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Sloan Krause #1
Death on Tap
When Sloan Krause walks in on her husband, Mac, screwing the barmaid, she gives him the boot. Sloan has spent her life in Leavenworth, Washington becoming an expert in brewing craft beer, and she doesn’t have time to be held back by her soon-to-be ex-husband. She decides to strike out on her own, breaking away from the Krause family brewery, and goes to work for Nitro, the hip new nano-brewery in the Bavarian-themed town. Nitro’s owner, brewmaster Garrett Strong, has the brew-world abuzz with his newest recipe, “Pucker-Up IPA.” This place is the new cool place in town, and Mac can’t help but be green with envy at their success.
But just as Sloan is settling in to her new gig, she finds one of Nitro’s competitors dead in the fermenting tub, clutching the secret recipe for the IPA. When Mac, is arrested, Sloan knows that her ex might be a cheater, but a murderer? No way. Danger is brewing in Beervaria and suddenly Sloan is on the case.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2018
402 people are currently reading
4397 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Alexander
85 books3,048 followersEllie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
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https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 627 reviews
November 22, 2022
4.5 STARS
I picked this up expecting a cozy mystery with fall PNW vibes, and much to my surprise Death on Tap ended up giving me so much more! This is definitely a slow burning, character driven book, and the mystery isn't even really the main focus of the novel, but I fell hard and fast for the Krause family, their brewery Der Keller, and the little Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA. Themes of found family, community support, and lots of lessons on how craft beer is brewed and perfected, I didn't want to leave the crisp atmosphere. If anyone has any tips on how I can wait patiently until the next book is ready for pick up at my library, I'm all ears.
I picked this up expecting a cozy mystery with fall PNW vibes, and much to my surprise Death on Tap ended up giving me so much more! This is definitely a slow burning, character driven book, and the mystery isn't even really the main focus of the novel, but I fell hard and fast for the Krause family, their brewery Der Keller, and the little Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA. Themes of found family, community support, and lots of lessons on how craft beer is brewed and perfected, I didn't want to leave the crisp atmosphere. If anyone has any tips on how I can wait patiently until the next book is ready for pick up at my library, I'm all ears.
November 16, 2024
I vacationed last month in Leavenworth, Washington, a Bavarian-style village in the Cascade Mountains that is aimed at tourists. It has Alpine-styled buildings that include all kinds of shops and restaurants serving German food and beer. It’s unique architecture and a festive atmosphere thrives throughout the summer, Octoberfest, and Christmas seasons. It doesn’t hurt that it also serves as a gateway to nearby ski areas and wineries.
While visiting “A Book for All Seasons” bookstore that I love to hangout in, I saw a bunch of books for a mystery series based on Leavenworth by Ellie Alexander. After looking through them I made an impulsive decision to get the first one - “A Death on Tap” – to try out a new mystery series based on a location that I have been visiting for decades.
“A Death on Tap” is a cozy mystery starring Sloan Krause, a wife, mother, and entrepreneur deeply imbedded in Leavenworth’s community. Her Husband’s parents own the very successful Krause family brewery where she is an expert in brewing craft beer. She also has a teenage son, who focuses his time and energy on defending his independence.
The book kicks off with a bang when Sloan walks in on her husband and a barmaid using the office desk for personal rather than business purposes. This causes her to not only kick him out, but also accept a job with Garrett Strong, who is opening a new nano-brewery in town, and he needs a lot of help acclimating himself in the Leavenworth business community.
However, before Sloan can even get through her first week in her new job, she discovers the dead body of a competing beer master in Nitro’s fermenting tub. To make matters worse, she finds her husband’s lighter at the crime scene, which leads to his surprising arrest. Before she knows what’s happening, Sloan’s in the middle of a murder investigation to find out if the man she’s leaving is not only an adulterer, but also a murderer…
I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, most of which are on the more serious and darker side of the genre. I have not read many, if any, “cozy” mysteries, that I can remember. I even googled the term to make sure that I had a good understanding of it. According to the sources given a cozy mystery is crime fiction “in which sex and violence occur offstage, the detective is an amateur sleuth, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.” That is definite spot-on description for this first Sloan Krause mystery.
There were several things that drew me in and provided an entertaining, almost Hallmark mystery reading experience.
First, the characters. Sloan is endearing and easy to empathize with on a personal level. She has come a long way from being in foster care to becoming working mother who loves to brew beer, cook, and investigate things that puzzle her. She has to put up with a philandering husband, who is annoying on most levels, but supportive when it matters most. Her teenage son keeps her on her toes, but their relationship is built on authentic care for each other. She also receives great support from her in-laws, brother-in-law, and new boss. Let’s not kid ourselves. It barely takes a few chapters to see that both her brother-in-law and new boss are potential love interest, but that is for later.
Second, the supporting characters. Along with Sloan, the author creates authentic characters that really drive this story more than the mystery in a lot of ways. Sloan’s husband, Mac, is just the right level of cad. Her brother-in-law, Hans, plays the supporting friend who is secretly in love with her superbly. Even Sloan’s new boss, Garrett, has hints of a secret past that drove him to move to Leavenworth and start a new life. I think there’s more to peel with that onion. Then there’s my favorite characters - Ursula and Otto – Sloan’s in-laws and substitute parents. They are the sweetest, coolest, most understanding, and full-of-wisdom friends that anyone could have. And last-but-not-least, I cannot leave out April Ablin. Every small-town setting needs that nosy, gossiping, blabbermouth that drives everyone crazy. Yes, it’s a caricature, but it works well in this one. She is so amazingly annoying in a winning way.
