Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Very god book, recommend it.

It’s Autumn and Shady Creek Vermont is participating in the A Taste of Shady Creek festival. Pub proprietor Sadie Coleman is looking forward to visitors coming to sample her literary-themed cocktails, and her mother’s visit. But, when a food critic is found dead at Grayson’s craft brewery, pinned under a barrel, Grayson becomes a suspect. While Grayson lays low, Sadie investigates to find the truth.
This was a fun and fast paced cozy mystery. Sadie is an intelligent and lovable sleuth, and I love her attitude and how she helps her friends and family when there’s a need. The plot was very engrossing, and I didn’t want to stop reading until I got to the end. I was surprised by the big reveal. The setting is so well described I would love to visit a literary pub in a place like Shady Creek. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Another fun read by Sarah Fox. This was a fantastic book. I enjoyed the story and the sweet characters! Love the cats of course!

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

It is fall in Shady Creek and Sadie's mom is coming for a visit. Sadie is nervous about her boyfriend Grayson and her mom meeting. Things get more complicated when a murder occurs at Grayson's brewery, and he is the only suspect. Grayson goes on the run in an effort to clear his name. Sadie tries to investigate on her own and avoid explaining to her mother why Grayson is missing. The mystery is strong and kept me guessing until the end. I enjoy this series and look forward to the next book.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Through the Liquor Glass brings a new twist on a bookish cozy mystery, with Sadie Coleman, pub owner, making literary-themed cocktails. Her new boyfriend, Grayson, is implicated in a murder at his brewery, and it's up to Sadie to solve the case and clear his name. This was a clever mystery with lots of angles to be explored and the added drama of Sadie's mother coming for a visit. I liked the blend of personal life sub-plot and mystery drama which made this story great.

This was a NetGalley review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one.

I found this one to be an entertaining read. Decent writing. Held up well as a standalone. Well paced. A plot with plenty of red herrings and kept me guessing until the end. Likable (for the most part) characters. I found it a little sus that Grayson decided becoming a fugitive was a better option than you know, hiring a lawyer and trying to clear his name within the parameters of the law. Then again, Sadie (his girlfriend) didn't seem to have any issue with commiting crimes in the name of clearing her boyfriends name, soooo. 🤦🏻‍♀️

And while we are on Sadie, why did the author give this character a cat as a pet? She literally not once fed the cat, petted it, or interacted with it throughout the entire book. It might as well have been a piece of furniture. It's not something that affected my rating, I just thought it was a little odd. 🤷🏻‍♀️

**ARC Via NetGalley**

What a fantastic mystery! I always enjoy this series and this installment was great. The mystery really held my attention and the secondary story of Sadie's mom visiting added a fun element to the story. Loved this one!

such a great setting for a mystery series. I've adored the cast and the adventures. A literary pub is probably every bibliophiles dream.

This was a great addition to the series! The book had me sold w/ Fall in Vermont and the small town is hosting a taste of Shady Creek.
I really love Fox's writing style and her development of the characters and the feel of the towns in her books!
I highly recommend this book and entire series to any cozy mystery lover!I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Sarah Fox, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed the journey through the series with Sadie and Grayson and of course Wimsey. I love to visit The Inkwell and all the other spots around town. There are characters about whom you care, there is always a good mystery with our heroine getting herself into danger but not because she does dumb things and there is a satisfying end. In other words, it is a great series.

This book keeps up the trend. Sadie’s mother is coming to visit. She is torn by excitement and anxiety. She is afraid her critical mother will not like her new home and her new business. And she is worried she will not like her beau. That worry is intensified when Grayson goes on the lam when someone frames him for the murder of someone he misjudged many years earlier. The fact that there are a whole bunch of others with gripes against the food critic, the evidence is piled up against him. How to juggle her business, a local festival and her mother with trying to find the real villain is a huge quandary for Sadie. There are a whole bunch of surprises she uncovers on her way to exonerating Grayson. It all makes for an entertaining read. I expect nothing less.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Through the Liquor Glass

by Sarah Fox

Sadie and Grayson find a food critic’s body under a cask at Grayson’s brewery. It soon becomes clear that someone is trying to frame Grayson for the murder. He goes into hiding, and Sadie, owner of the Inkwell pub, tries to find the real murderer. She is also dealing with maintaining the Inkwell’s booth at the local food and drink festival, and running her business during this top tourist season. Add to that her mother’s first visit to Sadie’s new home and business in Vermont. Sadie wants her mother’s approval on her new life and her new boyfriend who is currently on the run from law enforcement.

I have enjoyed all of the cozy mysteries in The Literary Pub Mystery Series by Sarah Fox, but this one was disappointing for me. The plot was well-conceived, but the execution was repetitious. Just how many times do I want to read about Sadie drinking coffee at her apartment, at her pub, and at the local coffee shop? How many times does the author need to verbalize Sadie’s emotional distress over missing her boyfriend? They were only separated for a little over a week. Sadie, in her efforts to clear Grayson, does a number of stupid, dangerous and illegal things. One example is stealing a hotel key card, breaking into a guest’s room, and returning the key card—actions which she repeats! Grayson purposely does not tell Sadie where he will hide out so she can truthfully relate that to the police when she is questioned. Despite the police having surveillance over her pub and apartment, she works as hard at discovering his location as she does at uncovering the murderer, putting herself and Grayson in even more threat of being arrested unless the murderer finds them first.

The whodunnit part of the book is interesting and surprising, but not really worth the read for me. I want to read the next book in the series as I hope this was a one off.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 3/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. Contains two recipes—a snack: Maple Butter Popcorn and a cocktail: Kiss of the Cider Woman
2. #5 in The Literary Pub Mystery Series, but can work as a standalone because the author does a great job of supplying information about each character as they appear in this book.

Publication: November 29, 2022—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

Even with my back to what was likely the murder weapon, I was keenly aware of its presence. It was almost as if it were emitting a palpable and dangerous energy.

When we left the cidery a few minutes later, I had a snack in hand to assuage any physical hunger pangs that might strike, but my appetite for clues remained unsatisfied.

Silence settled over our table, but it was a silence fraught with tension and apprehension. My mother stared at me from across the table and I had to fight to keep from sliding down any farther. I was already in danger of falling off my seat.

This was a well written mystery that really drew me in. Unfortunately, the author used one of my most hated devices to find information for their investigation – the amateur sleuth continually broke into an area to gather clues; this drives me nuts and I find it lazy. There are a million other ways to get clues besides breaking the law. Other than that, I enjoy the setting and find the Sadie’s friends likeable. I’m not a huge fan of Sadie but still continue with the series because the drink names are amusing.

I really enjoy these books. Sometimes Sadie comes off as a little brash, but she usually manages to cover it up well. I love her and Grayson. So cute together. I hope her mom stays around. I think that would make for a great storyline.

It comes as no surprise that Sadie and Grayson find the body of a critic who had too much power and not enough compassion. The food industry can be hazardous to your health, especially if you are a food critic with a terrible reputation and thrive on reviews that ruin lives. Through the Liquor Glass is the latest addition to the “Literary Pub Mystery” series by Sarah Fox.

Sadie is busy creating cocktails for her pub, planning her mother’s first visit, and trying to have a relationship with Grayson. But she is nervous about her mother’s visit; what if she doesn’t like Sadie’s new home or Grayson? Adding to her stress is a food critic that has several business owners upset, including Sadie. The critic is known for harsh reviews that have caused businesses to fold up. When the critic’s body is found by Sadie and Grayson, the finger points to the past, and Grayson is the number one suspect in the murder. Grayson does what he thinks is best and goes into hiding, and Sadie does what she does best, sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong.

You don’t have to look far to find suspects in the food critic’s murder; the town appears full of them, which I found odd when you consider the critic didn’t live there. There appears to be only one motive, a critical review, or so you are led to believe. But nothing is as it seems, and readers will find a few surprises throughout the story. Some evidence can be challenging to follow, and the red herrings will send you down the wrong path. I did not believe the deception Sadie perpetuates on her mother or that she withholds information from the police; even though I understand the reasoning, it just doesn’t fit with her established character.

I love Sarah Fox’s writing and most of her series. But unfortunately, I found Through the Liquor Glass hard to read. The main character seemed to have a personality change that did not suit her, and even Grayson did not appear to be his usual self. The mystery was not original; the murder of a food critic who gives a scathing review has often been done in cozy mysteries. The killer is uncovered after a confrontation that places Sadie in danger. Secrets are revealed, and old mysteries are solved. I liked the story's ending; it felt right, and it worked. The murderer did not come as a surprise to me, but some readers may not guess the identity. Even though I found fault with much of this book, I recommend this series along with the other series written by this author.

Autumn brings a wonderland of color and atmosphere to Vermont. As the last leaves fall from the trees, the town is gearing up for a new festival: A Taste of Shady Creek. Pub proprietor Sadie Coleman is looking forward to visitors coming to sample her literary-themed cocktails. She’s a little more wary about her mother’s impending first visit. What if her mom doesn’t like Sadie’s adopted town—or her new boyfriend, Grayson Blake?
Those concerns are overshadowed when a food critic is found dead at Grayson’s craft brewery, pinned under a barrel. Curiouser and curiouser—the victim is linked to Grayson’s past as a private investigator, and all the evidence points to him as the killer. While Grayson lays low, Sadie starts some investigating of her own, diving down a rabbit hole of suspects. Was it a bad review that made the killer mad as a hatter? Or are there other motives at play? This is a really fun series with such great characters and I love Sadie. You can read this one as a stand-alone but I highly recommend the entire series. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Through the Liquor Glass by Sarah Fox (Literary Pub Mystery #5) 4 stars

It is fall and the town of Shady Creek, Vermont is picturesque and full of tourists. Sadie Coleman, owner of Inkwell, a literary themed pub is hoping for a lot of business and anxious that her mom is going to visit soon. But the murder of a food critic in her boyfriend’s craft brewery throws Sadie for a loop. Now she is going to have to find the real killer or her boyfriend’s next stop will be jail.

A great mystery, well plotted with familiar characters. I always look forward to new entries in this series and Ms. Fox did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read the next one in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

Through the Liquor Glass is the 5th book in the Literary Pub series by Sarah Fox. It once again follows Sadie Coleman, owner of the Inkwell Literary Pub. Her Vermont town is hosting A Taste of Shady Creek, a new food and drink festival. It's also Sadie's mother’s first visit to her new home and business and her first time meeting Sadie’s boyfriend, Grayson Blake. This has Sadie stressed out with a lot on her plate.
Things get even more difficult when she finds a food critic dead in Grayson's brewery. Grayson ends up being framed for the murder and goes into hiding to avoid being arrested before he and Sadie can clear his name. All the while Sadie is trying to hide what is going on from her mother!

Well constructed, great characters and lots of twists to keep you guessing! I enjoyed every bit of this book and highly recommend it!

Sadie Coleman is looking forward to participating in her adopted town's annual A Taste Of Shady Creek festival, especially since it's a great chance for her to promote her literary-themed pub, Inkwell, to the many tourists visiting for the event. She's slightly surprised to discover that the festival has also attracted the attention of several prominent food and travel critics, and hopes that Inkwell impresses enough to get some positive mentions. But the critic she's most concerned with is her own mother, who's never really understood why Sadie would choose to open up a pub in a quiet Vermont town, so far away from their own Tennessee home. With her mom's first visit impending, Sadie is prepared to pull out all the stops to make sure her mother comes away with a great impression of the town, Inkwell and Sadie's boyfriend Grayson Blake.

Alas then that just before her mom's arrival, something terrible happens that threatens to ruin all Sadie's efforts. Food critic Dominique Girard made plenty of enemies in Shady Creek the first time she passed through the area. Now it seems that one of those enemies has decided to get their revenge. Sadie and Grayson are shocked to discover Dominique's dead body, crushed beneath a cask in his brewery. As they find more evidence framing Grayson for Dominique's murder, he admits to Sadie that he and Dominique had had a more complicated relationship than he'd previously let on, and that this will probably be more than enough reason for the police to arrest him. Due to his past as a private investigator, he knows he has a better chance figuring out who really killed Dominique if he's free to investigate, even as a fugitive. So he goes on the run, as Sadie vows to do everything she can to help him.

Mom, of course, is pretty skeptical of Sadie's hedging as to Grayson's whereabouts. Sadie has to balance entertaining her mom and running the pub with her own amateur sleuthing, even as a relentless killer gets ready to put a permanent end to anyone getting too close to the shocking truth.

I'm a big fan of Sarah Fox's Pancake House mysteries, so was quite excited to dive into this series too. Sadie is a smart detective, even if I didn't find her quite as endearing as Marley, the heroine of those other books. That said, Sadie's struggles with gaining her mother's approval were quite relatable, and I very much enjoyed how she and Grayson treated each other like partners and reasonable adults.

There were two recipes included here, for a signature cocktail and this tasty snack:

QUOTE
Maple Butter Popcorn

¼ cup popcorn kernels
3 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Pop the popcorn.

Brown the butter by heating it in a saucepan over medium low heat, stirring constantly. When the butter turns golden brown with brown flecks in it, immediately remove it from the heat and pour it into a heatproof bowl to halt the cooking process. Stir in the maple syrup. Drizzle over the popcorn and toss until evenly coated.

Serves 3 to 4 (if you’re willing to share!)
END QUOTE

Browning butter is always such a challenge for me, but I think I did a pretty good job here with this popcorn. I actually poured the butter and syrup mix over the popcorn in layers, to better distribute the coating. I love the flavor of maple, so this was an absolute treat for me, and for my kids, who helped me polish off the bowl! This is a sophisticated take on your usual lightly sweetened popcorn recipe that I absolutely recommend if you have the time and patience to brown your butter.

We're taking some time off for the holidays, but when we return, we'll be in my neck of the woods again, whipping up a warming winter dish while investigating a cooking competition gone deadly. Do join me!