Book Review: Moonshine and Malice by J. Lee Mitchell

“Frankly, Miss Block, I find the opinions of others to be a bit like pie crusts. Shiny on the surface, flaky, and always inferior to my own.”

J. Lee Mitchell, Moonshine and Malice

Title: Moonshine and Malice
Series: Red Herring Inn (Book 2)
Author: J. Lee Mitchell
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 145 (Paperback)
Published: June 22nd, 2019

My Rating: ★★★★★
Read: 9/20/2022 – 9/22/2022

Review:

It’s not often I enjoy a sequel more than the first book, but such was the case with Moonshine and Malice!

We’re back with Q’Bita and the gang after the events of the first book. Soon enough, they find themselves entangled in another murder investigation. The culprit this time? Moonshine, of course! What made this book stand out to me more than the first is the intriguing cliffhanger at the end. I had to start the next installment right away. 

I touched upon this in my review of the first book, but I have to praise the balance of mystery and a lighthearted tone. The characters are a joy to read, especially their conversations. J. Lee Mitchell manages to establish a good rapport all while keeping the book under 200 pages. A fun series to read!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

  • The dialogue. Quite a few lines made me laugh out loud.
  • The cliffhanger ending. It’s a great lead-in to the next book.

What I didn’t like:

  • The mystery was fairly similar to the first book.

Afterthoughts:

Like the first book, there are recipes included at the end which is just about my favorite thing ever. One of these days I’ll try some of them out!

Sinister Cinnamon Buns (Book 1) review
Condolence Casseroles (Book 3) review

Where to buy the book:

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