Dollycas's Thoughts

Author Sebastian Marlow is coming to Phoebe Winchester's book and tea store Earl’s Study for a talk and a book signing. The famous birder has also agreed to a hike with his fans as he looks to put Raven Creek on the map if he is right about finding a Pacific tanager that is believed to have been extinct for over 50 years. The signing goes well but before the hike, Sebastian is found dead in his suite at a local B&B.

Phoebe has noticed tension between the author and the members of his entourage. He had also recently fired his business manager who came to Raven Creek to try to get his job back. Worried that the murder will reflect badly on her store, Phoebe knows the killer has to be apprehended quickly. She is going to need help so she asks her friend, tenant, and handsome private investigator Rich Lofting to aid her in her quest to find the killer.

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Our protagonist Phoebe Winchester is struggling to control her witchy abilities and is worried that her secret will be out because of it. She is also learning how to make all the special tea blends her aunt previously made as well as adding some new blends of her own. There's a lawyer in town trying to buy up properties for a big corporation as well, upsetting Leo and her other friends. Add to that a signing with a famous birder followed by his murder means her hands are more than full. There is definitely romantic tension between her and Rich. Her best friend Amy owns the Sugarplum Fairy bakery next to Earl’s Study. She not only bakes delicious treats, but she is a great sounding board for Phoebe ready to give her a shove in the right direction especially considering her love life. Phoebe also has Imogen and Daphne who were friends and employees of her aunt to lean on. All the characters are cleverly crafted with great dialogue. All are very enjoyable.

The mystery is full of a spider web of clues, secrets, lies, twists, and turns. Ms. Rue plotted the whole thing out so well that I thought many different people were guilty as I tried to do my armchair sleuthing. As Phoebe works to make sense of the death investigation she even states the plot was "so thick Agatha Christie would have needed a few whiteboards to unravel it all." So I am not ashamed to say I was kept guessing until everything was spelled out for me. I liked that Phoebe shared her and Rich's findings with Detective Patsy Martin and she appreciated it for the most part. But Phoebe's involvement did put her in danger. I loved the showdown and the enlightenment Phoebe received from the good detective.

A book and tea store is a splendid setting for a cozy mystery series especially when you add cats. Phoebe's cat Bob is such a cool cat, smart and perceptive. He is also the store cat so he goes to work with her almost every day. Phoebe will do anything to protect him and he would do the same for her. In The Grim Steeper, Phoebe is finally able to open Bob's Place, a small section of the store where she will host adoptable kitties. Bob's reactions were humorous and heartwarming.

The Grim Steeper is the perfect mix of mystery and magic. Well written with great detail, Ms. Rue's words pull you into the story to enjoy her wonderful characters and all their triumphs and tribulations with a delightful dose of humor in all the right places. I am very excited for this series to continue.

Gretchen Rue writes a number of series but Phobe Winchester is my favourite as I loved the characters, the world building, and Bob the ginger cat.
This is a good one, there's plenty of twists and I appreciated how the characters' arc and how they evolved.
There's a lot going on, the author deals with the murder of the author but also with the tentative of changing the spirit of the place developing a tourist resort.
An excellent and highly entertaining story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Phoebe is the owner of the Earl's study a bookstore and tea shop. She is also a witch and seems to be having some issues with her "witchery" being a little bit wacky at this time.

Their bookstore has a well known, good looking bird watcher coming in for a book signing and they are trying to make everything perfect for him. Working on window displays, teas and getting his books ready for them to buy and his signing area set up. The next day he is walking the trail and says that anyone who wants to join him for bird watching can. Only he doesn't show up. Someone has murdered him sometime between when he left the bookshop and was to be at the trail.

Now Phoebe is going to help the Detective solve this mystery. This is really a cute book and I enjoyed reading it. I got through it pretty quickly and loved every bit of it.

"Yes, because sitting here with a cup of tea and a book is such a terrible way to spend a rainy afternoon,"

The Grim Steeper - Gretchen Rue
Pub date: Sept 10, 2024
★★★☆☆

Got the ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

This review is written from the point of view of a person who hasn't read the first two books and jump straight into The Grim Steeper. This book in particular is a cozy witchy murder mystery sets in a small town. It is kinda overwhelming with the amount of neighbor and side character mentioned, but they added a little information about them as they made an appearance for the first time and i think it's a good move so someone like me won't feel left out. It can't be any more better cozy ambiance than baking, mixing various tea, indie bookshop, and CATS. As for the murder mystery, it was in an okay amount like it's not too gruesome or else but the tense they build is keeping reader to stay focus. I'm not a fan of the conlusion slash revelation, for i'm expecting something more extravagant.

It's a perfect slow yet thrilling story for you to read while nuzzling in warm blanket on a chilly weather!

Delightful cozy mystery with twists, turns, red herrings and surprises all around as this book in the series takes it to a new level of awesome! The plot is fun with paranormal shenanigans, pet adoptions, witty banter, great friendships and more, but complex as the mystery woven throughout the story is wrought with twists, turns, red herrings and even more surprises! If you haven't started this series, you absolutely should as each book builds the repeat characters personalities and relationships a bit more plus hours of great entertainment. This is only the 3rd book so you aren't far behind and can easily catch up. I think this author is just warming up to bring us many more really great stories if this one is setting the bar, then the bar is high for great entertainment and well woven mysteries! I can't wait for more!

Phoebe and the gang return in the third installment of the Witches' Brew Mysteries. There’s a lot going on in this book, so buckle up.

In the first book, Phoebe discovered she was a witch, and she’s been grappling with her new powers throughout the series. As it turns out, when she’s under stress, her powers tend to go a bit haywire—and there’s plenty to stress about in this one! She’s hosting a book signing for one of the hottest new influencers in... birding. (Such a millennial hobby! I love how the author worked that in.) But Phoebe quickly realizes something isn’t quite right with Sebastian and his entourage.

And she’s proven correct when Sebastian is murdered. While Phoebe isn’t directly implicated this time, she still feels responsible, having been the one to bring Sebastian to Raven's Creek. When a childhood friend is arrested for the crime, Phoebe digs deeper, disregarding police warnings to stay out of it.

I also love that her relationship with Rich is continuing to develop, though it’s definitely the slowest of slow burns! Still, I don’t blame her for taking her time. This book focuses more on her learning to control her new powers than on romance. No spoilers, but by the end of the book, I think she’s got things under control—so hopefully we’ll see more of that sexy private eye in book 4. The ending was also VERY Scooby-Doo—the villain literally gets unmasked.

So, if you’re looking to kick off fall with a cozy mystery, grab a blanket and a cup of tea, and curl up with The Grim Steeper. It’s a classic whodunit, reminding me of Scooby-Doo meets Nancy Drew—but for adults. Bonus: There are tons of delicious recipes in the back, straight from the book.

The book was well written and the characters were absolutely lovely. The pacing was just right, not to quick for the action, but not sluggish. The settings and descriptions were so cozy, that I wanted to get some dry tea leaves and make my own tea.

This is a perfect addition to an already charming series. Books, tea, a cat named Bob & a main character coming into her witchy powers, are all perfect fodder for cozies.

Whey famous birder/author Sebastian turns up dead after his book event at Phoebe’s store, she has to figure out the culprit. This series gives me everything I want from a cozy series. Interesting locale, fun side characters & a capable lead, bonus points for the addition of magic. I like that she’s using the powers more, mostly accidentally but it’s a fun part.

I just hope there’s many more books to come!

The Grim Steeper is book #3 in the Witches' Brew Mystery series by Gretchen Rue.

This book was a great addition to the series. Phoebe is hosting her first author event and things don’t go well. I really like the characters in this book as well as the setting. It’s entertaining seeing Phoebe trying to control her magic. I love the addition of Bob’s Place. I enjoyed the mystery and can’t wait for the next book,

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I’ve loved this series from its beginning two books ago and now I’m loving it even more. Along with some murders and other shenanigans going on with some of a visiting bird guy’s staff, Phoebe found out a lot about her own witchy powers and things started looking a lot better for her everywhere.

That showdown was epic and I do believe Det. Patsy thought so too. Phoebe was shocked at what others already knew about her when she was just learning some of this stuff herself. A favorite ending theme, food and fellowship was enjoyed by Phoebe and all her friends which were really her little family she’d acquired when she moved to Raven Creek. I can’t wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

The Grim Steeper

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ Amateur witch Phoebe Winchester is excited to host her first big author event at the Earl’s Study, her book and tea store. The author, Sebastian Marlow, is a famous birder excited to put Raven Creek on the map for his rediscovery of a presumed-extinct bird. When Sebastian is found dead before his planned bird hike, where he expected to prove the existence of the bird to fellow birding enthusiasts, it’s obvious someone wanted him to be extinct, too.”

So this is the first in the series I have read but I am downloading the other two on my kindle right now and going back and reading the others. I love really any cozy mystery that involves bookstores and tea, these are two of my very favorite things! I love the bigger picture story line and I loved the mystery in this book. I didn’t know who did it until almost the end so great writing there. I recommend this author and series 100%.
And even better because it’s out TODAY so you don’t have to wait to get it!

When I read Steeped to Death, the first book in the Witches' Brew Mystery series, two years ago I knew I had found a new cozy mystery series that I would enjoy a lot.

It is fresh, entertaining and funny with a great setting-- the town of Raven Creek and the bookstore/tea shop The Earl's Study, a group of sensible, quirky and intelligent characters, copious amounts of delicious sounding tea blends & bakery goodies, good murder mystery all topped off with Phoebe's (who as a probability witch can stop time), still mostly untapped magical powers and Bob the orange tabby cat.

