I gave Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue 4 stars.

This is the first book in the Witches' Brew Mystery-series and it was a really good debut.
I have read a lot of cozies and my favorites usually revolve around tea and books. This one fits both those categories, so I really enjoyed this read.

New to me was the magical aspect. I have almost never read any magical cozy, but it made this book even better. I am looking forward to learn more about the magic and the magical teas in the upcoming books.

I would give this book 5 stars if the mystery had gotten me more hooked. I feel like the lack of characters in this book made it easy to guess who the bad guy was.

I am really looking forward to the next book in the series and highly recommend this debut cozy mystery.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4617457841

A fun new cozy series! I couldn't put it down. The characters, setting, and pacing were all excellent. I highly recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries!

This is a wonderful cozy mystery! Rue is an excellent author and her writing is perfectly suited for the genre. I would absolutely recommend this book and look forward to more from the author!

As someone who grew up on shows like Bewitched and Charmed, this book felt like a love letter to those kinds of witches in media. It was full of the kind of powerful women who wish to foster people and communities. The setting felt like a great mix of realistic and cozy. I also enjoyed Phoebe’s character, and I hope to learn more about her in future books. The mystery itself had some layers, but did seem a bit easy to me. Still, a very solid first book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ACR for an exchange for an honest review.

I thought this little mystery book was wonderful.

A fantastic ‘good witch’ cozy debut that easily gained a 5 Star rating from me! Complimented by a great cast of characters, an inviting setting, an interesting inheritance, and a nifty occupation, the mystery checks all the boxes for a perfect score.

Phoebe Winchester inherits her Auntie Eudora’s estate including her cat, Bob; a charming Victorian house; and a bookshop/tea room, The Earl’s Study located in Raven Creek, Washington. As soon as Phoebe arrives in town, a Dierdre Miller begins to bully her about selling her Auntie’s house. Phoebe’s answer is “No”.

As Phoebe decides to continue with Eudora’s mixing of ‘special tea blends’, she realizes Eudora was a witch! The story moves along quickly with humor frequently blended into the scenes. I enjoyed the shorter chapters which always help a story flow faster.

A dead body is found outside The Earl’s Study’s back door. It’s a man Phoebe saw with Dierdre. Phoebe uses a ‘truth serum’ herbal mix to test if Dierdre Miller’s involved with the murdered man. It work wells! A nearby store owner, Owen Talbot, seems overly eager about Phoebe’s plans for The Earl’s Study, as well.

Phoebe is having coffee with her upstairs tenant, Rick, when she realizes she’s also a witch. Talk about surprised! Going through Eudora’s things in the house, Phoebe discovers hidden papers and realizes what Dierdre is after. The killer reveal is a great scene, and the ending is satisfactory. An excellent cozy mystery!

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue is the first book in the brand new "A Witches Brew" series. After reading this story, I am thrilled that the author will continue adding new editions.

The story is centered around strong female character named Phoebe who moves into her aunt's home and takes over running her aunt's bookstore and tea shop after her aunt passes away and leaves it, to her. Phoebe quickly discovers there was a LOT she didn't know about her aunt, including her ability to use magic. Phoebe also finds out she inherited that trait too. The story includes a murder outside the store Phoebe inherited, and the additional mystery of what her aunt may have had in her house that made another business owner anxious to buy it.

Overall, I found the book to well written. I recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.

This is my first Gretchen Rue book and I really enjoyed the cozy mystery. The budding relationship between Rich and Phoebe, her emerging magical powers and the intriguing mystery will definitely have me coming back for more. I hope the author is writing the next one quickly because I will be first in line to read the next book in the Witches Brew series.

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't read many books with a supernatural theme, but the description and the cover had me intrigued. In this story, Phoebe Winchester's aunt Eudora passes away and leaves her house and bookstore/tea shop to Phoebe. Eudora is loved in the community and is known for her magical teas that she brewed. When Phoebe moves back to town, she begins to learn things about her aunt that make her start to believe that the stories of her aunt being a witch are true. Strange things begin to happen that make her wonder if she is also a witch. A dead body is found outside the back door to the bookshop. It looked like he was trying to break in. A lot has changed in Phoebe's life and each day brings a new discovery. Can she figure it all out before she becomes the next victim? The story caught my interest from the beginning. I didn't want to put it down. I really enjoyed getting to know a little bit about the characters. I can't wait for the next book in the series to get to know them more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for early read. Enjoyed reading about all the characters in this story.

