This was a really cute book.
I think it was maybe a little light on action/snooping, and some of the mechanics of the mystery were rather fuzzy.
I'm still not totally clear how the killer's plan was actually ever going to work.
However, I love the setting, and I really enjoyed the MC's perspective. This was the first "witchy" mystery I've read, and I think I will come back for the rest of the series. I think some of the difficulty with them is that on top of laying the groundwork for a small town cozy cast and a mystery plot, you've also got to cram in a layer of fantasy world building. I am ok with leaving the rest of the series to fill in the blanks I've got on how the magic works in these books, though. We can learn alongside the MC.
I'd also like to lobby for Bob to gain telepathic communication with Phoebe.
Also, I can't wait to try the latte recipe at the back. As a Southerner, the biscuit recipe somewhat offends me, but I will probably give it a go and call it a savory scone.

Phoebe's aunt dies leaving Phoebe her home and her business, a tea shop/bookshop. As she begins to settle in to the day to day at the shop she soon realizes the teas her aunt sold were magical.
When a few days after opening a man is killed outside her shop she realizes not everyone is happy to see the shop reopen.
But who wants to close her down ..permanently?
First in the new Witch's Brew Mystery cozy series by Gretchen Rue, Steeped i to Death, is a solid start with great potential.
As often with series starts there are many characters to be introduced but they, for the most part, were well done and interesting. I enjoyed the magical aspects of the story and look forward to them being expounded upon in future installments.
Overall a fun easy read.
4stars-goodreads
- I received this book free for review from Netgalley for an honest opinion.-

I loved this book. I'd be lying if I told you upfront that I would love it because, well, I always tend to be a bit skeptical of new to me authors that offer us magical mysteries, so to speak. I'm glad I was wrong and, quite frankly, have added author Gretchen Rue and the Witches' Brew Mystery series to my "must read" list.

Phoebe is in town to claim an inheritance from her late aunt. She's inherited both an old Victorian house, Lane End House, and her aunt's shop. And, oh, a cat named Bob. Turns out she's inherited more than that from her aunt, actually, not even counting the renter in the shop apartment. In the process of discovering how her world has changed, she copes with Dierdre who is not just pushy and obnoxious about demanding Phoebe sell her the house and shop but seems unable to take no for an answer. Then, a dead body is discovered at the shop's back door.

Who killed the man, whose name isn't even known to Phoebe initially? Why? Was he trying to rob the shop? Was he working with Dierdre? Why does Rich, who turns out to be an old friend from her childhood, keep turning up in unexpected places? How can Phoebe be both wary of and attracted to him at the same time? Why is he there? Why is the shoe store guy so hostile? Is there really a recipe that will make someone tell the truth? After a frightening nightmare, why does Phoebe go out for a run the next morning? What does she discover during lunch with Rich? Will Honey be helpful or just sell her a crystal? How many letters did her aunt write to Phoebe? Why.... oh, never mind. You'll have to read the book for the answers to these and many, many other questions. I went from skeptical and unsure about this book to loving it and you might find yourself doing the same. And, did I mention there are recipes at the end. No, not magical ones, sorry.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for allowing me to get to know Phoebe and her new friends. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this intriguing small town and its residents.

A solid, fun, cozy mystery. I cannot wait to curl up with the next one in the series. Highly reccomend to fans of a light-hearted mystery.

This review of Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue is courtesy of NetGallery. #SteepedtoDeath #NetGalley #BookReview

Rating: 5/5

While this is the first book by Gretchen Rue I've read, I think it's a yummy blend of a cozy mystery with a magical twist that makes a foodie happy.

It starts of like many cozy culinary mystery series with Phoebe arriving at her new home that she's inherited from her aunt. As she's adjusting to her new life, a body shows up.

What I like about Steeped to Death is that it doesn't fall into the trope of Phoebe falling for and competing with local law enforcement to solve the mystery. She also doesn't end up doing illegal things like breaking and entering all in the name of trying to gather clues.

I look forward to future stories of Phoebe and her cat Bob as Phoebe continues adjusting to her new life.

Steeped to Death is the debut of the Witches' Brew Mystery series set in the small town of Raven Creek and featuring Phoebe Winchester. Phoebe's Aunt Eudora has passed away and left both her Victorian home, the Lane End House and her vintage bookshop/tea store, the Earl's Study. Phoebe hasn't visited Raven Creek in quite some time, so she finds herself having to adjust to her new life including her new pet cat, Bob.

Phoebe quickly realizes that her beloved Aunt was keeping secrets, mainly that she was a witch. Eudora created specialty teas to fit all kinds of scenarios and Phoebe is determined to follow the recipes her aunt left behind and create a few of her own. Phoebe also wasn't prepared for the dead man discovered in the alley behind the bookshop, and can't help begin investigating into his identity and why he appeared to be breaking into the store.

