The Grim Steeper - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Grim Steeper (A Witches' Brew Mystery #3) by Gretchen Rue

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Amateur witch Phoebe Winchester is excited to host her first big author event at the Earl’s Study, her book and tea store. The author, Sebastian Marlow, is a famous birder excited to put Raven Creek on the map for his rediscovery of a presumed-extinct bird. When Sebastian is found dead before his planned bird hike, where he expected to prove the existence of the bird to fellow birding enthusiasts, it’s obvious someone wanted him to be extinct, too.

Sebastian had a few unfriendly encounters with his staff—including his recently fired manager, who was seen arguing with him at the author event. Phoebe is determined to figure out who killed Sebastian, worried that it will negatively affect her store’s image that her biggest guest author got killed. With the clock ticking, she enlists the help of Rich Lofting, the handsome local private investigator, to help her look into the murder.

It’s not long before another victim is pecked off and someone close to Phoebe is the suspect. She’ll have to work quickly to uncover the killer and figure out who’s up to fowl play in the third charming book in this warm and witchy series.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy 

Why I Picked This Book:  I have enjoyed the previous two book sin the series so of course I had to pick this one up!

My Impression: This was an entertaining read - a fun cozy with a hefty dose of magic, books and cats. In the first book Phoebe arrives on the scene knowing nothing about magic or running a bookstore but she quickly jumps in trying to figure everying out and by book three she's doing great with the bookstore but the magic part isn't going particularly smoothly.  Both aspects take a hit when the celebrity author is murdered right after a signing at the bookstore.  

I really like the characters in this series.  Phoebe is smart and creative and has a great cast of characters around her.  I like Honey and her help with magic and just an ear for Phoebe to vent to.  She contrasts nicely with Imogen who is no nonsense and gifted at helping run the bookstore.  And of course there's Bob, the bookstore cat to end all bookstore cats.  

The mystery isn't the fastest paced.  There's a lot of day to day activity and there's also a decent amount of page time devoted to Phoebe working with her magic and dealing with a few side catastrophies.  As a regular reader of the series, I found this really enjoyable and liked the time spent with the side characters.  But if you're new to the series it may be a bit slow.  

This is a cozy read with fun characters, an interesting mystery, and some fantastic bookstore time.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  I've really enjoyed this series and am looking forward to reading anything else by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you're a cozy fan and like a bit of magic with your mysteries (as well as magic and books) this is a great series though I do recommend you start with the first book.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *