Fiddling with Fate

Southern Homebrew Mystery #3

by Diane Kelly

When a local bluegrass musician disappears and a jug of her shop’s corn liquor is implicated, moonshiner Hattie Hayes must stop further trouble from brewing in this delightful cozy mystery series.

It’s August in Chattanooga, Tennessee and moonshiner Hattie Hayes has collaborated with a nearby vineyard to serve her moonshine at a Wine and 'Shine event. Not only is this an opportunity for Hattie to gain more moonshine fans, but she’s also excited to hear the Bootlegging Brothers, a popular bluegrass band. But not every attendee is looking for harmony. When one of the brothers disappears and is presumed dead, Hattie realizes her grace note gathering has suddenly turned more sour than her mash.

Unearthing what happened to the missing musician is more difficult than Hattie first expected. Hattie’s moonshine is tied to the crime and there’s no time to fiddle around—she has to step up to solve the case. Luckily, Hattie’s cool head and quick mind help her understand that when investigating a musical crime, always stay sharp.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Animals

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 4, 2023

About the author

Award-winning author Diane Kelly writes romance and romantic mysteries featuring feisty heroines, quirky sidekicks, and sexy leading men, with humor that leaves readers laughing out loud.

Reviews

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Fiddling with Fate” the 3rd instalment in A Southern Homebrew Mystery series by Diane Kelly. When a local bluegrass musician disappears and a jug of her shop’s corn liquor is implicated, moonshiner Hattie Hayes must stop further trouble from brewing

I really like Hattie, her granddaddy, Smokey the cat and the setting of Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is a great cast of side characters too, Marlon, Charlotte the horse, Kiki, Nora, Kate and Ace. I also loved hearing about Hattie’s history with moonshine and we learn lots more in this instalment and met Shirley Byrd who I hope we see again.

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I had no idea who the killer was till Hattie did. I’m looking forward to the next book , and see what’s happening at Hattie Hayes Moonshine Shack.

I highly recommend this cozy series to all my friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley Publishing and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Moonshiner Hattie Hayes and her granddaddy are taking their new mobile moonshine trailer and heading to the Hamilton County Bluegrass Festival ready to hear some great music and “to sell lots of ‘shine”. The Bootlegging Brothers are the highlighted band. Brothers Brody, Josh, and Garth Sheridan play fiddles, the jug, stovepipe, washboard, spoons, jaw harp, and harmonica. A little scuffle leads to Garth’s jug shattering. Hattie quickly comes to the rescue with a now empty Granddaddy’s Ole-Timey Corn Liquor jug. After the concert Hattie has a proposition for the brothers – she wants them to come up with a jingle that will play on the local radio station. That worked out so well that the brothers invited her out to hear them play at the River Pearl Winery, but Hattie had an even better idea. She contacted the owners of the winery and suggested a Wine and ‘Shine event and they agreed to give it a try. Hattie was excited to share her shine and hopefully gain a bunch of new customers.

The Wine and ‘Shine was a big success but one of the Bootlegging Brothers has gone missing. His Jeep is missing too. Maybe he took off over a disagreement with the others. No, his body is finally found and Granddaddy’s moonshine is part of the crime scene. Fiddlesticks there is no time to waste. Hattie needs to fiddle out who killed the fiddler and why or losing her Moonshine Shack is again a possibility.

In this third and final book in the Southern Homebrew Mystery Series, Hattie Hayes again has her hands full. With the previous murders behind her business is starting to thrive and she is trying different things to bring her family’s moonshine to the masses of Tennessee. With ads on the radio and her mobile moonshine trailer, she is excited about the future. I love how her granddaddy is an important part of her life and that they spend time together every day. He even brought his friends from the Singing River Retirement Home to the Wine and ‘Shine event. I enjoy that Hattie’s boyfriend Officer Marlon Landers helped her investigate. Homicide Detective Candance Ace was unhappy that they were investigating but she trusted Hattie’s insights and instincts. Friends Kiki and Kate are around to help Hattie in any way they can. New employee Nora seems to be working out well. Charlotte, Marlon’s horse, and Hattie’s cat Smokey always touch my heart.

I appreciate the time Ms. Kelly takes to craft new and interesting characters for this series. In Fiddling with Fate she introduces a new character in Shirley Byrd, an elderly woman who lives in the family home near the winery. The house looks like it could collapse any minute. Hattie notices her sitting on her porch with an old dog near her feet and a long-barrelled shotgun standing ready beside her every time she visits the winery. This character was a wonderful addition to the cast.