I knew from the first paragraph that I was going to enjoy this book a lot. And I did! You’ve got tea, a bookshop, witches, a perfect combo. It’s Practical Magic meets Murder She Wrote. Oh how I wish I could inherit a house & bookstore from a beloved aunt. Gretchen is a great lead, I like that she actually stands up for herself & isn’t intimidated by taking over her aunt’s shop. She also takes to her newly discovered abilities in a mature way. The second half is where it really picks up. It’s an enchanting read & if you like magical elements in your cozy mysteries this is a really strong start to a series. I’ll be looking out for book two.

Steeped to Death is the first book in the promising new Witches Brew Mystery series. The story begins when heroine Phoebe Winchester learns her beloved Aunt Eudora has died and left all her worldly goods to Phoebe, including a Victorian mansion, a combination bookstore and tea shop called The Earl’s Study, and a pudgy cat named Bob. Shortly after arriving at her new home in Raven Creek, Washington, Phoebe finds a dead man on the back doorstep who was apparently killed while attempting to break in. Meanwhile, Phoebe is being harassed by a woman named Deirdre who is determined to buy Phoebe’s newly-inherited home. There’s a lot going on for Phoebe to try to figure out and she’s determined to get to the bottom of it all. Along the way, she learns that her Aunt Eudora was a witch and that she too may have inherited her aunt’s talents. Despite the fact that I generally am not a fan of cozy mysteries with supernatural elements, I loved Steeped to Death. Unlike some books in the genre, the supernatural elements were not overdone and were well-blended into the plot. I look forward to reading the next book inthis series.

Steeped to Death is the first book in a series set in an idyllic small town in Washington state. The series follows Phoebe Winchester as she takes over her beloved aunt Eudora's home and tearoom/bookshop following her death. Recently divorced Phoebe, is happy for the change of scenery, even though others in the town would rather she sell her newly inherited shop and home to them.
Things get even more interesting when Eudora's teas have some interesting effects and Phoebe wonders if the rumors about her Aunt's witchy talents are true. Then an ex-con is found dead behind her shop and Phoebe is pulled into a murder mystery,
Phoebe must also contend with her own awakening abilities and further mysteries surrounding her Aunt and the town. There's also the potential for romance when she reconnects with old friends and a very adorable cat to care for. This series has a lot of potential and I look forward to the next installment.





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Steeped to Death was the best cozy mystery I have read in years. The atmosphere, main character, food, and mystery created the perfect story. I MUST read the next one the moment it comes out. Will be purchasing for the library and a personal copy for myself!

A cute cozy mystery with a pinch of romance and a spoonful of magic, 'Steeped to death' was a quick, enjoyable read.

I received a epub copy for an honest review from NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main character was enjoyable and the tea and book shop wasn't overly explained in setting up the characters and the story. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to continuing this series.

I loved this debut cozy series as one of my favorite cozy books of 2022. The author has created a great protagnist who is likable and a intriguing sleuth set in a small village in Washington state. This is a atmospheric fun paranormal read with wonderful charcters. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity My review opinion is my own.

Our protagnist is likable , smart and savvy. Phoebe is a take charge person and when her Aunt dies and leaves her a estate home and a bookstore/tea shop Phoebe does not hesitate to take over. The house is a historic victorian and the bookstore tea shop is charming . Phoebe finds out her Aunt was a respected practicing witch in the community and well loved. . Many of her personal tea blend creations have a way of influencing people for the better. As nefarious forces in form of angry locals attack to try to take everything from Phoebe she fights back with cunning skill to solve a murder and save her business and home. Soon secrets are exposed and Phoebe finds out her new home town has a mysterious hidden side.

