This is the third book in the Avalon Nash series and the third one I’ve read. They are wonderfully written books in this outing there is a film festival going on in town and one of Avalon’s good friends from high school is the star of one of the featured films he and two other childhood friends turn up.
Being a mystery there is, of course, murder and then it gets exciting. Who is doing the killing? Is it the star’s stalkers? Is it the star himself or someone else? Can Avalon trust him or is she the next victim?
MS Linnea keeps the pot boiling and the plot moving to a gripping climax that made this reader hold on to his book as the climax unfolded at a furious pace.
The book is very well written and Ms. Linnea has a gift for having characters arrive fully fleshed out and very real and relatable it’s as if they arrive on the page and you feel as if they could almost step off of that page and join you for a cup of tea or a drink. Something that she does that many authors do not is make the settings come alive. The reader can picture them vividly and is transported to them whilst reading.
Ms. Linnea is also not afraid to tackle controversial issues in her books she did so in the first two and does so again in this book with current issues such as drugs, stalking, economic inequity in getting needed services, and emotional dependency. To do all of that and still make the book a great read is quite an accomplishment. Sharon Linnea is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors.

This is the perfect light and easy read for any fan of romcoms and mystery.

I was so excited when I saw a new Bartender’s Guide to Murder was coming out because I absolutely love the premise of no one talking to the police and everyone talking to the bartender. And I also love trying the recipes! I finally know what to bring to DIY cocktail parties!

The only thing holding back my rating is that the book was advertised as a mystery novel (my favourite genre) but I found it to be a lot more like a romcom with a random dead body that is barely mentioned throughout the plot. I still deeply enjoyed it though because I’m also a fan of romcoms!

It did take a little while to work out who was who. That could be my fault though as I’m not sure what the difference between a publicist, manager and agent are. I also haven’t read the first book in the series yet. But once I did work out who was who, I really liked all the characters and how distinct they are. Linnéa really knows how to write strong ‘real’ characters who believably interact with each other even if they are movie stars.

I love how the story was able to subtly discuss global issues without taking anything away from the story. Issues discussed by the text include racism, the American healthcare system, and nonconsensual drugging. Modern mystery novels rarely discuss deep issues and Linnèa did a formidable job of addressing these points seriously in her text without breaking the narrative or taking away from a plot.

This story may not be for you if you prefer hyper realistic plots as some scenes really made me think ‘There is no way this could happen’ and some of the dialogue made me think ‘only a mind reader would say this’. But these moments did not make the story any less enjoyable.

The plot flowed so smoothly with so many cliffhangers and exciting moments making it such an enjoyable and quick read that I could not put down. I finished the story in less than two days which is the fastest that I’ve read in a long time.

The murder itself was non-gory (the best type of gory) but it was then barely adresses through the story with the occasional smaller crime thrown in (e.g breaking a restraining order.)

The ending sprang up very quickly and, while it was both logical and unpredictable, it did seem to come from nowhere due to the weak motive. However, it remained exciting and nail biting, just like the rest of the book, and had the satisfactory feeling of completion possessed by any good detective novel.

I would recommend reading the first book in the series, Death in Tranquility, first as this story contains spoilers.

Overall, this is the perfect blend of mystery and romance for anyone looking for a quick and gripping read. I can’t wait to hear about Avalon’s next adventures.

Having just finished Death by Gravity by Sharon Linnea (yes, I am way behind on my reading) I was very happy to find the next in the Bartender's Guide to Murder series waiting to be read. All three books have been very satisfying and I am eagerly awaiting the next one.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Arundel Publishing, in return for an honest review. While the third book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Ms. Linnea has done it again and presents another solid cozy in this series. Avalon Nash grew up in Hollywood as the daughter of a well-known actress. Deliberately leaving that life behind, she found her superior listening talent best utilized by becoming an amazing drink mixologist and bartender. In the series’ first book, she became the bartender at a bar in Tranquility, NY, while on her way to NYC. Happily settled in, Avalon’s looking forward to the new Tranquility Film Festival when she discovers one of her very best childhood friends will be in town for the premiere of his new movie. Will he remember her or is his movie star brightness too bright to see her? When the festival opens, it does so with a bang, not a whimper. Stalkers, agents, movie stars, killers and victims – it’s like a film noir!
I enjoy this series so much. The writing is topnotch, and I stay up way too late so I can devour the book! This story is just as strong as the first two in this series. Ms. Linnea also enlists the talents of amazing mixologists, and each chapter ends/begins with a unique drink recipe. I also appreciate that she’s included ways to make some of the drinks non-alcoholic by showcasing new options of mixes. I recommend this book and this series. Slainte!

amateur-sleuth, family, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, murder-investigation, attempted murder, thriller, suspense, drinks recipes, false imprisonment, madness, stalker,*****

A thrill ride! The sleuthing was as hazardous as the drinks recipes were spectacular!
The stars are of the Hollywood variety where bartender Avalon Nash grew up (mother was of that variety). Also, Avalon's landlady is a former star who faked her death to get out of that scene a very long time ago but is now in town and visible to screen a bio with her East Indian husband and children. As noted in the publisher's blurb, one of the current *stars* is a childhood friend, as is another who has done very well for himself. Of course there is the first murder and the law enforcement (both local and state). Then the lunacy really gets going! Great read, yummy cocktails, and a whole lot more!
This is third in series (I've read the priors) but I don't think that should discourage new readers, only make them want to read more!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Arundel Publishing, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) via NetGalley. Thank you!
Recipes by Jamielyn Bydalski, Award-winning Mixologist