4.5 stars

This is the third book in the Brewing Trouble series by Joyce Tremel.

Max O’Hara hires a band to play at her Brew House during Oktoberfest weekend and one of them ends up dead. Doodle Dowdy wanted to speak to Max about something prior to his demise and this makes Max want to find out what was really going on.

I thought the mystery was spot on. I was hooked from the very beginning. Love the brew house vibe I get from this series. So fun! I thought the characters were well thought out and they all really stood out, even the minor ones. I was speed reading to the end to find out whodunit since I had no clue. Great plotting here. Definitely a series I want to continue with!

Loved so much about it. If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I had a really hard time getting into this one, which is a shame, because I love the series. Not sure why, unless the mystery just didn't grab me. Looking forward to the next one though!

It’s Oktoberfest in Pittsburgh and Maxine “Max” O’Hara is getting ready for a busy weekend at the Allegheny Brew House. In addition to specialty Oktoberfest brew and menu items, Max has hired the Deutschmen band to provide live entertainment. But after checking out the band's performance one night with her friends Candy, Daisy and Kristie, Max gets a phone call from one of the band members asking to meet her. But Doodle Dowdy is killed before they can meet. Candy is acting oddly and is forced to admit her secret government past work with the CIA in 1960s Europe. Max must uncover the truth to prove Candy's innocence. Doodle's other work as a gifted artist and the recent purchase of a lost Vermeer painting are important factors.

This was a quick, enjoyable read and another fine entry in the Brewing Trouble mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Berkley Random House with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

My review can be seen at RT Book Reviews / 4.5 stars TOP PICK

Oktoberfest, yeah! This is the first that I have read in the series. Max O’Hara the owner of the Allegheny Brew House in Pittsburgh is getting ready for Oktoberfest. The band she hires is the focal point of this investigation. The evening ends on a not so good note when a member of the band is found dead.
Lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged. Read and see what happens and how it’s resolved.
Thanks to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for an opportunity to read this book.

Great series! Enjoyed reading this book, especially because the author gave a ton of backstory for Candy. I also really appreciate that there's no love triangle in this series.

First book I've read in the series and found the mystery interesting as well as the characters. Looking forward to more in the series and going back to read the others.

I received am ARC from Netgalley for an honest review

Max is gearing up for her first ever Oktoberfest in this new installment to the series. Things are looking great as she check all of her plans until she goes to hear the band that she hired. Once Max and her friends arrives one of the band members thinks he recognizes Candy. This is where things start to go wrong including a dead member of the band shortly thereafter who had a secret that he wanted to share with Max. There are lots of twists, turns, and secrets in this story which keeps things moving swiftly until the killer is revealed (I admit the identity shocked me a little though I did have a few suspicions. The world of intrigue is great giving a new dimension to the series that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters are well developed making them easy to get attached to with a few personality change for this one which makes you like some old ones a little better and I love the beer brewing steps that are thrown in throughout the story. This is a great cozy mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

I liked this story. It is the 3rd installment in the Brewing Trouble mystery series. I think I would have liked it a little better if I had read the previous books. Max's friend Candy played a big part in this book and I think if I'd had a little background I would have been a little more involved . I did enjoy the mini lessons on brewing beer and hints on choosing a good brew.

This is the third book in the series but the first I have had the pleasure of reading. I will definitely read the first two now.
This book has all the components of a good cozy. Characters that are well written and interesting and a whodunit that keeps you guessing until the end.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

3.75 stars

Brewer Maxine O'Hara (Max for short) is back in the third entry in the Brewing Trouble cozy series. Max again finds herself deep in a murder investigation when a member of a band she has hired for Oktoberfest is found dead not long after telephoning her with an urgent and mysterious message.
The situation is further complicated by her friend Candy's hidden past and reluctance to tell Max exactly how and when she knew one of the murder suspects. When the police tell Max she's just imagining things, what choice does she have but to conduct her own investigation? And when her boyfriend Jake's supermodel ex-fiancee arrives on the scene, things get snarky.

Factor in art thefts, spies, the Cold War and oompah music and you've got yourself an entertaining and intriguing cozy. The supporting cast in this series is enjoyable: ex-hockey player, chef, and boyfriend Jake, nearby business owners Kristie and Candy, and Max's large Catholic family.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Maxine "Max" O'Hara is busy brewing, running a restaurant, running to church and her folks place every Sunday, and oh yeah solving a murder. Apparently her personality is fueled by caffeine running through her veins. Jake Lambert gets to be more present in this outing and he acts more like a boyfriend with Max. Book two in the series was lacking in that regard and now we have that back. Candace "Candy" is a stubborn and independent character with an incredible past that comes back around. Tommy is Candy's ex husband who shows up to help deal with her past redux and quickly becomes the break out character. Victoria is Jake's ex-wife who plays a role in the story and shows just how bad Jake's marriage really was. Hops is Max's kitten who is just adorable throughout.

Pittsburgh is great and filled with such potential as a setting. I enjoyed all the references to local quirks and sayings. I enjoy the history touches here and there too. The Brew House is a good setting as usual, although not as much time spent there this time around.

The plot reached a bit and it worked well while remaining in the cozy wheelhouse. The pacing was fast paced and kept interest. The climax was a little surprising in that it snuck up on me when I wasn't expecting it. The wrap up was delightful and brought a smile.

I was grateful to have some chemistry back between Jake and Max. I had figured out the motive to the murder and the killer fairly early on, which happens - but it seemed a little too obvious. I can't be that good of an armchair detective!

Rating: Excellent - it had a good grip on me!

I enjoyed this book about Max and her friends, which primarily takes place in a brew pub. This was the third book in the series, and while it can be read as a stand alone, there are a lot of references to the previous books.

Max's first Oktoberfest is coming up, and she hires a traditional band. One of the band members appears to recognize one of Max's friends, Candy. Things start to get out of hand when Max receives a call about meeting someone in the band after hours, who winds up dead, and Candy is acting very strange as well. Plenty of action, some laughs along the way, and well drawn characters. I plan to visit this group again!

A Room with a Brew by Joyce Tremel is the third installment in A Brewing Trouble Mystery series. Maxine “Max” O’Hara owns the Allegheny Brew House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Max is busy preparing for the Oktoberfest weekend she is going to have at the brew house. To see if she wants to hire The Deutschmen, a local oompah band, Max and her girlfriends are going to an event at the fire hall. Felix Holt, accordion player, stares at Candy and insists that he knows her from somewhere. Candy ends up being rude and leaving without providing an explanation. The next day Max receives a call from Walter “Doodle” Dowdy, the sousaphone player, asking to meet in person. He has something to share with her. When Max, Jake and Candy arrive they find Doodle dead with his head stuffed in his sousaphone. Candy is at the top of the suspect which sends Max into overdrive to find out who killed Doodle and why. Just when Max thinks things cannot get worse, Jake’s ex-fiancé, Victoria pops up at a gallery opening they are attending for the unveiling of a newly discovered Vermeer painting. Max will need to keep her wits about her if she is going to nab a killer, finish her Oktoberfest preparations, and avoid the manipulative Victoria.

A Room with a Brew can be read as a standalone novel. I had some trouble getting into the story. I found it to be a slow starter and the murder did not occur until I reached the 18% mark (seems to be a new trend). I found the mystery to be expected. Once the Vermeer is mentioned, I accurately predicted how the story would play out. I tried it with a third party, and they came to the same conclusion (I only gave them two details). It was interesting to learn more about the quirky Candy in this story (who only wears black and gold). Most of the characters in A Room with a Brew are flat. We are given scant details on them and the author never gave them life. Candy, Jake and Max are the only fully developed personas. My rating for A Room with a Brew is 3 out of 5 stars. The main focus of the cozy mystery is on the Allegheny Brew House, Max’s romance with Jake, food (lots of food), time spent with Max’s family, and preparing for Oktoberfest. I did not know that blue and white were colors for Oktoberfest (from Bavaria). I have only seen the colors from the German flag used in conjunction with this event. There are recipes for some of the food items at the end of the book. A Room with a Brew is a cute cozy mystery that will appeal to many readers and have you craving a bratwurst (I will be heading to the local German meat market soon)!

It’s time for another visit to Pittsburgh and Maxine “Max” O’Hara’s Allegheny Brew House. Max and her staff are getting ready for Oktoberfest. She hires the perfect band for her event, but just Max’s luck, one of the band members turns up murdered.

Max fears the death could somehow be connected to her dear friend Candy. Suddenly, Max is finding out Candy has many secrets in her past, but there’s no way Max believes she's a killer. Max is determined to make sure the real killer is found and brought to justice, even though the police warn her to stay away.

It doesn’t help when her boyfriend’s nasty ex-fiancee arrives in town. Max has her hands full with finding a killer and keeping Jake’s ex far away from him.

I so love this series. It’s the third one and they just keep getting better. Max and her friends are a tight knit group. Each one has their own endearing quality. Max and Jake are such a cute couple, too. I enjoy their relationship. Although this book is primarily a mystery, the romance is a small part of it.

I do have to laugh at Max always sticking her nose into investigations because the police don’t seem to be able to solve anything without her help. The funny part is that her own father is one of the lead detectives, although not on this particular case.

The setting for this series is perfect. The Oktoberfest atmosphere is particularly timely to be reading right now. I practically devoured this story. I didn’t want to put it down. The author does an excellent job of transporting the reader right into the story.

The mystery itself is contained in this book, so you don’t have to read the first two. However, it’s so much more fun to start at the beginning. She does make mention of certain incidents that occurred in previous books, but it is explained. Still, with these type of series, it’s always fun to start with the first book and see how each recurring character grows.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series. It has a wonderful, quirky cast with the perfect setting. The mystery keeps you on your toes with many twists and turns along the way. I didn’t figure out the real culprit until the end, but even then, I didn’t have the details correct.

It leaves me anxiously awaiting the next entry in this series. I want more! Now!

This was a great October read, set during Oktoberfest the busiest time for Max. All is going good until a band member in the oompah band she directorship dead. That is just the beginning of her trouble, her best friend is hiding something and Jake's ex has come for a visit. Max has her hands. If would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mystery.

This third book in the Brewing Trouble series finds Max O’Hara, owner of the Allegheny Brew House in Pittsburgh, getting ready to host her first Oktoberfest celebration. The author manages to combine an exciting blend of cold war intrigue, oompah bands, tasty brews, a discovered priceless masterpiece, and murder.

Max’s friend, Candy, a seventy-something old cupcake bakery owner, has had minor roles in the previous two books but in A ROOM WITH A BREW, she takes center stage. I’ve always been curious about Candy, but she’s always held her secrets close. This time, though Candy’s story is finally told and while I won’t provide any spoilers, she certainly has quite the tale to tell and kept me entertained! There are plenty of memorable supporting characters surrounding Max and as with Candy, I’m now curious about their own stories.

I enjoyed the Pittsburghese expressions that are included, which adds to the authenticity of the location. For example, N’at is short for “and all that”. Fortunately for us Pittsburgh novices, the author provides translations. Aside from the memorable characters and the fun location, A ROOM WITH A BREW provides a well-plotted mystery with plenty of intrigue and suspects to keep the reader turning pages. Several subplots are woven into the story, adding to the enjoyment of this well-crafted tale!

While reading this new book, it was hard to not get thirsty for a brew or hungry for a delectable dish. Ms. Tremel provides several tasty recipes at the back of the book to keep your hunger at bay, all perfect for your own Oktoberfest celebration!

Very good story line. There was a nice amount of false leads that keeps one guessing. It was kind of like Castle meets How to Steal a Million. I enjoyed it very much.

A Room with a View: A Brewing Trouble Mystery
By Joyce Tremel
Berkley
October 3, 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

The start of September finds Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Brew House preparing to host its first Oktoberfest weekend. Germany’s official holiday actually lasts through the final two weeks of September, but the brewpub’s owner Maxine “Max” O’Hara has more than enough on her plate just planning the menu and booking a genuine oompah band. The rehearsal performance of the Deutschmen seems to go well until Max notices her bakery-owning friend Candy Scypinski’s out-of-character, standoffish reaction to them. Or more specifically, Candy’s refusal to acknowledge the accordion player’s interest in her. When his fellow sousaphone player contacts Max wanting to meet to discuss the incident, instead of Doodle Dowdy she finds Candy rifling through his house. Doodle soon turns up dead in the rehearsal hall before Max has a chance to talk to him, placing her in the very uncomfortable position of knowing that Candy is hiding her share of secrets.

Candy may not be open about her past, but Max knows that she’s not a murderer. So she rallies the amateur investigating team known as Max’s Marauders, locals who know all the gossip and are always willing to help out a friend. What they learn is shocking, leading them down an intriguing but dangerous path of espionage, war crimes, and theft. Along with her hockey-playing chef boyfriend, overprotective five brothers, and Pittsburg detective father, Max discovers that she may need to reassess her viewpoint on not just the victim, but of the motives behind the murder.

Fall in Pittsburgh has never been as appealing as it is in this unique and welcoming series. The author vividly depicts the unique aspects of this northeast community. The native Pittsburgh Yinzers respect the “parking chair” that reserve recently snow-shoveled parking spots, put fries on their salads, and save weekends for football games with the family. Max takes a very practical and methodical approach to her investigation, and she is motivated by her affection and protectiveness towards those she loves. One would never expect to find Pittsburg as welcoming or appealing as it is seen here, and this is due in no small part to the quirkiness and delightful good-humor of the characters who love to live there.