I read this book cover to cover. It was such a fun read with the perfect blend of paranormal, a charming shop and great charcters. I look forward to the next in series. Well done to the author. The sleuth was well crafted to the story and intriguing to conclusion.

I really enjoyed this book! It had all the good traits of a cozy mystery, a cat sidekick, a book shop/tea room, a little magic, and a suspicious cast of characters. This one kept me guessing! Fast paced and all around a fun, relaxing read. Im excited to see where this series goes it has a lot of potential!

Steeped to Death. Rue gives us one of the best amateur sleuths I’ve read in a cozy mystery series in quite some time. There’s a solid supporting cast of characters, an excellent setting, and, in my conclusion, I’ll mention why Phoebe Winchester is so much better than many amateur sleuths.

Phoebe Winchester needs that change of scenery when she inherits her Aunt Eudora’s Victorian mansion and bookstore/tea shop in Raven Creek, Washington. She hadn’t been back in ten years, but she spent summers with her aunt when she was young. Now, at thirty-five and recently divorced, she’s ready for a new home. She laughs when Aunt Eudora admitted in a letter that she never liked Phoebe’s ex, Blaine. The house seems to welcome her home, as does Bob, Eudora’s big orange cat.

She doesn’t feel quite as welcome when she goes to check on the shop. But, Eudora had warned her about Deirdre Miller in that letter, saying to watch out for her because she was always up to something. Phoebe thinks Deirdre is trying to intimidate her into selling the house when Miller shows up at the shop with a large man in tow. Phoebe insists she’s not selling. However, when the police call that night, saying there was a body found in the alley behind the store, Phoebe recognizes him as the man she saw with Deirdre.

There’s so much for Phoebe to rediscover about Raven Creek. As a young teen, she loved her aunt’s teas, and learned how to make them, but it never occurred to her that the rumors about Eudora were true. The local kids referred to the house as the witch’s house. But, the local adults admit Eudora’s teas had magic. And, it’s over dinner one night with a childhood friend, Rich, that Phoebe learns she has a power of her own.

Despite her new ability, and her efforts to learn about it, Phoebe feels threatened and followed. She doesn’t even know if she can trust Rich. However, she knows she won’t sell the house or the store, no matter how much pressure she’s feeling from several local residents, including Deirdre. She just wants to know what Eudora’s house is so important to others.

My biggest complaint with amateur sleuths is their determination to investigate, ignoring the police at every turn. Phoebe not only admits she lacks the knowledge and skill set to investigate a murder, she worries that she’s calling the police too often. But, what do you do when you overhear a plot to break into your house? Phoebe does her best to keep Detective Patricia Martin in the loop, and she tries to consult her aunt’s attorneys with her questions. Sometimes, things just go wrong despite the best efforts of the sleuth, and the warnings of a cat.

As a said, there’s an excellent cast, including some supportive women. And, fans of Miranda James’ cat Diesel will adore Bob. Books, tea, and magic just go together in this satisfying debut of a new series. Check out Steeped to Death if you’re a fan of cozy mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

In Steeped to Death, Phoebe Winchester finds herself at a crossroads— in her life, relationships, and work. When her beloved aunt Eudora dies and leaves her everything (including Eudora’s teashop/bookstore, home, and cat), Phoebe decides to forge a new life for herself in her aunt’s hometown of Raven Creek, Washington. However, Raven Creek and its inhabitants aren’t quite the same as she remembers in her childhood visits, and she soon finds herself drawn into a mystery when she finds a dead body behind her shop. As Phoebe seeks to uncover what happened to this man, she begins to discover some of her own family’s secrets— including powers that she and her aunt both appear to have possessed. Now, it’s a race against time to discover the true killer and to prevent any more foul play in Raven Creek.

Steeped to Death was the perfect introduction to this series and these characters, and I can’t wait to read more! This book is basically like being wrapped in the coziest blanket with a big cup of (magical) tea on a rainy day. In other words, the perfect cozy mystery series for autumn. The characters were well-written and engaging, and I loved this introduction to the world of The Earl’s Study and Raven Creek. I know this will be a hit with cozy mystery lovers and will make an excellent addition to our library’s digital collection. 4.5 stars