Claret and Present Danger by Sarah Fox

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Claret and Present Danger" the 4th instalment in the "A Literary Pub" Mystery series by Sarah Fox.  I love both of Sarah’s Cozy Mystery series but Sadie and Shady Creek hold a special place in my heart as I like the whole concept of a Literary Pub. 

When a Renaissance Faire visits the small town of Shady Creek, Vermont, amateur sleuth and proprietor of bookish theme pub The Inkwell, Sadie Coleman, finds deadly happenings stick around like red wine stains on white tunics in the fourth Literary Pub Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox.

The Trueheart Renaissance Faire and Circus has rolled into town, attracting locals who can’t wait to spend a few summer days lost in a whimsical world of all-knowing fortune tellers and daring acrobats. Well-read pub owner Sadie Coleman is swept up in the magic herself when she serves drinks to the faire’s resident wizard, the shamelessly brazen illusionist Ozzie Stone, and scores two tickets to his opening performance.

Sadie has no complaints about indulging in a free show with her new beau, craft brewery owner Grayson Blake. But while Ozzie is an instant crowd pleaser, the real surprise comes when he collapses in the middle of his set. It’s not part of the act—Ozzie is dead, seemingly poisoned by someone who wasn’t clowning around about writing the roguish showman’s final chapter.

The terrifying situation intensifies when the police eye one of Sadie’s employees, last seen caught in a suspicious fist fight at the fairground. With so much at stake, Sadie must strain through a suspect list longer than her cocktail menu to find the real knave of a killer. But when another performer is murdered, it becomes clear that bringing the mixed-up murderer to justice will be about as dangerous as walking the high wire after happy hour…

One thing which I like in the the protagonist Sadie is she doesn’t stop doing her actual job to solve the mystery which some protagonists do in other books.  It’s more realistic in that sense.  I liked that this centered around a renaissance faire, even though it included acrobats and a magician. Some reviewers complained about it including mermaids and fortune teller but I have read about these in other renaissance faires so wasn’t bothered by that.  Rather than focus on the attractions at the faire the author focuses on the main employees, which I liked.

I love the main characters which are well developed.  I also love the whole setting of Shady Creek, with its shops around the green, the local busybody, inclusion of children, Sadies friends and fellow shop owners. It made me want to live there and walk the green just like Sadie.

The romance between Sadie and Grayson might seem forced to some but to me felt normal especially if one person had been seriously emotionally scarred from their last relationship.  I’m glad they are heading in the right direction and I can’t wait to see what happens next with them.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.  I did not figure it out till the reveal and was a bit surprised.   I really look forward to reading more about Sadie and her friends and hopefully her mother.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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