews. The author brings Leavenworth alive with her vivid descriptions of the city. I enjoyed reading about the charming Bavarian looking buildings, the food, the drinks, parade, and festival fun.  This series is character driven.  The characters are realistic and friendly.  I like how they are there for each other and are a family.  The main characters have grown and developed since Death on Tap.  There are two mysteries in this book.  A figure from Sloan’s past, Marianne surfaces.  Sloan might finally get the answers she seeks about her birth parents.  It seems danger has followed Marianne to town.  A housekeeper at the local hotel ends up murdered in Marianne’s room.  Marianne claims that Sloan and her family are in danger.  Marianne behavior is a little frenetic and some of her actions make the book seem more like a suspense instead of a cozy mystery.  I am glad that this storyline is finally wrapped up.  I have not been a fan of it and the details were a little out there.  I was disappointed with the resolution.  The death of the housekeeper was a mystery more in keeping with a cozy.  There are several suspects including Marianne.  It is a straightforward whodunit which can be solved before the reveal.  I could have done without Sloan repeating the list of suspects so often.  The ending was warm with Sloan reflecting upon her future.  Sloan and her son, Alex are lucky to have such close friends and the Kraus family.  I liked learning more about the brewing process and what goes into creating unique brews.  The final brew in the book was certainly different.  The Cure for What Ales You is a gripping tale with crafty brews, a shadowy woman, terrifying threats, a miniscule costume, and a fun Maipole Festival.

The Cure for What Ales You is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Sloan Krause Mystery novels here.  You can find Ellie Alexander's other books here on Amazon.   Ellie Alexander has Bake, Borrow, and Steal publishing December 28.  It is the 14th A Bakeshop Mystery.  Thank you for visiting today.  Tomorrow I am reviewing Chapter and Curse by Elizabeth Penney.  It is the first book in The Cambridge Bookshop Series.  I hope that you have a satisfying day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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