• Books
    • Clean Romance
    • Cozy Mystery
    • Children’s Books
    • Middle Grade Books
    • Young Adult Books
  • Current Giveaways
  • Privacy Policy
  • Craving for Cozies 2025 with Library Card Mini-Challenge

Christy's Cozy Corners

  • mail
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • youtube
You are here: Home / Books / Trouble Brewing (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert | Book Review

October 25, 2021 · 5 Comments

Trouble Brewing (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert | Book Review

Book Reviews· Books· Cozy Mystery

Thanks for sharing!

Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Trouble Brewing (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

Trouble Brewing (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)

by Heather Day Gilbert

I received this book free; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive compensation at no cost to you.

Trouble Brewing (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ WoodHaven Press (October 18, 2021)
Number of Pages: Approx 200

Convinced that the elderly lady in her care didn’t die of natural causes, Macy’s friend Della determines to look into the broken relationships surrounding the woman. She books a Halloween-themed getaway at a local inn and talks Macy into coming along with her to spy on her prime suspect.

As they join a ghost tour of the candlelit town, Macy and Della feel their guide is a little too fanatical as he shares his spooky tales. He tells the story of the Greenbrier ghost, a newlywed who supposedly came back from the grave to tell her family that her husband murdered her.

When a disturbing apparition makes its presence known, guests at the inn become apprehensive…and for good reason, because soon after, a young bride turns up dead. Although everything points to a copycat killer replicating the historical Greenbrier murder, Macy has her doubts. She’s discovered that the inn harbors secrets of its own, and when she pokes into one darkened corner too many, she might not stand a ghost of a chance.

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.

The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order:

No Filter
Iced Over
Fair Trade
Spilled Milk
Trouble Brewing

My review of Trouble Brewing

Have you ever been on a ghost walk or tour? I took one in Marietta, OH, and it was so much fun! In Trouble Brewing, Macy and her good friend Della take a Halloween weekend trip to a nearby inn after Della shares her concerns about the death of a woman under her care. During this trip, they, along with others staying at the inn, go on a frightful ghost tour. What happens? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

The Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery Series has quickly become one of my favorite cozy series. Though you can read each book on its own, I highly recommend you read them in order. Trouble Brewing, along with the first four books, is a page-turner that you won’t want to put down, so you’ll get through them all very quickly! Trouble Brewing is mainly centered around main character Macy Hatfield, and the other books will give you the background of all of the delightful characters in the series.

Macy is a very strong character who has been through a lot in her life. She’s made a huge success of the “Barks” section of the cafe. Her brother Bo created the cafe so his sister could move back to their hometown. I don’t have brothers, but I’m not sure my sisters would do that for me! (I mean, they do love me, but as the oldest sister, they’d probably think I’d be bossing them around…)

The woodsy, sort of creepy area the Greenbrier Inn occupies is perfect. There are a couple of abandoned buildings on the property that make perfect snooping grounds for Macy and Della. Lots of private gardens surround the inn too. It’s an excellent atmosphere for a cozy mystery.

Of course, the best thing about Trouble Brewing is the mystery! There are lots of clues for us to follow though many lead to dead ends. Quite literally on occasion. I didn’t know who the culprit was until almost the very end! It’ll keep you guessing.

I highly recommend Trouble Brewing! It got all of the elements a cozy should have. It’s well-crafted, perfectly clean, has wonderful characters, and a baffling mystery! You’re going to love it!

About Heather Day Gilbert

Award-winning novelist Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters—no matter what century—feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginia gal can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.

Author Links

Webpage: http://www.heatherdaygilbert.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherdaygilbert

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7232683.Heather_Day_Gilbert

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-day-gilbert?list=author_books

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherdgilbert

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57544484-trouble-brewing

Purchase Link: Amazon

Enter the giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trouble Brewing TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 25

Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

Nellie’s Book Nook – REVIEW

October 26

Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 27

Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

October 28

Novels Alive – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 29

Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

October 30

Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

 FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 31

Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 1

Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Thanks for sharing!
« The Enemy You Gnocchi by Catherine Bruns | Book Review
A Texan’s Christmas Baby (Texas Rebels #11) by Linda Warren | Book Excerpt »

Comments

  1. Nancy says

    October 25, 2021 at 8:07 am

    Your cozy series sounds like they are fun and entertaining books. As you are, I am also a fan of Agatha Christie’s books!

    Reply
  2. monique s says

    October 25, 2021 at 9:10 am

    Love the cover art on this. Looks like a fun read

    Reply
  3. Heather Day Gilbert says

    October 25, 2021 at 10:18 am

    Thanks so much for reading and reviewing TROUBLE BREWING! I’m glad you enjoyed! 🙂

    Reply
    • Christy Maurer says

      October 25, 2021 at 2:39 pm

      You’re welcome! I really love this series!

      Reply
  4. Thomas Gibson says

    October 29, 2021 at 5:21 am

    Cover looks great! Excerpt sounds interesting.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome to Christy’s Cozy Corners

Welcome to Christy’s Cozy Corners

I love to read, watch lots of British TV, and watch movies!

Copyright © 2025 · captivating theme by Restored 316