While Hattie and her friends followed clues and sought out answers this murder case felt more personal to Hattie and she pushed and took some surprising risks. She did overhear things and had some keen observations that helped find the body and moved the case along but pinning down the guilty party was tough for everyone including this reader. When all the clues snapped into place Hattie had to think fast and oh my What A Chase!

As I have said Hattie and her granddaddy are very close. She does something so fantastic and endearing for him in this book. I felt his wonderful reaction jump out of the pages.

Fiddling with Fate is a well-written and plotted cozy mystery with unique characters and a very twisty mystery. I adore the moonshine theme and learning more and more about it. Sadly we won’t witness where “the currents of life” will take Hattie, her granddaddy, and their friends but I was happy to be along for the ride for the three books in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Moonshine Shack is taking off, and Hattie Hayes is continually looking to find ways to publicize and build her band. So she contracts with a bluegrass band for a jingle and radio spot. That leads to an event with said band at a winery. They play and she and the owners of the winery have a friendly competition with drinks made with their respective products. Unfortunately one of the jugs was used as a murder weapon. So Hattie investigates to keep her 'shine being known as the murder shine. More than your typical cozy sleuth, she edges on being reckless in her questioning. But the mystery is good and the secondary characters are a hoot. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie Hayes’ is quite successful with her Moonshine Shack. She has many ideas for making her business a success. Her latest idea is to have a moonshine event at a local vineyard. The bluegrass band, Bootlegging Brothers, will be playing at the function, which only adds to the fun. The band has already written a catchy jingle for her shop.

Things are going well until one of the musicians is reported missing. As the police investigate, they discover Hattie’s moonshine may have played a part in the disappearance. It's not the first time her moonshine has been connected to a crime. She is determined to defend her moonshine and investigates on her own. She’s shocked to learn how many enemies the musician has. It definitely won’t be easy to solve this case.

This is such a unique cozy mystery series. I can’t think of any other that is based on moonshine.

The characters in this story are quirky, well-written and lively. Hattie is such a sweetheart, but she’s also very strong and determined. The storyline moves at a steady pace. I had my suspicions about “whodunit”, but I was wrong. This book kept me riveted to the end.

This is the third book in the Southern Homebrew Mystery series. The mystery is contained in this book, but I recommend reading the previous two books to get a better feel for the characters, as well as Hattie’s motivation and character growth. I say this about most cozy mysteries. I feel they are so much better when you start with the first book in any series. The reader develops their own relationship with the amateur sleuth.

I’m looking forward to reading about Hattie’s next adventure. These books always make for a nice escape into Hattie's world.






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/f...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

It was a delight to visit Hattie and her Moonshine Shack in Chattanooga again! We meet one of the hottest rising bands in town, the Bootlegging Brothers, one of whom wants to give Hattie’s boyfriend, Marlon, some serious competition. This mystery was well written with a healthy dose of humor, and I was just as stumped as Hattie, Ace, and Marlon with regards to who the bad guy was.

Granddaddy taught Hattie everything he knows about making ‘shine. He, his friends at the retirement home, Hattie, and best friends Kiki and Kate are excited about the growth of her store after just a short time in business. Hattie’s portable moonshine bar, a repurposed single horse trailer, makes its debut at the Hamilton County Bluegrass Festival. Afterwards, she initiated a collaboration that could change the course of her business.

Granddaddy went to the festival with Hattie and Kiki, as he loves being involved with the business. Hattie was happy that their booth was close to the stage and would get much exposure. When Garth, one of the Bootlegging Brothers, accidentally dropped and smashed one of his instruments getting on stage, he was sure he wouldn’t be playing the jug that night. Hattie came to the rescue when she emptied one of Grandaddy’s Ole Timey Corn Liquor jugs and gave it to him to play. Granddaddy was not happy to see the good liquor dumped out, but oh, the business it resulted in!

The band and Hattie worked out a deal of sorts. The three brothers, Brody, Josh, and Garth, would sing a jingle for her on the 15-second recording time she purchased at the radio station. Garth wrote the perfect jingle, the brothers met her at the station, and Brody tried to get out of the deal until her cash payment got his fingers strumming again.

Garth was interested in Hattie, but she and Marlon are an item. The mounted police officer was everything she wanted in a boyfriend. Garth told Hattie they would be playing at the River Pearl Vineyard and Winery for the next few Saturday nights, and she was welcome to hear them if she was free. She talked with the owner of the winery, Pearl, and they scheduled a joint event Saturday night called Wine and ‘Shine, giving customers the option of specialty wine or moonshine beverages.

Saturday night was successful for both Pearl and Hattie but resulted in a huge change to the band. Hattie had been in her van to get more stock and overheard Brody arguing with his brothers and his ex-wife’s husband, and it wasn’t pretty. Pearl’s husband broke up the heated discussion, and the band finished the night to rousing applause.

A couple days later, Marlon came to see Hattie. Brody had not been seen since Saturday night. When he didn’t go to work or rehearsal, Garth reported him missing. She told Marlon what she saw and heard Saturday, and Ace, an excellent detective, came to see Hattie. She had helped them solve cases in the past, and what she recalled eventually led to the fiddler’s remains. Unfortunately, the weapon tied Brody’s death was also tied to the Moonshine Shack. Once again, her business was in the news, and not in a good way.

I enjoyed seeing Hattie, Granddaddy, Marlon, and best friends Kiki and Kate again! Hattie and Granddaddy are the heart of the series. When he and several other residents from the retirement home attended Wine and ‘Shine, the octogenarian and his friends demonstrate that they still have enough joie de vivre to share. I learn more about the family and friends each time. They and the one-time or minor characters are described so well I can almost see and hear them.

Hattie wants to clear her business of passively contributing to a murder and get justice for Brody’s family. It is challenging to find the real killer of a man who irritated everyone he met, but the girls help Hattie whenever they are available. There were enough twists and turns to rival the mountain road Hattie takes to her cabin, each one holding an element of danger. I was almost positive who didn’t kill Brody, and can still remember the scene in which I guessed who did. I was satisfied with the ending overall with a couple minor exceptions, and no loose ends remained. I highly recommend this mystery and the rest of the series!

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie has a lot going on and she's spending money like there's no tomorrow. She's hired a local bluegrass band to record a short jingle for a radio ad (and paid Taylor Swift prices for it), she's having her great-grandfather's old truck redone (body work, mechanical and interior for darn near what it would cost to buy a newer used truck), she's hiring musicians to play at the 'Shine Shack (again paying like she's hiring a famous person), and she's starting to do events with a local winery (and giving them half her proceeds). Hattie is surely digging herself a financial hole deeper than the new pond at the winery, but it sure sounds like fun! There's also a murder, of course, which Hattie ends up solving based on a few tiny clues. Some of those clues are hiding in plain sight, others take a bit more leg work.

Overall this was a good read, not my favorite of the series but still a good book and a series I'm definitely going to keep up with.

[Noreen Trotsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read the previous two books in the Southern Homebrew series and enjoyed both of them. I kind of slowly read my way through this book as I figured out who did it way early in the book thanks to a hint dropped by the author. Our protagonist had no such luck, unfortunately, as she kept going back and forth, back and forth, between suspects.
I also have to say, I just don't know how this woman stays in business as she is constantly giving away moonshine, jugs, money for social media and publicity, and new employees and on and on. Yet, she is always saying how she may go out of business or doesn't have enough money. Or does it just feel that way?
A solid read for cozy fans who want something a little different.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital ARC of this book. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page.

[Kelly Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiddling with Fate, the third book in the Southern Homebrew Mystery series by Diane Kelly, is an interesting look at life in Tennessee and in particular the part that moonshine and bluegrass music play in that state's culture.
While I've read other books by Kelly, this is the first one I'd read in this series. It stands well on its own, and explains what has gone before without leaving you feeling that you are missing key information needed to enjoy the book. The mystery, involving the death of a musician, is intriguing and well-crafted, with plenty of suspects, and Kelly keeps you guessing until the very end.
I did find the character of Hattie's deliberations over who killed the musician to be increasingly repetitive, to the point that I started to just scan those sections. I also found the tendency to sound out various sounds - such as a baby's coos, a horse's footfalls, the horn of a classic car, etc. - to be childish, somewhat irritating, and something that took me out of the story. That type of thing is something you expect to find in a children's board book that you read aloud at bedtime, not an adult's reading material.
I appreciate receiving the ARC of #FiddlingwithFate from #NetGalley.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick cozy read. I liked it but I found her nosy asf and disagree with her choice in men

Loved the southern vibes and the twang

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiddling With Fate is the third in the Southern Homebrew Mysteries by Diane Kelly. While this is the first time reading a book in this series, it was not hard to figure out who the characters were and their relationship to each other.

The Bootlegging Brothers are a popular bluegrass band from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hattie ends up working with them to create a jingle for her moonshine business. Because of this, she ends up serving her moonshine at a Wine and Shine event where the brothers are performing. The event is a success, however, one of the brothers goes missing that night and is presumed dead. A moonshine jug appears to tie Hattie to the disappearance and she becomes involved in solving the crime.

I enjoyed the characters and found her friend Kiki quirky. I found Marlon and his horse an interesting twist in a cozy mystery and want to read the previous stories to see how Hattie’s relationship with Marlon unfolded. I also liked how Marlon is not all macho and trying to shut down Hattie’s snooping. Hattie’s grandfather and his “girlfriend” are humorous in that he denies he has a girlfriend. I felt there were enough red herrings in the storyline to keep you guessing as to the identity o the killer. I was very surprised by the killer and that is rare as I read a lot of cozy mysteries. I look forward to many more stories in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series so much, and was happy to see this one! The people, the setting, and this time, even the music, gave me both laughter and intrigue. One thing I like about cozy mysteries is the variety of businesses the characters own or work at, so it was interesting to learn about moonshine, Hattie’s Moonshine Shack, and this time, bluegrass music. Both ‘shine and bluegrass are front and center when Hattie works a deal with a band who would help promote her product and in so doing, call attention to their up-and-coming band.

Hattie, her granddaddy Ben, and one of her best friends, Kiki, went to a bluegrass festival and set up their assigned space. She and Kiki had decorated an old horse trailer obtained from where her boyfriend, Marlon, a mounted police officer, stabled his horse. It would be a minibar for events like this one, where they were pleased to be near the stage. Granddaddy learned all about making moonshine from his daddy, and passed on everything he learned to Hattie. Fortunately, she wouldn’t be running from rival gangs and the law like his daddy Eustatius had. A note of irony is how Eustatius had been arrested back in the day for bootlegging by none other than Marlon’s great granddaddy for bootlegging during Prohibition!

Hattie met and befriended the bluegrass band, and they did some business that would help give her shop and their band excellent visibility. The Bootlegging Brothers had not yet cut a record, so they had not been on the radio. Hattie had purchased recording time for her business to have a brief blurb on the radio; she asked the bluegrass group to sing a jingle. One of the guys even wrote the perfect jingle for her! It was a win-win, as the Bootlegging Brothers and her business mutually endorsed each other on the radio.

The following week, the band would play and sing at a local winery/ vineyard. It gave Hattie an idea that she handled with the winery owner – a competition between their wine and her ‘shine. Both businesses were very happy with the results. With one exception, the band was very well-received. That exception was a loud disagreement Brody, who fiddled and played other strings, had with his brothers, a wannabe band member, and the husband of his ex-wife. It was during their break, so it was overheard by many.

That night was the last time Brody was seen alive. Hattie talked at length with Ace, a detective that Marlon worked with. She has helped with investigations in the past, and this time shared her observations when she returned to the winery that night to find her phone. Her help led them to find the fiddler, who had been murdered in a way that could implicate Hattie’s business.

Hattie and her friends asked questions, poked around, and did what they could to get rid of bad publicity and get justice for Brody’s family. There were times, however, that I was shocked by who Hattie visited and how she questioned them. She is too savvy of a businesswoman to lay down too many cards at once. Her instincts for finding whodunit are usually in the right place.

I felt as if part of the action throughout, and wished I could have heard the band! The harder I tried to learn whodunit, the more whodunit eluded me. I didn’t figure it out until a couple steps before Hattie, and was content overall with the ending. I highly recommend this novel and series to those who enjoy well-written Southern cozy mysteries that include moonshine, good friends and family, and a little bit of romance.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiddling with Fate is the third installment in the Southern Homebrew Mystery series set in Chattanooga, Tennessee and featuring moonshine maker Hattie Hayes. Hattie is excited to have a booth at the Hamilton County Bluegrass Festival and will be enjoying a day of bluegrass alongside her grandfather and best friend Kiki.

When the headlining band the Bootlegging Brothers suffer an instrumental mishap, Hattie is there to supply the band with an empty moonshine jug and that starts a friendship/business relationship with the brothers, Brody, Josh and Garth. Despite the grumblings of older brother Brody, Hattie enlists the brothers to write and sing a jingle for her Moonshine Shack. When Hattie discovers that the band will be playing at the River Pearl Winery, she decides to team up with the owners Pearl and Darren to host a Wine and Shine night. The event is a huge success but the next morning one of the brothers is reported missing.

