Wow! Just wow! I read the first 2 Enchanted Bay mysteries (in audiobook format) when they originally published and enjoyed them, but the 4 year wait for a Brew for Chaos was worth it. This book takes the series to a new level.

The development of characters, relationships, and storylines is compelling and entertaining. I want to sit in Aunt Lydia's kitchen, shop in the botanical shop, walk the beach, and spend the day with Alex and Pepper. Then there is the complicated relationship with Dillon, not to mention his family. Intriguing, promising, challenging only begin to describe it. I hope we see more of Maisie, as well, and I won't say more for fear of spoilers, but this book is full of complicated people.

I look forward to more from Alex and her family, Dillon, Pepper, and others. I foresee so many more stories.

Emily Durante does a marvelous job of voicing these characters.

We return to the charming coastal town of Bellamy Bay, where herbal apothecary worker & mermaid descendant Alex finds herself reluctantly drawn into a decades-old cold case. As Oktoberfest approaches, the towns festive spirit is overshadowed by the resurfacing mystery of a serial killer known as The Fisherman. Tragedy strikes, Alex must confront her magical heritage & investigative instincts to protect those she loves.

Epic fantasy readers may find the fantasy elements underdeveloped & the world building lacking but overall it was the expected blend of small-town charm with autumnal festivities & folklore... Stars Hollow-esqe vibes!

It’s autumn in the cute coastal town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina, where magical sleuth Aleksandra ‘Alex’ Daniels has put her mystery-solving days behind her. Now, her focus is on her job at her aunt’s apothecary her new boyfriend, Jack, and learning about the newly-discovered magical powers she inherited from a mermaid ancestor. Alex’s calm and cosy life is disrupted when her close friend, Pepper, a local journalist, starts digging into the notorious cold case of The Fisherman. Suddenly, Pepper’s boss seems to be the newest victim, and Alex finds herself reluctantly roped into the investigation in an attempt to protect those she loves…

This is a cosy, autumnal mystery, ideal for armchair detectives and fans of quirky characters. Mixing the magic with the sleuthing was something very new for me, and I really enjoyed the twist. It’s a perfect read for curling up on the sofa under a blanket with a hot chocolate! It’s the third in a series, but I dived right in and found it easy to catch up with the setting and warm to the characters. Bellamy Bay really came alive through the writing, and this book has me ready to enjoy pumpkin picking and autumn walks! I will definitely be looking to read or listen to the rest of the series.

The narrator was wonderful and did a very good job. She had a warm voice that really brought to life the cozy autumn vibes and did a good job of playing all the characters. Henry really brought this story to life and I enjoyed it and will be looking to hear more from her.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media!

This book explored a lot of different themes, but they didn’t always fit together seamlessly. It’s described as a cozy fall mystery, yet aside from the fall festival, it didn’t truly capture the autumn atmosphere. Instead, it leaned more toward a magical small-town vibe, with elements like mermaids and government conspiracies woven in. The magical aspects could have been developed further, and some characters felt one-dimensional, while parts of the story dragged at a slower pace.

That said, I did enjoy the concept of powerful mermaids, the themes of found family, and the thread of women’s empowerment. However, the romance and other story elements didn’t quite come together as strongly as they could have. Overall, it was an okay read with great potential—it just didn’t fully deliver.

Alex lives in a small town of Bellamy Bay, surrounded by her aunt, cousins, and a couple of friends. She works in her Aunt's apothecary store and is still getting to know her new boyfriend, Jack, who is a detective, and his Mum Maisie. Oh, and her family is related to mermaids, which makes her a magical. This, of course, is a secret they must keep close to them, as magicals have long been hunted. When a strange woman shows up on the beach, with no clue how she got there or what happened to her, and no way to communicate, the town is on eggshells again.
This cozy mystery will leave you wanting more! More time with the characters and more mysteries to solve, which by the sounds of it we will get in the next book! This was a little bit different from what I normally read, but it sounded really interesting, and I wanted to give it a go. I'm so glad I did because I loved it. The characters and storyline are so well thought out without being over the top. The narrator's voice and different tone changes for each character were really enjoyable and easy to listen to. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the opportunity to listen to this audio eARC.

4,5 ⭐️
How can this book be even better then the first two. I loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I could not put it down. It's feels like someone puts a warm blanket over you and tells you a scary well structured story.

In this book we get more mysteries. Who killed him? But also who is the mystery lady found on the beach. Who kidnapped here and then the cliffhanger.

Like the first 2 books it takes place in a beachfront village and that in itself is adorable. You can see the streets picture yourself walking there with a coffee in your hand. The FMC is very likeable. I love that's she is intelligent but caring. And the family bond with the nieces is amazing. Athena is also a very lovely side character, not much in this book.

What can I say more then pick up this series. You will not regret it. I hope book 4 comes very quickly cause I need to know more!!

I honestly don’t know what this book was trying to be. It’s set in the fall, so at first it feels like it’s aiming for an autumnal cozy mystery. But then… cozy kind of goes out the window when you throw in tortured magical beings, a government conspiracy, mermaids, murders, and even Polish folklore. At one point, a government agent fries someone’s brain so severely that she’s essentially childlike….then he sleeps with her and they have a kid. That was beyond disturbing and completely unnecessary.

If the story had simply leaned into being a lighthearted mystery centered around small town hijinks during the fall festival, it could have been adorable. I genuinely enjoyed the family dynamic and the charming town atmosphere. What didn’t work for me were the darker elements and the awful characters, especially Jack. His presence felt pointless, and the way he treated Alex and his mother was unbearable.

On top of that, is this supposed to be YA? The writing and dialogue come across as wildly juvenile. Some of that might have been made worse by the audiobook narrator, who read with no inflection or tone, making the story feel flat and painfully slow.

I'm having trouble characterising this book. It would be best enjoyed by someone who doesn't as it doesn't early fit into a particular genre and has dramatic tone shifts, between a classic fall cozy (apple cider donuts and sweet potato hand pies) to a thriller (government conspiracy and torture of the innocents) to folksy mystery (with some rather obvious villains y that is also fantasy with a whole world built.

I loved time grounding in Polish mythology and hope to read the others in the series that, hopefully, may lean into the strengths of this creative world, versus trying to do everything at once.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the chance to review!

This was such a fun and cozy listen with just the right mix of mystery and magic. I loved the small-town charm and the way the paranormal elements were woven into everyday life. The characters were easy to root for and the narrator did a great job of making them feel distinct and lively. Some of the mystery elements were a little predictable, but it still kept me entertained the whole way through. If you like witchy vibes, cozy mysteries, and audiobooks that feel like comfort food, this one’s a great pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful continuation of this series. I loved the magic in this world and could not put this book down.

"A Brew for Chaos (Enchanted Bay Mystery #3)" by Esme Addison is what government conspiracy theories, cozy mysteries and real world style fantasy stories would be if combined. The story is fairly standalone as well. However, now I want to go back to read the first couple books and can't wait for the fourth book.

Alex Daniels is getting the hang of her supernatural abilities she recently discovered she had. Being a genetic mermaid, she has a degree of what she would have if she could actually be a physical mermaid as well. Unfortunately, her familial line has lost the ability to be their water form and as far as they know there aren't any true mermaids left. There's also dragons, mostly in human form. Maybe more things but these are the two mystical creatures mentioned most in the book. Some Caribbean sea witch too. Unfortunately, there seems to be some government testing and weaponizing of magicals that may or may be behind the disappearance of 10 women in the 80's. The primary reporter on the case has more recently been found dead on the beach next to a mysterious woman with amnesia.

Alex isn't supposed to investigate the death. Her police detective boyfriend has threatened to end things with her if she can't keep out of his cases. So, instead, she investigates the case of the missing women. This is were things get government conspiracy crazy. In the book world the government is actually doing the crazy stuff. Things unravel about how I expected them too.