Third, the mystery and setting. As you can see, I am listing this element third because it is probably the weaker part of the novel. For me the characters, storylines, and relationships really drive this book, much more than the actual mystery itself. If I use a beer reference, it’s like a mystery lite (I know, bad pun). It felt like a somewhat sanitized Hallmark version of a mystery (and yes, I understand it is a “cozy” mystery for a reason). That doesn’t mean that the mystery was bad, it was just more okay. I also didn’t like that the climactic ending took place offstage from Sloan’s perspective, making her more of an observer than an active participant.
Fourth, the setting. For me, I enjoyed the Bavarian village setting and environment. It was nice seeing the different stores and restaurant names that I have been in referred to in the book. I hope that in future books that the author will sprinkle in more of the village’s history as appropriate to enhance her storytelling. But this element met my expectations.
Overall, this was the kind of lite mystery reading that I was hoping for and it delivered for the most part. The author's writing style was smooth, fluid, and paced well. She made it easy to enjoy spending time with Sloan Krause, the other characters, and the Leavenworth setting. I find myself looking forward to more adventures with her. However, I think that I am more looking forward to seeing more of the family dynamics and who she develops a relationship with rather what mystery she gets faced with solving. Hopefully, it will turn out that the mysteries will be more complex and suspenseful, and then I will enjoy both of those elements. Needless to say, the good news is that I am interested enough to read the next book – “The Pint of No Return” – and will be starting it soon.
While visiting “A Book for All Seasons” bookstore that I love to hangout in, I saw a bunch of books for a mystery series based on Leavenworth by Ellie Alexander. After looking through them I made an impulsive decision to get the first one - “A Death on Tap” – to try out a new mystery series based on a location that I have been visiting for decades.
“A Death on Tap” is a cozy mystery starring Sloan Krause, a wife, mother, and entrepreneur deeply imbedded in Leavenworth’s community. Her Husband’s parents own the very successful Krause family brewery where she is an expert in brewing craft beer. She also has a teenage son, who focuses his time and energy on defending his independence.
The book kicks off with a bang when Sloan walks in on her husband and a barmaid using the office desk for personal rather than business purposes. This causes her to not only kick him out, but also accept a job with Garrett Strong, who is opening a new nano-brewery in town, and he needs a lot of help acclimating himself in the Leavenworth business community.
However, before Sloan can even get through her first week in her new job, she discovers the dead body of a competing beer master in Nitro’s fermenting tub. To make matters worse, she finds her husband’s lighter at the crime scene, which leads to his surprising arrest. Before she knows what’s happening, Sloan’s in the middle of a murder investigation to find out if the man she’s leaving is not only an adulterer, but also a murderer…
I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, most of which are on the more serious and darker side of the genre. I have not read many, if any, “cozy” mysteries, that I can remember. I even googled the term to make sure that I had a good understanding of it. According to the sources given a cozy mystery is crime fiction “in which sex and violence occur offstage, the detective is an amateur sleuth, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.” That is definite spot-on description for this first Sloan Krause mystery.
There were several things that drew me in and provided an entertaining, almost Hallmark mystery reading experience.
First, the characters. Sloan is endearing and easy to empathize with on a personal level. She has come a long way from being in foster care to becoming working mother who loves to brew beer, cook, and investigate things that puzzle her. She has to put up with a philandering husband, who is annoying on most levels, but supportive when it matters most. Her teenage son keeps her on her toes, but their relationship is built on authentic care for each other. She also receives great support from her in-laws, brother-in-law, and new boss. Let’s not kid ourselves. It barely takes a few chapters to see that both her brother-in-law and new boss are potential love interest, but that is for later.
Second, the supporting characters. Along with Sloan, the author creates authentic characters that really drive this story more than the mystery in a lot of ways. Sloan’s husband, Mac, is just the right level of cad. Her brother-in-law, Hans, plays the supporting friend who is secretly in love with her superbly. Even Sloan’s new boss, Garrett, has hints of a secret past that drove him to move to Leavenworth and start a new life. I think there’s more to peel with that onion. Then there’s my favorite characters - Ursula and Otto – Sloan’s in-laws and substitute parents. They are the sweetest, coolest, most understanding, and full-of-wisdom friends that anyone could have. And last-but-not-least, I cannot leave out April Ablin. Every small-town setting needs that nosy, gossiping, blabbermouth that drives everyone crazy. Yes, it’s a caricature, but it works well in this one. She is so amazingly annoying in a winning way.
Third, the mystery and setting. As you can see, I am listing this element third because it is probably the weaker part of the novel. For me the characters, storylines, and relationships really drive this book, much more than the actual mystery itself. If I use a beer reference, it’s like a mystery lite (I know, bad pun). It felt like a somewhat sanitized Hallmark version of a mystery (and yes, I understand it is a “cozy” mystery for a reason). That doesn’t mean that the mystery was bad, it was just more okay. I also didn’t like that the climactic ending took place offstage from Sloan’s perspective, making her more of an observer than an active participant.
Fourth, the setting. For me, I enjoyed the Bavarian village setting and environment. It was nice seeing the different stores and restaurant names that I have been in referred to in the book. I hope that in future books that the author will sprinkle in more of the village’s history as appropriate to enhance her storytelling. But this element met my expectations.
Overall, this was the kind of lite mystery reading that I was hoping for and it delivered for the most part. The author's writing style was smooth, fluid, and paced well. She made it easy to enjoy spending time with Sloan Krause, the other characters, and the Leavenworth setting. I find myself looking forward to more adventures with her. However, I think that I am more looking forward to seeing more of the family dynamics and who she develops a relationship with rather what mystery she gets faced with solving. Hopefully, it will turn out that the mysteries will be more complex and suspenseful, and then I will enjoy both of those elements. Needless to say, the good news is that I am interested enough to read the next book – “The Pint of No Return” – and will be starting it soon.
August 30, 2017
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Death on Tap is the first (right?) book in a brand new cozy mystery series. And you know what? I am really excited about this one because aside from the mystery aspects, these books revolve around beer brewing which is really cool. I can't think of any other cozies that are like this, so it is definitely unique and stands apart from others in the genre. In addition to this, the author is obviously a beer connoisseur because she knows a TON about beer brewing. I feel like I learned a lot about the business side of things and how brewing actually works through this book. Kudos to the author for this because it really adds a unique quality to the story and will certainly keep readers intrigued.
Other than this, the book is your run of the mill cozy mystery. It's light on romance and high on trying to figure out "who-dun-it". One of the downsides of this novel is that there wasn't too much mystery surrounding it. Sure, someone is killed in the beer tank and we are left to wonder who did it, but because so much of the story was overpowered by the beer brewing, there weren't many clues for us readers to use in order to figure out the killer. When I read a cozy mystery, I expect to become a partial detective along with the hero/heroine. This simply was not the case here and there was very little sleuthing going on. Instead, it was a slow buildup to the capture.
Despite the mystery aspect of the book being a bit nonexistent, I did find myself enjoying the book and I will certainly book looking for the next one when it is released. As I mentioned before, this series stands apart from others based on the content and I would love to see where it goes from here. There is still a lot of character growth that needs to be done, relationships mishaps to overcome or forgive, and much more.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I received a copy of this novel via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Death on Tap is the first (right?) book in a brand new cozy mystery series. And you know what? I am really excited about this one because aside from the mystery aspects, these books revolve around beer brewing which is really cool. I can't think of any other cozies that are like this, so it is definitely unique and stands apart from others in the genre. In addition to this, the author is obviously a beer connoisseur because she knows a TON about beer brewing. I feel like I learned a lot about the business side of things and how brewing actually works through this book. Kudos to the author for this because it really adds a unique quality to the story and will certainly keep readers intrigued.
Other than this, the book is your run of the mill cozy mystery. It's light on romance and high on trying to figure out "who-dun-it". One of the downsides of this novel is that there wasn't too much mystery surrounding it. Sure, someone is killed in the beer tank and we are left to wonder who did it, but because so much of the story was overpowered by the beer brewing, there weren't many clues for us readers to use in order to figure out the killer. When I read a cozy mystery, I expect to become a partial detective along with the hero/heroine. This simply was not the case here and there was very little sleuthing going on. Instead, it was a slow buildup to the capture.
Despite the mystery aspect of the book being a bit nonexistent, I did find myself enjoying the book and I will certainly book looking for the next one when it is released. As I mentioned before, this series stands apart from others based on the content and I would love to see where it goes from here. There is still a lot of character growth that needs to be done, relationships mishaps to overcome or forgive, and much more.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I received a copy of this novel via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
February 20, 2022
Oof. Perhaps Cozy Mystery is not my genre. The writing felt very blocky and stilted, with a lot of telling and very little showing, as they say. The whodunit was not suspenseful or tricksy, just the protagonist wondering chaper after chapter if the rest of the characters could have done it, then finding out one of them did. The beer brewing info was interesting, but I didn't really need a play by play on every food recipe the character made. Worst of all, though, was the internalized misogyny woven throughout the book. The other female characters were either slut shamed, constantly criticized for their makeup, hair, and clothing choices, and portrayed as gossiping nags (April & Hayley), characterized as efficient, tough, and masculine (Chief Meyers), or an idealized mother figure (Ursula). Just not my cup of tea.
November 8, 2017
I was so excited to see this new series by author Ellie Alexander. I LOVE her bake shop mysteries so much. I think DEATH ON TAP was a good mystery, with liked about characters. I know knowing at all about beer, so I found that portion of the book to be interesting and informative.
There were a few things that made this book seem not quite right to be considered a "cozy" mystery. One of which was in the first chapter, and what the protagonist found her boyfriend doing. I'm use to those topics in cozies having happened in the past, and not something the reader is there to witness.
Any negatives on my part aside, Ms. Alexander is a wonderful writer, and I think this series will be a hit for her.
There were a few things that made this book seem not quite right to be considered a "cozy" mystery. One of which was in the first chapter, and what the protagonist found her boyfriend doing. I'm use to those topics in cozies having happened in the past, and not something the reader is there to witness.
Any negatives on my part aside, Ms. Alexander is a wonderful writer, and I think this series will be a hit for her.
April 1, 2021
A 5 star cozy! I love the characters and the location!!! Great start to a series.
May 11, 2018
4.45 beerlicious stars.
I love Kate Dyer-Seeley's books! I read them all and wanted more...so here I am trying my first book of her writing as Ellie Alexander and loved it just as much.
The town of Leavenworth, WA, which I didn't know existed before reading the book, is a wonderful setting for a beer related mystery. I loved how she added quite a few German words and the accents she gave to some of the characters made me giggle. Being German myself I know how "bad" it can be....
As always I was hooked by the authors writing and felt comfortable and interested all the way through the book. It was great to be introduced to some beer brewing knowledge. Very cozy but a welcome change to the usual crafting, baking and cooking in this genre.
The mystery was intriguing and kept me on my toes, suspecting someone different every few pages.
I read this book thanks to the inter library lending option of my local library.
I love Kate Dyer-Seeley's books! I read them all and wanted more...so here I am trying my first book of her writing as Ellie Alexander and loved it just as much.
The town of Leavenworth, WA, which I didn't know existed before reading the book, is a wonderful setting for a beer related mystery. I loved how she added quite a few German words and the accents she gave to some of the characters made me giggle. Being German myself I know how "bad" it can be....
As always I was hooked by the authors writing and felt comfortable and interested all the way through the book. It was great to be introduced to some beer brewing knowledge. Very cozy but a welcome change to the usual crafting, baking and cooking in this genre.
The mystery was intriguing and kept me on my toes, suspecting someone different every few pages.
I read this book thanks to the inter library lending option of my local library.
July 25, 2017
This is the first in a new series by Ellie Alexander and is centered around the world of Pacific Northwest beer brewing. I really enjoyed the theme as there are not too may series (only one other that I can think of) that involve the world of brewing. Ms. Alexander has created a wonderful set of characters that I think the readers are going to enjoy. They are all well written and have layers and dimension with a genuine feel about them. The location is described perfectly and made me want to take a trip to this town, even thought I am not a beer drinker.
The mystery is the reason for my three star rating. For what I am used to from this author, I felt that the mystery was perhaps a bit light in this first book. I was surprised but the killer's identity, but felt that author spent more time with the character introduction/development. I would have liked a bit more on the mystery.
A full review will be posted to my blog closer to the release date.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy that was provided to me through Netgalley.
The mystery is the reason for my three star rating. For what I am used to from this author, I felt that the mystery was perhaps a bit light in this first book. I was surprised but the killer's identity, but felt that author spent more time with the character introduction/development. I would have liked a bit more on the mystery.
A full review will be posted to my blog closer to the release date.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy that was provided to me through Netgalley.
September 21, 2018
Fabulous cozy series started with more depth than many in the genre
June 24, 2021
Raise a stein of craft beer to toast this new cozy mystery series set in the 'Bavaria' of America: Leavenworth, Washington!
Leavenworth, a small town in the Cascade Mountains, was slowly dying in the 1960s after the era of mining and logging was over. but they cleverly reinvented themselves into a travel destination as a lovely village of shops and restaurants with a Bavarian theme. Of course, beer is an important part of that theme and along came Otto and Ursula Krause from Germany with their plans to start a brewhaus.
Many years later they own one of the most famous breweries in America and their beloved daughter-in-law Sloan has become the region's first female brewmaster. As this story begins, Sloan walks into her office to find her husband Mac shagging a young barmaid, putting an end to their marriage of fifteen years.
Sloan decides to go to work for Nitro, a new nano-brewery owned by the nerdy Garrett Strong, a recent transplant from Seattle. She really likes his newest recipe for Pucker-Up IPA and has many clever ideas to help him get his business up and running. All goes well until Sloan finds a body in the fermenting tank and Mac is the chief suspect! Can Sloan help prove he isn't a killer while finding the real culprit?
Lovely setting and likable characters make this a great choice for cozy mysteries readers. I guarantee you will be thirsty for a cold brew after reading the descriptions of their latest creations!
I was drawn to the series after learning it was set in Leavenworth, which we visited several years ago on a trip to Seattle. The actual town is every bit as charming as portrayed in the pages of this story. The cover of the book well depicts an actual street of the village--you'd think you were in the Alps!
Leavenworth, a small town in the Cascade Mountains, was slowly dying in the 1960s after the era of mining and logging was over. but they cleverly reinvented themselves into a travel destination as a lovely village of shops and restaurants with a Bavarian theme. Of course, beer is an important part of that theme and along came Otto and Ursula Krause from Germany with their plans to start a brewhaus.
Many years later they own one of the most famous breweries in America and their beloved daughter-in-law Sloan has become the region's first female brewmaster. As this story begins, Sloan walks into her office to find her husband Mac shagging a young barmaid, putting an end to their marriage of fifteen years.
Sloan decides to go to work for Nitro, a new nano-brewery owned by the nerdy Garrett Strong, a recent transplant from Seattle. She really likes his newest recipe for Pucker-Up IPA and has many clever ideas to help him get his business up and running. All goes well until Sloan finds a body in the fermenting tank and Mac is the chief suspect! Can Sloan help prove he isn't a killer while finding the real culprit?
Lovely setting and likable characters make this a great choice for cozy mysteries readers. I guarantee you will be thirsty for a cold brew after reading the descriptions of their latest creations!
I was drawn to the series after learning it was set in Leavenworth, which we visited several years ago on a trip to Seattle. The actual town is every bit as charming as portrayed in the pages of this story. The cover of the book well depicts an actual street of the village--you'd think you were in the Alps!
September 5, 2017
Sadly not as good as Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop mystery series.
The selling feature on this novel is that is revolves around a small German like town in America that loves brewing beer. The lead character, Sloan, is a brew master who creates and sells beer! I don't think there is another cozy mystery series out there that revolves around beer.
I didn't love Sloan and couldn't connect with her at all. The mystery, like others have mentioned, is a bit on the boring side. It seemed like it was almost a side story instead of the main focus. Not sure if I will give this series another chance or just stick with the Bakeshop series.
Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for providing me an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
The selling feature on this novel is that is revolves around a small German like town in America that loves brewing beer. The lead character, Sloan, is a brew master who creates and sells beer! I don't think there is another cozy mystery series out there that revolves around beer.
I didn't love Sloan and couldn't connect with her at all. The mystery, like others have mentioned, is a bit on the boring side. It seemed like it was almost a side story instead of the main focus. Not sure if I will give this series another chance or just stick with the Bakeshop series.
Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for providing me an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book a lot; if I had not been so tired last night, I would have finished it then. It is easy to read, has fantastic characters and MANY red herrings to keep you guessing. I will be looking forward to more from this author this is the start to a great series!!
October 6, 2020
A nice start to the series, which is based on independent beer breweries and pubs in a German-themed town in Washington state . The whole set-up is charming, and even though I'm not much of a beer drinker I'd love to visit. This one starts with the mc changing jobs to a new brewer. She gets a nasty surprise her first week at work, which brings out the amateur sleuth in her.
There were a handful of inconsistencies during the storytelling, which stopped the flow of reading. Also it seemed not much time was spent on the mystery. The person who did the deed was a surprise, tho. The next book centers around Octoberfest, and I've got it on the tbr. Looking forward to a lively visit.
There were a handful of inconsistencies during the storytelling, which stopped the flow of reading. Also it seemed not much time was spent on the mystery. The person who did the deed was a surprise, tho. The next book centers around Octoberfest, and I've got it on the tbr. Looking forward to a lively visit.
July 29, 2025
It was good but some characters were really annoying (ik that’s the point), Mac can stick it, and the ending was more complicated then necessary.
April 7, 2018
It took me quite a while to get into this book like I was almost ready to give up on it. I don't know if it was that I don't like beer or that annoying woman who dressed up in costume and gossiped all day. Add a cheating husband and a couple of hunks and a murder and it got a little more bearable. The who did it was a bit of a surprise.
March 28, 2021
The setting was charming and the mystery was okay. The characters were two dimensional (even the main character) and I've discovered that I hate how the women are described in cozy mysteries. One of the women was wearing clothes a size too big (shame!), too much makeup, and she is described as "shrill." I want a cozy mystery without the internalised misogyny.
April 23, 2022
Good start to a series. As usual, the characters were heartwarming and that ending will make me want to pick up the next book asap.
September 24, 2017
Ellie Alexander has a spectacular new series for us cozy mystery lovers and Death on Tap is a very binge worthy book! If like me you are going to read it on your ereader, make sure it is fully charged before starting as you are not going to want to put it down, and my battery ran out when I was 70% through the book, I was full of anguish waiting for it to recharge. From the first sentence I was sucked into this cozy and page after page falling deeply in love with this new book and what I hope will be a hugely successful series. Death on Tap is based on a real place called Leavenworth in Washington State. Earlier this summer my husband and I went there for the first time and the magic I felt walking in this Bavarian Town is perfectly replicated in the book! The town itself , in real live is charming, and a little slice of heaven set in a very picturesque part of Washington State, with architecture that will make you think you have traveled to Europe. This small community is as much for tourists as it is for locals and very dedicated to making your experience in Leavenworth memorable. This same sentiment is felt strongly in this book. Main character Sloan, was completely relatable, a resilient and strong woman in her 40's faced with making choices and dealing with all the trappings of a small town, confidence in herself, her family and a lack of confidence in her husband. I love that she is a master brewer, having a job not typically found in the cozy world and that she is as passionate about her work as she is about family and the town she lives in. This book was so good that I wanted to pack my bags and head back on what for me is a 6 hour drive just to sit in the square and read Death on Tap, get some amazing fudge, pick up more of that cranberry tea I got while I was there and indulge in the the wonderful cuisine and comfort that Leavenworth offers both in person and in how Ellie Alexander shares in Death on Tap.
I loved it, I ugly cried in parts and I did not want it to end. The only bad part for me reading this as an advanced reading copy is I have to wait impatiently for Ellie to write the next one, I can not wait to see what happens next and hope that this becomes a very long running series. You must read this if you are a cozy lover, you won't be disappointed! This book comes out October 3rd!
I loved it, I ugly cried in parts and I did not want it to end. The only bad part for me reading this as an advanced reading copy is I have to wait impatiently for Ellie to write the next one, I can not wait to see what happens next and hope that this becomes a very long running series. You must read this if you are a cozy lover, you won't be disappointed! This book comes out October 3rd!
October 26, 2020
I loved this book! It took me away into a small town full of friendships and family. I'm not a huge beer fan, but I liked the info on brewing and running a brewery. The ending wasn't a huge capow-type thing, but it worked with the story. I will definitely be continuing with this series!
September 29, 2020
Death on Tap was my first foray into the world of cozy mysteries. So I don't have anything to compare it to. But that being said I loved it and it is a world I intend to revisit. And I definitely intend to read more of this series.
I'd only heard about this genre before, but when I wandered by the books at my grocery store, the cover caught me. I picked it up. And lo and behold it's got all kinds of stuff that I like. Beer? Check. Setting in Leavenworth, Washington, a touristy, but fun Bavarian themed town? Double check? And a story and a mystery around brewing beer??? As a home-brewer and one of my favorite hobbies??? And a talking about brewing and beer geeky stuff???? Umm.....
Check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check!!!
Anyway, so about the book itself. The main character is Sloan Krause. She's an awesome home brewer turned professional head brewer and now amateur sleuth after someone gets murdered in quiet Leavenworth. The story isn't told with the sort of stereotypical cop/detective looking for clues and finding the murderer. The story isn't told that obviously. Instead what follows is a sort of seamlessly integrated sleuthing while other events are unfolding, some ordinary, some not so ordinary. It is more of a story that sort of unfolds and the events. But yeah she does subtle investigating and she's smart and figures it all out. I thoroughly enjoyed this. There is frankly nothing to not like about this. The writing is easy to read and follow.
I'd only heard about this genre before, but when I wandered by the books at my grocery store, the cover caught me. I picked it up. And lo and behold it's got all kinds of stuff that I like. Beer? Check. Setting in Leavenworth, Washington, a touristy, but fun Bavarian themed town? Double check? And a story and a mystery around brewing beer??? As a home-brewer and one of my favorite hobbies??? And a talking about brewing and beer geeky stuff???? Umm.....
Check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check-check!!!
Anyway, so about the book itself. The main character is Sloan Krause. She's an awesome home brewer turned professional head brewer and now amateur sleuth after someone gets murdered in quiet Leavenworth. The story isn't told with the sort of stereotypical cop/detective looking for clues and finding the murderer. The story isn't told that obviously. Instead what follows is a sort of seamlessly integrated sleuthing while other events are unfolding, some ordinary, some not so ordinary. It is more of a story that sort of unfolds and the events. But yeah she does subtle investigating and she's smart and figures it all out. I thoroughly enjoyed this. There is frankly nothing to not like about this. The writing is easy to read and follow.
May 27, 2022
Yaaaaaaaall. I loved this cozy little mystery. It is the first in a series and I’m definitely going to be picking up the next one!
I loved the setting of the little town of Leavenworth, WA. It’s a cute little Bavarian inspired town and you get all the vibes while reading it. There’s lot of talk of craft beer and I really enjoyed learning more about that.
I love our main character, Sloan. She is a strong woman and mom. I love that she remained strong through the novel.
I’d say if you like mysteries this is one to pick up!
I loved the setting of the little town of Leavenworth, WA. It’s a cute little Bavarian inspired town and you get all the vibes while reading it. There’s lot of talk of craft beer and I really enjoyed learning more about that.
I love our main character, Sloan. She is a strong woman and mom. I love that she remained strong through the novel.
I’d say if you like mysteries this is one to pick up!
August 13, 2020
Sloan Krause: a woman who brews and sleuths. What’s not to love?? This series also features Sloan’s 15-year-old son Alex, adding a bit of depth not found in the author’s Bakeshop Mystery Series, Rose City Mystery Series or Pacific Northwest Mystery Series. Yeah, yeah, I collected all available Trixie Belden books when I was a kid. Happiness is having three Sloan Krause books ahead of me.
March 30, 2020
It wasn't so much the sight of my husband's bare ass that would become permanently etched in my memory, but rather the rhythmic sounds of the German brass band oompah-ing in the background, coupled with the strong, but delicious smell of steeping in the mash tun.
Sloan Krause walks in on her husband and a young bar wench in the family pub. She immediately distances herself from him by going to work with Garrett in the newest nano brewery in Leavenworth, Washington. Sloan's husband, Mac is the number one suspect when a competitor is found dead in Nitro.
This is an excellent start to a series. I must admit that I am not much of a beer drinker but I did so love the chemistry behind making beer. Once a geek, always a geek. The recipes using the different beers were fascinating as well.
The town of Leavenworth is very well portrayed as a slice of German heaven in the Pacific Northwest. I would love to visit the area because i feel like I know it so well from the descriptions.
Sloan is a strong woman. She is a former foster child who had no one until she married into the Krause family. That was the hardest part of reading this book. The Krause family still considers her part of them which I loved to read. I think they all realize what an idiot her husband is.
I enjoyed meeting the townspeople and getting a glimpse of the tourism of beer. i would really like to visit just to soak in the atmosphere. The police chief was believable and I'm proud of Sloan for letting her do her job without meddling too much.
I had pretty much picked out the culprit early on but didn't know the reason. It certainly made sense when all of the clues were revealed.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see where everything leads.
Sloan Krause walks in on her husband and a young bar wench in the family pub. She immediately distances herself from him by going to work with Garrett in the newest nano brewery in Leavenworth, Washington. Sloan's husband, Mac is the number one suspect when a competitor is found dead in Nitro.
This is an excellent start to a series. I must admit that I am not much of a beer drinker but I did so love the chemistry behind making beer. Once a geek, always a geek. The recipes using the different beers were fascinating as well.
The town of Leavenworth is very well portrayed as a slice of German heaven in the Pacific Northwest. I would love to visit the area because i feel like I know it so well from the descriptions.
Sloan is a strong woman. She is a former foster child who had no one until she married into the Krause family. That was the hardest part of reading this book. The Krause family still considers her part of them which I loved to read. I think they all realize what an idiot her husband is.
I enjoyed meeting the townspeople and getting a glimpse of the tourism of beer. i would really like to visit just to soak in the atmosphere. The police chief was believable and I'm proud of Sloan for letting her do her job without meddling too much.
I had pretty much picked out the culprit early on but didn't know the reason. It certainly made sense when all of the clues were revealed.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see where everything leads.
