Another fun cozy mystery in the series. Savannah and her husband are on the case when the husband of a friend is murdered. A few red herrings, a cruel victim and lots of fun characters make for a compelling read. Like the interaction with their new foster son. Highly recommend this book and series.

In this entry to the series, PI Savannah and her husband investigate the death of a prominent doctor who was apparently poisoned at a party. The characters are interesting and quirky (I loved Granny!) and there are plenty of suspects! The wedding scenes are also heartwarming. This is a cozy mystery, and although part of the series, it can be read as a standalone.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A Few Drops of Bitters is book twenty six in the Savanna Reid Mystery series by G . A. McKevett. This is one of my favorite series. Just when you think this series can't get any better, BAM, it does! .
Savannah is a strong willed PI with a heart of gold. I love her love for her family and friends. She is dedicated to her work and never gives up.
This story has plenty of plot twists and suspects that has you guessing to the end. There is also humor through out. I couldn't put it down.
I was given an ARC by Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.

This book is the newest in a series and while the other ones will help you understand the backstory of the main characters, it is not necessary for this book. Overall, it was an enjoyable book and I found it entertaining.

I love this series and it keeps getting better and better. This is book 26 in the Savannah Reid series and can be read as a stand alone but there is some much more info from reading previous books. Savannah and Dirk are taking Brody, their foster son to a gala party given by his favorite veterinarian Carolyn. When Carolyn's husband drops dead at the party the list of suspects is enormous. With Dirk in charge of the police investigation and Savannah using her P.I. agency they are narrowing the list. Brody is sure it can't be Carolyn. Granny is back and the wedding of sister Alma is also front and center. A great read that keeps you turning the pages instead of cooking dinner. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Few Drops of Bitter: A Savannah Reid Mystery
By GA McKevett
Kensington
August 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

At this point in her mature-ish life, Savannah Reid finds herself happily settled in with her marriage, career as a private investigator, taking on an eight-year-old foster son. It didn’t take long for Buddy Greyson to enmesh himself into the hearts of Savannah and her family, even if the boy’s prankster nature has him mischievously swapping out cereal and cat food to provoke his loving and tolerating father. Their love for Buddy explains why San Carmelita Detective Sergeant Dirk Coulter and his wife find themselves attending an exclusive birthday party, one which Buddy adamantly declares they’ve been invited as guests. As it turns out, veterinarian Dr. Carolyn Erling was too polite to shatter her most enthusiastic volunteer’s expectations, meaning that they are rather out-of-place among the Lamborghinis and luxury cars parked in the exclusive Joya del Mar enclave. It quickly becomes apparent that the birthday boy in question has few friends and many enemies among the neighbors and guests, with the neurosurgeon’s arrogance having caused an abundance of confrontations. So when the guest of honor is found unconscious and not even the surplus of doctors in attendance can save him, there should be a bounty of suspects to choose from.

As it turns out, Stephen Erling’s long list of girlfriends and their furious partners take second seating to Carolyn as being the prime suspect. Unable to reject Buddy’s pleas to help though, Savannah not only takes Carolyn into her home but accepts the vet as a client. Professional private investigator Savannah and her very capable staff are soon utilizing their skills to hack into and uncover the lurid secrets hidden by the victim with a God Complex. Of course Savannah already had her hands full planning her little sister’s wedding to a hunky movie star, although their beloved Granny Reid will ensure that they are all well-fed and Buddy never misbehaves too much.

After 26 entries into this series (and 3 starring Granny Reid), these characters will be well known and familiar to loyal readers. New readers can still jump into this latest though, which focuses on Savannah’s closest and newest family members. Super-smart assistant Tammy has her own new family with Savannah’s brother Waycross, while neighbors John and Ryan continue to run their in-demand high-end restaurant. With fewer of her assorted siblings in town to disrupt and cause chaos as they seek help from the big sister who raised them, Savannah is able to concentrate on completing her very loving and satisfying own new family. This series always brings a Southern flavor to the California setting, with the Reids serving up tasty comfort food along with delightful Southern wisdom. Animals, family, and of course a compelling mystery are the reliable traits of this rewarding and very entertaining series.

A Few Drops of Bitters by G.A. McKevett has a brain surgeon drop dead at his birthday party. Almost everyone loathed him including his much put upon veterinarian wife. Turns out he was a womanizer and drinker who mistreated everyone. He was poisoned by his drink. Whodunit? The wife seemed a good suspect, but she was a sympathetic figure as a vet who loved animals. Private Eye Savannah Reid and her policeman husband are looking into the case. Read on.

A FEW DROPS OF BITTERS is the twenty-sixth book in G. A. McKevett’s “Savannah Reid” cozy mystery series. Personal relationships make this a somewhat complicated case for PI Savannah Reid and her Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency. Nobody is particularly sad at the untimely passing of the handsome yet odious Dr. Stephen Erling. The complications come because the reader, and some of the main characters, don’t want anybody too likable to swing for the murder. In this case, the murdered man was married to the caring and totally delightful veterinarian Dr. Carolyn Erling. Savannah’s cute and precocious foster son some a lot of time helping Dr. Carolyn and he’s gotten attached. Hence the dilemma.

Since the murdered man in A FEW DROPS OF BITTERS was generally terrible, there is no shortage of possible suspects. The difficult part becomes narrowing down the field of people Stephen has burned to find one person who killed him rather than be content with hating him from afar. I admit that I much prefer murder mysteries with awful victims, rather than ones whose death seems like an epic tragedy. Before she and her investigative crew become officially involved on the case, Savannah tags along with her cop hubby and starts hunting down clues and motives without being paid. As a longtime mystery reader, I can often anticipate which direction a story is headed, but not so with this book. The twists and turns in A FEW DROPS OF BITTERS seem like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock film. While nobody deserves to be murdered, in A FEW DROPS OF BITTERS, the victim’s character and life choices do play a part in his ultimate destruction. Unlike with some cozy mysteries, that only have the main investigator or amateur sleuth, this series has a group of family and friends who work well together with individual skills they each bring to an investigation. A FEW DROPS OF BITTERS is no exception. The multiple members of the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency add a different perspective on the investigation that is refreshing in a mystery.

A FEW DROPS OF BITTERS is a classic whodunit with a wide array of suspects, and an equally wide array of clever and caring sleuths to solve the crime. G. A. McKevett balances the grim realities of murder with the lighter moments with family and friends. I look forward to G. A. McKevett’s next “Savannah Reid” mystery.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I am a big fan of both of the concurrent series that the author writes with the same characters at different times and places. Savannah, the heroine of one series is the granddaughter of Granny Reid, the heroine of the other, who raised Savannah and her six siblings after they were taken from their n’er do well parents. The adventures back in Georgia growing up and now in LA where Savannah solves murders with her husband Dirk and various members of her family never fail to entertain. They have to be some of the biggest hearted, most down to earth characters ever conceived.

Now that Savannah and Dirk have brought a young boy with a worse mother than Savannah’s into the family, I love how they all rally around him to cherish him. These are just people a reader would love to get to know. It is no wonder a film star is marrying Savannah’s sister. This is a family one would want to join. But before they can say “i do”, there is a killer to be found. A thoroughly despicable surgeon is poisoned at his 50th birthday party. No one liked the man with good reason. Who disliked him enough to kill him? Savannah and young Brody are hoping it is not his wife, the vet with whom Brody has formed a deep friendship.

Dirk and Savannah make a powerful team but it is her sister-in-law Tammy and her awesome computer skills put the pieces together. They reveal who killed the victim and it is a spider’s web indeed. The mystery will keep you guessing, the characters will keep you caring and the story will keep you invested. Considering how many books there have been written in the two series, that is quite an accomplishment. Five purrs and two paws up.

Savannah is loving her new role as foster mom and all that comes with it. The arrangements for her sisters wedding are falling into place and life couldn't be better. She even has a new friend in local vet Dr. Carolyn Erling where her foster son is volunteering after school. Surprised with an invite to a birthday party for the doctors husband Savannah is astounded at the doctors lavish home. When Dr. Erling's husband falls dead during his birthday toast Savannah doesn't think it was by natural causes. Intent on helping her new friend clear her name Savannah begins to investigate. She soon learns that he was poisoned and begins looking at who had it in for the man. When the suspect looks never ending Savannah knows that she will need to dig deeper. Follow along as the detective agency dives into the investigation to find a killer.

A Few Drops of Bitters by G. A. McKevett is the 26th book in the Savannah Reid Mystery series, and another great addition. I love this series, and reading a new book is like visiting old friends. Savannah is a private investigator who owns the Midnight Magnolia Detective Agency and her husband Dirk, is a police detective. While attending a birthday party with their foster son, the birthday boy, a jet set Dr, drops dead at the party, and the investigation begins. There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and I love the addition of their foster son, what a hoot he it. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book and series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A visit with Savannah Reid and the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency never disappoints. I must admit that I haven't read one of this series in a long time. I will definitely remedy that! I have missed out on so much that I need to catch up.

Savannah and Dirk are fostering 6 year old Brody Greyson. Brody volunteers with Dr. Carolyn at her veterinarian office. He wheedles an invitation to a fancy party at which Dr. Carolyn's husband dies. Dr. Carolyn hires Savannah to discover what happened even though Dirk is on the case.

Savannah is one of my favorite characters. I love the strong, independent woman she has become. Having Granny Reid nearby is amazing. It was nice to not have all of her bickering family present in this story. I did love that sweet Alma got to have her fairytale wedding with her Prince Charming.

Savannah has really taken to being a mom. That was evident throughout the plot. Brody is wise beyond his years. I really need to go back and see where he was introduced.

One of the best things about this series is that you can pick up any of the books and still know what is going on with the characters. Reading Granny's crossover series helps as well.

I was not terribly surprised about the culprit. The victim was a most unpleasant man that had made many enemies. The mystery did seem to just stop once the confession was made.

Now that I have read this book I need to go back and see what all I missed in previous books. This is a great series with wonderful characters that keeps you coming back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

PI Savannah Reid is busy being a mom to her new foster son Brody and arranging a lavish wedding for her sister Alma. Brody's love of animals has brought caring vet Dr. Carolyn Erling into their lives.
So when Savannah, Brody and her husband Dirk attends a birthday bash for Dr. Carolyn's husband, she does not expect going to a gorgeous hilltop mansion where Dr. Stephen Erling ends up dropping dead. With a poisonous residue found inside Dr. Stephen's glass, the search is on for the killer who spiked his drink. The talented brain surgeon had an A-list roster of star patients but he also made plenty of enemies. With the help of the members of the Magnolia Moonlight Detective Agency, Savannah and Dirk work to find his killer.

This was another enjoyable entry in the long-running Savannah Reid mystery series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

When their beloved vet, betrayed by a cheating spouse, may be involved in his death by poison, Savannah and Dirk team up to solve the case. I love the way this author weaves “down home” common sense and love of family and friends with no nonsense police procedures to catch the murderer.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #AFewDropsofBitters for this advanced digital copy.

There aren't many mysteries of any kind that can reach the 26th entry and still earn a five star rating but this sure is one of them. Savannah, Granny, Dirk, Brody and the rest of the recurring characters are on stage and it's a great puzzle. Savannah is busier than ever what with being Mom to 6 year old Brody, their foster son, trying to to make her little sister's wedding a beautiful event and working at the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency. Soon she and her husband, Dirk, have a case that lands at their feet, so to speak. Brody 'works' for Dr. Carolyn, a local vet and a person Savannah has come to see as a friend. On the occasion of Dr. Carolyn's husbands birthday, Savannah and Dirk are guests at the fancy star studded event. Dr. Stephen Erling is a very much in demand surgeon to the rich and famous but it turns out that one of those at the party hates him enough to make this his last birthday. Dr. Stephen is poisoned and the list of suspects seems to include the entire guest list. Nobody liked hm. Dr. Carolyn turns to Savannah to find the killer. It's a tall order and figuring out who to trust is a challenge.
I have read every book in this series and each one is an enjoyable read. This works as a stand alone but if you are new to the world of Savannah and Granny and the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency, set aside some reading time to catch up.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an asvance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Turns out that no one, no one, liked Dr. Steven Erling. He might have been a brilliant surgeon but he was a lousy human so when he is poisoned, there's a list of people who might have done it. Problem is, Savannah wants to make sure his wife, her friend Carolyn wasn't the one, and more importantly that her foster son Brody didn't do it either. Brody adored Carolyn, a vet, and Savannah is finding herself turning into a fierce protector of him. Her husband Dirk has the case but that doesn't stop Savannah, Granny, and the rest from investigating. You would too under the circumstances. I know this is the latest in a long running series so it might seem intimidating to read it as a standalone but know that you'll be just fine. McKevett has a way of pulling you in and making you feel a part of the Reid family right away. As always in a cozy, there are multiple suspects. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc. A fun read.

I jumped headfirst into G. A. McKevett's series featuring PI Savannah Reid at book 24 (A Bitter Brew) so I'm very much a latecomer!

This was a wonderful story. I can't believe that A Few Drops of Bitters is only the second of this series that I've read and it won't be my last! (For some reason book 25 (And the Killer Is...) escaped my notice - I don't know how or why).

Savannah is witness to a murder at a birthday party and from the start, this was an amusing, brilliant story that worked well for me as a stand-alone read. The plot was tight and full of little surprises. The author's characterisation was excellent and I wished that some of the cast were actually in my life. The subject matter was very well presented and I will be reading all of this series, although it might take some time! Very highly recommended and a well deserved five stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

As we return to San Carmelita and Savannah Reid, Savannah and Dirk are raising their foster son Brody. Savannah is helping her little sister Alma get ready for her wedding and Brody is helping Dr Caroline with her veterinary clinic. Life is busy but maybe a little boring without a recent case. When Dr. Caroline’s husband is murdered at his 50th birthday party, Savannah has her case.

I have read this series for years and I love it. The characters are wonderful. I love how some of the Georgia siblings are moving to California to be returning characters. I can’t wait for more!

I love this series!! I love this author!!! I love Savannah!!! These books are so well written! I could never get enough of them. Please continue to provide us more of the Reid’s.


I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

For a change, Savannah has time to put her personal life ahead of her work. Being a mom to her new foster son, Brody, and helping to plan her sister's wedding are enough to keep her busy – and frazzled. One of Brody's favorite places to be is the veterinarian clinic run by Dr. Carolyn, so when the boy comes home with an invitation to the birthday party of Carolyn's husband, Savannah and Dirk feel obligated to attend. At the party however, the guest of honor suddenly drops dead, and Carolyn is suspect #1. Savannah is sure the woman had nothing to do with the death, and sets out to prove it.

This is the 26th book (!) in this series, which has been one of my favorite series since the very first book. The setting is as familiar to me as my own neighborhood, with the exception of the exclusive community where Carolyn and her husband live in an over the top glamorous home. The recurring characters feel like family, and I enjoy watching relationships grow and change as the series progresses. Watching Savannah and Dirk adjust to having a six-year-old boy around the house is going to be fun too, and I appreciate their gratitude at being able to do something to help the boy live a better life.

The mystery here was good, with quite a few suspects on my mental list of possible killers. I didn't suspect the actual killer until just before the reveal in the book, but the motive seemed pretty obvious once all the pieces started falling into place. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.