Member Review

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.