This is the second book I have read in this series. I really enjoy visiting the Literary Pub in Shady Grove Vermont. Shady Grove is having a Winter Carnival before the Christmas Holidays. Sadie is kept busy at the pub with all the tourists in town but still finds time to do some sleuthing. The ice craving contest is the highlight of the Carnival and home town bad boy chef has returned to compete. He treats everyone he knew terribly so it is no shock when he is found dead. Mel, a pub employee, is the prime suspect so Sadie sets out to solve the murder. I enjoy the town, the pub background and the characters. The mystery was good with plenty of suspects and the solution made sense. I look for word to reading the next book in the series. Enjoy

An Ale of Two Cities by Sarah Fox is the second book in the cozy Literary Pub Mystery series. As with most cozy series each book of the series contains it’s own mystery that will be solved so they can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course there will be character development that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.

The setting for this series is just as it may sound, a Literary Pub owned by booklover Sadie Coleman who has opened the Inkwell in an attempt to restart her life in a new town. Sadie had lost her job due to a business merger and she had become fed up with dealing with her ex’s gambling addiction so she chose to move to Shady Creek, Vermont for a fresh start. Sadie’s bookish side put a spin on the Inkwell in which she serves up themed cocktails and hosts many book club events in her literary themed rooms.

It’s now time for the winter carnival in Shady Creek, Vermont with the small town all decorated and lit up as Christmas is coming soon. Sadie’s friend and employee, Mel, is competing in this year’s ice carving competition and Sadie plans to root her on. However, Sadie’s ice carving tools go missing during the competition and her biggest competitor, Freddy Mancini, is found dead with the missing ice pick used as the weapon so Sadie vows to find the real killer before her friend is pinned with the murder.

Reading the first book in the Literary Pub Mystery series I was a little disappointed the series didn’t really stand out much to me and felt I needed to get to know the characters and town better. Now that I’ve read book two I felt a stronger connection to the story and really started to like the characters and setting a bit more but feel there could still be room for improvement on making them more unique in a world of so many cozies. Since the mysteries in these are solid and I did enjoy this one a bit more for three and a half stars I will happily return to see if the next book also improves for me too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Sadie Coleman is practical and makes a good sleuth. Grayson Blake is the owner of a brewery and the romantic interest. He has his work cut out for him because Sadie doesn't have a clue he's interested. Aunt Gilda is a dear and I would like more of her character.

Shady Creek is the ideal of a small town with a big winter carnival with a multitude of activities. The descriptions are well done and you feel the cold winter.

The plot is a solid cozy mystery with a terrible person who has many people with a grudge. It took me a little bit to get really hooked (probably my having a lot to do rather than the book). But once I got vested, I was flipping the pages and couldn't put it down.

The climax has its nail biting moments and was well done. the wrapup answered questions and makes you want to read the next one right away to stay in Shady Creek with Sadie.

This is a cozy that you can read for enjoyment of the town and its people as well as the mystery. The world building was particularly well done.

Rating: Good - A fun read that draws you into the setting as much as the mystery.

AN ALE OF TWO CITIES by Sarah Fox is the second book in the Literary Pub Mystery series. It worked as a stand-alone novel because the mysteries are self-contained, but you will miss out on some character development and relationship building. Sadie Coleman owns The Inkwell, a literary pub, that houses Sadie's personal collection of books. It is Winter Carnival time and she is hosting a literary quiz night as part of the festivities. There is also an ice carving contest. When a previous resident shows up to participate in the contest, it becomes obvious he was not missed and not really welcome back. When he is found dead with Mel's ice pick in his chest, she is the main suspect. Sadie begins investigation to get Mel, one of her employees, off the hook, but it won't be easy based on the number of people who dislike Freddy.

I really like Sadie as she is a strong and intelligent protagonist. Her goal is to support her friends and employees. I loved the trivia contest, I learned a few facts and enjoyed the name dropping and titles shared. I am enjoying this series, it is fun and the characters are people I would want to be friends with. The plot was well developed with twists that were believable and kept me guessing. I am not a big fan of cold weather, but with the festival and all the fun activities, even I enjoyed this wintry setting. The town of Shady Creek sounds absolutely delightful with great businesses, people and events. I like that Sadie and Grayson are getting along better and even planning to spend Christmas together. Perhaps there will be some romance down the road. A fun cozy mystery and I look forward to the third in the series coming soon. If you enjoy trying new cocktails, there are a few recipes included at the end for literary-themed drinks.

I loved this cozy mystery so much! I frequently read cozies, and this one just really hooked me. I thought Sadie was a great a lead character. She was your typical nosy citizen detective, but she also was so easy to like. This is the first book I read in the series, so I did not know her full back story. It didn't matter one bit on my feelings about this book. You can easily read this book as a standalone. It is perfect for the upcoming cozy season because it is occurring during the holidays. Grab a warm beverage and settle in because you're not going to want to put this one down!

There is just something about Sarah Fox's cover that draw you into the series as much as the plot itself! You will not regret picking up this cozy and diving into it for a weekend read!

Such a fun, entertaining and cozy read! The author did a fantastic jon in explaining the setting of Vermont., It was well-written and I enjoyed reading it a lot!

An Ale of Two Cities

by Sarah Fox

I found some relief from the pandemic news in An Ale of Two Cities by Sarah Fox. It is a fun, serious, puzzling cozy mystery with some action and excitement included. Although setting and atmosphere usually take a backseat to plot and characters in this kind of mystery, all of the elements are important here. The bookish setting is the Inkwell, Sadie’s pub decked out with bookshelves, literary decor, and special cozy rooms such as the one dedicated to Agatha Christie. Special literary-themed drinks are offered and, with two chefs, food has been added to the menu. Sadie has organized genre book clubs that meet monthly as well. All of this takes place in Vermont where our Tennessean main character has to adapt to the snow and cold weather.

The deadly mischief begins at the Winter Carnival’s Ice Sculpting Competition. Mel, one of Sadie’s employees, is competing and discovers a minor crime in the theft of her tools; but the plot turns deadly when Freddy, an unpleasant former denizen of the tourist town, is found dead in the snow. The evidence initially points to Mel, but there are lots of people with motivations to cut Freddy’s life short. Sadie investigates hoping to find the murderer thus clearing Mel’s name. In addition to the trauma of discovering dead bodies, Sadie has to deal with her growing attraction to Grayson who owns a local brewery. Winter Carnival appeals to her competitive nature as she organizes a hockey team representing her pub in ugly, mustard-yellow sweaters and learns how to snowshoe in preparation for the big race.

I highly recommend An Ale of Two Cities for its humor, plot, and all-around good reading fun. If you love books, then you’ll probably give this mystery bonus points for its bookish nature.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #2 in the Literary Pub Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone.
2. Recipes are included for some cocktails as well as Paradise Lox.

Publication: November 26, 2019—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

When my cat wanted his breakfast, he wasn’t about to let anything get in his way, especially not five more minutes of heavenly slumber for his human servant.

I had to take a long, hot shower and drink another cup of steaming coffee before I could declare myself completely thawed out. Once I no longer felt like a close cousin of one of the ice sculptures out on the village green, I headed downstairs to the Inkwell to get ready for the workday.

Spreading rumors was her superpower. It didn’t matter if they were true or not. As soon as Gretchen got hold of some tasty tidbit of fact or fiction, there was no stopping its spread through town.

This is book 2 in the Literary Pub series and can be read as a stand alone. I did not read book 1, Wine and Punishment but I have read numerous books by author Sarah Fox. She writes great cozy's and has interesting characters. When a contestant in the ice sculpture contest is killed, Sadie's friend Melanie is the main suspect. The murder doesn't seem to dampen the spirits of folks in Shady Creek, Vermont or stop the local stores and their hockey teams. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another great book by Sarah Fox. I love this series. The setting is wonderful and the people are great. I'd love to visit!
In this book Sadie finds a body. The body of a very disagreeable person, so there's no loss for suspects. But Sadie must solve this murder So her friend isn't accused. .

Sarah Fox's Literary Pub books have become an instant favorite. The characters, including those you're supposed to hate, are well developed. The plot kept me on my toes and reading well into the night. I can't wait for the next in the series.

This is the first of what I hope to be a long series. Book store/coffee shop owner Arlo Stanley must was planning on selling some extra books when a hometown hero/author returns for a multi-class high school reunion. Arlo didn't plan on him jumping out of her third story window after meeting with Chloe Carter for coffee. Chloe is Arlo's best friend and business partner as well as the mother of Jaden, the jumper's son, whom he gave up rights to before Jaden was even born 9 years prior. Wally, the bad dad and best sellers' list writer had a big ego, perhaps too big to have taken his own life and now Chloe is suspect #1 and is stuck in jail until Arlo and her book club mavens. Arlo is a very personable character and you can't help but like the way she works so hard on behalf of her friend Chloe. The book Club mavens are a hoot, between their fully accessorized fashions to their perfectly colored and coiffed hair. It's not only Chloe's past love that comes into town, Arlo deals with the memory of her high school sweet heart whom she pushed away to protect herself from his dreams of leaving small town to head to college and a football career only to come back as the local law enforcement. The reunion brings another blast from the past as Arlo's other beau, the boy who broke her heart when he left to go to college, Sam Carter, who has decided to rent her third floor office space and stick around to care for his sick Mom. Arlo is a great character, the idea that the child of hippie parents would decide at a young age to stay put and set down roots. Her relationship with the book club ladies is a nice aspect of the story as well. I see a triangle on the horizon that should prove entertaining for many mysteries to come.

Ale of Two Cities, is the second in the Literary Pub Mystery series. I have not read the first book but had no trouble starting with the second one.
Sadi owns the Inkwell, her literary pub that includes book clubs among the activities they sponsor. She is fairly new to the small town and is just getting to know people and it is fun reading about the characters that surround her. I recommend this book and I have already bought the first one myself. I recieved an Arc but this is my honest opinion.

What a fun book! The characters were entertaining and engaging, the story line fast-paced and interesting, and it kept my attention from the first page until the last.
I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

I love a scrappy whodunit. This rings all the bells that involves people who like to cook and are adventurous in and out of the kitchen. It’s always fun to watch someone sosure he has all the answers only to learn he’s as in the dark as everyone else. A annual winter carnival brings both profit and murder to Sadie Coleman’s tiny hamlet. Old grips emerge when local chef turned celebrity is invited to the celebrations. A missing ice carving kit is the catalyst to this tale of murder. Interestingly a similar storyline was part of a recent holiday movie but not close enough to draw suspicion. This is part of a series that is well worth continuing. Happy reading

Winnie helps her grandmother run the family orchard, and she's hoping to get a cider shop up and running as well. Since her grandfather died, the orchard hasn't been as successful as it once was. She hopes the cider shop, with its potential for year-round sales, can help drum up business but first she'll need a loan to get the business running.

The story revolves around Winnie's attempts at securing a loan for a risky business while dealing with scary crimes at the orchard. The mean lady next door, her grandma's arch-nemesis, is found murdered on the property. When the loan officer comes to visit and learn more about the proposed business, he spots some questionable-looking trees that give him pause. What good is a cider shop if the trees won't grow apples?

This is a fun cozy mystery with a delightful setting. The local hiking club provides a bit of adventure for Winnie, and the members are funny and endearing. Winnie and her Granny are full of life and determined to make their business(es) work which is why they know the killer must be caught before locals are scared off from the orchard for good. The financial problems are relatable for most people, so I really felt something for Winnie and her desire to see her dream come true. I definitely want to see what's in store for this series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: There is an adage: Be nice to people on your way up for you are bound to meet them on your way down. The celebrity chef who returns for a winter festival either did not hear or did not follow the advice. In fact, if there was someone he could bully, intimate, insult or otherwise hurt, he did it. And upon his return home, he seems determined to reinforce has nasty behaviour. So it is not a surprise he is murdered. While the suspect list is long, the police focus on Sadie’s friend and employee, Mel.
Naturally Sadie has a vested interest in finding the true culprit and discovers she has an unexpected ally in her investigations. But as she eliminates from her suspect pool, the real killer decides Sadie knows too much to live. Will Sadie survive in order to celebrate Christmas with promise of things to come. You will just have to read it yourself.
Four purrs and two paws up.

An Ale of Two Cities by Sarah Fox
Book #2: Literary Pub Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Kensington
Rating: 4½/5 stars

I knew the second I started this book, I was going to like it, and I did! In fact, this was a one sitting read for me and I regret nothing 😊

Shady Creek, Vermont has its winter spirit on and is celebrating with one of the town’s most beloved events, the Winter Carnival. The weather is cooperating, and the town is excited to host a variety of events for locals and tourists alike. The most anticipated event of the carnival is undoubtedly the ice sculpting competition and one of the Inkwell’s own is favorited to win the event.

Mel Costas is a talented artist and she’s won the ice sculpting competition a handful of times already. Though she’s favorited among the locals to take the prize, she has stiff competition this year. Returning home after many years away, the utterly disagreeable and completely unlikeable Freddy Mancini is set to give Mel a run for her money. No one is happy to see Freddy back in town, not even his family. Since he left the town to make his way as a chef in Boston, Freddy has developed a large ego, a bad attitude, and tendency to run off at the mouth without a care in the world for other’s feelings. Clearly, as his competition, Mel is on his radar and he makes so secret of the fact he thoroughly dislikes her and finds her, and everyone else in Shady Creek to be beneath him.

Not surprisingly, Freddy Mancini ends up dead! While no one is mourning the loss of the colossal jerk, his untimely demise has caused quite a stir. Mel’s ice pick is the murder weapon and while she seems like a good candidate for having done the deed, she certainly isn’t the only one in town with cause to whack the jerk. As both and employee of the Inkwell and Sadies’s friend, Mel has help from a lot of people. Sadie is bound and determined to prove Mel’s innocence, but it is going to take a lot a talking, even more questions, and a ton of patience to wade through the long list of possible suspects. Seriously, no one liked Freddy Mancini 😊

Interestingly, Sadie finds that her quest to clear her friend’s name overlaps with the interests of the utterly enticing yet totally frustrating Grayson Blake. As the owner of a small yet killer brewery, Grayson and his business were slated to appear on a national television show right up until the news of the murder broke. With a vested interest in solving the crime, and perhaps getting to know Sadie a bit better, Grayson steps in to help Sadie which leads to some interesting backstory about Grayson and the discovery of a second body. Just as things seem to be getting worse, Sadie pulls it altogether helping her friend and Grayson all while exposing a killer.

The Bottom Line: I am absolutely in love with this cozy mystery series!! From the setting to the characters to the plot, I enjoyed every minute of this single sitting read. In the time between books one and two, Sadie has grown and improved the Inkwell, become even more embedded in the community, and truly come to appreciate all that small-town life has to offer. Outside of the odd murder, Sadie has embraced her new life and Shady Creek has certainly embraced her. As with the first book, much of the plot unfolds in Sadie’s delightful literary-themed pub, the Inkwell. Between serving customers, developing a savory and sweet menu, and hosting events, Sadie is always busy, but never so busy that she can’t help her friends and neighbors. Mel Costas is Sadie’s friend and through clever detective work and good old-fashioned stubbornness and a refusal to give up, Sadie roots out the killer and saves the day. As she does so, Sadie also deepens her burgeoning relationship with Grayson. Every aspect of this book greatly appealed to me and I was absorbed in the story and the community from page one. This is what cozy mysteries are meant to be and I am sincerely hoping 2020 will bring at least one new installment of this series.

Sarah Fox
An Ale of Two Cities.
I enjoyed this mystery very much, Sarah is a talent author.
It was a clever mystery and kept me guessing until the end .
I am sorry I didn’t review this book sooner .
I will definitely recommend and look forward for Sarah’s next instalment.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We arrive in Shady Creek, Vermont just in time for the Winter Festival. An overnight ice carving competition is the big event but there are hockey games, sleigh rides, a chili supper, and the Inkwell, Sadie Coleman’s literary-themed pub, is holding a trivia contest. Tourists are pouring in along with the Shady Creek residents to enjoy the fun. A former resident has even come home to participate in the ice carving contest.

Freddy Mancini is now a chef who has a pretty high opinion of himself. He assumes he will grab the big $5000 prize while rubbing his fame in everyone’s faces. Sadie is cheering on her friend and employee Melanie “Mel” Costas who has won the last few years. Mel isn’t intimidated by Frankie, but while on her lunch break someone steals all ger tools. She vows to soldier on as a friend returns to the park with her backup tools. That is until she hears Sadie screaming and finds her outside of the community hall, not far from the dead body of Chef Frankie Mancini, with Mel’s missing ice pick protruding from his chest.

Turns out the chef had plenty of enemies but the evidence points clearly at Mel. Sadie is determined not to let her friend get iced for the crime, even if it means some pain before the final gain.

____

I have been excited about this book since I finished the first one! I love the setting so much. A pub full of books, a menu full of literary-themed foods and drink, all reached by going over a little footbridge above Shady Creek. The town park is nearby as are all the businesses and the community hall. The snow would be a little iffy for me but everyone there loves it and takes it in stride. If I could go back in time I would have said yes when asked to take over my parent’s tavern and turned it into a pub like the Inkwell. Now, I am delighted to escape to Sadie’s pub within the pages of her books.

Okay, the setting is ideal but so are the characters. I really like Sadie and she is surrounded by family and friends that support and love her. She dealt with some really heavy stuff in the last book but she is moving forward the best she can. She and the other characters continue to evolve in exciting ways. Mel is in the hot seat this time. The people who know her, know she had nothing to do with the murder, but there are some shaky times for her.

Meanwhile, Sadie thinks the pub needs to have a team in the upcoming hockey tournament and she puts a motley crew together. Grayson is still hanging around and definitely has something on his mind besides an upcoming hockey game. Aunt Gilda and her friends are wrapped up in the chili supper but she is always there for Sadie. All the characters are genuine and people I would love to hang out with.

The mystery is very well done too. Chef Freddy is a real jerk and as such there are plenty of suspects. Sadie is one of those sleuths that has good instincts but she doesn’t always think things through before she opens her mouth or jumps into a situation. Of course, that adds to the drama and the fun. The author has plotted out a story with a plethora of twists that kept me guessing right up to the very end.

An Ale of Two Cities is a very entertaining read. Set in the holiday season it is a perfect book to curl up with in front of a fire on a wintery afternoon or evening. Skip to the end of the book for a cocktail recipe and fix yourself a Count Dracula or Evil Stepmother cocktail to enjoy while you’re reading.