Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue

Available Sept. 9, 2022

Rating: 5 stars

Phoebe Winchester is newly divorced and unemployed when she rolls into Raven Creek, Washington, to move into the house her aunt has left her. Having not been for a visit in many years, Phoebe finds a lot of surprises in the old mansion at the end of the lane. As Phoebe settles in and gets her aunt's bookstore reopened, she realizes there are some strange things going on...

I was hooked on this book right from the start. Which is really saying something since the paranormal category of cozy mysteries is probably my least favorite. Phoebe is fun and a bit snarky. Imogen, who Phoebe expected to be a stuffy little old lady, turns out to be not only younger than Phoebe but also a valuable employee and soon a good friend. Two boys Phoebe played with when visiting Aunt Eudora as a child turn up as well, all grown and studly. And of course it's not a cozy without an arch nemesis to make the main character's life miserable!

There wasn't a lot of investigation in this book but that didn't take away from it for me. She still asked her questions and found her clues, though it often happened in unique ways. The setting was wonderful, nearing Halloween in the Pacific Northwest, rainy, blustery, and filled with intrigue. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.