Wine and Punishment - A Review

Review

WINE AND PUNISHMENT by Sarah Fox

The First Literary Pub Mystery

Sadie Coleman is gearing up to celebrate her first Autumn Festival in Shady Creek. Proud of her newly purchased business, and thrilled that locals and tourists alike seem to like her literary themed pub, Sadie is excited to embrace the event and promote the Inkwell. Having left her gambling addicted boyfriend in Boston, Sadie's dismayed when she learns he's come to town looking for her. After avoiding him for the night, she figures she'll have to face him in the morning. What she faces, however, is the discovery of his dead body. Surely, it must have been a tragic accident, after all, no one else in town knew him...or did they? When a series of malicious acts begin plaguing her, Sadie begins to wonder if she is indeed welcome in town. Could whoever killed Eric also be the person targeting her? But why? And does any of it have to do with the arson that seemed to announce the start of the crimes in her sleepy little town? 

WINE AND PUNISHMENT is a wonderful start to a new series. The characters are richly drawn with many layers, some just hinted about, ready to be explored in more detail in future books. Sadie is a likable protagonist with the fun habit of having a literary bent to her exclamations as well as her beverages. 

Shady Creek provides a wonderful setting. Autumn in Vermont screams cozy and fun events such as a pumpkin pie contest and pumpkin catapult competition are delicious details that add to the cozy charm. I adore the idea of a pub with literary themed drinks. I'm lucky in that I have such a bar near me. It's known for its sci-fi and book named cocktails, such as The Bell Jar, Picard's Jacket, and Hufflepuff. I was excited to read about Sadie's Huckleberry Gin and Count Dracula and delighted to see some recipes at the back of the book! 

The mystery in the first Literary Pub Mystery was complex and compelling. Were the crimes in Shady Creek even related? It wasn't until the very end that things were made clear, and once revealed everything clicked into place. WINE AND PUNISHMENT is a smart, witty mystery that made me feel at home. I devoured this book and can't wait to read more about Sadie Coleman and her friends at the Inkwell.