DNF @ 21%

There are some cozy mysteries that catch your attention with their intrigue and plot from the first page; however, this was not one of them. Right from the start, there was mention of a domestic abuse situation, but no background was given, and the setup came out of left field. As well, the whole “I see ghosts” theme just landed flat on the page; it was all tell rather than show. The characters were one dimensional, and the lack of emotional connection to anything happening in this story proved this was not the book for me.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I can see the potential in this book but much like the title it was rather a strange brew.

Dora the main character apparently sees ghosts but the one that is haunting her she can’t see 🤔 to me that seems a bit odd. Guessing who the ghost was relatively easy to figure out so there wasn’t much of a surprise when the characters realised who it was.

Topics such as PTSD and fantasy horror were explored in this book but not as much as I hoped or at least expected. I would say it's a softer supernatural women’s fiction novel instead.

While this book wasn’t for me I think others may enjoy it more.

Thank you Netgalley and The Long Hot Spell for the digital copy of The Strange Brew for reviewing purposes.

STINKY GHOST WANTS REVENGE???

Eudora (Dora) Hermansen is no stranger to metaphysics and the esoteric nature of the world because she and her siblings were raised in a household where consulting their astrological charts was a common practice.

So when the dead—caught in limbo—start making their presence known to her through their scents and their ghostly images in M.N. Cox’s debut fantasy, “The Strange Brew,” she’s not afraid, just confused.

Dora’s supernatural visions begin while she’s hospitalized from traumatic injuries suffered from the hands of her boyfriend, Becker—who finds himself incarcerated following these horrific attacks.

Years later, we find Dora married to loving and understanding husband, Sayed, living in the tiny hamlet of Deepwell (Queensland, Australia).

They own a 19th C. building that’s the location of their upstairs home apartment; a downstairs rental hair salon; and their personal business—a popular town cafe that’s the hub of local news and gossip.

Ironically, on the historical anniversary of her severe abuse from former boyfriend, Becker, Dora’s peaceful life starts unraveling at a rapid pace.

First, Becker’s mom storms into the cafe screaming horrible things at Dora. Then a massive steal and glass wall clock crashes down, barely missing her head, but still injuring Dora’s foot. Before long, rancid odors stench-up the cafe.

Dora’s ghost radar is on high alert. Yikes! Who’s dead and leaving such a fetid, pungent smell? Ugh! That’s just the beginning of her upcoming nightmares.

She may feel that ghosts are near; however, Dora’s abilities of precognition are limited. She can’t always detect who the entities are—to hers and her loved one’s detriment. One thing is clear, this stinky ghost is a bad hombre, and he’s just started a reign of terror.

Consequently, Dora realizes that she’s going to need powerful help banishing this demon from the earthly plane. Assistance from a psychic and a powerful witch are summoned in this fight against evil.

In conclusion, although Eudora tells us repeatedly throughout “Brew” that she is traumatized following her abusive attack from Becker and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), oddly she doesn’t shy away from situations that are difficult and dangerous—which I find disconcerting since PTSD is repeatedly associated with a premise for this novel.

Furthermore, “Brew” is promoted as an ‘Adult Fiction/Mystery & Fantasy/Sci Fiction & Fantasy;’ however, it reads more as a ‘young adult’ or a breezy ‘cozy.’

This view is because much of the dialogue is ‘tongue-in-cheek’ Aussie humor, rather than more elevated, original, and intriguing action-driven storytelling. In addition, the characters are somewhat shallow and one-dimensional, rather than multi-faceted, complex individuals who are intricately drawn. Even the ‘horror’ aspect of “Brew” is a tad ‘goose bumps’ jump-scare for my tastes. Yet, perhaps I am a little too ruthless.

Nonetheless, Cox has done a good job fleshing out a cute escapist parapsychology mystery that should appeal to young readers, as well as those who enjoy cutesy tales with some light scares.

💠 Even though the blurbs warn of PTSD, the book really doesn’t elaborate abuse scenarios that should trigger issues.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author M.N. Cox, and Publisher The Long Hot Spell for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

Thank you NetGalley and The Long Hot Spell, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for accepting my request to read and review The Strange Brew.

Unfortunately, this didn't hold my attention. I was bored throughout the book. I went days between reading and letting it sit. The characters were shallow leaving nothing to develop. There was a lot of whining with a little knight in shining armor action. It wasn't believable.

I would give this consideration as to a young adult transition book for a young reader.

This was a decent book. I loved the twists and it was fast paced and easy to read. Thank you netgalley for making this book available to read.

This was a freshly paced and fun mystery. Definitely recommend as a book club read! Have fun with it!

Original and exceptional debut novel that isn’t afraid to cross genres. Cozy town mystery set up, which always works for me. Really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend. Look forward to future work from this author.

I highly recommend this stellar debut by author M. Cox. The Strange Brew hooked me in right from the start, and I read the entire book in one sitting. The story starts with a bang when cafe owner, Dora Hermansen, is confronted by the mother of a past ex who had tried to kill her. It's here we learn Dora can sense ghosts and the paranormal mystery begins. I enjoyed how the author didn't stick to type for the genre but crossed the lines by adding thrilling/suspenseful elements to a cozy mystery setup. This author took risks, and it worked. It's a refreshing, original read. I found myself rooting for Dora and loved the small-town setting. We need more writing like this.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series from this fantastic debut author. Check it out!

I had a need to read something a bit different than "normal" mystery and I chose this story about a small-town cafe owner and her husband that are living ordinary life, except she sees ghosts.
The Strange Brew is the debut novel by Aussie author M.N. Cox and it checked all the boxes, paranormal, mystery going on the horror side, interesting, intriguing, spooky, and totally gripping read that kept me awake just to read what will happen next. It is a good debut and would recommend it to readers of this genre.

I don’t feel entirely comfortable leaving a book I was sent/requested for review unfinished. But having read 26% of it, I realized that no good could come from me carrying on.

This book started out very poorly. Beginnings that read like a huge info dump are not precisely enjoyable for me. Add to that a lot of tell and not enough show.
We have a first person narrator that tries to break the fourth wall in an attempt to be funny and make the reader feel more empathetic towards her. Emphasis on tries. The main character was actually pretty unlikeable, if I’m being honest. I get it, you suffer from PTSD, but I don’t need you to rub it on my face every chance you get.
Some dialogues and situations felt very unrealistic and even cringy. The way this book read, at least as far as I got, was like a YA book but with adult characters and adult topics.

At 6% I already knew I wasn’t going to like it. At 26% I had to call it quits. Had I continued, I’m sure this would’ve turned into a one star review.

The Strange Brew was a bit of a slow burn. It took a bit for me to become invested in the story. I had a diffcult time relatignt to the characters. They could of been fleshed out a little more. The main character needed to be a bit stornger. It seemed that her voice was a little to passive for the type of story that the author was telling.

A mystery story with a dash of science fiction. The story is well written and to be honest, it was hard to get into at first. I put the book down, came back, and kept reading, in hopes that it would improve my first impression of it. Luckily, it did. I would recommend not giving up on the story because it does get better. Patience is the key.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Long Hot Spell for this review copy, I received this review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Every once in a while a writer comes along and refreshes our notions of what fiction can do . . . Buy this book, and prepare to be blasted by it!

This is paranormal suspense set in Australia at a cute coffee shop owned by the protagonist and her husband. The protagonist is sensitive to ghosts and has a traumatic background she deals with. The cast of characters had potential and it’s clear that the author has a big landscape in her head where this universe can be developed. There’s a lot to like about the book. Like I said, I like the Australian setting, I like the premise, and I think there’s potential.

The problem I have is that I felt like the tone was uneven. At times it was more cozy and light, and at times very dark. I also think the main character needs to be more developed. Honestly, I feel like a lot needs to be developed more. But the main character has to be stronger because she is our window into the world. From the beginning of the book, her voice is too passive and a lot of her decisions are foolish.

Overall, I think it just needs to be developed more on every level, but it could be good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me an advanced copy for review.

I loved reading this book. I enjoyed the characters and the way it was written - you have a lovely writing style.

The Strange Brew
Sometimes ignoring the dead isn't enough
by M. N. Cox
Earc: NetGalley
Publisher:
The Long Hot Spell, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Publication Date: 24th October 2022
Genre: General Fiction, Mystery and Thriller, Sci-Fi and Fantasy

M.N.'s Strange Brewcox took a while to get inside. Her first third of the book felt like female fiction. There is a lot of dialogue related to and referencing the characters (mainly lead character Dora) coming to know them through past trauma. Supernatural.

Now switch to another suspense/horror genre. In particular, I think the scenes inside the house are very well done.

The last third of the book brings out the more mystical, touches a bit more on the supernatural, and then ends with a hint that there might be more books that make the series less shocking. increase.

If you're looking for supernatural comfort, this isn't it. If you're looking for stories about past physical trauma and PTSD, this is it.

I would like you to investigate and explain the supernatural phenomenon in more detail. I'd also like to see some background on the woman who reluctantly helped Dora. Every part of the story feels like it has strong potential, but I've never been particularly impressed.
#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #SciFiandFantasy #fiction

The Strange Brew by M. N. Cox

Excellent debut novel – creepy cozy mystery that bodes well for this author.

What I liked:
* Dora :business owner, survivor of abusive relationship, happily married to Sayed, sees ghosts, associates some ghostly appearances with odors, has avoided her abilities, grows in this story, look forward to finding out what happens in her future
* Sayed: business owner, calm, supportive, loving, kind, married to Dora, strong family ties, has a scary event to contend with in this book, survivor, good friend
* The healthy relationship that Dora and Syed share
* The supporting characters
* The small town setting
* The plot, pace, and writing
* The paranormal elements
* The mysteries solved
* The twists, turns, and surprises
* The conclusion that indicates there will be another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Having to wait to find out what will happen next

Did I enjoy this book? yes
Would I read more by this author? yes

Thank you to NetGalley and The Long Hot Spell Publishing for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars

Well I loved this book. It was quirky and well written and a great relaxing read. I love a cafe. I love a bit of spookiness. I love requited love. Full marks.

This is an entertaining little supernatural mystery set in an Australian coffee shop. More cosy than scary, for the most part but a good story and I liked the Australian setting. I wonder if there is more to come, a sequel perhaps...?

3.5 stars

An original and well plotted paranormal mystery that kept me hooked and guessing.
I appreciated the unusual setting, the world building, and the fleshed out characters.
The mystery is solid and ful of twists.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine