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Callahan Garrity Mystery #6
Strange Brew
The winds of change are blowing, bringing gentrification to Callahan Garrity's funky Atlanta neighborhood. Though it probably won't harm her House Mouse housecleaning service, not everyone welcomes the rebirth. And when the body of a murdered microbrewer is discovered in the aftermath of a furious Halloween gale, suspicion falls on the aging "flower child" shopkeeper whom the victim put out of business.
A former cop, Callahan isn't as quick to condemn a colorful local character as some law officers still on the force. But her investigative zeal is stirring up secrets that are forcing her to reassess old friendships and a one-time love—and is brewing up more lethal trouble than Callahan and her "mice" can safely swallow.
A former cop, Callahan isn't as quick to condemn a colorful local character as some law officers still on the force. But her investigative zeal is stirring up secrets that are forcing her to reassess old friendships and a one-time love—and is brewing up more lethal trouble than Callahan and her "mice" can safely swallow.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
480 people are currently reading
3171 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Hogan Trocheck
20 books589 followersaka Mary Kay Andrews
Kathy Hogan Trocheck is the author of critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series. A former reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, she is also the author of Little Bitty Lies and the Edgar®- and Macavity-nominated Savannah Blues, under the name Mary Kay Andrews.
Kathy Hogan Trocheck is the author of critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series. A former reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, she is also the author of Little Bitty Lies and the Edgar®- and Macavity-nominated Savannah Blues, under the name Mary Kay Andrews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
June 21, 2020
Good one... on to number 7
November 22, 2023
This is book six in the Callahan Garrity Mystery series, featuring former cop Callaghan and her mother, Edna, who run “House Mouse” maid service in Atlanta. Their neighborhood is seeing increased crime, but apparently is still a target for developers to buy up inexpensive properties and gentrify them. On Halloween, Wuvvy, an aging flower child who runs a toy store / head shop, confronts one of these new developers during a party at a local tavern. The next night said developer is found dead inside the Wuvvy’s shop. She swears she had nothing to do with the murder, and Callahan is inclined to believe her. But before she can really begin investigating, Wuvvy is found dead in her car, an apparent suicide.
I like this series. I like Callahan, who does have some reason to investigate and is at least skilled at it. She’s frequently helped by the House Mouse crew of eccentric ladies; I particularly like the elderly sisters Baby and Sister. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep even the best amateur sleuth guessing, and I didn’t figure out the perpetrator much before Callahan did.
Another satisfying cozy mystery from this author, and I’ll keep reading the series.
I like this series. I like Callahan, who does have some reason to investigate and is at least skilled at it. She’s frequently helped by the House Mouse crew of eccentric ladies; I particularly like the elderly sisters Baby and Sister. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep even the best amateur sleuth guessing, and I didn’t figure out the perpetrator much before Callahan did.
Another satisfying cozy mystery from this author, and I’ll keep reading the series.
September 13, 2014
Strange Brew is the 6th book in the Callahan Garrity mysteries and so far my least favorite. The plot rather bored me, and although I recognize this author’s talent to always find astutely ordinary characters to play out the plot, I didn't warm to these people. I didn't find any sympathy or connection with them. I thought this whole mystery was depressing and dark.
On Halloween night Callahan discovers the body of a businessman, named Jackson Poole. Rapidly the police concludes that an old hippie woman, Wuvvy might have killed him.
At first Callahan isn't really interested in investigating this, but when Wuvvy disappears and then is found dead, and later her mother is mugged right in her front yard, Callahan can’t let the case go.
As the mystery develops, it takes Callahan, her mother Edna, and the Sisters to a small South Georgia town where they meet some characters from the past who may know the real truth about the history of these culprits. From then, Callahan never gives up and continues to uncover more of the puzzle.
Overall, an okay read, but nothing more.
On Halloween night Callahan discovers the body of a businessman, named Jackson Poole. Rapidly the police concludes that an old hippie woman, Wuvvy might have killed him.
At first Callahan isn't really interested in investigating this, but when Wuvvy disappears and then is found dead, and later her mother is mugged right in her front yard, Callahan can’t let the case go.
As the mystery develops, it takes Callahan, her mother Edna, and the Sisters to a small South Georgia town where they meet some characters from the past who may know the real truth about the history of these culprits. From then, Callahan never gives up and continues to uncover more of the puzzle.
Overall, an okay read, but nothing more.
March 20, 2018
Why did she have to end the series and move on to fluffy chick lit under the name Mary Kay Andrews?
Booooo
Booooo
July 5, 2024
Always a good time.
July 2, 2020
I had no idea the wonderful Mary Kay Andrews has written the equivalent of a cozy mystery. You can’t help but fall in love with the quirky cast of characters and the trouble they can get into.
This was a fun, fast, easy read. An enjoyable,entertaining story from beginning to end. Callahan Garrity (main character) is a strong woman along with her mother Edna who’s just as strong willed.
If you want a great mystery that keeps you guessing along with some lovable characters as well as not so lovable characters, this book is for you! I highly recommend this book.
This is book #6 in the series but can definitely be read as a stand alone.
This was a fun, fast, easy read. An enjoyable,entertaining story from beginning to end. Callahan Garrity (main character) is a strong woman along with her mother Edna who’s just as strong willed.
If you want a great mystery that keeps you guessing along with some lovable characters as well as not so lovable characters, this book is for you! I highly recommend this book.
This is book #6 in the series but can definitely be read as a stand alone.
December 6, 2021
Cute mystery, #6 in a series. This was a pretty random book-bargain and it was interesting enough but knowing that there was going to be some distillery/brewery/beverage distribution content was what pushed me to grab it, and there wasn't nearly enough of any of that. I'm not opposed to reading more from this series, but I'm not going to seek them out, either.
August 27, 2022
Book 6 of the series and MKA did not disappoint once again.
Callahan is at it again trying to find who killed the owner of the microbrewery in town and the crazy lady who no one understands.
I must admit this one kept me wondering who could possibly have killed them but the end make so much sense.
The characters are witty and bizarre but you cant help but get attached to them.
Callahan is at it again trying to find who killed the owner of the microbrewery in town and the crazy lady who no one understands.
I must admit this one kept me wondering who could possibly have killed them but the end make so much sense.
The characters are witty and bizarre but you cant help but get attached to them.
November 5, 2018
Lord lord it’s the south and is always the best! It’s a great book! Fun and full of southern fun!
January 18, 2025
I enjoyed this book. I like the characters and will definitely read more of her books with these characters. East, enjoyable read. Ending did surprise me…didn’t see it coming.
August 8, 2023
One of the better mysteries in this series. Once again, very nicely narrated.
March 9, 2020
I listened to this as an audio book and it was utterly charming. The reader was outstanding a setting the place and characters. I need to read things for just fun sometimes, and these mysteries are toward the top of the heap for just pure enjoyment--especially with this reader.
October 29, 2023
This is the first time I read a mystery with Callahan. I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading more of these books
September 2, 2021
Enjoyed the read. Good story
January 10, 2022
This book was copyrighted in 1997 so it may be difficult to find, try e-bay or Amazon. It is well worth the effort. This is another mystery that is good enough for grandma and will keep everyone else happy.
This is the sixth book in the series with Callahan Garrity, a former Atlanta policewomen, her mother, and the House Mouse cleaning crew. The mystery takes place in Atlanta so many places will be familiar to those living or those who have lived in the Atlanta area. The author will refer several times to L5P which refers to the Little Five Points area of Atlanta, which was the home to the hippie, yuppie, and downtrodden. One of the owners of a store is being evicted so that a up scale brewery can take its place. The brewery is called “The Blind Possum”, I checked it doesn’t exist. Wuvvy, who owns the store is found murdered and those associated with The Blind Possum are considered prime suspects. Wuvvy is also suspected of murdering an executive of The Blind Possum. Callahan takes on Wuvvy’s case and begins to find out facts about her and the murdered executive, but there is more to the story and a surprise murderer.
This is the sixth book in the series with Callahan Garrity, a former Atlanta policewomen, her mother, and the House Mouse cleaning crew. The mystery takes place in Atlanta so many places will be familiar to those living or those who have lived in the Atlanta area. The author will refer several times to L5P which refers to the Little Five Points area of Atlanta, which was the home to the hippie, yuppie, and downtrodden. One of the owners of a store is being evicted so that a up scale brewery can take its place. The brewery is called “The Blind Possum”, I checked it doesn’t exist. Wuvvy, who owns the store is found murdered and those associated with The Blind Possum are considered prime suspects. Wuvvy is also suspected of murdering an executive of The Blind Possum. Callahan takes on Wuvvy’s case and begins to find out facts about her and the murdered executive, but there is more to the story and a surprise murderer.
November 13, 2013
I'm working my way through the reissued Callahan Garrity series from Mary Kay Andrews. So far, Strange Brew was my favorite novel in the line up. This book finds the protagonist - a house cleaning service owner and former PI- in a precarious situation. As a brewing company moves into her neighborhood, one of the owners winds up murdered. Could it have been the previous tenant who was angry about being evicted that did him in? Inquiring minds want to know and Callahan is on the case!! In true form to the series, Mary Kay Andrews features many venues and places in the metro Atlanta are with great affection. Anyone familiar with the city will love her depiction of Atlanta, set in the 90s, when the book was originally written. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. They are all quick reads and great fun.
September 16, 2016
Review of the audiobook.
I like these books. As I get closer to the end of the series, I get a little sad that it's going to end for me soon (2 more books). I like the characters and the situations.
This is probably more of a 4.5 than a 5, but darn it, I like this series.
This book has Callahan investigating the murder of a new business in town when another business owner is accused of the crime. When the second business owner apparently commits suicide, the police declare the mystery solved. Callahan has questions so she continues to investigate, eventually getting hired to do so by the first business owner's girlfriend (yeah, ok, so that's confusing here but not confusing in the book).
I like these books. As I get closer to the end of the series, I get a little sad that it's going to end for me soon (2 more books). I like the characters and the situations.
This is probably more of a 4.5 than a 5, but darn it, I like this series.
This book has Callahan investigating the murder of a new business in town when another business owner is accused of the crime. When the second business owner apparently commits suicide, the police declare the mystery solved. Callahan has questions so she continues to investigate, eventually getting hired to do so by the first business owner's girlfriend (yeah, ok, so that's confusing here but not confusing in the book).
December 28, 2008
Now this was a little strange--gentrification is coming to a quirky (and crime-ridden) Atlanta neighborhood and Callahan--who runs a house cleaning service like a mom-and-pop Merry Maids--doesn't like it that much but concedes that some new businesses and money and safer streets would be good. The guy opening the new brewpub is murdered, and she's thrust into solving the mystery.
The set-up had potential, but the execution wasn't believable and a couple of the characters/twists were just so, "Oh c'mon give us a break!"
Maybe pick it up if it's free and you got nothing else to do.
The set-up had potential, but the execution wasn't believable and a couple of the characters/twists were just so, "Oh c'mon give us a break!"
Maybe pick it up if it's free and you got nothing else to do.
June 21, 2014
Unlike other titles by this author, this particular story did not grab me. If you like Southern humor, check it out. If you like suspenseful murder mysteries, go ahead and sample it. Unfortunately, the combination seemed forced at times and while some of the characters I made acquaintance with in previous titles are here, too, I had trouble getting involved in the suspenseful part of the tale.
It seemed to take Callahan too long to solve it and her ex-buddy cop seemed particularly dense this time around. Why doesn't Bunky LISTEN to her? Oh well...
It seemed to take Callahan too long to solve it and her ex-buddy cop seemed particularly dense this time around. Why doesn't Bunky LISTEN to her? Oh well...
August 28, 2018
I have come to love Callahan Garrity and her House Mouse cleaning girls. I only have two more books in the series, and I am going to be so sad when I am done. I think I will be slowing my roll on these so I can come back to an old friend if I get in a rut any time soon. This one was fun, as it involved a brewery and some other places in the Little Five Points area that I remember and still exist today. I started to guess some of the mystery, but was still surprised at the very end. Just the way I like it.
Bottom Line: Such a fun cozy mystery series!!! Read it if that is your thing.
Bottom Line: Such a fun cozy mystery series!!! Read it if that is your thing.
June 2, 2016
This book was not that suspenseful. It had a long climb to the climax and that didn't happen until the end of the book. It was like you finally got to the top of the mountain and the view was better from the bottom. Really?!? I only have one more book (that the library has) to read in this series. The library does not have the first book and its not going to hurt my feelings if I don't ever read that book.
October 26, 2018
I loved how the subject was the nascent brewing industry. Microbreweries are so common now. Many large companies have their own in house micro brewed brand. Blue Moon and Widmer Brothers are now national brands. The challenges of gentrification is going on twenty years later. People that lived in low cost housing, single room hotels, are displaced on to the streets.
July 22, 2016
This book was off compared to her other Callahan books. Something didn't jibe, the story was perhaps too disjointed?
August 21, 2022
Callahan used to be a police officer and changed careers when she bought House Mouse, a cleaning service that she runs with her mother, Edna ... but she still does private investigating on the side.
The neighbourhood where Callahan and Edna live is cleaning itself up ... trendy and cool businesses are pushing out the struggling businesses that have been there a lot time. One of them is Wuvvy's shop where she sells posters, teeshirts, etc. Wuvvy is a the local free spirit who drinks, smokes weeds and sleeps with everyone. There is a brewpub moving into Wuvvy's shop and she doesn't like it one bit and she's not quiet about it. When the owner of the soon-to-come brewpub is found murdered, Wuvvy is the suspect, especially since she has disappeared. Callahan's not convince that Wuvvy did it so starts to investigate.
While this is happening, a storm brings destruction to Atlanta and there is a lot of damage, including to Callahan and Edna's house. But this brings extra business to House Mouse, which is good because they need the extra money to repair their house and van that damaged in the storm.
The writing was okay. It is written in first person perspective in Callahan's voice. Because it was originally written in the mid 1990s and is set in the mid 1990s (just after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta) they are still using pay phones, answering machines, cheques, etc. Some of the terms used are now cringe-worthy such as the "N-word" and "coloured" which makes the book seem racist. Edna was nastier than usual in this book ... she was fed up with the "winos", "bums", etc. in her neighbourbood so she forms a neighbourhood watch. I found the craft beer angle in this one interesting. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.
This is the sixth in the Callahan Garrity Mystery Series. It's not a great series but I only have a couple more to go so I've kept going. This book was better than the last two.
Blog review:http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2022/08...
The neighbourhood where Callahan and Edna live is cleaning itself up ... trendy and cool businesses are pushing out the struggling businesses that have been there a lot time. One of them is Wuvvy's shop where she sells posters, teeshirts, etc. Wuvvy is a the local free spirit who drinks, smokes weeds and sleeps with everyone. There is a brewpub moving into Wuvvy's shop and she doesn't like it one bit and she's not quiet about it. When the owner of the soon-to-come brewpub is found murdered, Wuvvy is the suspect, especially since she has disappeared. Callahan's not convince that Wuvvy did it so starts to investigate.
While this is happening, a storm brings destruction to Atlanta and there is a lot of damage, including to Callahan and Edna's house. But this brings extra business to House Mouse, which is good because they need the extra money to repair their house and van that damaged in the storm.
The writing was okay. It is written in first person perspective in Callahan's voice. Because it was originally written in the mid 1990s and is set in the mid 1990s (just after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta) they are still using pay phones, answering machines, cheques, etc. Some of the terms used are now cringe-worthy such as the "N-word" and "coloured" which makes the book seem racist. Edna was nastier than usual in this book ... she was fed up with the "winos", "bums", etc. in her neighbourbood so she forms a neighbourhood watch. I found the craft beer angle in this one interesting. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.
This is the sixth in the Callahan Garrity Mystery Series. It's not a great series but I only have a couple more to go so I've kept going. This book was better than the last two.
Blog review:http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2022/08...
June 30, 2019
A curious mystery based in the place I now call home - Atlanta. Familiar terrain I was able to navigate, which was fun. Likable, well developed characters but some loose ends: probably because this is the 6th in the Callahan Garrity mysteries, but my first. Still, I think I caught on. Am planning to read 1-5, and then the remaining 2 (I heard there are only going to be 8). So, regarding Strange Brew: a revitalization of a community draws the attention of a newly formed independent brewery. *note* you will learn about the brewing process in depth, but that's not a bad thing. I wasn't always following the main character's thought process, but like all good mysteries (think Jessica Fletcher style), Trocheck/Andrews explains it all in the end. Quite intriguing, tho, is this backstory mystery that Callahan stumbles on & decides to look into. Without giving it away, this guy ends up dead and when Callahan realizes there is a long-lost history connecting him to her client, she can't let it go. But, it turns out, his death is unrelated to their history, so what's the point other than adding a little interest? I gotta tell ya, tho: this part of the tale is by far the best part of the book. It is utterly FASCINATING - scandalous, stunning, thought provoking... it truly could have been a stand alone story. Yep, it's true, it's true: a story within a story that's better than the main story. Give me more of that, please.
April 8, 2023
Book 6 of 8 in the series, you can see it slowly starting to end. This one is pretty good, but it takes a good while to realize how unlikeable Callahan is. She's honestly not a great girlfriend and is a very nosy being. I know she means well and usually solves the mysteries, but she does sometimes act like her shit doesn't stink. Anyway, this one was pretty good, but like with the last one, why is Callahan bothering to get involved in such controversial things?
Her neighborhood is becoming gentrified and as a resort, the area of Little Five Points is having issues, as the owner of the toy store "Yoyos," is being pushed out of her store. However, the lady being evicted, Wuvvy, is an ex-con who spent time in prison for killing her late husband and her stepson is the one uprooting her. He's also the one buying her out, but shows up murdered, then Wuvvy is found dead of a suicide. Case closed.
Not so much. Callahan believes much more in the fact that isn't what happened and as usual, she was right. In the end, we find the real killers, they die and that's that. I do like the addition of the new House Mouse, Cheezer, and Edna's character is still strong as ever.
Her neighborhood is becoming gentrified and as a resort, the area of Little Five Points is having issues, as the owner of the toy store "Yoyos," is being pushed out of her store. However, the lady being evicted, Wuvvy, is an ex-con who spent time in prison for killing her late husband and her stepson is the one uprooting her. He's also the one buying her out, but shows up murdered, then Wuvvy is found dead of a suicide. Case closed.
Not so much. Callahan believes much more in the fact that isn't what happened and as usual, she was right. In the end, we find the real killers, they die and that's that. I do like the addition of the new House Mouse, Cheezer, and Edna's character is still strong as ever.
November 24, 2021
The winds of change are blowing, bringing gentrification to Callahan Garrity's funky Atlanta neighborhood. Though it probably won't harm her House Mouse housecleaning service, not everyone welcomes the rebirth. And when the body of a murdered microbrewer is discovered in the aftermath of a furious Halloween gale, suspicion falls on the aging "flower child" shopkeeper whom the victim put out of business.
A former cop, Callahan isn't as quick to condemn a colorful local character as some law officers still on the force. But her investigative zeal is stirring up secrets that are forcing her to reassess old friendships and a one-time love—and is brewing up more lethal trouble than Callahan and her "mice" can safely swallow. (from Goodreads)
A former cop, Callahan isn't as quick to condemn a colorful local character as some law officers still on the force. But her investigative zeal is stirring up secrets that are forcing her to reassess old friendships and a one-time love—and is brewing up more lethal trouble than Callahan and her "mice" can safely swallow. (from Goodreads)
December 6, 2021
I'm coming to realize that the series written under Kathy Hogan Trocheck are better than the later books written as Mary Kay Andrews. For one thing, the characters are more gritty and more have spirit to them. The Andrews women are more fluffy toy poodles as opposed to the Rottweilers of Trocheck. This book focuses on the death of a former hippie Woodstock holdover. The storyline revolves around the inhabitants of the down and out area of Atlanta near where Callaghan and her mother live. The author depicts the struggle and horror of the lives of these people in a poignant sub-plot. The major plot involves a twenty year old murder and its modern-day consequences.
January 30, 2019
I picked this book up at a used book sale and it had been in my stack for a long time. Decided to read it now because I saw that the book was dedicated to Celestine Sibley, and I had just finished reading a wonderful collection of Sibley's holiday pieces. Strange Brew is a good, light reading mystery with some humor, a few twists and turns. I like the setting - the Little Five Points area of Atlanta, that was on the verge of gentrification when the book was written. I needed a little light reading at the time and recommend it for the same reason.
October 9, 2023
A fun entry in the series from the 90s that I listened to on audio. I was glad to be able to finish it after abandoning a previous Callahan Garrity for being far too racist and dated.
In this one private detective and cleaning company owner, Callahan, investigates a death in her Atlanta neighborhood, which may or may not be related to a recent murder on Halloween night. A soon to open brewery seems to be the link to both, and to a community crime wave. Callahan stubbornly sticks her nose in against the advice of the police, and of course solves the crime.
In this one private detective and cleaning company owner, Callahan, investigates a death in her Atlanta neighborhood, which may or may not be related to a recent murder on Halloween night. A soon to open brewery seems to be the link to both, and to a community crime wave. Callahan stubbornly sticks her nose in against the advice of the police, and of course solves the crime.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews