I had a hard time with the first in Gretchen Rue's A Witches' Brew Mystery series. The 'witch' genre is not one I normally enjoy, and Phoebe Winchester swung back and forth between a character that seemed realistic and then one who embraced that her Aunt and she were witches. The setting was interesting, the mystery was okay, but the road to Phoebe's self discovery was incredibly awkward for me. I'll give another one in the series a chance, but this one was just alright.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

What a delight it was to read Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue!
This book, which I believe fits perfectly into the #PWF niche of cozy mysteries, is the perfect mix of mystery, book store- and tea shop-themed settings. and the inclusion of a pet in the multi-faceted list of characters, without hitting you over the head with excessive use of any of those things. The coming-into=her-magic plotline that underlies the story is fascinating and complicated by a murder with plenty of suspects who are revealed steadily and skillfully, creating a page-turner of a book.
Lovers of recipes will be pleased with the selection provided at the end of the book as well.
I am glad to have received an ARC of #SteepedtoDeath from #NetGalley, and look forward to more books in the series.

What a delight! Rue manages to weave just the right amount a witchy vibes into the story to create a charming debut for the Witches' Brew Mystery series. Rue also manages to not only blend together both literary & culinary themes flawlessly but also balancing clues & misdirects to create a head-scratcher of a mystery. Oh and did I mention there are some very yummy sounding recipes included. I very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see where the series goes from here,

This was an absolutely delightful first in a new series.
It grabbed me from the first page and I could not put it down.
Great characters and a well paced whodunit.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Steeped to Death is the first book in Gretchen Rue’s new Witches’ Brew series. Phoebe Winchester has inherited a Victorian mansion and a tea shop/bookstore from her beloved Aunt Eudora. Phoebe is ready for a change in her life, but Aunt Eudora had secrets that may threaten Phoebe’s life. Why was a man trying to break into her shop and who killed him? Was Aunt Eudora a witch? And why is she being hounded to sell the house and shop?

This is an amazing beginning to a new series. I was completely engrossed in the story from the beginning. The beautiful writing style made this book an effortless read. Detailed descriptions of Raven Creek, with its small-town charm, allowed me to form vivid pictures. A wide range of relatable characters provides someone for every reader to love. Phoebe is my favorite characters; I love her sarcasm. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself to members of her new community; I find that to be very refreshing. The story is expertly plotted with plenty of surprising twist. I was completely surprised by the reveal, that person wasn’t on my suspect list. Phoebe learns something surprising about herself that will change her life forever. And a possible romance is brewing. This series has the potential to be one of my all-time favorites. I can’t wait to read the next installment.

I highly recommend this book to all cozy readers. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a digital advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

An interesting and magical read in a new cozy mystery series. Since this the first book in the series, it's a little heavy with information at times (as first books can sometimes be). But I liked the characters, the town, and the recipes. I'm interested in seeing where this series goes.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

There is way too much going on in this book! I know it’s a first in a new series but I’d like there to be way! less! exposition! Also there’s a couple references to Harry Potter, which, HUGE GROAN. Cozy mysteries don’t usually have pop culture references, so I thought I was free. HOWEVER. There’s a orange cat. There’s a bookshop that also functions as a tea shop called The Earl’s Study. There’s a cozy Victorian mansion. There’s a possible love triangle. It’s set in Washington. So like. THERE’S LOTS OF THINGS TO LOVE. There’s also recipes in the back, which is one of my favorite things. The mystery is simultaneously quite light but also feels like it takes up too much room in the book. I’m going to go with three and a half stars, with hope that the second book is better after it finds its feet. List of recipes available on my blog.

It was entertaining with an interesting twist, especially when Phoebe found herself at odds with her new neighbors. When she and her friend found the body of the former owner of the business she had just bought, her curiosity antenna went on high alert. It was entertaining and curiously intriguing.

A fun first-in-the-series read for fans of cozy murder mysteries mixed with a little magic. Phoebe moves to a small town to run her late aunt's bookstore/tea shop. When she learns that some of her aunt's teas have magical properties, she begins to wonder if her aunt was a witch... and maybe she is too. Will her new-found powers help to solve a murder mystery that happened right outside the store?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it''s a solid start to a cozy mystery series. I thought it set up characters (including one -- or maybe two -- romantic interests) and a setting that I'll enjoy reading about more in future books. The bookstore/tea shop is definitely a place I'd like to visit in real life! I enjoy murder mysteries with a magical twist, and I liked the magical powers this story explored. I'm looking forward to seeing how Phoebe's magic develops in the next book.

I'd recommend this series starter for fans of magical mysteries like Bailey Cates' Magical Bakery Mysteries or Esme Addison's Enchanted Bay Mysteries.

I found this book charming in some ways and tedious in others. Some parts dragged on with several paragraphs of unnecessary exposition that I felt took away from the core story. The main character would judgmentally go on about what constitutes a "real" versus" a fake witch despite initially not believing in witches at all, then turn around and say she regrets never getting a Hogwarts letter as a child (and the HP references on their own are disappointing because as a transgender person it is awful to see a transphobic author so commonly referenced). However, I overall found the lead character Phoebe and several of the side characters (particularly Imogen and Bob) quite charming. Phoebe is easy to relate to and connect with. As for the story, it felt jumbled and fell flat in places due to having so many elements that were all over the place. I still enjoyed reading, though, and the way the book ended left me itching to get my hands on the next volume immediately.

Another new to me author as well as a new cozy mystery series that I just started, can't wait to read more of this one . I loved how it has recipes and takes place in a town where it seems like everyone knows your business.

I found this book to be a magical cozy mystery to read. Phoebe Winchester is the story's protagonist, and the setting in Raven Creek, Washington. When her Aunt Eudora passed away, leaving her Victorian mansion, bookshop/tea store called The Earl's Study, and a chubby orange called Bob.

If anyone is looking for something cozy and magical to read, give this series a try.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a digital copy of this book for my review!

Steeped to Death is a new paranormal cozy mystery which was very enjoyable! Phoebe has returned to Raven Creek after her Aunt Eudora died. Phoebe is recently divorced and needs a fresh start so she returns to run the used bookstore/tea shop. She runs into a couple of friends from summers she spent with her Aunt when she was young. She is finding out things about her Aunt and herself along the way. Phoebe has a run-in with Dierdre and then finds a man dead behind her shop who she saw with Deirdre. That is suspicious. Deirdre wants to buy Phoebe's house and she can't figure out why. Clues have Phoebe thinking Aunt Eudora was a witch and then something odd happens to her. There are a few slow spots but luckily they don't last long and the ending makes it worth continuing. The mystery kept me guessing and the characters made the book enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next book. #NetGalley #SteepedToDeath @CrookedLaneBooks

I really loved this start to a new cozy series! The new witch discovery plot was fun and well-handled. The mystery itself was a fun ride, but I loved the character introductions and the setting most of all. I will definitely be reading more in this series when they come out!

Phoebe Winchester is newly divorced and unemployed when she rolls into Raven Creek, Washington, to move into the house her aunt has left her. Having not been for a visit in many years, Phoebe finds a lot of surprises in the old mansion at the end of the lane. As Phoebe settles in and gets her aunt's bookstore reopened, she realizes there are some strange things going on...

I was hooked on this book right from the start. Which is really saying something since the paranormal category of cozy mysteries is probably my least favorite. Phoebe is fun and a bit snarky. Imogen, who Phoebe expected to be a stuffy little old lady, turns out to be not only younger than Phoebe but also a valuable employee and soon a good friend. Two boys Phoebe played with when visiting Aunt Eudora as a child turn up as well, all grown and studly. And of course it's not a cozy without an arch nemesis to make the main character's life miserable!

There wasn't a lot of investigation in this book but that didn't take away from it for me. She still asked her questions and found her clues, though it often happened in unique ways. The setting was wonderful, nearing Halloween in the Pacific Northwest, rainy, blustery, and filled with intrigue. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
Steeped to Death is the first in a new cozy mystery series, and debuts Phoebe Winchester as our sleuthing protagonist. Phoebe has been left her late aunt’s estate – a house and business in a small mountain town in Western Washington, but it some of the locals wish she would just sell instead of move in. When a man is found dead behind the shop Phoebe finds herself asking questions and constantly being left with more questions.
I enjoyed my time reading this story. The plot moves are a great pace, and the cast of characters filed the town with a great variety of personalities. Phoebe’s quest for answers about both the past and present make for a great story. Fantastic beginning to a series I look forward to continuing to read.

A mystery book with a healthy dose of humor. Paranormal mysteries are rare subgenre for me. This one didn't disappoint. Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue involves niece Phoebe who inherits properties from her aunt Eudora after Eudora passes away. Strange events happen including a body being found. There were only a handful of characters introduced and the mystery was quite light. It was still fun to read along even though I could tell the solution to the mystery.

Thank you Netgalley and Gretchen Rue for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.

First of all WOW. I absolutely loved this book! I am starting to love paranormal cozies more and more and at first I didn't even notice this was a paranormal cozy. But it is and I absolutely loved it.

Phoebe Winchester's aunt Eudora passes away and leaves Phoebe everything she owns, her Victorian mansion, her bookshop/tea store named The Earl’s Study, and one very chubby orange cat named Bob. But Phoebe gets more than she expected. Dierdre Miller, who acts like she was Eudora's best friend has it in for her mansion and her store. After a man is found dead in the shop, Phoebe dives in the mystery and finds out her aunt had a knack for making tea..... magical tea and that she herself also has certain powers.

The story was great as I had a couple of suspects and I absolutely loved the characters and their interaction. I finished this book in three nights, I could not lay it down and I cannot wait to see what happens next and I hope this series will be in it for the long run.

What an absolutely delightful, fun, cozy mystery!
When Eudora passes away, her niece Phoebe inherits her mansion and beloved tea shop/books store. Newly divorced, Phoebe welcomes the change in her life and fresh start. She has such wonderful memories of her childhood visits to her aunt. Upon reopening the shop, strange, and unexplainable things seem to happen, like a truth potion tea? Could Aunt Eudora have been a witch? And where exactly does that leave Phoebe, especially when a body is found outside her shop door?
Great characters, even Bob the cat, and some humor mixed in with a bit of mystery. Loved it, and cannot wait for another book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my. honest review.