Review: DEATH & THE BREWMASTER’S WIDOW by Loretta Ross

As part of a Blog Tour organized by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours,  I am here to tell you about Death & the Brewmaster’s Widow, an Auction Block Mystery by Loretta Ross.

Synopsis

They call it “the Brewmaster’s Widow”; the abandoned brewery where Death Bogart’s brother died in an arson fire.

With his girlfriend, Wren Morgan, Death goes home to St. Louis to take on a deeply personal mystery. When Randy Bogart went into the Einstadt Brewery, he left his broken badge behind at the firehouse. So why did the coroner find one on his body? Every answer leads to more questions. Why did the phony badge have the wrong number? Who set the brewery fire? What is the connection between Randy’s death and the mysterious Cherokee Caves, where the opulent playground of 19th century beer barons falls into slow decay?

Not understanding how and why he lost his brother is breaking the ex-Marine’s heart. But the Brewmaster’s Widow is jealous of her secrets. Prising them loose could cost both Death and Wren their lives.

My Review

I enjoyed this book.  I found it to be both engaging and original.  The story line and main characters were unusual for a cozy mystery, a bit more mainstream mystery.  This is possibly because one of the main protagonists, Death, is an ex-marine who is determined to clarify the circumstances surrounding his firefighter brother’s death in a fire.  Wren,  as an auctioneer, lends an almost “cozy” element – although her self-defense skills will surprise and likely amuse readers.

I must admit I had trouble getting used to the author’s bizzarre choices in character names, Death in particular.  Although some parts of the story were predictable, the identities of the guilty parties and their motivation were not. That said, it was a fast-paced read, with elements of humor and romance mixed in.

Note: Although second in a series, this book definitely works as a standalone. I’ll be adding that first book to my TBR list.

FTC Disclosure:   I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of this blog tour.  This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

About the Author

Loretta Ross is a writer and historian who lives and works in rural Missouri. She is an alumna of Cottey College and holds a BA in archaeology from the University of Missouri – Columbia. She has loved mysteries since she first learned to read. Death and the Redheaded Woman was her first published novel.

Connect with Loretta:

• Website: http://www.lorettasueross.com.
• Blog:  http://lorettasueross.com/blog/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorettasueross
• GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/236665.Loretta_Ross
• Twitter: @lorettasueross  –  https://twitter.com/lorettasueross

Purchase Links:    Amazon     B&N

Giveaway
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