https://girllostinabook.com/2023/09/21/review-steeped-to-death-by-gretchen-rue/ ( )

Phoebe inherits her aunt’s home and combo tea shop and bookstore. What Phoebe didn’t know until she arrived is that she also inherited an unusual gift from her aunt. She is dealing with that discovery and the town busybody who wants to buy Phoebe’s home even though she told her she isn’t selling. But it’s a nice homecoming for Phoebe when she reunited with some old friends and makes some new ones. A dead body behind her shop does dampen her spirits a bit, but she is up to the challenge of finding out exactly what happened as well as fulfilling her aunt’s wishes. It’s a good start to a new series, well written, intriguing, and entertaining. ( )

Steeped To Death follows the typical cozy mystery formula but includes enough twists to feel fresh and offer an enjoyable read.

Phoebe Winchester is moving back to Raven Ridge, Washington to take over the property her aunt Eudora bequeathed to her. She’s got the key to the mansion, a sealed letter from her aunt, and a lot of questions. In the letter, Eudora reassured Phoebe of her love and asked her to be open to exploring the town, the mansion, and the bookshop/tea shop before making any snap decisions about her future.

So here’s a basic cozy mystery trope - a woman out of a significant relationship goes back to a small town where she had been happy as a child. Rue adds a twist to this self-discovery journey that expands the quest Phoebe took to figure out her place in a post-divorce world. Phoebe quickly realizes that most people know more about her and Eudora than they’re willing to share. Everyone has their secrets, and Phoebe pieces everything in stages.

Another common trope is a murder mystery. Phoebe goes to the bookshop/tea shop that had been closed since her aunt’s death. She’s met at the door with the town busybody and an intimidating man who unsuccessfully tries to enter the store with her. Less than 24 hours later, the man’s body was found near the back entrance of the store.

A cozy mystery wouldn’t be complete without the mysterious and handsome stranger. It turns out that Phoebe’s childhood friend has grown up to become Rich, who is keeping secrets of his own.

It makes sense that the residents of a small-town would have heard stories about Eudora’s adored niece. Of course they’re curious about Phoebe’s future plans. But why does everyone appear to know more about Phoebe than she does? Who can she trust? And who - to quote Eudora - deserves a kick in the keister?

Cozy mysteries provide a unique challenge. On the one hand, readers want the usual tropes small town, murder, amateur detective, and a handsome stranger. On the other hand, the book needs to have a unique twist to stand out. Is this book a better choice than just some random cozy grabbed from a bargain bin?

Gretchen Rue succeeds in meeting the challenge in Steeped To Death. The pieces of a cozy mystery are here. The secrets within the mystery - particularly Eudora’s and Phoebe’s - stand out. It’s pretty easy to figure out who are the good guys and who are the evildoers, but the murder isn’t the primary solution of the story. By making Eudora’s secrets the main mystery, Rue deliberately unwraps one secret at a time to provide a delightful gift to the reader.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a copy of this book. ( )

Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue is the debut of A Witches’ Brew Mystery. I like the author’s writing style. It is casual and friendly which makes the story a breeze to read. The author took the time to introduce us to Phoebe Winchester who just inherited her Aunt Eudora’s estate. Phoebe inherited a beautiful Victorian house, a bookshop slash teashop called The Earl’s Study, and a cat named Bob. She may learn that she has inherited something else from aunt. The story is set in Raven Creek, Washington which has quaint shops that have a European look. A dead man is found in the alley outside The Earl’s Study. Phoebe had seen the victim the previous day with Deirdre Miller who has been a pain in Phoebe’s backside since she arrived. Phoebe wonders if the man was trying to break into the shop. If so, what was he after? Phoebe also wonders why Deirdre is so bent on buying the house. Phoebe cannot help but be curious about the crime. She asks some questions, overhears a few things, and tries to discover what the man wanted. I found it an easy crime to solve, but I did not mind. The mystery is wrapped up at the end. Phoebe uncovers some interesting information during the investigation. It appears that Aunt Eudora has a secret or two. Phoebe has a lot to process. The magical element is nicely done. It will be interesting to see what else Phoebe will be able to do with her newfound powers. I am eager for the next book in A Witches’ Brew Mysteries. There are recipes at the end for the tasty treats mentioned in the story. Steeped to Death is an enchanting tale with a timely bequest, a tom named Bob, a determined Deirdre, bewildering whodunit, enigmatic events, and bewitching treats. ( )

Out of all the different sub-genres in the cozy mystery section, paranormal cozies are my favorite. And Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue, which is the first in a new series, was the perfect mixture of magic and mystery.

As an herbalist who makes her own tea blends, I fell in love with Eudora instantly… even though she’s already passed on. Eudora’s mansion is filled to the brim with artwork, dried flowers, loose leaf tea, and an orange marmalade cat named Bob. Eudora’s, and now Phoebe’s, mansion is my dream house!

Phoebe gets to know many of the town’s people very quickly, some for good reasons and a few for bad. She catches up with some childhood friends and makes some new ones, all while learning how to run her new bookshop and tea house business. Oh, and she starts finding clues that make her think that her aunt was a witch. Combine this with a murder and Phoebe needing to find out who did it and why, and it makes for the perfect cozy mystery.

Now that I’m done gushing… I want to add that the characters are very well developed and there’s the perfect amount that the reader isn’t overwhelmed. Rue also does a fantastic job with her descriptions of this quaint little town and the food and drink descriptions sound lovely, with recipes included at the end. I’m excited to learn more about the customers, since in this one we mainly get to read about Phoebe and the other store owners. And I’m thinking the next book in the series is going to be Halloween themed, which makes me even more excited.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of magic, you need to check out the Witches’ Brew Mysteries by Gretchen Rue. ( )