An Ale of Two Cities

Ale of Two Cities, a solid second in the Literary Pub Mystery series by Sarah Fox, is as fun as it is challenging! I love the setting in December in Vermont and the well-rounded small-town characters. It was a delight to get to know Sadie and her friends better as well as see the growth of customers at the Inkwell, her literary pub that includes two book clubs so far among the activities they sponsor. Sadie has lived in Shady Creek about six months. With her ideas as well as those of her new chefs, the business keeps growing. Mel is her right-hand bartender and waitstaff, as well as a talented artist. The winter carnival is in full swing, and one of the big attractions is an ice sculpture contest that she is participating in. Several contestants are from out of the area, including a popular Boston chef who grew up in Shady Creek. One can tell by the way he carries himself and speaks to others that he is arrogant and has forgotten those who helped him learn and grow into the chef he is today. Freddy is not well-liked among the people who attend the chili dinner that night at town hall. He and his step-brother Leo have words after Freddy blows off a man who had treated Freddy like a son. Eli had taught him how to cook in his own restaurant. He even ignores a young woman who he dated for several years, Penny, who is hurt by his behavior. He even fired his personal assistant, Jade, in front of everyone when he learned she bet on another contestant. When Sadie left the chili dinner at town hall, she heard a clatter in the alley between the town hall and another building. When she saw what looked like someone lying in the alley, she found Freddy, stabbed with an icepick. And not just any icepick. It is one of the hand tools that someone had stolen from Mel while she was at dinner, with her initials on it. Mel quickly becomes a prime suspect because Freddy is a top competitor in the contest. She also has a history with Jade, and Jade told a slight lie to the police thinking she was protecting Mel by giving her an alibi. Sadie is determined to find who really did the deed, as she believes Mel when she says she didn’t do it. As the days go by, one person is arrested for the murder, then another victim, killed before the person was arrested, is found. I enjoyed seeing Sadie’s Aunt Gilda again, as well as Sadie’s best friend Shontelle and owner of the neighboring Spirit Hill Brewery, Grayson. Sadie and Grayson did not get off on the right foot when they first met, especially since he was one of Sadie’s suspects when her ex-boyfriend was found murdered in the fall. They now have a tenuous friendship; Shontelle thinks they make a wonderful couple, but he still sometimes calls her a “nosey Parker” and she continues to embarrass herself in front of him. I admit to being completely stumped regarding whodunit! I had what I thought were two possible suspects, but neither had visible motives for both victims. The end was satisfying and surprising in several ways! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and highly recommend it to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries, classic mysteries, Christmas in New England settings, with a touch of romance. From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a positive review was not required.