September 13, 2024
This was my first book by Ellie Alexander and I found it to be a charming solid 4 star read. I enjoyed the setting and even had to Google Leavenworth, Washington to find that it is very real and is now on my bucket list of places to visit. I really enjoyed the plot and story made even better by fabulous characters that I wish were real so I could meet them. I loved the conversations that were written so realistically and made me feel like I was a fly on the wall at times. I truly enjoyed that this book featured three generations of a family and am definitely going to read the others in this series. I definitely would recommend this to lovers of cozy mysteries and those who enjoy brewing and drinking craft beers. If you are new to the genre this is a great cozy to start with.
November 25, 2020
I am obsessed with this series! Well, I’ve only finished book 1 & 2 but I loved it and I adore all the characters.
Death on Tap starts with Sloan walking in to her office and catching her husband with a young barmaid. She decides to leave him and his family’s well-known brewery pub and gets a job working at Nitro, a new nano-brewery in their unique Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth. Of course, this is a cozy mystery so she ends up discovering a dead body and has to decide if she should help clear her cheating ex’s name by figuring out who the real murderer is.
Sloan Krause is absolutely a fun, strong, smart, female character who drives this cozy mystery set in the brewery pub world. I don’t drink beer, but Death on Tap has shed some light on the process and types of brewing, it’s fascinating. Ellie Alexander does a great job of introducing the lovable Krause family and the cozy town of Leavenworth. And of course, as usual in a cozy mystery, there is one very annoying nosy character. 😂
🔍 While reading this story, my guess at the suspect kept changing and I did not figure it out ahead of time. Although Death on Tap is a cozy mystery, this series feels different. There’s still food, baking, a murder, and a female amateur sleuth who discovers the body...but it’s presented in a unique setting with a fresh narrative.
Death on Tap starts with Sloan walking in to her office and catching her husband with a young barmaid. She decides to leave him and his family’s well-known brewery pub and gets a job working at Nitro, a new nano-brewery in their unique Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth. Of course, this is a cozy mystery so she ends up discovering a dead body and has to decide if she should help clear her cheating ex’s name by figuring out who the real murderer is.
Sloan Krause is absolutely a fun, strong, smart, female character who drives this cozy mystery set in the brewery pub world. I don’t drink beer, but Death on Tap has shed some light on the process and types of brewing, it’s fascinating. Ellie Alexander does a great job of introducing the lovable Krause family and the cozy town of Leavenworth. And of course, as usual in a cozy mystery, there is one very annoying nosy character. 😂
🔍 While reading this story, my guess at the suspect kept changing and I did not figure it out ahead of time. Although Death on Tap is a cozy mystery, this series feels different. There’s still food, baking, a murder, and a female amateur sleuth who discovers the body...but it’s presented in a unique setting with a fresh narrative.
January 16, 2021
When master brewer Sloan Krause finds her ex-husband cheating on her with a beer wench, she leaves the family business to work with a new nanobrewery in the beer-happy town of Leavenworth, Washington. But when she finds a body in a beer brewing vat, both her new boss and ex-husband become suspects in the murder.
Death on Tap is a fun look at the microbrewery/nanobrewery scene as well as a well-written cozy mystery. Sloan is a smart, talented protagonist, and she's surrounded by interesting supporting characters. The mystery will keep readers guessing as to who the killer is until close to the end. It's a great start to a new series.
Death on Tap is a fun look at the microbrewery/nanobrewery scene as well as a well-written cozy mystery. Sloan is a smart, talented protagonist, and she's surrounded by interesting supporting characters. The mystery will keep readers guessing as to who the killer is until close to the end. It's a great start to a new series.
March 16, 2023
This was a good start to the series. I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. It’s always so interesting to start book 1 with lots of changes in the MC’s life and the I look forward to seeing how it plays out in the series. All I know about brewing beer I’ve learned from cozies and while beer isn’t my favorite to drink I enjoy reading about it. The most disappointing part of the whole book was the lack of recipes at the end because the food in the story sounded amazing.
October 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Being from the Pacific Northwest, I know all about the magical town of Leavenworth Washington. Everything Bavarian. It’s like the Northwest version of Germany year round. The beer and the Christmas festival are famous throughout the Pac NW, even here in Oregon.
This book is set in this little hidden mini Germany in the mountains of Washington, and it’s the first in a new series so I could hardly say no to something so unique and new.
This book sounded unique if nothing else. It’s not every day that I read a murder mystery set in a quirky town that not many people have heard of and with a brewery. It sounded promising. Even though it was a cozy, it had a little more on an edge with some of the themes which I liked a lot. It wasn’t your traditional cozy but it wasn’t so ‘racy’ to be deemed something other than a cozy. It was charming and yet enticing all the same.
The mystery was a fast read and I found myself intrigued by not only the characters but the setting. Everything about this book worked together to create a unique hybrid of genres.
I loved Sloan. There was an edge to her that made he not quite fit in with the other characters or townspeople, but yet she wasn’t a completely odd duck. There were many comical moments in this book and a few times I actually laughed out loud. I love when a murder mystery gives me a little dosing of humor with it.
The only complaint that I had about this one was there was a TON of information on beer. I felt like I was getting a crash course in beer and brewing. Which on one hand was informative and interesting but on the other hand, I felt like this isn’t a story about beer, it’s a murder mystery. I think the basics would have been plenty for the average reader. At times I felt like the knowledge and background eclipsed some of the plot points. For a mystery that was so fast and enjoyable, it was frustrating when the beer facts started to take over.
I have no idea how the author decided to have a mystery set in Leavenworth, but I thought it worked well in this story. It was different and gave an element of charm to the novel. I personally have never been to Leavenworth but I’ve heard enough about it from family members and friends who have visited at Christmas (multiple times) to understand the culture of the town and this book just highlighted the town in a new way for me. I want to visit it now more than ever.
This novel is a great opener to what looks to be a promising new series. I don’t know that I loved every single aspect of the story, such as all the beer references, but I liked it enough to keep reading and am looking forward to see the direction the characters take in the next book!
See my full review here
Being from the Pacific Northwest, I know all about the magical town of Leavenworth Washington. Everything Bavarian. It’s like the Northwest version of Germany year round. The beer and the Christmas festival are famous throughout the Pac NW, even here in Oregon.
This book is set in this little hidden mini Germany in the mountains of Washington, and it’s the first in a new series so I could hardly say no to something so unique and new.
This book sounded unique if nothing else. It’s not every day that I read a murder mystery set in a quirky town that not many people have heard of and with a brewery. It sounded promising. Even though it was a cozy, it had a little more on an edge with some of the themes which I liked a lot. It wasn’t your traditional cozy but it wasn’t so ‘racy’ to be deemed something other than a cozy. It was charming and yet enticing all the same.
The mystery was a fast read and I found myself intrigued by not only the characters but the setting. Everything about this book worked together to create a unique hybrid of genres.
I loved Sloan. There was an edge to her that made he not quite fit in with the other characters or townspeople, but yet she wasn’t a completely odd duck. There were many comical moments in this book and a few times I actually laughed out loud. I love when a murder mystery gives me a little dosing of humor with it.
The only complaint that I had about this one was there was a TON of information on beer. I felt like I was getting a crash course in beer and brewing. Which on one hand was informative and interesting but on the other hand, I felt like this isn’t a story about beer, it’s a murder mystery. I think the basics would have been plenty for the average reader. At times I felt like the knowledge and background eclipsed some of the plot points. For a mystery that was so fast and enjoyable, it was frustrating when the beer facts started to take over.
I have no idea how the author decided to have a mystery set in Leavenworth, but I thought it worked well in this story. It was different and gave an element of charm to the novel. I personally have never been to Leavenworth but I’ve heard enough about it from family members and friends who have visited at Christmas (multiple times) to understand the culture of the town and this book just highlighted the town in a new way for me. I want to visit it now more than ever.
This novel is a great opener to what looks to be a promising new series. I don’t know that I loved every single aspect of the story, such as all the beer references, but I liked it enough to keep reading and am looking forward to see the direction the characters take in the next book!
See my full review here
January 14, 2019
Proving to myself, once again, that I do not like cozy mysteries, I just finished Death on Tap. In a small town that models itself on a German village, competing breweries busy themselves with creating the best beers. Enter our main character, in the middle of a divorce who can no longer work at the family brewery and goes, instead, to work for a new operation on the block.
One really had to suspend some disbelief to get through this. A dead body in a tank, but the brewery is able to open that night anyway? A cheese tray and some soup feeds hundreds of people at a grand opening. Sigh. Okay, belief suspended.
For no reason I truly understand the main character decides to start investigating the murder (sort of). By going to character after character they kind of info dump. All of this while she's fending off the romantic gestures of her soon-to-be ex and her new boss. Sigh.
I understand this is the formula for this style of read. Again, it's me not them. I just can't.
I did learn why some breweries have that weird band-aid taste in their beers, so.... score! Worth a rating star alone!
One really had to suspend some disbelief to get through this. A dead body in a tank, but the brewery is able to open that night anyway? A cheese tray and some soup feeds hundreds of people at a grand opening. Sigh. Okay, belief suspended.
For no reason I truly understand the main character decides to start investigating the murder (sort of). By going to character after character they kind of info dump. All of this while she's fending off the romantic gestures of her soon-to-be ex and her new boss. Sigh.
I understand this is the formula for this style of read. Again, it's me not them. I just can't.
I did learn why some breweries have that weird band-aid taste in their beers, so.... score! Worth a rating star alone!
July 9, 2018
This is the first book by Ellie Alexander that I've read. I wanted to try something different from "the hero is a baker" or "the hero runs a coffee shop" or "the hero owns a book store." Not a big change to "the hero is a brewer" but I don't know a lot about beer and I thought this sounded interesting.
Spoilers ahead!
While I found the story interesting, the writing style was hard for me to take.
"Sloan, I know I have a lot to prove to you, but I'm going to spend every hour of every day showing you that I've changed. We have suitcases of memories that we can't toss away. We're good together-you know that-and I'm lost without you."
Really?
And doesn't anyone think that that she ended up with the wrong brother? It's obvious that Hans has the hots for her.
I'm going to try the first of Ms. Alexander's other series. We'll see.
Spoilers ahead!
While I found the story interesting, the writing style was hard for me to take.
"Sloan, I know I have a lot to prove to you, but I'm going to spend every hour of every day showing you that I've changed. We have suitcases of memories that we can't toss away. We're good together-you know that-and I'm lost without you."
Really?
And doesn't anyone think that that she ended up with the wrong brother? It's obvious that Hans has the hots for her.
I'm going to try the first of Ms. Alexander's other series. We'll see.
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