Hattie happened to overhear a couple of arguments the night before between the brothers so she's not quite sure if one of them or an ex-wives new husband is to blame. Hattie teams up with Police Officer and boyfriend Marlon Landers to solve the mystery.

A fun afternoon read with a returning cast of characters and animals. The dialogue does get a little repetitive as Hattie goes back and forth trying to name a suspect. The reveal does come as a bit of a surprise, and I really hope that we see more of cantankerous Shirley Byrd in the future.

I received an advanced copy of Fiddling with Fate from NetGalley via Berkley Prime Crime. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: What better cross promotion could Hattie find for her moonshine than an up and coming bluegrass trio called the Bootlegging Brothers. Together they do a jingle for the moonshine shack so it is a natural for her to work with the winery that is hosting the band at their tasting room. All three brothers are highly talented but the oldest can be a thorn in the side of the people with whom they work. So it is not a total surprise when he is murdered.

But the murder weapon and the cover up of the crime is unusual. He has been bonked on the head with one of Hattie’s moonshine jugs. While it boosts business for her, she does not want to be labelled as the murder moonshine. So she tries her best to help her cop boyfriend and the detective assigned to the murder to solve the mystery. She is not subtle as she questions people. Nor is she patient.

In fact, she teeters close to the edge of Darwin when she puts the pieces together but they are a few extenuating circumstances that keep her on the good side. Just. But it is refreshing to have a heroine who freely admits what she is doing is dumb but also admits, she has no self control. Somehow it exonerates her from her actions.

It was a good story that did not reveal the killer too early. Both the murder and the chase once Hattie has twigged are unique. With good characters and fast paced story, this deserves five purrs and two paws up.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie is pleased to be expanding her moonshine business via savvy marketing ideas. She's collaborated with a local bluegrass band, the Bootlegging Brothers, to compose and record a jingle for her shop, and she's also teamed up with a local winery to host a Wine and 'Shine event. The Bootlegging Brothers provide the musical entertainment for the evening. When one of the brothers disappears afterward, everyone is shocked. Hattie is even more shocked when he's found dead--murdered by being bashed over the head with one of her moonshine jugs. Hattie knows she should leave the investigation to the police, but she's desperate to restore her brand's good name. She launches her own investigation, cozying up to the suspects and putting clues together in an effort to find a killer.

The story was interesting, although not engrossing. I thought Hattie was a little foolhardy in her amateur investigation. I was also mildly annoyed that the underlying theme was that, once again, her moonshine business was implicated in a murder. That's been the case now with all three books I've read in the series, and it's becoming passé.

This deserves 3.5 stars. I'll be kind and round it up to 4.

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's another fun mystery with moonshiner Hattie. Funny, I don't like hot weather nor moonshine, but I always like visiting Chattanooga to see what kind of crime's going on. This time, the Bootlegging Brothers, whom Hattie enlists in a marketing partnership, are at the center of the story. When one of the brothers is killed with one of Hattie's moonshine jugs, Hattie's determined to solve the case.

It's always such a congenial atmosphere in this series--with Marlon and Grandpa and all. This one's a fun read, though I didn't find the resolution all that convincing. I just couldn't buy the chase scene and how it all played out. But it was still overall a great escape read.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hattie Hayes has gotten together with a local winery to host' a Wine and 'Shine event. Hattie is also working with an up and coming bluegrass band from the area. But things get dicey when one of the brothers from the band goes missing and is presumed dead. Hattie is drawn into the investigation and does some sleuthing.

I've really enjoyed this series and this book is an excellent addition. The book's well-written with well-rounded characters and a fast-paced plot. I was drawn in and kept hooked from start to finish. It was a captivating story with a mystery that'll keep you guessing throughout. I'm looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I think is best read in order.

[Groucho42 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this one a better rating, for the nice writing style; but the plot was just too stupid to grant that. Hattie works with three brothers who are a bluegrass trio to record a jingle. Then they go to a winery where the annoying brother is killed. So far, so good.

The problem is that Hattie spends way too much time acting as a full time detective, intruding in far too much to make sense even for a cozy mystery. Then there's the stupidity at the end, where she thinks she knows who did it and, rather than leaving their property and waiting for the police, she wanders in to put herself in danger. I couldn't accept that king of ignorance.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll definitely give it to Hattie: she’s got great marketing ideas but I’m not sure how she makes any money as she’s always giving her moonshine away. This was another well-paced mystery in the series and I enjoy spending time with these characters every time. I did, however, listen to this one and the vocalization of the sounds (bam, splat, etc.) which is not as noticeable when reading is really annoying in the audio version and takes me out of the story. Maybe I’ll just read these from now on. Looking forward to the next one.

[Debra Jo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one as I love vacationing in Tennessee and seeing live bluegrass bands.

I enjoy the characters of this series and the Moonshine shop is a very unique setting.

This book’s who dunnit could literally have been anyone. There were so many people with means and motive.

I enjoyed seeing more people from Grandad’s nursing home in this book too.

Looking forward to book 4 and checking out more of Diane’s series.

[Lois Rotella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie runs moonshine store in Chattanooga. While trying to promote her store she hires a bluegrass group of brothers to sing and play her jungle on the radio. Well she finds out they are playing at a winery. She then ask the winery folks if they would not mind having a wine and shine evening. Things get a little stressed and someone is murdered. Hattie along with her boyfriend and his boss who are the police are bound and determined to find the culprit. Great read. I hope more to come.

[Megan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, fast read about a moonshiner and her involvement in a murder. Hattie Hayes is starting her business based on her family's recipes and collaborates with a winery for an event. Wine n' Shine. They hire a bluegrass group to play and after the event one of the musicians goes missing...only to turn up dead with a jug of Hattie's moonshine. This is a great start to a new series! History and scenery are fascinating and the characters are great.

[Lori Bonkoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hattie is working to promote her moonshine shop and teams up with the Bootlegging Brothers musical group for a radio jingle and posters. When the lead singer and fiddle player, Brody goes missing and then turns up dead, Hattie begins to ask questions. Lots of suspects with good motives but figuring out the real killer is Hattie's mission. I like these characters and stories. Can't wait for more from the 'shine shop!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series feels like it's settled in with this entry, and I really enjoyed the charming characters, Hattie's moonshine passion, and the mystery of the story. Hattie is both a well done millennial character (not always the case in cozies) while being a classic cozy mystery sleuth who makes terrible decisions at times. Solidly done by an author who has become one of my go-to cozy writers.

(e-galley received, library copy read and reviewed)

[Brooke Emery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, just ok. Characters are all one dimensional with no character development as they go along. I did read a second book though so it’s not horrible. Easy read and fun story, just nothing to write home about. This one did feel less like a commercial for a fake moonshine brand than the last one though! And I liked the bluegrass band characters. I think Hattie should have left her cop boyfriend for the flirty band member to add some interest! ;)

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so very "far from home" to me, yet so cosy it still feels very much like home.
It's an interesting and sweet sort of feeling - and I really enjoy it.

Hattie grows on me for every book - and I must confess I'm curious about her moonshine, even if I don't actually drink alcohol all that much. All the different flavours tickle my imagination, at least. 😋

I wonder if there will be more books in this series. If so, I will surely show up for it. 😁

[Lynnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series! Hattie saves the day when Garth of the Bootlegging Brothers breaks his jug before a concert! This leads the band to sing her new jingle for her radio ad and a photo shoot afterwards. When the eldest brother, Brody, goes missing after a concert at a winery, Hattie is determined to help! Will they find Brody in time?

[Donut Cat (Leah) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelly's dynamic voice and her blue grass band characters and winery scenery are always wonderful. However, I just couldn't buy the premise that the heroine Hattie would risk her life in so many ways just to solve a mystery that only vaguely affected her. That part was a bit insulting to the intelligence. Smart women just don't try to get themselves killed.

[Katherine Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun series. Hattie teams up with a local bluegrass band to promote her moonshine and the partnership is a success. That is until one of the members is murdered with a moonshine jug and Hattie is once again drawn into the investigation. I really enjoy all the characters and how their relationships are developing.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie is back trying to build up her moonshine business by collaborating with a blue grass band. One of the brothers in the band goes missing and the town is searching for him. He is found dead and Hattie starts trying to figure out what happened. She restores he great grandfather's moonshine car and makes her grandfather happy.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘And like a cat, I couldn’t change my tune.’

Hattie is back on the case when one of the fiddle players she hires to create a jingle for the Moonshine Shake is killed using one of her empty moonshine jugs and suddenly her shop is famous. Asking questions might lead to trouble but profiting off of murder just isn’t her style in this enjoyable Chattanooga, Tennessee set cozy.