Bob is a character in his own right and a star of these books and I wonder if there is more to him than just his sharp feline senses.

Phoebe is still coming to terms with her magical powers since they activated very late for her but in the third book we finally see her getting some control over them. As a probability witch, Phoebe is a rare kind even amongst witches and I look forward to the time when we can hopefully see her use it on a grand scale.

There are also recipes at the end for the various tea blends and baked goodies mentioned in the books.

And finally, who doesn't love the Winchester surname 😉❤️?

I received the ARC of the books from the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Gretchen Rue via NetGalley.

The Grim Steeper publishes today!

This was an entertaining read - a fun cozy with a hefty dose of magic, books and cats. In the first book Phoebe arrives on the scene knowing nothing about magic or running a bookstore but she quickly jumps in trying to figure everying out and by book three she's doing great with the bookstore but the magic part isn't going particularly smoothly. Both aspects take a hit when the celebrity author is murdered right after a signing at the bookstore.

I really like the characters in this series. Phoebe is smart and creative and has a great cast of characters around her. I like Honey and her help with magic and just an ear for Phoebe to vent to. She contrasts nicely with Imogen who is no nonsense and gifted at helping run the bookstore. And of course there's Bob, the bookstore cat to end all bookstore cats.

The mystery isn't the fastest paced. There's a lot of day to day activity and there's also a decent amount of page time devoted to Phoebe working with her magic and dealing with a few side catastrophies. As a regular reader of the series, I found this really enjoyable and liked the time spent with the side characters. But if you're new to the series it may be a bit slow.

This is a cozy read with fun characters, an interesting mystery, and some fantastic bookstore time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gretchen Rue for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Grim Steeper coming out September 10, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read in the series. I love cozy mysteries and this one was fun with the witch magic aspect to it. Phoebe was a good character who had a lot going on. I think there was a lot of description. It felt a little long with Phoebe’s thoughts. I just prefer more dialogue and character interaction. But I enjoyed the mystery and romance. I would check out other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy witch mysteries!

This is the third book in the Wtiches Brew series, set in the small town of Raven Creek in Washington State. The novels are narrated in first person, past tense, by one Phoebe Winchester, a divorcée in her late thirties, who moved to the town upon inheriting her aunt's house and bookstore.

Oh, and it turns out, she's also a late-blooming witch.

Beware: anxiety, panic attacks, copaganda.

The story picks up a few months after the events in Death by a Thousand Sips; just a few days before July 4th, as Phoebe prepares for her first large book signing; there are a lot of weird undercurrents when the author and his staff (yes, staff) shows up, but the signing goes off well enough.

Shockingly, the author is found stabbed to death in his room at a local Bed and Breakfast the next morning. Then, not even a week later, another guest--a lawyer who had been pestering business owners in town, trying to convince them to sell their properties to a "multi-billion corporation"--is found murdered in the same manner, just a few rooms over.

Phoebe, of course, immediately gets involved, because reasons. (It is a cozy, of course she does.)

This book was a lot heavier on the magic than the previous two. I don't think I would have minded this if the worldbuilding around it had been less woo-woo, and a bit more internally consistent. Instead, it's all handwaving and vibes, salt and crystals, dreams and spells, and no logic.

There is also quite a bit of repetition; not only is there the usual recap of the events of the previous two books--a weakness in many cozy series these days--but also within the book. Phoebe muses that she has to have to talk with the local real estate agent, and one of her nemeses, "sooner or later", no less than six times before they actually do sit down. We are told four times about Phoebe's, Rich's and Leo's childhood friendship, and each time it's treated as if it was the first mention made of it in this book.

On top of that, there are pages upon pages of Phoebe preparing her tea mixes, and brewing the teas, and baking her sourdough loaves, and, honestly, I started skimming pages at a go, because I just couldn't care less what tea base she was using for that day's special flavor, or what else she was putting in the bread dough.

The one novelty in this book is that, after finding her poking her nose in at the inn, the detective in charge actually asks Phoebe to keep an ear out for anything that may pertain. Unfortunately, that doesn't make Phoebe less likely to keep things to herself that she should share immediately with the detective, or to go paw through the suspects' belongings--although she does later turn to her friend--and love interest--Rich for help, and they eventually come clean with the cops.

As for the plot, it wanders aimlessly between the tea--so much tea--, the bread, the pastries next door, Bob the cat, and Phoebe's magic for most of the book. Apparent clues are dropped in here and there, and Phoebe mulls them over at random times, but not in a logical manner. She never connects some of the things she hears and sees with what she learns from other sources, and it's honestly maddening; one can almost feel the author working hard to make Phoebe not see what's in front of her nose.

The most annoying thing for me is that this is absolutely not a fair play mystery; neither Phoebe nor the cops know what actually happened or why, until after the murderer is caught. And even then, the explanation is convoluted to the point of not making sense.

The cats are the highlight of the book, and one of them only shows up in the last few chapters.

I can say with a clear conscience that I gave the author a fair try--I finished all three books--and that her writing is not for me.

The Grim Steeper gets a 6.00 out of 10.

The Grim Steeper is the delightful third book in A Witches’ Brew mystery series. Phoebe Winchester inherited a book/tea shop, a house and a cat from her aunt Eudora. But these things aren’t all Phoebe gains when she moves to Raven Creek. Apparently Eudora was a witch and so is Phoebe. That is all backstory from the first two books in the series.
Phoebe is excited and stressed about welcoming a bird expert to town. There are hidden secrets in the group that comes to Raven Creek. The mystery is quite puzzling and complex. Few of the clues lead exactly where you’d expect.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Grim Steeper. I have enjoyed each book I’ve read by the author.
The paranormal aspects of Phoebe’s magic just add to the experience. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Bookms for the opportunity to read The Grim Steeper.

This third installment in the Witches' Brew cozy mystery series was so fun! I enjoy this series, with a bookstore/tea shop owner who has discovered she has magical powers, and a fun cast of supporting characters, all in a small Washington town. In this book, we're treated to an author event with a bird specialist, Fourth of July events, and delicious recipes (I can't wait to make the Lemon Blueberry Sourdough Bread!). This characters and events are developed more in this story, but it can also be read as a standalone for anyone who wants to jump into the series here. I can't wait for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance digital copy.

This time The Earl’s Study tea and bookshop has gone to the birds. Phoebe Winchester, store owner, sometime sleuth, and newish witch, is hosting bird enthusiast and author, Sebastian Marlow for one of his book tour stops. Sebastian aka the Backyard Bird Man considered an expert birder who is easy on the eyes, has a huge announcement to make during his upcoming author event at Phoebe‘s books store. So of course, he ends up being the victim. Everyone loved Sebastian, or seemed to love him so why was he murdered? Like all good cozy sleuths, Phoebe has a need to find out the “who” and the ”why.”

I am not sure how Phoebe finds time to look for clues and ask questions. Most of her days include running the bookstore/tea shop, baking amazing sourdough breads from a homemade starter (refer to book 2 Death of a Thousand Sips), running the bookstore, (maybe) dating a dark-haired private investigator, and worrying about her magic acting wonky and unpredictable. It’s that last part, the magic acting wonky that could lead to a sticky situation, people aren’t used to seeing things floating and Phoebe’s witchy abilities are on the down low. The town has one other witch, Phoebe’s friend Honey, who can read runes but cannot offer a clear path for the mystery or guidance on what Phoebe needs to do to get her magic under control.

Suspects include the former manager and best friend of Sebastian, who was “let go” the day before the group arrives at Phoebe’s place for their tour stop. Maybe it is one of Sebastian’s team, or maybe someone else altogether. Everyone seems to be up to something and Phoebe was asked by Detective Martin to keep her eyes and ears open. Good thing her long-time friend (and maybe more), Rich Lofting is a former cop and currently a very good private investigator who is willing to indulge her and conduct stakeouts. The interactions between those two are fun and adorable as they dance around the “when should we start dating” thing. Rich may or may not know about Phoebe’s extra abilities, he knew her aunt Eudora, who was the subject of small town rumors about being a witch. Eudora’s teas helped a little too well, such as finding love and getting sleep.

The plot is well constructed and the clues well placed. The red herrings make it a challenge and the character interactions keep you turning pages as well as chuckling. Being a fan of the culinary cozies I was very happy to see that there were recipes at the conclusion of the story. I had sourdough starter already going after reading book two and used it to make the blueberry lemon sourdough bread. Both the story and the sourdough were highly enjoyable and I cannot wait to see what happens next. By the way, the ending is a doozy!

This was a fabulous cozy read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for letting me have an advance copy.

Phoebe runs at book and tea shop that her deceased aunt left her. Her aunt was a witch and so is Phoebe, although she doesn't really know much about her powers yet.

When she invites Sebastian to do a book signing at her shop about birding; she has no idea what a crowd he'll attract or what trouble he'll bring.

Soon there is a murder and it's up to Phoebe to see what she can find out to solve the case with the help of her "boyfriend??" and private eye Rich.

I loved the witchy vibes in this book and the way Phoebe runs her shop. The relationship between her and Rich is adorable and to top it off she has a loveable cat named Bob. What more could a girl want, especially as we approach Fall?

It was too cozy for me, but sometimes that's what you need.

This one is for you if you love birdwatching and small-town cozy mysteries.

This was the second book in the series. I did not miss anything, but you should check the first book to know more about the main character's backstory.