A fast paced plot with the introduction of many characters including fellow employee Imogen, tenant and past friend Rich Lofting, who is now a private eye and many local shopkeepers. The mystery keeps you turning the pages and when another of Eudora's secrets is revealed at the conclusion, you will most certainly want to tune into the second installment in the series.

I received an advanced copy of Steeped to Death from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

I love books like this! They are quick to read for those that are faster readers. I absolutely enjoyed this witchy storyline. I was so excited to find out what her powers were and how different she is from your typical witch. I will be the first in line for the next book.

Name of Book: Steeped to Death
Author: Gretchen Rue
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Pub Date: September 6, 2022
My Rating: 3.5 Stars! Rounded up!

This is Book #1 in the ‘Witches Brew Mystery’
I love a fun Cozy especially one featuring a cat in bookshop & tea.
When Phoebe Winchester inherits her Aunt’s Victoria Mansion, it also includes ‘Bob’ a chubby orange cat as well as “The Earl’s Study” a Bookstore that features both books and a Tea Garden.
Aunt Eudora had a specialty of making magical tea which Phoebe also inherits.
Awww a totally fun cozy read. Love the cover as well as Aunt Eudora and Phoebe!

Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Land Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 6, 2022.

Gretchen Rue's Steeped to Death is the first in the Witches Brew Mystery Series, is a must read for all you witchy cozy lovers! I was hooked right from the start, you will want to add Steeped to Death to your to be read pile.

Phoebe Winchester having just lost her beloved Aunt Eudora, moves to Raven Creek to live at Lane End House and take over The Earl's study, her Aunt's Tea Shop/Bookstore.

After having been away for so many years, Phoebe discovers her Aunt had many secrets and as things unfold, her life may never be the same. Deirdre Miller, a woman her aunt warned her about, immediately starts harassing Phoebe to sell the property her first day back. Then an unknown dead man is found behind The Earl's Study, will Phoebe figure out what is going on before it is too late?

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
#SteepedtoDeath #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

A bookstore/tearoom is inherited by Phoebe Winchester. A cozy mystery with a supernatural spin to it. Love it! When a dead man is found at the back door of the shop, it's up to Phoebe to find the killer. An awesome start to a most promising series! Thanks #netgalley and #Crookedlanebooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine

Just a blast and will only get better through the series. Magic, a neophyte witch learning as she goes and an interesting town of characters
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Steeped to Death is the perfect start to this brand new series and I'm already anxious for the next one! If you love the paranormal and culinary aspects of cozy mysteries then you won't want to miss this series!

This book is about Phoebe returning to the village where she grew up. She has inherited a house and a bookshop with tearoom. But there are villagers who would rather have her gone….When I read the synopsis for this book I thought it sounded like it could be a great story and even though I had never read anything by this author, I decided to request it and give it a shot. I loved it! A very fast paced, action packed story with lots of craziness and suspense to keep you reading straight to the very end! Highly recommend!

Phoebe Winchester has inherited her Aunt Eudora's house and the Earl's Study, a bookshop/tearoom.
As she reacquaints herself with the house, she recalls how some thought her aunt was a witch due to her magical teas. As Phoebe remembers the recipes her aunt taught her to make, she wonders if it is true. When a murdered man is found at the backdoor of the bookshop, she wonders what the connection to her aunt was. Why is a woman her aunt warned her about so intent on buying the house?
What did her Aunt Eudora not have the opportunity to tell her? As she accepts the idea that her aunt was a witch, does she herself have any abilities? Hopefully, unmasking the killer will supply some of the answers.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

A nice cozy crime with a supernatural touch.
This book is about Phoebe returning to the village where she grew up. She has inherited a house and a bookshop with tearoom. But there are villagers who would rather have her gone, while others are very happy that she is back. When a dead body is found at the entrance of her store, Phoebe is eager to know why people want her store and home so much, and she investigates and discovers a lot about herself.
It's a fun story, a really cozy crime. The pace is not that high, but we do get a lot of information about Phoebe, the villagers and the delicious baked goods of her and her neighbor. The tension slowly builds and in the end all the puzzle pieces fall into place.
It is a pleasantly readable book. The characters are well developed and clearly have good or bad character traits. The story is also nice, especially with the mysterious touch that plays around Phoebe. It would be nice if there was a sequel.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book! The title and the cover initially attracted me - tea, cats, and magic all sound wonderful! And the book really was. It is the definition of a cozy mystery. I would have loved to read this in a rainstorm while sipping a nice cup of Lady Grey tea. I really liked the cast of main characters, Phoebe is charming and I enjoyed her foray into solving a mystery. I also enjoyed reading about the tea shop and the Victorian mansion crammed with antiques and mysteries. I loved the cast of characters,

The book was an easy and cosy read, Prefect if you are on vacation or have a cozy afternoon in front of a fireplace. I love cozy books because they are not a high stress read, but still a very good read. I also didn't predict the reason the man was trying to break into the tea shop. It made sense, but wasn't something I expected.

I loved how the mystery played out. With Phoebe going between knowing that she should leave the mystery to the police and being too curious to do so. I think that most of us would be the same way, especially if the murder happened on our back doorstep. It was only amplified by her newness to town, almost everyone was a suspect. The romance was gently weaved through the pages, while leaving the mystery the central part. But while the characters were initially attracted to each other, the romance was very slow to develop (this book mostly hints at its future potential - it isn't a romance book). I also loved the true main character - the lovely ginger cat Bob. I rate him a true 10/10 as a protagonist. I can't wait until the next book in this series comes out. I will also say that the supernatural element was slow to develop in this book, which was fine with me. But if you were looking for something more magic-heavy then this book isn't it - but I feel like later books will be.

The only strange bit, was that the mansion Phoebe inherited was said in-text to be almost 300 years old, however Washington State had its first European settlement in 1833. Off by about 100 years. But its still charming none-the-less, and I will just assume Phoebe had her dates wrong. She, like me, was too charmed by bob the cat. The book even had recipes in the end! I will be making the shortbread for sure.

•3.5 stars rounded up

Phoebe Winchester moves to the town of Ravencreek after her aunt’s death. Her aunt, Eudora, left her her home and bookstore as a way for Phoebe to start a new chapter. After a divorce from an unfaithful husband, a fresh start is just what she needs. Although some of the townsfolk are welcoming, the unlikable Deidre harasses Phoebe to sell her house and store. Shortly after another confrontation with her, Phoebe is called to the bookstore with word that a dead body has been found.

I always enjoy a cozy mystery with a supernatural element to it. And I got elements of both with the dead body at Phoebe’s shop and the discovery that she was a witch just like her aunt. At first Phoebe didn’t want to be involved in the case but curiosity led her to asking around and wondering what valuable thing her aunt had possessed. I liked the descriptions of the town and the people that resided in it as well as the stories of aunt Eudora. She seemed like a remarkable and funny woman in life, who was dedicated to helping others, whether it be a shoulder to cry on or with her teas and baked goods filled with magic.

I enjoyed seeing Phoebe run the bookshop and tea shop and how right at home she felt as she settled in. I liked the budding friendships forming between her and Imogen, her shop assistant, as well as with Amy, the bakery owner next door. Also, who could forget Bob, the cat, who added humor to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and all the characters involved. I didn’t particularly like Phoebe’s instant like for a character as it seemed a bit weird and forced at times. I would have liked it if we had seen more of her magic at play especially once we knew what her power was. The ending although a bit surprising made sense once all was revealed.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Small Town Cozy With Paranormal Elements
Phoebe inherited her Aunt Eudora’s home and business, and more she hadn’t a clue about. Ms Rue pens a small town cozy with intrigue and paranormal elements. Her character Phoebe, recently divorced plans on staying in town and is meeting old friends, making new ones, and relearning her aunt’s bookshop/cafe habits. She is called by police about a body on her back stoop after a run in with the same man and a local woman. While curious about the murder and trying to put it together, she is repeatedly sidetracked by other things. Well written the tale moves along with motives and suspects.
I requested and received this ARC because the blurb interested me and I was not disappointed.

Original Review Posted to Goodreads

Steeped to Death-Book One in the Witches’ Brew Mystery follows Phoebe Winchester who returns to Raven Creek after quite a bit of time away. Her aunt has passed away, leaving everything to Phoebe to inherit, her aunt’s bookshop and tea store (The Earl’s Study), Lane End House (a Victorian mansion), and Bob the orange cat! After some exploring she bumps into an old friend who is a private eye. Before we know it there has been a murder. The book takes you on a whirlwind adventure! I just loved everything about this book, the witchiness, the murder mystery and the magic!
I mean obviously my favorite character is the resident witch Phoebe, for magical purposes! The characters throughout the book felt very real to me, this was such an immersive read for me! It kept me on my toes and guessing, I’m sure that’s how Phoebe felt! I devoured the pages in a day, I could not put it down! The cover drew me in (I LOVE cats and mystery) but the story made me stay! I wish I could stay in this magical world of witches, murder and CATS! I definitely thinks fans of murder mystery and fantasy will love this fun and easy read! A great read for all! I cannot wait to read the rest of this series! Now excuse me while I make some chocolate hazelnut lattes and biscuits!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book has elements that I like in a cozy mystery: an eye-catching cover, recipes, books, tea, and a cat. There’s also a bit of magic.

Phoebe Winchester inherits a Victorian mansion, a bookshop/tea store and a ginger cat named Bob, from her grandmother, Eudora, in the village of Raven Creek. Sounds idyllic until a body is found on the doorstep of the bookshop. Phoebe finds some unique tea blends in the tea store and begins to think that Eudora could have been a witch. Phoebe discovers that she has probability witch powers herself.

This is a great start to a new series, and I look forward to the next book!

Cover illustration by Mary Ann Lasher
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC.