What do you think?
Rate this book
Sloan Krause #2
The Pint of No Return
Amateur sleuth Sloan Krause returns in The Pint of No Return, another delightful cozy mystery by Ellie Alexander - this time investigating a movie star who's murdered not long after arriving in Leavenworth, Wash., to film his latest project.
No other festival compares to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington. The whole town is buzzing with excitement over this year's activities and eagerly awaiting Nitro's latest offering, Cherrywizen, made with locally sourced cherries. But local brewmaster Sloan Krause is tapped out. Between trying to manage the pub, her pending divorce with Mac, and her mounting feelings for Garrett, she's fermenting in internal turmoil.
To complicate matters, dreamy movie star Mitchell Morgan and his production crew have arrived in the village to film during the authentic Bavarian brewfest. Mitchell has his eye on Sloan and a taste for Nitro's Cherrywizen. Sloan escapes his advances for good when she finds Mitchell slumped over the bar. Is this a case of one pint too many, or has Mitchell been murdered by microbrew?
No other festival compares to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington. The whole town is buzzing with excitement over this year's activities and eagerly awaiting Nitro's latest offering, Cherrywizen, made with locally sourced cherries. But local brewmaster Sloan Krause is tapped out. Between trying to manage the pub, her pending divorce with Mac, and her mounting feelings for Garrett, she's fermenting in internal turmoil.
To complicate matters, dreamy movie star Mitchell Morgan and his production crew have arrived in the village to film during the authentic Bavarian brewfest. Mitchell has his eye on Sloan and a taste for Nitro's Cherrywizen. Sloan escapes his advances for good when she finds Mitchell slumped over the bar. Is this a case of one pint too many, or has Mitchell been murdered by microbrew?
MP3 CD
First published October 2, 2018
356 people are currently reading
1285 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Alexander
78 books3,013 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—
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...
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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
June 25, 2022
This is 3.5 for me rounded up to four.
I like Sloan as a character. I like her down to earth feel. I love the setting of Leavenworth for these cozy mysteries. Alexander's prose is smooth and easy to read. The mystery was good.
But there are a couple of things that are bothering me with this.
First, Sloan is a brewmaster in these stories (as that term is used in American brewing vernacular). Very cool, but then there were things in the narrative that I thought didn't really fit. There were parts that left me scratching my head. For example at one point Sloan is "sauteing" cranberries to add to a test batch. I'm an amateur brewer and I am not sure one would "saute" something before you put it into any part of the brewing process. The limited understanding I have is that you wouldn't want the fats from sauteing into a fermenting beer. Small thing but part of what attracts me to this series is the background stuff of working in breweries and brewing beers. Small issue, however.
Second, I like the background mystery of Sloan having been abandoned as a kid and growing up in the foster system. That forms her character a lot. And as Sloan is trying to solve the dastardly murders that are now plaguing Leavenworth, she is trying to unravel who her birth parents are where they are, etc. We get a little more development on that issue in The Pint of No Return. But here's where I was thinking What the WHAT!?! Apparently Sloan
All that being said, I love the series and I most definitely look forward to the next installment.
I like Sloan as a character. I like her down to earth feel. I love the setting of Leavenworth for these cozy mysteries. Alexander's prose is smooth and easy to read. The mystery was good.
But there are a couple of things that are bothering me with this.
First, Sloan is a brewmaster in these stories (as that term is used in American brewing vernacular). Very cool, but then there were things in the narrative that I thought didn't really fit. There were parts that left me scratching my head. For example at one point Sloan is "sauteing" cranberries to add to a test batch. I'm an amateur brewer and I am not sure one would "saute" something before you put it into any part of the brewing process. The limited understanding I have is that you wouldn't want the fats from sauteing into a fermenting beer. Small thing but part of what attracts me to this series is the background stuff of working in breweries and brewing beers. Small issue, however.
Second, I like the background mystery of Sloan having been abandoned as a kid and growing up in the foster system. That forms her character a lot. And as Sloan is trying to solve the dastardly murders that are now plaguing Leavenworth, she is trying to unravel who her birth parents are where they are, etc. We get a little more development on that issue in The Pint of No Return. But here's where I was thinking What the WHAT!?! Apparently Sloan
All that being said, I love the series and I most definitely look forward to the next installment.
September 8, 2018
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Actual Rating: 4 stars
The Pint of No Return is the second book in the Sloan Krause cozy mystery series. What I like about this series is that is revolves around brewing beer which is really original in my opinion. I can't think of any other cozies that have this as the main attraction (besides the murder of course). Even more, the characters are pretty cool- very relaxed and laid back- and have a lot of "smarts" which seems to be missing from many cozies these days. So overall, it's a great book. If you aren't a beer drinker, no worries! You can learn a lot about the product and what it takes to actually brew it through this book. The author clearly did a lot of research in the area and now I feel like a beer connoisseur myself.
Fans of cozy mysteries aren't going to want to miss out on the latest Sloan Krause mystery! In this one, she is helping the local PD find the killer of a movie star who happened to be filming during Oktoberfest!
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Actual Rating: 4 stars
The Pint of No Return is the second book in the Sloan Krause cozy mystery series. What I like about this series is that is revolves around brewing beer which is really original in my opinion. I can't think of any other cozies that have this as the main attraction (besides the murder of course). Even more, the characters are pretty cool- very relaxed and laid back- and have a lot of "smarts" which seems to be missing from many cozies these days. So overall, it's a great book. If you aren't a beer drinker, no worries! You can learn a lot about the product and what it takes to actually brew it through this book. The author clearly did a lot of research in the area and now I feel like a beer connoisseur myself.
Fans of cozy mysteries aren't going to want to miss out on the latest Sloan Krause mystery! In this one, she is helping the local PD find the killer of a movie star who happened to be filming during Oktoberfest!
October 21, 2020
The autumn fairs and Oktoberfests that I usually head off to at this time of year with my family aren't happening in 2020. That doesn't at all change the fact that I'm in that mode and so I went on a hunt for some thematic cozy mysteries. I found Sloan Krause in a short novella
Trouble Is Brewing
where she's introduced to readers while helping baker, Jules Capshaw, solve a keg theft. I have some of the baker books on my TBR but Sloan living in Leavenworth WA really captured my attention so I bought this to read immediately.
Leavenworth is a whole Bavarian-themed town and in this installment, Oktoberfest is just beginning. The hamlet of 2000, is about to be inundated with tourists to enjoy all the brats, beer and as many reels of the Chicken Dance they can stand. Add in a blaze of foliage, strings of twinkling lights, pastries, schnitzel and murder and this was an engaging and enjoyable read. Sloan Krause is a likeable sleuth. She's trying to get her life back on track while being a mother in the midst of a divorce from a cheating husband, working at Nitro, a small brewer (the first job she's had outside of her husband's family brewery Der Keller in about 20 years) and of course, is having some feelings that aren't strictly professional, for her boss, Garrett. There's also the not so small matter of her ongoing search for her birth parents which, as the story progresses, is getting more mysterious. If she's found to be a secret Contessa or hidden heiress to some storied family's fortune (related to beer or perfume because she's got a Nose), I wouldn't be surprised.
Also descending onto the town is a film crew making a documentary on beer and brewers. They're a somewhat interesting bunch but the most obnoxious is the host, Mitchell. The murder takes place at the end of Chapter 6 so there was a good amount of story to go in which to puzzle out the clues and solution, which was great. Sloan didn't talk with the people I most wanted to hear from until the end so that put up a bit of a red flag for me as to the culprit but it didn't diminish the story. I liked all of the characters as they fit their parts well. April was a real standout and while she was not likable, she was a necessary character to have around. I liked Sloan's moment of charitable thought about April also. I liked Chief Myers. I wanted to see more of her and liked that she didn't have an adversarial relationship with Sloan. Garrett is perfectly anodyne and just what I expect of would-be love interests in cozies. I liked that he's a scientist and has neat tee shirts. I do hope Sloan's son, Alex gets to be around more in future books. He's a sweet kid. And Kat is just a ball of bouncing positive energy so I was glad that she's staying on at Nitro. I hope to see more of Lisa and her real estate ventures, since it seems they will cross with April's.
I should say that, I'm not a beer drinker but I did find all the brewer information interesting (and there was a lot of it). It showed that the writer and the main character cared about the craft. I was able to appreciate that and had fun reading some of the beer descriptions to my husband (the in house beer drinker). I was more drawn to the food and there's a vegetable soup Sloan makes that I highlit and will be riffing because it sounded delightful for an autumn meal.
I'll likely read the next (Beyond a Reasonable Stout) soon. It's still autumn in Leavenworth and set during election season and obviously, thematically perfect for the moment. Recommended.
Leavenworth is a whole Bavarian-themed town and in this installment, Oktoberfest is just beginning. The hamlet of 2000, is about to be inundated with tourists to enjoy all the brats, beer and as many reels of the Chicken Dance they can stand. Add in a blaze of foliage, strings of twinkling lights, pastries, schnitzel and murder and this was an engaging and enjoyable read. Sloan Krause is a likeable sleuth. She's trying to get her life back on track while being a mother in the midst of a divorce from a cheating husband, working at Nitro, a small brewer (the first job she's had outside of her husband's family brewery Der Keller in about 20 years) and of course, is having some feelings that aren't strictly professional, for her boss, Garrett. There's also the not so small matter of her ongoing search for her birth parents which, as the story progresses, is getting more mysterious. If she's found to be a secret Contessa or hidden heiress to some storied family's fortune (related to beer or perfume because she's got a Nose), I wouldn't be surprised.
Also descending onto the town is a film crew making a documentary on beer and brewers. They're a somewhat interesting bunch but the most obnoxious is the host, Mitchell. The murder takes place at the end of Chapter 6 so there was a good amount of story to go in which to puzzle out the clues and solution, which was great. Sloan didn't talk with the people I most wanted to hear from until the end so that put up a bit of a red flag for me as to the culprit but it didn't diminish the story. I liked all of the characters as they fit their parts well. April was a real standout and while she was not likable, she was a necessary character to have around. I liked Sloan's moment of charitable thought about April also. I liked Chief Myers. I wanted to see more of her and liked that she didn't have an adversarial relationship with Sloan. Garrett is perfectly anodyne and just what I expect of would-be love interests in cozies. I liked that he's a scientist and has neat tee shirts. I do hope Sloan's son, Alex gets to be around more in future books. He's a sweet kid. And Kat is just a ball of bouncing positive energy so I was glad that she's staying on at Nitro. I hope to see more of Lisa and her real estate ventures, since it seems they will cross with April's.
I should say that, I'm not a beer drinker but I did find all the brewer information interesting (and there was a lot of it). It showed that the writer and the main character cared about the craft. I was able to appreciate that and had fun reading some of the beer descriptions to my husband (the in house beer drinker). I was more drawn to the food and there's a vegetable soup Sloan makes that I highlit and will be riffing because it sounded delightful for an autumn meal.
I'll likely read the next (Beyond a Reasonable Stout) soon. It's still autumn in Leavenworth and set during election season and obviously, thematically perfect for the moment. Recommended.
October 16, 2018
I only recently discovered Ellie Alexander when I read the first Sloan Krause mystery last year. Since then I have read one of her Bake Shop Mysteries and I absolutely adore her mysteries.
There is nothing like mixing food (especially pastries!) with murder. Being from Oregon myself, I have a soft spot for all things Pacific Northwest as well as local authors. I got in on the Sloan Krause series from the very beginning and I was thrilled to be asked to read the next book!
One of the things that drew me to this series was the small town of Leavenworth in Washington. That little town is famous in the Pac NW for its Christmas activities…..it’s basically a small German winter wonderland. I really only thing of Christmas when I hear about this town, but Oktoberfest makes sense too. We have a large German population in Mt Angel who is also famous in Oregon for their Oktoberfest so it makes sense that this book would feature that lovely festival devoted to beer and sausage.
Unlike the Bake Shop Mysteries that Alexander first started writing, this one revolves around beer. So many cozy novels focus on baking or cooking but this one sets itself apart with beer and I am totally ok with that.
Alexander writes with a practiced hand and crafts a novel that is not only easy to follow but keeps readers engaged and moving at a moderate pace. It’s not so fast that readers are racing toward the end, but it’s not a slow burn either. It’s perfectly balanced, just like the beers!
I love Sloan as a protagonist. In the first book I felt like she had 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. In this book she still has the same edge but yet is coming into her own and trying to sort out her life and what she’s going to do once her divorce is final. She’s easy to like and I enjoyed her just as much this time around as I did before.
This book is packed full of details. Alexander does an excellent job describing the town and the festivities as well as the whole beer culture. Sometimes the details about beer and the beer industry seemed to be a little much, and I remember thinking the same thing in the first book. It was interesting to a certain degree, but then if you aren’t really into beer, then you will probably feel a little bored with the additional details. I felt like it was ok, but then again I like beer and here in the Pac NW, the craft beer industry is big so I didn’t mind it too much.
I loved the mystery itself. Again Alexander’s experience shines in this new series. She knows how to leave enough bread crumbs for readers to follow and she lets the reader investigate along with the protagonist.
This was a fun one to read and it went fairly quick. It makes an excellent fall read as it’s harvest time and beer festival time here in Oregon so this book held a special place in my heart for that.
See my full review here
There is nothing like mixing food (especially pastries!) with murder. Being from Oregon myself, I have a soft spot for all things Pacific Northwest as well as local authors. I got in on the Sloan Krause series from the very beginning and I was thrilled to be asked to read the next book!
One of the things that drew me to this series was the small town of Leavenworth in Washington. That little town is famous in the Pac NW for its Christmas activities…..it’s basically a small German winter wonderland. I really only thing of Christmas when I hear about this town, but Oktoberfest makes sense too. We have a large German population in Mt Angel who is also famous in Oregon for their Oktoberfest so it makes sense that this book would feature that lovely festival devoted to beer and sausage.
Unlike the Bake Shop Mysteries that Alexander first started writing, this one revolves around beer. So many cozy novels focus on baking or cooking but this one sets itself apart with beer and I am totally ok with that.
Alexander writes with a practiced hand and crafts a novel that is not only easy to follow but keeps readers engaged and moving at a moderate pace. It’s not so fast that readers are racing toward the end, but it’s not a slow burn either. It’s perfectly balanced, just like the beers!
I love Sloan as a protagonist. In the first book I felt like she had 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. In this book she still has the same edge but yet is coming into her own and trying to sort out her life and what she’s going to do once her divorce is final. She’s easy to like and I enjoyed her just as much this time around as I did before.
This book is packed full of details. Alexander does an excellent job describing the town and the festivities as well as the whole beer culture. Sometimes the details about beer and the beer industry seemed to be a little much, and I remember thinking the same thing in the first book. It was interesting to a certain degree, but then if you aren’t really into beer, then you will probably feel a little bored with the additional details. I felt like it was ok, but then again I like beer and here in the Pac NW, the craft beer industry is big so I didn’t mind it too much.
I loved the mystery itself. Again Alexander’s experience shines in this new series. She knows how to leave enough bread crumbs for readers to follow and she lets the reader investigate along with the protagonist.
This was a fun one to read and it went fairly quick. It makes an excellent fall read as it’s harvest time and beer festival time here in Oregon so this book held a special place in my heart for that.
See my full review here
June 25, 2021
*3.5 stars rounded up.
Set in the beertopia of America, the second book in this cozy mystery series totally immerses the reader in the annual Oktoberfest put on by the small Bavarian-style village of Leavenworth, Washington. Oh, for a taste of all beers and German food described at the fest!
A film crew is on site filming a documentary about the festival and the process of beer-crafting. What great advertising that will be for the entire community! But before the festival even begins, the rather obnoxious star of the film is found dead. Local brewmaster, Sloan Krause, is up for trying to figure out whodunit, but her plate is pretty full with her own personal problems, like divorcing her husband and finding her birth family.
The Oktoberfest setting and fantastic descriptions of the art of crafting beer are the highlights of this second novel. I thoroughly enjoyed both setting and characters and look forward to more in this delightful series.
Set in the beertopia of America, the second book in this cozy mystery series totally immerses the reader in the annual Oktoberfest put on by the small Bavarian-style village of Leavenworth, Washington. Oh, for a taste of all beers and German food described at the fest!
A film crew is on site filming a documentary about the festival and the process of beer-crafting. What great advertising that will be for the entire community! But before the festival even begins, the rather obnoxious star of the film is found dead. Local brewmaster, Sloan Krause, is up for trying to figure out whodunit, but her plate is pretty full with her own personal problems, like divorcing her husband and finding her birth family.
The Oktoberfest setting and fantastic descriptions of the art of crafting beer are the highlights of this second novel. I thoroughly enjoyed both setting and characters and look forward to more in this delightful series.
October 19, 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. The decision turned out to be a good one as I thoroughly enjoyed the lite mystery and endearing small-town characters.
I have now finished the second book in this cozy mystery series – “The Pint of No Return” – and have more good news to share.
Sloan Krause, a wife, mother, and entrepreneur deeply imbedded in Leavenworth’s community is thrown into another mysterious death, and she is more than up to the task. This time, the annual Oktoberfest festival is kicking off, in which thousands of tourists invade the small town of Leavenworth to eat, drink, and celebrate in heavy duty party fashion.
Sloan and Garrett, her boss and owner of Nitro, the new brewery in town, are ready to unveil their newest offering – Cherry Weizen – to the public. Sloan is hoping that the festival will ease her stress and provide a distraction from her pending divorce with Mac, whose parents own the very successful Krause family brewery where she developed her expertise in brewing craft beer. She also has a teenage son, who focuses his time and energy on defending his independence. And that doesn’t even include her growing attraction to Garrett that’s playing crazy on her emotions.
To make matters worse, a movie production crew has arrived in town to film a documentary – Wish you were Beer – focused on the brewing industry and using the Oktoberfest celebration as a perfect background. The first problem is that the film’s narrator, Mitchell Morgan, a former child television star, turns out to be high quality serious pain in the backside. His selfish behaviors and diva attitude have alienated everyone in the film crew as well as several of the locals, Sloan included. The second and worst problem is that Sloan finds Mitchell lying dead on the ground in front of one of the Oktoberfest beer tents with a shattered growler of Nitro’s own Cherry Weizen by his body.
Who did Mitchell push too far, enough to murder him? Before she knows it, if she wasn’t already overloaded, Sloan finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation during Leavenworth’s biggest party of the year. And what if the killer isn’t happy to have her involved? Would the killer need to eliminate Sloan from finding the truth?
There were several things that drew me in to this cozy mystery series in the first book and continued into the second one. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed the second book even more than the first. The author has strengthened her grasp on the characters, storylines, and Leavenworth setting, 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. She also receives great support from her in-laws, brother-in-law, and new boss. Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s impossible to not notice that both her brother-in-law and new boss are potential love interest, but that is for later.
I am especially enjoying the mystery involving Sloane’s search for her birth parents. The author is peeling that onion carefully over multiple books in a multi-layered storyline that continues building a serious level of tension and interest on my part. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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. Even though the characters and relationships really drive this series, the mystery elements are better in the second book. This time Sloan is much more involved in the mystery, playing a lead role rather than a supporting one. Also, the mystery is better plotted, from beginning to the end. The investigation flows along at a good pace, with several twists and turns throughout, and a surprising climax in which Sloane’s life is in deadly danger. This was a material improvement from the first book.
Fourth, the setting. For me, I enjoyed the small Bavarian town setting, culture, 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 that delivered an enjoyable reading experience that I really needed to escape my busy life. The author's writing style was smooth, fluid, and had a natural flow to it. She made it easy to enjoy spending time with Sloan Krause, the other characters, and the Leavenworth setting. I find myself looking forward to solving more mysteries with her, as well as experiencing more of the family dynamics, development of character arcs, and the relationships she's developing with both Garrett and Hans.
Needless to say, the good news is that I can’t wait to start reading the next book – “Beyond a Reasonable Stout” – 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. The decision turned out to be a good one as I thoroughly enjoyed the lite mystery and endearing small-town characters.
I have now finished the second book in this cozy mystery series – “The Pint of No Return” – and have more good news to share.
Sloan Krause, a wife, mother, and entrepreneur deeply imbedded in Leavenworth’s community is thrown into another mysterious death, and she is more than up to the task. This time, the annual Oktoberfest festival is kicking off, in which thousands of tourists invade the small town of Leavenworth to eat, drink, and celebrate in heavy duty party fashion.
Sloan and Garrett, her boss and owner of Nitro, the new brewery in town, are ready to unveil their newest offering – Cherry Weizen – to the public. Sloan is hoping that the festival will ease her stress and provide a distraction from her pending divorce with Mac, whose parents own the very successful Krause family brewery where she developed her expertise in brewing craft beer. She also has a teenage son, who focuses his time and energy on defending his independence. And that doesn’t even include her growing attraction to Garrett that’s playing crazy on her emotions.
To make matters worse, a movie production crew has arrived in town to film a documentary – Wish you were Beer – focused on the brewing industry and using the Oktoberfest celebration as a perfect background. The first problem is that the film’s narrator, Mitchell Morgan, a former child television star, turns out to be high quality serious pain in the backside. His selfish behaviors and diva attitude have alienated everyone in the film crew as well as several of the locals, Sloan included. The second and worst problem is that Sloan finds Mitchell lying dead on the ground in front of one of the Oktoberfest beer tents with a shattered growler of Nitro’s own Cherry Weizen by his body.
Who did Mitchell push too far, enough to murder him? Before she knows it, if she wasn’t already overloaded, Sloan finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation during Leavenworth’s biggest party of the year. And what if the killer isn’t happy to have her involved? Would the killer need to eliminate Sloan from finding the truth?
There were several things that drew me in to this cozy mystery series in the first book and continued into the second one. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed the second book even more than the first. The author has strengthened her grasp on the characters, storylines, and Leavenworth setting, 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. She also receives great support from her in-laws, brother-in-law, and new boss. Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s impossible to not notice that both her brother-in-law and new boss are potential love interest, but that is for later.
I am especially enjoying the mystery involving Sloane’s search for her birth parents. The author is peeling that onion carefully over multiple books in a multi-layered storyline that continues building a serious level of tension and interest on my part. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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. Even though the characters and relationships really drive this series, the mystery elements are better in the second book. This time Sloan is much more involved in the mystery, playing a lead role rather than a supporting one. Also, the mystery is better plotted, from beginning to the end. The investigation flows along at a good pace, with several twists and turns throughout, and a surprising climax in which Sloane’s life is in deadly danger. This was a material improvement from the first book.
Fourth, the setting. For me, I enjoyed the small Bavarian town setting, culture, 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 that delivered an enjoyable reading experience that I really needed to escape my busy life. The author's writing style was smooth, fluid, and had a natural flow to it. She made it easy to enjoy spending time with Sloan Krause, the other characters, and the Leavenworth setting. I find myself looking forward to solving more mysteries with her, as well as experiencing more of the family dynamics, development of character arcs, and the relationships she's developing with both Garrett and Hans.
Needless to say, the good news is that I can’t wait to start reading the next book – “Beyond a Reasonable Stout” – and will be starting it soon.
August 23, 2018
5 stars
I love Ellie Alexander's books aka Kate Dyer-Seeley and read every mystery she publishes.
This is the second book in the Sloan Krause mystery series and even though it can stand alone I would recommend reading the series in order if you plan to read more than one.
There are two background stories, one being the separation of her cheating husband Max and the other one is the mystery of her unknown family which gave her away and left her to grow up in foster care.
A film crew is coming to Leavenworth to film a documentary about the local beer scene. The actor and host of the documentary shows up at Nitro, drinks too much and behaves like a jerk. He is found dead next to one of the Oktoberfest beer tents later that night. Sloan is worried they may have over served him.
I am originally from Germany and love the setting and beer theme. The brewing process and ingredients for the special beers are so much fun - I wish I could try all the craft beers.
I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press and the author provided me with an advance copy.
I love Ellie Alexander's books aka Kate Dyer-Seeley and read every mystery she publishes.
This is the second book in the Sloan Krause mystery series and even though it can stand alone I would recommend reading the series in order if you plan to read more than one.
There are two background stories, one being the separation of her cheating husband Max and the other one is the mystery of her unknown family which gave her away and left her to grow up in foster care.
A film crew is coming to Leavenworth to film a documentary about the local beer scene. The actor and host of the documentary shows up at Nitro, drinks too much and behaves like a jerk. He is found dead next to one of the Oktoberfest beer tents later that night. Sloan is worried they may have over served him.
I am originally from Germany and love the setting and beer theme. The brewing process and ingredients for the special beers are so much fun - I wish I could try all the craft beers.
I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press and the author provided me with an advance copy.
October 14, 2018
Adoro questa serie con tutte le notizie sulla birra che fornisce! C'è un buon cast di personaggi, anche se un paio sono davvero odiosi... La storia secondaria sulla vera famiglia della protagonista continua a dipanarsi da un libro all'altro e non vedo l'ora di sapere come va a finire. L'autrice è stata brava a fornire indizi che puntavano a colpevoli diversi nella storia principale, anche se per me è stato abbastanza ovvio capire chi fosse l'assassino. Quando uscirà il prossimo?
May 8, 2022
Leavenworth sounds like an amazing place. The characters are so heartwarming, even Mac, I find him really funny 🤣 I was more intrigued by Sloan's back story than the mystery. Excited to start the next book asap.
December 29, 2018
Fans of this series will like THE PINT OF NO RETURN. I enjoyed seeing the growth in the characters. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
September 28, 2022
I really like Ellie Alexander's Bake Shop series, so it's no surprise that I enjoy this series as well. Both are set in Washington (state), and the description of the settings makes you feel as if you're there. In this book, it's time for Oktoberfest, an annual event the town of Leavenworth lives for. I didn't look it up to see if that's true for the real Leavenworth, but the author is so accurate with other details, I would be surprised if it's not.
Although I'm not a huge fan of beer, I like Sloane and most of the recurring characters, although I'd love to see a couple of them fall victim in a future book - or be responsible for the foul play and thus be sent away for a very long time. As much as I dislike them, though, they contribute to the tension in the story, so I guess their roles are necessary.
I wasn't at all surprised by the identity of the victim in this book, and there were quite a few people who had reason to want that character gone. With all of these potential suspects, my mental list kept shuffling as the story continued, although I was confident I had the right person at the top of my list by the time it was revealed in the book. The motive wasn't surprising either, but it was fun watching Sloane, Garrett and the rest come to the same conclusion. I can't wait to return to Leavenworth to see what happens next.
Although I'm not a huge fan of beer, I like Sloane and most of the recurring characters, although I'd love to see a couple of them fall victim in a future book - or be responsible for the foul play and thus be sent away for a very long time. As much as I dislike them, though, they contribute to the tension in the story, so I guess their roles are necessary.
I wasn't at all surprised by the identity of the victim in this book, and there were quite a few people who had reason to want that character gone. With all of these potential suspects, my mental list kept shuffling as the story continued, although I was confident I had the right person at the top of my list by the time it was revealed in the book. The motive wasn't surprising either, but it was fun watching Sloane, Garrett and the rest come to the same conclusion. I can't wait to return to Leavenworth to see what happens next.
September 14, 2018
The Pint of No Return is the second installment in this series. Sloan Krause is a female beer brewer living in Leavenworth, Washington and this book is set in the town's annual Octoberfest. Sloan's brewery, Nitro, has just perfected a Cherryweizen beer, made from local cherries to introduce for the occasion. A documentary film crew is there to show the "inside world" of the community, hosted by a former child star. He is disliked by almost everyone due to his obnoxious behavior and outrageous demands. When the star is found dead outside near Nitro, Sloan decides to help the local police investigate.
I loved this book! I admit, I don't even like beer but the author did such a wonderful job artfully describing the brewing process. I felt like I could smell and taste the beer as I was reading. Sloane's character is well-developed and relatable. She is struggling to find herself amidst a painful split with her unfaithful spouse and unresolved issues from her childhood, which return in this book. The mystery had interesting plot twists and a hint of romance. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance digital copy of this book
I loved this book! I admit, I don't even like beer but the author did such a wonderful job artfully describing the brewing process. I felt like I could smell and taste the beer as I was reading. Sloane's character is well-developed and relatable. She is struggling to find herself amidst a painful split with her unfaithful spouse and unresolved issues from her childhood, which return in this book. The mystery had interesting plot twists and a hint of romance. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance digital copy of this book
June 6, 2018
I am a big fan of Ellie Alexander. I have thoroughly enjoyed her Bakeshop Mystery Series. When I saw she was writing A Sloan Krause Mystery series too I had to check the series out - and I am glad I did! Ellie pens fun, engrossing and interesting cozy mysteries with likable characters and well-crafted plots. In Pint of No Return Sloan Krause, a brewmaster in beautiful Leavenworth, WA, is preparing Cherrywizen, a brew made with locally sourced cherries, for the local Oktoberfest. A production crew has come to town to use the idyllic Bavarian village and its festival as a backdrop for a new film. But soon the movie star is found dead-as-a-doornail in Sloan’s pub. Who did it? How? Why? You will have fun reading to find out the answers.
November 6, 2018
Summary from Goodreads:
"No other festival compares to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington. The whole town is buzzing with excitement over this year’s activities and eagerly awaiting Nitro’s latest offering Cherrywizen, made with locally sourced cherries. But local brewmaster Sloan Krause is tapped out. Between trying to manage the pub, her pending divorce with Mac, and her mounting feelings for Garrett, she’s fermenting in internal turmoil.
To complicate matters, dreamy movie star Mitchell Morgan and his production crew have arrived in the village to film during the authentic Bavarian brewfest. Mitchell has his eye on Sloan and a taste for Nitro’s Cherrywizen. Sloan escapes his advances for good when she finds Mitchell slumped over the bar. Is this a case of one pint too many, or has Mitchell been murdered by microbrew?"
My Thoughts:
Last year I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, Death on Tap, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book! Let's be honest - this book has been on my TBR list since I finished the last page of the first book. There is just something about Ellie Alexander's cozy mysteries that I can't get enough of. And while this is completely different from her Bakeshop series, it has enough of the same characteristics that I love from that series to make this one a real winner for me as well. She has a real knack for creating characters that feel real and complex. In both of her series, the main character is struggling with something major going on with their life that just comes across the pages as so real. In this book, Sloan is still trying to deal with her new "normal" after finding her husband cheating on her. She's working on figuring out what she wants in her life and how she moves on from here. That struggle to figure out what she wants in life next and how she is getting to get there just comes across so perfectly. Add in that a mystery to solve with lots of great secondary characters and you have a winner. What makes this book a four star read for me though is the added mystery of Sloan's past. In this book, we get the chance to see Sloan search a bit more into her unknown past searching for the reasons why she was placed into foster care which was just hinted about in book one. I'm so intrigued by this storyline that I cannot wait to get my hands on book three! I really found this to be a compelling read, and I breezed through the pages on my kindle. It's going to be a long wait for that next book, that's for sure!
Here's why I think that you should read this series in general (there's only two books so I definitely think it is worth it to start with the first book): it's the perfect palate cleanser because it just feels so fresh and original! Been reading a bunch of mysteries and dark thrillers? This series will break that up perfectly with a more light hearted mystery. Need a different type of cozy that isn't focused on food or books? (I'm horribly generalizing there but you get the idea). Read a mystery that talks about beer and the different kinds to make you want to try a few different types of beers yourself. LOL! It sounds funny when you put it like that but it really was the perfect change of pace for me. With great characters and questions that keep you wondering long after the book is finished.....well I couldn't ask for more to be honest. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and for good reason. I can highly recommend!
Bottom Line: I loved this book just as much as the first book!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Thoughts are my own.
"No other festival compares to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington. The whole town is buzzing with excitement over this year’s activities and eagerly awaiting Nitro’s latest offering Cherrywizen, made with locally sourced cherries. But local brewmaster Sloan Krause is tapped out. Between trying to manage the pub, her pending divorce with Mac, and her mounting feelings for Garrett, she’s fermenting in internal turmoil.
To complicate matters, dreamy movie star Mitchell Morgan and his production crew have arrived in the village to film during the authentic Bavarian brewfest. Mitchell has his eye on Sloan and a taste for Nitro’s Cherrywizen. Sloan escapes his advances for good when she finds Mitchell slumped over the bar. Is this a case of one pint too many, or has Mitchell been murdered by microbrew?"
My Thoughts:
Last year I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, Death on Tap, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book! Let's be honest - this book has been on my TBR list since I finished the last page of the first book. There is just something about Ellie Alexander's cozy mysteries that I can't get enough of. And while this is completely different from her Bakeshop series, it has enough of the same characteristics that I love from that series to make this one a real winner for me as well. She has a real knack for creating characters that feel real and complex. In both of her series, the main character is struggling with something major going on with their life that just comes across the pages as so real. In this book, Sloan is still trying to deal with her new "normal" after finding her husband cheating on her. She's working on figuring out what she wants in her life and how she moves on from here. That struggle to figure out what she wants in life next and how she is getting to get there just comes across so perfectly. Add in that a mystery to solve with lots of great secondary characters and you have a winner. What makes this book a four star read for me though is the added mystery of Sloan's past. In this book, we get the chance to see Sloan search a bit more into her unknown past searching for the reasons why she was placed into foster care which was just hinted about in book one. I'm so intrigued by this storyline that I cannot wait to get my hands on book three! I really found this to be a compelling read, and I breezed through the pages on my kindle. It's going to be a long wait for that next book, that's for sure!
Here's why I think that you should read this series in general (there's only two books so I definitely think it is worth it to start with the first book): it's the perfect palate cleanser because it just feels so fresh and original! Been reading a bunch of mysteries and dark thrillers? This series will break that up perfectly with a more light hearted mystery. Need a different type of cozy that isn't focused on food or books? (I'm horribly generalizing there but you get the idea). Read a mystery that talks about beer and the different kinds to make you want to try a few different types of beers yourself. LOL! It sounds funny when you put it like that but it really was the perfect change of pace for me. With great characters and questions that keep you wondering long after the book is finished.....well I couldn't ask for more to be honest. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and for good reason. I can highly recommend!
Bottom Line: I loved this book just as much as the first book!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Thoughts are my own.
October 10, 2018
The Pint of No Return by Ellie Alexander is the second book in A Sloan Krause Mystery series. The town of Leavenworth, Washington is busy preparing for Oktoberfest. It is a three week long event that has tourists flocking to their Bavarian looking town. Nitro owner, Garrett Strong with Sloan Krause have been working on a new brew titled Cherry Weizen which will be unveiled that night. April Ablin approaches Sloan regarding her attire. A documentary film crew is in town to film Wish You Were Beer and she would prefer Sloane to dress in costume (not going to happen). The crew shows up at Nitro that evening to try out their new brew and, hopefully, get some good footage. Their host, Mitchell Morgan leaves a lot to be desired with his arrogant attitude and large ego (I’m surprised his hat fits). Sloan is heading home at the end of the night and hears a woman screaming. Mitchell Morgan is dead in the town square with a growler from Nitro broken around him. Lisa Balmes is accused of murdering Mitchell by his biggest fan, Kat Kelly. Sloane knows Lisa did not kill Mitchell and starts nosing around the crew for suspects. Sloan must also deal with her estranged husband, her search for her biological mother and Mitchell’s biggest fan, Kat. Join in on the Oktoberfest fun in The Pint of No Return.
The Pint of No Return is an engaging cozy mystery. I thought it was well-written with a nice steady pace. Ms. Alexander’s conversational writing style makes The Pint of No Return easy to read and enjoy. I like Sloan, Garrett, Hans Krause, Alex Krause as well as Otto and Ursula Krause (such a sweet couple). April Ablin, while not a character I like, does provides comic relief. I am amazed that Sloan married someone like Mac. I fail to see his appeal (the cheating louse). It was nice to find out more about Sloane and her relationship with the Krause family. I appreciate the author’s descriptive writing style which makes the book come alive for me. I can picture Leavenworth with the Bavarian style buildings and people walking around in costumes with beer steins in their hands. There are two mysteries in the book. The murder of Mitchell and Sloan’s search for her biological mother. I thought Mitchell’s murder was straightforward with a simple solution. Unfortunately, I identified the killer before Mitchell went belly up. Sloane’s quest to find her birth mother is the more intriguing mystery. It looks like it will play out over the course of the series with new information revealed in each book. I wish the murder had been more of a focus in this book. The story concentrates on the characters (mainly Sloan) and the town. While I appreciate getting to know the characters, I do read a cozy mystery for the mystery. I am baffled by the food that they serve in Nitro. I do not understand why they do not hire a chef and offer real food instead of meat and cheese trays (it seems odd). They could at least offer tapas. Overall, The Pint of No Return is a pleasure to read. I thought it was an improvement over Death on Tap. My rating for The Pint of No Return is 4 out of 5 stars. If you are looking to capture the feeling of Oktoberfest, visit Leavenworth in The Pint of No Return.
The Pint of No Return is an engaging cozy mystery. I thought it was well-written with a nice steady pace. Ms. Alexander’s conversational writing style makes The Pint of No Return easy to read and enjoy. I like Sloan, Garrett, Hans Krause, Alex Krause as well as Otto and Ursula Krause (such a sweet couple). April Ablin, while not a character I like, does provides comic relief. I am amazed that Sloan married someone like Mac. I fail to see his appeal (the cheating louse). It was nice to find out more about Sloane and her relationship with the Krause family. I appreciate the author’s descriptive writing style which makes the book come alive for me. I can picture Leavenworth with the Bavarian style buildings and people walking around in costumes with beer steins in their hands. There are two mysteries in the book. The murder of Mitchell and Sloan’s search for her biological mother. I thought Mitchell’s murder was straightforward with a simple solution. Unfortunately, I identified the killer before Mitchell went belly up. Sloane’s quest to find her birth mother is the more intriguing mystery. It looks like it will play out over the course of the series with new information revealed in each book. I wish the murder had been more of a focus in this book. The story concentrates on the characters (mainly Sloan) and the town. While I appreciate getting to know the characters, I do read a cozy mystery for the mystery. I am baffled by the food that they serve in Nitro. I do not understand why they do not hire a chef and offer real food instead of meat and cheese trays (it seems odd). They could at least offer tapas. Overall, The Pint of No Return is a pleasure to read. I thought it was an improvement over Death on Tap. My rating for The Pint of No Return is 4 out of 5 stars. If you are looking to capture the feeling of Oktoberfest, visit Leavenworth in The Pint of No Return.
October 29, 2018
First off, thanks to #NetGalley & #Kensington for the chance to read this one. I love Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop cozy mystery series, so was a no-brainer to try this series, too. Ms. Alexander is very good at establishing place as her settings are as "alive" as her characters. She does such a good job at describing Leavenworth that I'd love to visit the town! Characters are very well drawn and I really liked Sloane. However, I fail to understand how such a smart & savvy woman could have fallen for a creep like Mac and how people as delightful as his parents could have raised him! That aside, there are actually 2 mysteries in this one. The murder of movie star Mitch and Sloane's search for her birth mother. The murder mystery may have gone begging somewhat with the other side story seeming to take center stage more often, IMHO. Also, much, if not MOST, of the beer talk was completely over my head, not being a beer connoisseur, but that was easy to skim over when it got to be too much for me. I'll definitely read another of these. Recommend!
October 6, 2025
*This was a NetGalley book [original release date 10.2.2018] and I was finally able to buy this to read and review. I was unable to do so originally due to a bad file with no text. My review is below *
I really enjoy these books - I like learning about beer [even though I don't like, nor can I drink beer] and the process of brewing it and I like Sloan and her place in this male dominated brewing world.
The mystery was good in this one - I was convinced it was one person and I was very, very, wrong. And that is just so satisfying as it means the writer has done their job well.
Looking forward to book 3!
I really enjoy these books - I like learning about beer [even though I don't like, nor can I drink beer] and the process of brewing it and I like Sloan and her place in this male dominated brewing world.
The mystery was good in this one - I was convinced it was one person and I was very, very, wrong. And that is just so satisfying as it means the writer has done their job well.
Looking forward to book 3!
September 5, 2018
This is the second book in the Sloan Krause Mystery series and I found I enjoyed it more than I did the first book in the series. What I really enjoy about a series by Ellie Alexander is that they are very character driven. As a reader you get to really connect with the characters and become invested. Sometime though, I have felt that the mystery became secondary to the characters instead of on equal footing in a book. That was not the case in this one. I enjoy the character of Sloan and reading about how she is rebuilding her life and trying to move on after her husband cheated. She still has a great relationship with his family and they are terrific secondary characters. In this book, I thought the mystery was up front and flowed throughout the book. There is also a secondary mystery that I think will flow through the rest of the series and that is the identity of Sloan's birth parents.
This was a fun and enjoyable read and I will definitely be back for more. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
This was a fun and enjoyable read and I will definitely be back for more. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
November 11, 2020
The sound of accordians playing "The Chicken Dance," Leavenworth's most popular polka during Oktorfest, filled the bustling square.
In the second book of the Sloan Krause series, we are in the midst of Oktorfest and a crew is on hand to film a documentary about beer making. The crew is excited to meet Sloan, a female brewmaster. The host of the show is only concerned about himself and of course ends up being the murder victim.
I really enjoy this series. I am not a beer drinker but I love learning all the ins and outs of the process. I guess it is the science geek in me. The Cherry Weizen sounds wonderful even to my untrained palate. I love how food is incorporated in with the different beers. I almost got up to start a pot of soup after reading the one that Sloane was making for the keg opening. (I would have left out the Brussel Sprouts, though). Cranberries sound like a great addition to their line up as well.
I think I would have to hurt April with her over the top Bavarian outfits and perkiness. I would love to see the town with its displays and nod to the true Germanic villages.
Sloan is a strong character that carries the story well. I love that she has such a great relationship with her former in-laws despite her cheating husband. I'm interested to see where life with Garrett may lead her. I really like that Nitro does not conform to the kitschy brewery that April would like it to be.
The storyline is well done and the killer surprised me a bit.
This is a great series that makes me want to learn more about not only the beer but the town itself. Ellie Alexander has outdone herself once again and I've added Leavenworth to my bucket list to visit.
In the second book of the Sloan Krause series, we are in the midst of Oktorfest and a crew is on hand to film a documentary about beer making. The crew is excited to meet Sloan, a female brewmaster. The host of the show is only concerned about himself and of course ends up being the murder victim.
I really enjoy this series. I am not a beer drinker but I love learning all the ins and outs of the process. I guess it is the science geek in me. The Cherry Weizen sounds wonderful even to my untrained palate. I love how food is incorporated in with the different beers. I almost got up to start a pot of soup after reading the one that Sloane was making for the keg opening. (I would have left out the Brussel Sprouts, though). Cranberries sound like a great addition to their line up as well.
I think I would have to hurt April with her over the top Bavarian outfits and perkiness. I would love to see the town with its displays and nod to the true Germanic villages.
Sloan is a strong character that carries the story well. I love that she has such a great relationship with her former in-laws despite her cheating husband. I'm interested to see where life with Garrett may lead her. I really like that Nitro does not conform to the kitschy brewery that April would like it to be.
The storyline is well done and the killer surprised me a bit.
This is a great series that makes me want to learn more about not only the beer but the town itself. Ellie Alexander has outdone herself once again and I've added Leavenworth to my bucket list to visit.
January 6, 2019
Sloan is part of a brewing company and getting ready for Octoberfest while trying to manage a pub, getting a divorce from her husband ,whose parents own the pub and company,missing her son, who is on a school trip, and managing her feelings for a new man. A former child actor comes to town with a camera crew to film Octoberfest. He is extremely unpleasant and makes enemies all over town, including the place he rented for which he leaves a poor review. He is found murdered. Sloan decides to take on finding out who did it at great risk for herself. Lots of interesting facts about making craft beer, even if some of the flavors sound odd.
April 18, 2019
The Point of No Return by Ellie Alexander is the 2nd book in A Sloan Krause Mystery series, and it was great. I love all of Ms. Alexander series, and this one is no exception. Can't wait to read the next book in the series. I strongly recommend this book/series. Please keep them coming Ms. Alexander.
June 20, 2022
I like the characters of Sloan, Garrett and the Krauses. They make an interesting bunch and I love how they help each other out even though they are competitors. This town of Leavenworth sounds dreamy to live in (except for the murder, of course). I did think the ending with Sloan being naïve was a little unbelievable with everything else she goes through. Seems a little thrown in to try and make the ending. Also, on page 277 the cup gets picked up and rinsed in the sink so how did it end up on the floor on page 287?? All in all, I can't wait to read the next one!
May 27, 2019
I like pithy, well-written mysteries, not a story about someone's personal life and turmoil with a mystery thrown in sort of as an afterthought (and the solution seemed rather weak). So this was not my cup of tea (or pint of beer, as it were).
September 28, 2018
The Pint of No Return is a great read with a lovely setting and interesting topic and plot. I did not read the first in the series but did not have a problem understanding and following the series in this one. The setting of Leavenworth, Washington sounds like a great place to visit and maybe I will get to one day since I have relatives there. The small town is in the Northern Cascade Mountains and has the theme of a Bavarian village. It is Oktoberfest and the town is gearing up for several weekends of festive partying. Sloan Krause is a brewer and married member of a family originally from Germany. Growing up in the foster care system, she didn't have her own family but the Krause family parents, Otto and Ursala, love her and welcomed to their family even before she married their son, Mac. They moved to the town from Germany years ago and started their own brewing company. Sloan is still part of their family and company even though she and Mac are separated after he cheated on her. With close ties to the family still, she is working with a new brewery in town, Nitro, owned by Garrett who has moved to town from nearby Seattle. A filming company is town doing a documentary on beer brewing and both breweries and others are part of the documentary. When one of the crew is found dead, Sloan and Garrett are keeping their eyes open to see who might be the killer. The dead man, Mitchell, was obnoxious and many were unhappy with him. Thankfully, Sloan and Mac's son, Alex, is in the Seattle for the weekend.
This was an enjoyable read that, to me, was a little meatier than some cozies and quite interesting with a mystery that had different suspects who might want Mitchell dead.
I received a complimentary ARC from Minotaur Books and St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The thoughts expressed are mine only.
This was an enjoyable read that, to me, was a little meatier than some cozies and quite interesting with a mystery that had different suspects who might want Mitchell dead.
I received a complimentary ARC from Minotaur Books and St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The thoughts expressed are mine only.
November 19, 2018
This was a really enjoyable followup to the first book I read this year in this series. It was very hard to put down and moved at just the perfect pace.
It was Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, WA and a film crew was visiting to make a documentary. The director took a real interest in Sloan as a female brewer. When the host of the documentary ended up murdered, Sloan began to suspect the film crew members as well as one of the town's own people. Could she and Garrett help police Chief Meyers find the killer before the killer decided that Sloan was getting too close to the truth?
I'm enjoying the side mystery of Sloan's search for her birth parents. I had almost forgotten about it from the first book, but it goes into a little more detail in this book by introducing Sally, Sloan's old case worker. Sally thought something was off about the case when she was working it and apologized to Sloan for not investigating then. I do like that when all is said and done, Sloan is truly happy where she is now with her son and her Krause family. I'm still interested in finding out what comes of the investigation and why her parents gave her up when they clearly loved her.
I like the friendship that's developing between Garrett and Sloan. It's sweet and slow, and she's open to it too as she imagines herself becoming closer to him. The new character of Kat was fun too, and I hope she stays around.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thanks to both of them.
It was Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, WA and a film crew was visiting to make a documentary. The director took a real interest in Sloan as a female brewer. When the host of the documentary ended up murdered, Sloan began to suspect the film crew members as well as one of the town's own people. Could she and Garrett help police Chief Meyers find the killer before the killer decided that Sloan was getting too close to the truth?
I'm enjoying the side mystery of Sloan's search for her birth parents. I had almost forgotten about it from the first book, but it goes into a little more detail in this book by introducing Sally, Sloan's old case worker. Sally thought something was off about the case when she was working it and apologized to Sloan for not investigating then. I do like that when all is said and done, Sloan is truly happy where she is now with her son and her Krause family. I'm still interested in finding out what comes of the investigation and why her parents gave her up when they clearly loved her.
I like the friendship that's developing between Garrett and Sloan. It's sweet and slow, and she's open to it too as she imagines herself becoming closer to him. The new character of Kat was fun too, and I hope she stays around.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thanks to both of them.
September 27, 2019
This second book in the Sloan Krause cozy mystery series takes place soon after the first book, Death on Tap, ended and continues to centre its story within the growing culture of craft breweries. That unique setting is as refreshing as a cold Honey Cream Ale, am I right? Alexander gives readers interesting tidbits on craft brewing and keeps readers' interesting piqued with a number of possible murder suspects. Even cozy lovers who don't love beer (what the wha?!) will enjoy this light mystery series.
The first book, Death on Tap, focused on setting up this new series in a small town known for its Oktoberfest celebration. In this sequel, the information on beer and Sloan's family life fade a bit into the background and allow the focus to be more on the mystery.
I've read my fair share of cozies - some I enjoyed and others I found too fluffy. But it's clear that a lot of research went into writing this series and I appreciate that Alexander gives her characters a bit more depth and substance than you'd typically get in a cozy. I actually liked this second book even more than the first.
With its engaging mystery and interesting cast of characters - some you'll love (Otto and Ursula!) and some you'll hope you never meet (April), and the on-going question about Sloan's past, I am more than a little eager to read my advanced copy of the third book in this series, Beyond A Reasonable Stout. I'll post my review soon but keep your eyes out for the book in stores/libraries October 1, 2019.
The first book, Death on Tap, focused on setting up this new series in a small town known for its Oktoberfest celebration. In this sequel, the information on beer and Sloan's family life fade a bit into the background and allow the focus to be more on the mystery.
I've read my fair share of cozies - some I enjoyed and others I found too fluffy. But it's clear that a lot of research went into writing this series and I appreciate that Alexander gives her characters a bit more depth and substance than you'd typically get in a cozy. I actually liked this second book even more than the first.
With its engaging mystery and interesting cast of characters - some you'll love (Otto and Ursula!) and some you'll hope you never meet (April), and the on-going question about Sloan's past, I am more than a little eager to read my advanced copy of the third book in this series, Beyond A Reasonable Stout. I'll post my review soon but keep your eyes out for the book in stores/libraries October 1, 2019.
November 25, 2018
Another great story from Ellie Alexander, she is a consummate story teller who makes you feel as though you you could book a trip to the area and see the characters. In this one Sloan is still trying to avoid her estranged husband whilst settling into the flow of brewing (both sample and full scale batches) beer. This is one of the busiest times for Leavenworth (or Beervaria as it is also known) as they have a month long Oktoberfest. Garrett was a child the last time he was at one, so again he is relying on Sloan's local knowledge to help. Add in April Ablin going gaga over a movie star (as well as her battle to turn Nitro into a kitsch beer hall), a movie star who no-one seems to know and who is being obnoxious to all and sundry. It appears that one person found him TOO obnoxious as he ends up dead, and Garrett and Sloan wonder if they have taken in a murderer.
April 13, 2022
Ok read. Nothing that stood out to me
July 8, 2018
The Pint of No Return is the next installment of the Sloan Krause Beervaria Mystery Series. I loved every single aspect of this book. From learning about the brewing process, to understanding more about Sloan's childhood, and falling in love with the different characters within the story.
Ellie has an uncanny ability to teach her readers about what her protagonist is passionate about This brings a hint of realism and probability to what she writes. Having a Cozy Mystery or a Mystery in general be believable is the first step in getting the readers to fall into the world and be open to the murder and the 'whodunit' aspects of the storyline.
In this book Sloan is still trying to figure out her feelings for her soon-to=be ex-husband, her new boss, and what she wants to do with her life after the divorce happens. This however has to be put on hold as Oktoberfest has now come around and this is the biggest and more important time for the town.
An added pressure is the fact that there is a film crew who are there to make a documentary about the brewing process, how the brewers interact with each other, and everything in the World of Beer. Of course with most documentaries you have to have a a host. And a host they have. An old child star here to revamp their stardom. He is a pompous jerk who everyone seems to hate.
After being as to leave Nitro from drinking too much Sloan finds him dead in an alley way. Hoping that it wasn't alcohol poisoning from their bar Sloan calls the police to get to the crime scene. Sloan is asked my the chief of police to keep an eye our since they are shorthanded due to the Oktoberfest going on.
Sloan wants to make sure that Nitro doesn't get a bad name and she makes it her duty to figure out what is going on with the film crew, who doesn't seem too distraught about their star's death, her estranged husband, and keeping everything together when she learns about her past.
This is a wonderful addition to the Sloan Krause Beervaria series and I highly recommend it if you love Cozy Mysteries!
Ellie has an uncanny ability to teach her readers about what her protagonist is passionate about This brings a hint of realism and probability to what she writes. Having a Cozy Mystery or a Mystery in general be believable is the first step in getting the readers to fall into the world and be open to the murder and the 'whodunit' aspects of the storyline.
In this book Sloan is still trying to figure out her feelings for her soon-to=be ex-husband, her new boss, and what she wants to do with her life after the divorce happens. This however has to be put on hold as Oktoberfest has now come around and this is the biggest and more important time for the town.
An added pressure is the fact that there is a film crew who are there to make a documentary about the brewing process, how the brewers interact with each other, and everything in the World of Beer. Of course with most documentaries you have to have a a host. And a host they have. An old child star here to revamp their stardom. He is a pompous jerk who everyone seems to hate.
After being as to leave Nitro from drinking too much Sloan finds him dead in an alley way. Hoping that it wasn't alcohol poisoning from their bar Sloan calls the police to get to the crime scene. Sloan is asked my the chief of police to keep an eye our since they are shorthanded due to the Oktoberfest going on.
Sloan wants to make sure that Nitro doesn't get a bad name and she makes it her duty to figure out what is going on with the film crew, who doesn't seem too distraught about their star's death, her estranged husband, and keeping everything together when she learns about her past.
This is a wonderful addition to the Sloan Krause Beervaria series and I highly recommend it if you love Cozy Mysteries!
November 12, 2022
No other festival compares to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington. The whole town is buzzing with excitement over this year’s activities and eagerly awaiting Nitro’s latest offering Cherrywizen, made with locally sourced cherries. But local brewmaster Sloan Krause is tapped out. Between trying to manage the pub, her pending divorce with Mac, and her mounting feelings for Garrett, she’s fermenting in internal turmoil. When the obnoxious star of a documentary film winds up dead Sloane decides to find out who did it.
I love Sloan Krause as a main character. She is strong, tough, but also knows when she needs help and comfort. I also really like Garrett her boss and I am hoping love interest. I love all the side characters like Otto, Ursula and Hans. They flesh out the story line even more. Mac I could do without he seems like a spoilt brat who throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.
The story line was great with lots of twists and turns. I also love hearing about beer brewing and hear about village life and I am really glad that this isn't one of the books where the Sherriff is incompetent or an ex or anything but another strong woman able to do her job.
I really love this series and this book in it. A really good read that makes me want to immediately get the next book.
I love Sloan Krause as a main character. She is strong, tough, but also knows when she needs help and comfort. I also really like Garrett her boss and I am hoping love interest. I love all the side characters like Otto, Ursula and Hans. They flesh out the story line even more. Mac I could do without he seems like a spoilt brat who throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.
The story line was great with lots of twists and turns. I also love hearing about beer brewing and hear about village life and I am really glad that this isn't one of the books where the Sherriff is incompetent or an ex or anything but another strong woman able to do her job.
I really love this series and this book in it. A really good read that makes me want to immediately get the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews