This is the first in a new series from Sharon Linnea. This is a quirky cozy mystery that even includes drink recipes. The setting was perfect, Tranquility, New York. Thanks NetGalley for this read.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher, which has not altered my opinion of this book. I would like to thank them for a copy.

This was such a cozy cup of a murder mystery, not to mention the drinks at the end of each chapter! As a cozy mystery fan, this really captured my interest and my attention and I would have read it in one sitting had I not needed to work. There was a perfect balance of getting to know the characters and town, the murder mystery, our main character being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a taste of romance, and all the aspects that have lead to me falling in love with the genre.

Our main character, Avalon, is a bartender running away from her past, who has literally stumbled upon a dead body at the bar where she is waiting for her train to come in. So starts the series of events that twist and turn in the most enjoyable and attention grabbling way. We meet a variable cast of characters and even though I did figure out the culprit by the end, there were a few red herrings that had me questioning who was guilty. It was refreshing and intriguing at the same time.

My only issue with this book was that it took me a solid chunk of the first half before I really felt as though Avalon was a person and not just a 2D character. I know the point was that we didn't know her well, but the fact that we knew exactly nothing about her for a while just didn't feel right. Basically, I wish we had gotten to know her a bit more a bit sooner.

Otherwise, I can't wait to continue with this series and I'm curious if there will be a romance or if not, both ways are good, I enjoy the friendships she has with most of the town and the little bartending details as well. 4.5 out of 5 from me, I seriously enjoyed it!

Super cute whodunnit with a refreshing twist - literally - as each chapter ended with an original cocktail recipe, some even pulled straight from the story!

Avalon is new in town, having stopped just to switch trains and ends up quickly being wrapped up in local events. It's interesting to see how she keeps getting hooked into things, and how much she enjoys her new town of Tranquility, New York.

The story is sweet, and fun, and surprisingly sweet for a cozy mystery. It's worth the price of admission just for the drink recipes. And the novel takes a somewhat original approach in our world of heightened racial sensitivity, in that she pretty much describes everyone (don't quote me, but references such as "anglo american" or "northwestern European" come to mind). While a bit tiring and cumbersome to read, I did appreciate this approach as many books claim diversity, but still basically just assume all the characters are caucasian unless otherwise listed.

If you'd like a light mystery perfect for poolside - this one's for you!

Unfortunately this book fell flat for me. It was such an different concept but it just didn't connect for me. I did like how they had different cocktail recipes sprinkled throughout that tied to the story.

A cozy murder mystery with a twist, the story flowed fast and had me wondering what type of job did Avalon do, but at the scene of the crime, I got it.
It was interesting although there were a few bits that didn’t sit well with me, like the way she just hup behind the bar and started serving drinks, you know, like a regular worker, I found that to be weird seeing as she was only in the bar half an hour before the mysterious death.

Booze, setting, characters, and writing are well shaken and stirred in this engrossing mystery that was very easy to recommend.

I've never read a murder mystery where the MC is a bartender....and I've read a lot of murder mysteries. Why no one thought of this before is definitely a mystery because Sharon Linnea does a super job of setting up the mystery and keeping us guessing along the way. This is the first book in a planned series so of course our intrepid bartender, Avalon, has some back history that will keep the mystery running for awhile but the community and the characters are guaranteed to keep us entertained. A cozy mystery reader's dream!!!!

Avalon is on her way to a new life in New York when her train stops in the town of Tranquility. The barman Joseph is found dead and she decides to stay. It turns out that he wasn't the first barman to die in mysterious circumstances.

The town and it's local characters are fun and quirky and there's plenty going on to keep you interested. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received this book in lieu of a written review - pssssst I am totally the winner in this arrangement.

Avalon Nash is running from her past, cross country from LA to New York City. A quick pit stop in Tranquility, New York, Avalon finds herself taking up the mantel as bartender, after the previous bartender was found dead...by Avalon herself. On the practical side of the bar, Avalon gets to know the residents of Tranquility, along with all their quirks, stories and secrets. As she listens to the tales and the history or her new found sanctuary, Avalon discovers that Joseph wasn't the first bartender to come to a questionable demise. As she searches for answers, she realises that like the waters of the lake which the town surrounds....on the surface everything in the town seems serene, but underneath the surface its darker, murkier and very dangerous.

Wow! This book most definitely hit the ground running. Once the main character stepped off the train it was non stop mystery and excitement. I was never lost however, and could follow the storyline easily. I did find myself checking the volume of the book however (book one or two), as at some points the main characters past was mentioned and skirted over like it may have been explained in a previous book only to remind myself this was indeed book one. Hopefully these holes/patches will be answered in the next book.

The Characters were believable and (although some were menacing) were likeable. Not too many characters that I got confused which for me is a huge bonus. The mystery was intriguing - and grab your fishing poles people cause there are a few red herrings about. I could see the town, and feel the people from Sharon Linnea descriptions, and found myself invested in Avalon's adventures.

Each chapter is punctuated by a cocktail recipe - insert licking lips sound here. They look delicious. This was a nice touch by the author - each cocktail represented something in the previous chapter.

All in all this was solid, fun ride and I will definitely be following up with the second book in the series.

This book is so incredibly underrated in my opinion. This is the definition of cozy and I really enjoyed it because of it. The characters were interesting enough and trying to figure things out as you're reading is really intriguing. There are enough twist and turns so it keeps you reading and in general it's just really enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a quick cozy mystery.

I loved, loved, loved this book!

Some books you bounce off of and just can't get into (I think I read the opening page of Sayers's Who's Body a half dozen times before I got into Lord Peter). Other books, usually those from favorite authors, are comfortable from the first page, sort of like putting on a pair of comfortable slippers after a long day. For me, this book was the latter; I think I was hooked by the middle of the first page.

The protagonist is Avalon Nash. She's a bartender by trade, moving from LA to New York by train. In the quirky little town Tranquility, she has to change trains, and while waiting for the next train, decides to get a drink and something to eat. Before she can order her second drink, the bartender disappears, leaving a flustered, eighteen-year-old waitress. Avalon volunteers to look for the bartender, finds him dead, and jumps behind the bar and starts filling drink orders (this was a little strange to me at first, but later she alludes to have being behind the bar is a safe place for her). Her levelheaded reaction leads to a job offer, a change in plans, and eventually, her solving who dunnit. Along the way, she meets other colorful characters that enhance the story.

What drew me into this book was the main character, Avalon. She's independent and mature (not whiny about her situation, etc), but not perfect - she alludes to family issues and is still dealing with the death of a close friend. She also kind (jumping in to help the waitress, volunteering to walk someone's dog) and respectful of not only the town, but also the bar, the bartender, etc. Also, there's no immediate love interest which was also nice, although I could see something possibly developing between several characters.

Highly recommended! I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

This cozy mystery had a bit of an edge but still had many elements that I enjoy in a cozy mystery! This was a well-planned mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved how the past and present came together to help the main character figure out whodunnit! The setting was perfect, and I enjoyed all of the drink recipes at the beginning of every chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am look forward to the next in the series.

If a cozy is a warm and welcoming spot of tea or mocha latte and a thriller is a straight shot of Jager then series starter Death in Tranquility from the Bartenders Guide to Murder is well blended cocktail. Avalon is on the run but we don't know from what at least not right away. We do know that she is one heck of bartender and jumps right in when the MacTavish bartender, Joseph, is found dead during his smoke break. What an unusual start to a story, the main character is waiting for a train connection in a quite little New York town and suddenly she is embroiled in a murder mystery, a ghost hunt, a scandalous secret, and a new place to live. Avalon, is a collector of stories, and who gets to hear more stories than a bartender, well maybe a hair dresser, but it seems that this town and it's people do like the Pub. Oh and the people, what an unusual and eclectic group. The story is a interesting as the drink recipes found at the end of each chapter. I thought I had figured out who did the deed but then there were so many possible suspects that I overlooked the actual culprit. I will have to try my hand at making a few of these beverages as I am sure they will make a pretty picture. Oh and the teaser chapter, well played, I am already addicted and will now have to suffer withdrawals until the next book releases.

This is a weird little mystery. I almost passed it up on Netgalley (free copy in exchange for my honest review) because I didn't like the cover. I finally gave the blurb a good read and thought, "why not?" At first, I was tempted to stop reading. Avalon and her background starts off as part of the mystery, and stays that way for the most part.

The bartender's murder happens very quickly so the mystery kicks in which kept my attention. The town folk are a diverse bunch, there are more mysteries a foot than the bartender's murder. Another character plays a big role and makes me wonder why that person isn't the main character (isn't even mentioned in the blurb for the second book). Said person is the introduction for yet another weird element which worked for me, but why Avalon takes it so much in stride and doesn't even have more than one question puzzles me.

Ultimately, I liked the book and am curious to get more answers about Avalon and see if the other character gets more page time (and the reader more explanation).

I found a lot to like about Death in Tranquility. Written from a first-person point of view, the main character, Avalon, is smart and funny. The atmosphere of the small town of Tranquility exudes charm, friendliness, and a hint of unrest that unfolds as the story progresses. All-in-all, death in Tranquility seems like a natural thing.

The writing is sharp and to the point without a lot of over-the-top introspection. That’s not to say there aren’t any, but those moments of inner monologue felt well-placed and succinct. The author introduces characters and facts as needed, making their introductions seem natural.

With multiple plot lines slowly converging, the pacing is solid throughout the story. The dialogue is also well done. Speaking of which, there were a few instances of profanity in the middle of a high-tension scene. While not much, it was a surprise in a book that was otherwise squeaky clean.

Overall, this one gets solid marks as a good read and makes me want to visit Tranquility again.

Drinks, ghosts and murder make for a spell binding mystery.

Avalon Nash is escaping life in Los Angeles. With time on her hands before changing trains for New York City, she decides to have a drink at McTavish’s Seaside Inn in the bucolic town of Tranquility, New York, a former Olympic venue. While one drink doesn’t lead to another, it does lead to Avalon finding the body of the tavern’s murdered bartender, Joseph, and taking over his job. And, he’s not the first bartender to have been murdered there.

It’s a great mystery I couldn’t put down with a cast of characters all with their own agendas that Avalon has to sort through. She even conjures up a ghost who definitely wants to make their presence known. The bonus? A menu of delicious craft cocktails too tempting to pass up.

The book begins with the main character, Avalon Nash who is on a train, traveling from LA to New York City.

"Sometimes in life you think it's about where you're going, but it turns out to be about where you change trains."

Avalon has to change trains in the small, picturesque town of Tranquility, New York, which was once a site for the Winter Olympics. She stops by a local tavern to have a drink, and while she is there, the bartender goes missing and is shortly found dead. Since she found him, Avalon has to stay for a few days to be available for the murder investigation. Avalon is a bartender herself, and had mixed drinks while the police were there and the body was removed. She accepts the bar owner's offer of a job while she is stuck in town.

I enjoyed this one a lot and am hoping that the series continues, particularly as I'd like to know more about Avalon, who to my mind was the biggest unsolved mystery in the book. We know a little about her background, that she doesn't get along with her parents, and that she is serious about bartending.

This is the first book in the Bartenders Guide to Murder. Each chapter title is the name of a mixed drink (Bloody Handprint, for example), and each chapter ends with the recipe for it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from Arundel Publishing via Netgalley. These are my opinions of the book.

An interesting premise but somehow lacking. The main character was mildly amusing but I didn't feel connected to her. There were many moments that I'd zone out and I seriously considered putting this in my DNF pile but I toughed it out. I'm sure there are people who will love this book but I'm just not one them.

How much fun was this!

Avalon has time on her hands when her train stops in Tranquility and she has to wait to switch trains, so she heads off to the local hotel bar where she proceeds to get caught up in a murder - discovering the body of the bartender!

Since she loves to mix drinks, Avalon takes over the bartending job, finds herself a cute cottage to live in, and a friendly dog that leads her to more trouble!

Love how new cocktail recipes were intertwined with the story!

Can't wait for the next one!

Great book from the first page to the last! This cozy mystery has it all – from a well-developed story line to red herrings to fleshed out and fun characters. I won’t rehash the plot, since you can read the book description for yourself. I will say the clever writing avoids any dull moments, peppering the book with humor, suspense and excitement. I read this book in one go on a dreary rainy day and it was a wonderful pick-me-up.