Melina's Book Blog: The Moonshine Shack Murder

Monday, July 19, 2021

The Moonshine Shack Murder

The Moonshine Shack Murder (A Southern Homebrew Mystery) by Diane Kelly

About The Moonshine Shack Murder

The Moonshine Shack Murder (A Southern Homebrew Mystery)

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Publisher: Berkley (July 6, 2021) Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages ISBN-10: 0593333225 ISBN-13: 978-0593333228 Digital ASIN : B08KPKD22T

In this intoxicating new cozy mystery series, the future for modern-day moonshiner Hattie Hayes looks bright--until death darkens the doorstep of her Moonshine Shack.

The Hayes family has made moonshine in Chattanooga since the days of Prohibition, and Hattie is happy to continue the tradition, serving up fun, fruity flavors in mason jars for locals and tourists alike. All signs indicate her new 'shine shop will be a smashing success. What's more, mounted police officer Marlon Landers has taken a shine to Hattie. For the first time ever, the stars seemed to have aligned in both her work and romantic life. But when a body ends up on her store's doorstep alongside a broken jar of her Firefly Moonshine, it just might be lights out for her fledgling business.

The homicide detective can't seem to identify the person who killed the owner of a nearby bar. The only witness is Hattie's longhaired gray cat, and Smoky isn't talking. When the detective learns that the victim and Hattie had a heated exchange shortly before his murder, she becomes her prime suspect.

Lest Hattie end up behind bars like her bootlegging great-grandfather a century before, she must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice.

What I Thought:

Once I started this book, I did not want to put it down. It was very well written and flowed really well. It kept my attention from the time I started it till I finished it. In this one, Hattie has opened her the Moonshine Shack. She tries to make a deal with the bar owner across the street to sell her shine, but the deal goes south. When the owner of the bar, Cormac, is found murdered on the steps of the Moonshine Shack, Hattie becomes a suspect. Hattie decides she needs to help the hunky mounted policeman solve the crime. As I said, this one was very well written, It flowed really well and was a very quick read. I enjoyed the setting of the story. I have not read any books set in a Moonshine shop. Hattie was a very likable protagonist as well. The other characters in the story were likable as well. The plot was well thought out and very realistic. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

About Diane Kelly

Diane Kelly writes stories that feature feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed friends. Diane is the author of over 30 novels and novellas, including the Death & Taxes, Paw Enforcement, and House Flipper mystery series. In 2021, she’ll launch two new series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. Find Diane online at DianeKelly.com, on Twitter and Instagram @DianeKellyBooks, and on Facebook at her Author Diane Kelly page.