Book Review: Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue

Author: Gretchen Rue

Title: Steeped to Death

Series: Witches' Brew Mystery #1

Genre: Cozy mystery, Paranormal

Format: ebook

Pages: 299

Published: September 6, 2022

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Phoebe Winchester’s beloved aunt Eudora has a taste for adventure—and a knack for making magical tea. It’s even rumored that she just might be a witch. So when Eudora passes away and leaves everything to her niece—her Victorian mansion, her bookshop/tea store, The Earl’s Study, and one very chubby orange cat named Bob—Phoebe gets more than she bargained for. And she knows she’s in deep when a dead man is found on the shop’s back step, apparently killed while trying to break in.

Two suspects immediately emerge among the townspeople of Raven Creek, Washington. There’s village busybody Dierdre Miller, who seems desperate to buy Eudora’s house, and handsome PI Rich, one of Phoebe’s childhood friends—but how well does she really know him after all these years apart?

Phoebe knows she should leave it to the professionals, but as she starts to dig into the underbelly of Raven Creek, she begins to uncover the truth about Eudora. What’s more, her aunt might not have been the only witch in the family, as Phoebe soon discovers she has unique and unexpected gifts of her own.

Now, it’s just a matter of putting her newfound power to the test and cast a spell that could catch a killer.

Review:

Man. I should've written this review when I finished it, but life is busy. I hate adulting!!!!

Phoebe's beloved aunt has passed away and has left everything to her. Phoebe has a lot dropped on her and soon discovers things can get worse when she discovers she now has witchy powers. Enter in a dead body behind her shop...can things get worse? 

This was a hoot. I liked Phoebe and Bob the cat. So sweet the both of them. 

Loved the shop and the house. Loved the mix of her powers. Love a sprinkle of paranormal! Honestly, I think the author should've added more. It felt too light. Maybe in Book 2, we'll dive more into it. 

The mystery was entertaining. I loved the twists. 

Honestly, I feel like this was too cozy. I think we needed more of everything. More mystery. More magic. More Bob. 

I'll give this 3 stars. I think I would read 2! I liked the cast and world enough. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #5