Phoebe Winchester is settling into her new life in Raven Creek, Washington. She has taken over her late Aunt Eudora’s bookstore and tea shop, not to mention the Victorian manor she inherited as well. Life is looking good until she attends an estate sale and finds a dead body. The second dead body she has discovered since moving to Raven Creek a short time ago.

The police turn their investigation in Phoebe’s direction. With the help of a handsome private investigator, Phoebe sets out to prove her innocence. She’s surprised to discover how many people wanted to see the victim gone.

This is the second book in the series. I think it could be read without reading the first book, but it’s so much better to read them in order. This book gave us more of an insight into Phoebe’s character and gave the reader a chance to get to know her. There’s a side romance story involved and has the potential to be really interesting. Both characters have great chemistry together.

The plot has several red herrings. I wasn’t at all sure who the culprit was until the end. The author kept me guessing throughout the book.

Another star of this series is Bob. Phoebe’s chubby orange tabby cat she inherited from her aunt. Bob likes to assist Phoebe in her snooping and he’s a very helpful partner.

This book has everything I enjoy in cozy mysteries - a mystery to keep you on your toes, good characters and, of course, an adorable kitty. I’ll definitely be looking for the third book in the series.





FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue is the second book in A Witches’ Brew Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not read Steeped to Death (all the details from the first book are included). We return to Raven Creek, Washington where Phoebe Winchester is settling into her new routine of running the Earl’s Study. I enjoyed the beginning of the story. I loved the descriptions of the libraries at the estate sale. I do not feel that detailed descriptions are needed for everything (pastries, a hamburger—I am not kidding, what each individual is wearing, the different tea’s). The story moved slower than a snail on a hot July day. The long-winded descriptions overshadowed the mystery (and made me want to skip straight to the end). I also was not fond of the repetitive details (I got it the first time—you do not need to remind me that you inherited the Earl’s Study from your aunt along with the house and Bob). The woman running the estate sale is murdered and Phoebe finds the body (and the author is not going to let readers forget this fact). Phoebe’s excuse for sleuthing is weak. The crime can be solved long before the reveal. There might as well have been a neon arrow pointed at the guilty party. There are clues to help the reader solve the whodunit. The mystery is neatly wrapped up at the end. The paranormal element is light. I wish it had been ramped up a notch (or three). Phoebe dips her toe into the dating pool. You can tell that she finds one of her old childhood friends attractive (she goes on and on about his looks). I loved Bob, Phoebe’s feline companion. I have the same backpack for my cats (except that one is for when we visit the veterinarian). I take my cat for bike rides as well (I have an adult trike with a large basket in the back so my cat in his backpack that extends out with several screened areas can ride in comfort). I wish the title of the book had been tied into the mystery. There is a recipe for Phoebe’s sourdough starter and sourdough bread at the end. Death by a Thousand Sips is a milquetoast mystery with a bevy of books, a murdered sales manager, testing teas, beginning a garden, ducking a killer, and scanning the new books.

A fun mystical mystery as a new witch further delves into find out what she can do, dealing with a bookstore she has inherited and a mischievous cat by the name of Bob. Oh, of course there is a murder and Phoebe is a suspect. I love Bob. There is a lot of fun and humor in this book. The mystery isn't bad either.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Phoebe was hopeless in staying clear from the investigations. She was nosy and curious like a cat, and just like a cat, she had many lives. This murder mystery had Phoebe seeing stars, or was it little birdies? It was a puzzle with a twist that had Phoebe blindsided. It was intriguing, captivating, and exciting.

News of an estate sale sent Phoebe Winchester to a nearby town, hoping for a chance to bid for the huge collection of books, which would stock her bookstore and tea shop, The Earl's Study, for sometime to come. Leaving her two helpers to run the shop, as well as leaving her cat Bob behind in the shop, was the plan. But Bob had somehow snuck into the car - his presence was not unwelcome, but could be awkward. The estate agent showed her the book collection and Phoebe hoped the bidding wouldn't go too high. After she secured the collection as the highest bidder, her delight turned to horror when she discovered a dead body upstairs in the library.

Being a suspect meant Phoebe was determined to prove her innocence, as well as discover the killer. With her good friend and private investigator, Rich Lofting, helping out - reluctantly it must be said - Phoebe quite obviously came close to the solution, as she was threatened. Would she discover who the killer was, or would it be her last effort at being an amateur sleuth?

Death by a Thousand Sips is the 2nd in the Witches' Brew Mystery series by Gretchen Rue and it was quite entertaining. Bob is adorable - his picture is on the book's cover - and his constant presence in Phoebe's life is cute. There wasn't a lot of "witchy stuff" in this episode but what there was was fun! I'm looking forward to checking out #3 when it's published. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Death By A Thousand Sips
Author: Gretchen Rue
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publishing Date:09/05/23
Rating: 4 stars

Fun and interesting paracozy with great characters and an intriguing storyline. I liked Phobe who, after inhereting her aunts store, finds out she's a witch and then uses her witchy powers to help solve a murder. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I enjoyed my second visit Raven Creek. Phoebe is getting used to her new pace of life with her bookstore/tea shop, her new friends, her new powers, and her very chubby and opinionated orange cat named Bob. Things are going fairly smoothly until with the help of Bob, she stumbles across a body at an estate sale. Quickly pulled into the investigation Phoebe enlists Rich to help sort out the facts and figure out just what is going on.

This isn't the fastest paced of mysteries. Phoebe goes about her days, deals with business issues, bakes, keeps up with what Bob is up to, explores her new powers, and generally does a great job really making the world that she lives in come alive to the reader. The investigation is never really on the backburner but more that Phoebe has a lot going on.

I really enjoy this series and was pleased with this second book. I enjoyed seeing Phoebe continue to flourish in her new surroundings and the mystery from beginning to end. I wasn't quite sure how everything was going to be resolved and was caught up until the last page. I'm looking forward to the third book in Raven Creek.

The second book in the Witchs' Brew Mystery series is as much fun as the first.

Phoebe Winchester has inherited The Earl's Study, a book store and tea shop, from her aunt Eudora who was a witch. Phoebe has discovered her own witchy abilities and she is beginning to come to grips with what she can do.

In Death by a Thousand Sips she discovers a dead body at an auction - or at least her cheeky ginger cat Bob does. That part involves bloody paw prints! Phoebe has to call on her old friend and private investigator, Rich, to help her prove she did not commit the deed herself.

This is a fun mystery with some great moments when Phoebe's magical powers kick in. I am already looking forward to more magic and maybe a little romance in the next book.

This is the second book in the series, but I had no problems following along with the storyline.

What drew me to the story was how the protagonist owned a bookstore/tea shop! It's set in Raven Creek, Washington, where Phoebe Winchester inherited the bookstore/tea shop and her aunt's Victorian home. Bob, the cat, was an extra perk! Pheobe learned that jokes about her aunt being a witch weren't farfetched, and much to Pheobe's surprise, she is a witch also.

Interested in getting more books for the bookstore, Phoebe attends an estate sale. Her stowaway cat, Bob, didn't remain where he was supposed to, and Phoebe had to go on the hunt for him. To her horror, Bob leads her to the body of Madeline, who works for the auction. Pheobe is panicked that she may be a suspect, so she decides to try some magic on herself and enlist the help of Rich Lofting. Someone else feels she's a little too close for comfort, putting Pheobe in danger.

The story was engaging, and I loved the paranormal aspects. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery!

I received an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

Oh my goodness, this was an awesome second book and I loved that Phoebe and Rich were getting close again. Phoebe’s employees are so awesome and I just love Amy and Honey, her neighboring shop friends. Honey’s really special since she can give Phoebe witchy advice no one else can.

There was one thing in the story that made me suspect something but it went away from my brain and resurfaced later. I had absolutely no idea of whodunit and that was some exciting showdown too! Thanks to Phoebe’s quick thinking, she didn’t have to end up as fish food or worse. The side story of opening a cate adoption center was starting to be a reality and Phoebe was really hoping she could talk their favorite older customer into adopting a nice cat from the shelter. Bob the cat as usual played a great part from when he sniffed out the dead body to when he inspired cat adoption. Ginger cats are pawsome! Don’t miss this book when it releases on September 5, 2023.

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

With the book written in mostly first person, I have a tendency to forget the main character’s name. It’s Phoebe Winchester, if you’re wondering. Phoebe is a fun main character who is adjusting to small town Raven Creek in Washington state. She inherited the Earl’s Study, a combination bookstore with food and tea offerings.
There is a delightfully troublesome cat named Bob and a cast of townsfolk that make Raven Creek a place I’d like to visit and maybe live.
There is a paranormal element as some of the teas are magical and Phoebe has learned she is a witch.
Phoebe determinedly interferes in the police investigation after Bob leads her to a dead woman at an estate auction.
I enjoyed reading Death by a Thousand Sips and gladly recommend a visit to Raven Creek.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Death by a Thousand Sips is the second book in the Witches Brew Mysteries and the first I have read. The story takes place in the town of Raven Creek, Washington. Our protagonist is Phoebe Winchester. She inherited her bookstore, tea shop, a cat named Bob, as well as a Victorian house from her aunt Eudora. Aunt Eudora was a witch and Phoebe finds out she is also.
At an estate sale, Phoebe discovers the body of Madeline Morrow, who is on the estate sale staff. There seems to be some shady individuals that are trying to claim the estate items are theirs. Phoebe feels the need to solve the murder in order to clear her name even though she’s not a main suspect.

I like how the author set her main character as a person just learning she is a witch and trying to learn her capabilities and talents with help of her friends. Phoebe has a nemesis and I like how we’ll be looking into more interactions in the next book when the nephew of the nemesis rents space from her for his candle shop. I’m sure sparks will fly.

I enjoyed the cast of characters that are Phoebe’s support team and the mystery. As a bonus, recipes are included at the end of the book. They look promising.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane to allowing me to read this ARC. I am not required to leave a positive review.

I hope there's going to be a new novel in this series soon because this story left me with a serious book hangover and i want to know about the cats and what will be next.
I loved it even when I was thinking that Phoebe has a serious death wish. The complex and twisty plot surprised and I didn't guess the culprit.
Entertaining, compelling and well written.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have read several second book in a cozy series recently that I did not like as much as the original, so while I adored the first book in this series, I did go in apprehensive.

Happily, this book is as good as the first! I was delighted to see the regulars and there is no silly love triangle, which I appreciate. The whodunit was a little easy to figure out (not obvious but if you read enough of these you can read between the lines). I really enjoyed Phoebe stepping into her magic and settling into her new situation with gusto. I look forward to more books in the series, hopefully to see if she can craft her own teas!

No spoilers but there is a lot to look forward to in what I hope will be a third, fourth, fifth, etc. book!

Thank you to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Death by a Thousand Sips is a story that cannot be read in small sips, but rather in large gulps until finished.
An excellent story, with a beautiful cover, an interesting plot, the characters we know and have grown to love, yes, I'm talking about Bob, delicious recipes and a romantic background that develops step by step.
I loved it and I recommend it to those who like cozy stories. Perfect to read while enjoying a huge travel mug of your favorite tea!
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

"Death by a Thousand Sips" has all of the components of a cozy story you can indulge in while nestled in a soft chair with a warm drink: descriptive paragraphs detailing the intricacies of running a book store/tea shop and feasting upon delectable confections and savory delights. If you are intrigued by these facts alone, then this is a book I would recommend to you.

What I wanted more of in this story was the mystery, romance, and witchy element. If I were to break down this story into four parts it would look like this: 60% cozy, 45% mystery, 3% witchy, 2% romance. I am newer to the cozy mystery genre, but what I am the most interested in is having the cozy interspersed throughout the other elements of the story, not dominating through long descriptive paragraphs that don't carry the momentum this story needs.

The mystery in this book had some higher stakes for Phoebe and I could feel a nice tension and pacing to the story when this plot thread was being focused upon. I adored the first book in this series and was looking for that same magic- I know it is there, it just got bogged down under the blanket of coziness that dominates this story.

I would recommend this book to readers looking for a low stakes read that allows them to sink into lengthy descriptions of food and small town life minutiae.

3.5✨’s

Thank you Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for allowing me to respond to this book with my honest opinions.

Intriguing mystery from Gretchen Rue keeps readers flipping pages trying to put the clues together. Please see my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

5/5 stars: This is the second book in the Rue's Witches' Brew Mystery series set in Washington and it's a Paranormal Literary Culinary Cozy Mystery featuring a bookstore and tea shop. Rue has once again written a mystery that perfectly blends just the right balance of suspects, clues and red herrings that will leave you scratching your head until the last page. Rue's cast of characters are not only diverse but incredibly likable and I love where Phoebe and Rich's relationship is going. Oh, one mustn't forget the most adorable animal sidekick & shop cat, Bob. Oh and do not miss out on the absolutely yummy sounding recipes included. Be sure to catch up with this great series and pick up book one, Steeped to Death.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

When Phoebe’s cat Bob discovers a murder victim at an estate sale, Phoebe decides that she’s a suspect and gets involved in trying to solve the case.

I liked the small town setting, the characters and the paranormal elements in the book. But I would have preferred that Phoebe’s powers played a larger part in the story. And I’m not a big fan of main characters who keep putting themselves in danger.

Phoebe is settling into her new life with Bob the cat, running the bookstore/teashop she inherited from her aunt, and learning how to use her powers as a witch. And then she goes to an estate sale to buy more books and Bob, who has snuck along for the ride, discovers Madeline, the woman who was running the sale, murdered! Of course, Phoebe must look into this and luckily, her childhood friend and sorta romantic interest Rick, he's out. This is classic paranormal cozy territory with a nice Washington state setting, good characters, and enough red herrings to keep you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.