Beer and Loathing

Sloan Krause #6

By Ellie Alexander              

ISBN:     9781737391517 

Website: elliealexander.co

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

It’s ski week in everyone’s favorite Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington. Sloan Krause and her brewing partner in crime Garrett Strong are pouring pints of their deliciously decadent obsidian IPA and serving up slices of peanut butter chocolate pretzel bars. The mid-winter has everyone buzzing with excitement, especially Garrett. His family is arriving for a long overdue visit to Nitro. He can’t wait to show them around the village, spend afternoons skiing the surrounding alpine slopes, and curling up in front of a crackling fire with a hearty evening stout. But the cozy vibe takes a dark turn when a young doctor has a fatal fall from the ski lift. At first, everyone assumes it was a terrible accident, but Sloan isn’t convinced. Hazel Anders had insider information on medical research that could be worth killing for. Now barstool sleuth Sloan is on the case and using her nose for hops to sniff out murder. (Goodreads)

Review:

Beer and Loathing…what can I say? Well – I can say -> another wonderful addition to the Sloan Krause series by Ellie Alexander. In this sixth book in the Sloan Krause series we finally get to meet Garrett’s family – his mother, father and sister. Glad the Strong family finally came to see Nitro, a successful micro brewery business that Garrett has set up in Leavenworth, Washington. 

The story line for Beer and Loathing is that Garrett’s family is visiting Leavenworth for the first time since Garrett has moved here. The family reunion is going well until a young doctor from the local hospital takes a fatal tumble from the ski lift. Was it an accident or (as inquiring minds often wonder) is it something less innocent? It seems that the young doctor may been privy to information regarding medical research going on at the hospital and that information may or may not have been worth hurting someone over! As from past books, one can surmise that Sloan will put on her amateur sleuthing hat and try to help the local constabulary figure out what really happened and why. In this edition, Sloan garners the help of Garrett’s sister (Leah) as well as Garrett himself in addition to many doctors on staff at the hospital (though that is a slippery slope as she tries to figure out who is the “good” doctor and who is the “bad” doctor J.

As I have come to expect, the mystery is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Just the way I like my cozy mysteries. And as usual, I leave the critique and detailed discussion of the story line for each reader to enjoy for themselves! Though I can add that the slow burn of Sloan and Garrett’s relationship is at just the right speed. Not all relationships are quick to develop and this one, taking it slowly, seems more real.

I love all of the hoodie’s and T-shirts Garrett wears with all kinds of various puns. As an example:

“Garrett padded into the kitchen as I was placing a tray of sausage rolls in the oven. He wore a pair of soccer-style sweats and a pale green BOCK FROM THE DEAD hoodie. Bock was a style of dark ale. It was a classic Garrett pun.

Bock is a strong, malty German lager with a rich and robust flavor profile. It’s often characterized by notes of toasted bread, toffee, and dark fruit, and has a relatively high alcohol content compared with other styles of lagers. It’s typically brewed in the winter and its hints of sweetness made it a popular choice for those who enjoy a full-body beer.”

Throughout the six books in the series, I have come to appreciate Leavenworth as a wonderfully tight-knit community. The characters are a cohesive “family” – looking out for each other, even April! A few reader gal pals and I have even made Leavenworth, Washington a must see location on a future road trip! J

If you are a die-hard cozy mystery lover, then the Sloan Krause series by Ellie Alexander is for you. And this latest addition to the series, Beer and Loathing is a must read. Having stated this, I also must expound with gratitude and personal enjoyment for other series by Ellie Alexander as well – especially a newer one – A Secret Bookcase Mystery Series.