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Enchanted Bay Mystery #3
A Brew for Chaos
Herbal apothecary worker and secret mermaid descendant Alex Daniels has to solve a puzzling serial killer cold case in this intriguing and magical cozy mystery instalment set in an endearing small coastal town during fall festivities.
It’s autumn, and Aleksandra Daniels is settling into her new hometown of Bellamy Bay in North Carolina. She loves her job at her aunt’s herbal apothecary, and is enjoying getting to know her new boyfriend, local detective Jack Frazier. But she’s still trying to figure out her newly discovered magical powers, inherited from a mermaid ancestor.
Leaves are changing, pumpkins are being picked, and the small coastal town is caught up in the excitement of the approaching Oktoberfest and craft beer competition. But Alex’s good friend, local journalist Pepper, is more excited by the upcoming anniversary of a spooky cold case she’s helping her boss, Jonah, investigate. Back in the eighties, a serial killer nicknamed The Fisherman abducted ten local women. He was never caught, and the women never seen again.
Alex isn’t surprised when Pepper asks for her help, but she’s done solving mysteries. She’d much rather be strolling down main street with Jack, sharing a hot cup of apple cider, and that’s not going to happen if she keeps meddling in his investigations.
But when Jonah’s body is discovered on the beach, Alex is forced to reconsider. Soon, she’s caught up in a complex, troubling plot that places not just her own life, but the lives of everyone she loves, in terrible danger.
An intricately plotted, quirky and charming book that gives you an enticing genre-blend of cozy mystery, contemporary fantasy and a hint of sci-fi. Fans of Esme Addison’s An Intrigue of Witches as well as Iris Beaglehole, Amanda Flower and Ellery Adams shouldn’t miss this “enchanting read” (Kirkus Reviews).
It’s autumn, and Aleksandra Daniels is settling into her new hometown of Bellamy Bay in North Carolina. She loves her job at her aunt’s herbal apothecary, and is enjoying getting to know her new boyfriend, local detective Jack Frazier. But she’s still trying to figure out her newly discovered magical powers, inherited from a mermaid ancestor.
Leaves are changing, pumpkins are being picked, and the small coastal town is caught up in the excitement of the approaching Oktoberfest and craft beer competition. But Alex’s good friend, local journalist Pepper, is more excited by the upcoming anniversary of a spooky cold case she’s helping her boss, Jonah, investigate. Back in the eighties, a serial killer nicknamed The Fisherman abducted ten local women. He was never caught, and the women never seen again.
Alex isn’t surprised when Pepper asks for her help, but she’s done solving mysteries. She’d much rather be strolling down main street with Jack, sharing a hot cup of apple cider, and that’s not going to happen if she keeps meddling in his investigations.
But when Jonah’s body is discovered on the beach, Alex is forced to reconsider. Soon, she’s caught up in a complex, troubling plot that places not just her own life, but the lives of everyone she loves, in terrible danger.
An intricately plotted, quirky and charming book that gives you an enticing genre-blend of cozy mystery, contemporary fantasy and a hint of sci-fi. Fans of Esme Addison’s An Intrigue of Witches as well as Iris Beaglehole, Amanda Flower and Ellery Adams shouldn’t miss this “enchanting read” (Kirkus Reviews).
368 pages, Hardcover
Published September 2, 2025
13 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
September 26, 2025
Yay!! It’s finally back I can’t wait! I loved the first two in this series I can’t wait for the next instalment. A fall too even better!
Review:
4.25 🌟
Mood/Seasonal Reading: Peak October with lots of fun fall festival mentions
Slightly disappointed in this one. I think it suffered from a long hiatus between books. While the first two felt cozy and magical this felt more forced and jumbled.
I still really loved the writing style. I think the setting is fantastic and the entire plot is wildly creative. This author is a top choice for me now for sure.
Maybe it’s because I adored the first two in the series that this one felt a bit flat for me. For starters, I struggled to remember certain plot points from the first two and it took me a while to reacclimatize to the world.
I can see why this one took a while to write. It was filled to the brim with new characters, varying story arcs and wild plot lines. While I usually like a fast paced book I found myself constantly struggling to keep track of characters and the direction the plot was taking. Quite often I had to rewind my audiobook to get some clarity. This isn’t something I would often do for a lesser series but this author has some street credit with me from how much I enjoyed her previous works. So, I put some extra effort in to really understand what was going on.
I sadly think this might have either packed too many things into one book or just gone too out there for me. It lost its cozy aspect and I found myself growing less interested.
All that being said I still think it was well written, creative as heck, and overall a fun time. I will of course be patiently waiting for the fourth book and hoping it comes out sooner than this one did.
Review:
4.25 🌟
Mood/Seasonal Reading: Peak October with lots of fun fall festival mentions
Slightly disappointed in this one. I think it suffered from a long hiatus between books. While the first two felt cozy and magical this felt more forced and jumbled.
I still really loved the writing style. I think the setting is fantastic and the entire plot is wildly creative. This author is a top choice for me now for sure.
Maybe it’s because I adored the first two in the series that this one felt a bit flat for me. For starters, I struggled to remember certain plot points from the first two and it took me a while to reacclimatize to the world.
I can see why this one took a while to write. It was filled to the brim with new characters, varying story arcs and wild plot lines. While I usually like a fast paced book I found myself constantly struggling to keep track of characters and the direction the plot was taking. Quite often I had to rewind my audiobook to get some clarity. This isn’t something I would often do for a lesser series but this author has some street credit with me from how much I enjoyed her previous works. So, I put some extra effort in to really understand what was going on.
I sadly think this might have either packed too many things into one book or just gone too out there for me. It lost its cozy aspect and I found myself growing less interested.
All that being said I still think it was well written, creative as heck, and overall a fun time. I will of course be patiently waiting for the fourth book and hoping it comes out sooner than this one did.
August 14, 2025
4🌟
For my first ALC, I got a good one! This was a cute cozish fantasy mystery revolving around a mermaid-descendant family and their town of Bellamy Bay. While it starts a little slow with all its recap and reiteration on who each character is, it quickly picks up the pace and entangles you in its web of conspiracy, lies, murder, and mystery. I didn't want to put it down and easily finished it in one sitting. Now I'm gonna go back and read the first two 😊 Thanks NetGalley for this ALC!
For my first ALC, I got a good one! This was a cute cozish fantasy mystery revolving around a mermaid-descendant family and their town of Bellamy Bay. While it starts a little slow with all its recap and reiteration on who each character is, it quickly picks up the pace and entangles you in its web of conspiracy, lies, murder, and mystery. I didn't want to put it down and easily finished it in one sitting. Now I'm gonna go back and read the first two 😊 Thanks NetGalley for this ALC!
September 2, 2025
"A Brew for Chaos (Enchanted Bay Mystery #3)" by Esme Addison is what government conspiracy theories, cozy mysteries and real world style fantasy stories would be if combined. The story is fairly standalone as well. However, now I want to go back to read the first couple books and can't wait for the fourth book.
Alex Daniels is getting the hang of her supernatural abilities she recently discovered she had. Being a genetic mermaid, she has a degree of what she would have if she could actually be a physical mermaid as well. Unfortunately, her familial line has lost the ability to be their water form. As far as they know there aren't any true mermaids left. There's also dragons, mostly in human form. Maybe more things, but these are the two mystical creatures mentioned most in the book. Some Caribbean sea witch too. Unfortunately, there seems to be some government testing and weaponizing of magicals that may or may not be behind the disappearance of 10 women in the 80's. The primary reporter on the case has more recently been found dead on the beach next to a mysterious woman with amnesia.
Alex isn't supposed to investigate the death. Her police detective boyfriend has threatened to end things with her if she can't keep out of his cases. So, instead, she investigates the case of the missing women. This is were things get government conspiracy crazy. In the book world, the government is actually doing the crazy stuff. Things unravel about how I expected them too.
This book gets more action sci-fi adventure than mystery at points . They've got most of the who and what figured out but there is a slight twist at the end that puts it back into mystery. Maybe, this is a bit of a bridge type book. Give some closure to a few overlapping story lines and set up for the next ones.
Alex Daniels is getting the hang of her supernatural abilities she recently discovered she had. Being a genetic mermaid, she has a degree of what she would have if she could actually be a physical mermaid as well. Unfortunately, her familial line has lost the ability to be their water form. As far as they know there aren't any true mermaids left. There's also dragons, mostly in human form. Maybe more things, but these are the two mystical creatures mentioned most in the book. Some Caribbean sea witch too. Unfortunately, there seems to be some government testing and weaponizing of magicals that may or may not be behind the disappearance of 10 women in the 80's. The primary reporter on the case has more recently been found dead on the beach next to a mysterious woman with amnesia.
Alex isn't supposed to investigate the death. Her police detective boyfriend has threatened to end things with her if she can't keep out of his cases. So, instead, she investigates the case of the missing women. This is were things get government conspiracy crazy. In the book world, the government is actually doing the crazy stuff. Things unravel about how I expected them too.
This book gets more action sci-fi adventure than mystery at points . They've got most of the who and what figured out but there is a slight twist at the end that puts it back into mystery. Maybe, this is a bit of a bridge type book. Give some closure to a few overlapping story lines and set up for the next ones.
May 29, 2025
Disclaimer: received through netgalley, and I did not realize this title is part of a series until I started reading so some of my comments may be addressed in one of the earlier books
There is a large cast of characters, so large it is difficult to become fully immersed or invested as we are constantly leaping from person to person and setting to setting—new physical details and connections are being added over a hundred pages in so there’s not a clear picture of the characters. There are a lot of elements to solve, and it’s as if all the people are introduced as a way to guess elements rather than actually making them difficult to figure out. The main character is more of an observer than an active participant in the story, being strung along by characters who don’t have any particularly redeeming qualities. I was enticed by the magical elements, but rather than exploring and expanding on those there was so much corporate conspiracy and military presence that the cozy and magic got lost.
There is a large cast of characters, so large it is difficult to become fully immersed or invested as we are constantly leaping from person to person and setting to setting—new physical details and connections are being added over a hundred pages in so there’s not a clear picture of the characters. There are a lot of elements to solve, and it’s as if all the people are introduced as a way to guess elements rather than actually making them difficult to figure out. The main character is more of an observer than an active participant in the story, being strung along by characters who don’t have any particularly redeeming qualities. I was enticed by the magical elements, but rather than exploring and expanding on those there was so much corporate conspiracy and military presence that the cozy and magic got lost.
September 4, 2025
Thank you to Severn House, Esme Addison, and NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Brew for Chaos released September 2, 2025!
☠️ Content Warning
-Abduction
-Human(ish) experimentation
-Torture (mentioned but not graphic)
🌊 Read if you love
-Mermaids
-Witches
-Cozy small-town
-Fall vibes
-Cold cases
-Romance subplot
My thoughts
This is the third book in the Enchanted Bay Mysteries series. While I always advocate for reading a series from the beginning, unless it’s a series interconnected standalones, you can technically read this by itself. However, if you’ve read prior books in the series, you may find yourself bored/annoyed with all the info dumping about various events and characters. Personally, getting into the book was difficult at the beginning, because there was so much recap of stuff I already knew. I ended up just skimming those paragraphs and moved forward.
Once the primary mystery plot kicked in, I was hooked. Like the other books, this one has Alex Daniels solving yet another local mystery—a cold case from 40 years ago that suddenly becomes relevant in the present. Moreso than in previous books, this crime connects to the overarching plot. I loved that there was a deeper dive into the magic surrounding Bellamy Bay. If you started the series and were disappointed that the FMC had a mermaid gene but wasn’t a true mermaid, guess what? There are bonafide mermaids in this one
Alex’s primary relationships are with her aunt, cousins, and friends, but there is a romance subplot as well. I’ve always found her boyfriend, Jack, kind of unbearable. He’s the local detective who has arrested two of Alex’s loved ones for crimes they didn’t commit. He refused to listen to Alex when she said they were innocent, and he hates the herbal apothecary Alex’s family runs. In my opinion, this guy has no redeeming qualities, and he gets even worse in this book. You also get to somewhat understand why he behaves the way he does, but that’s not an excuse. Thankfully, it looks like he’ll play a much smaller role, if any, in the next book.
And it does end on a pretty big cliffhanger, so I’ll definitely check out the fourth book whenever it releases!
☠️ Content Warning
-Abduction
-Human(ish) experimentation
-Torture (mentioned but not graphic)
🌊 Read if you love
-Mermaids
-Witches
-Cozy small-town
-Fall vibes
-Cold cases
-Romance subplot
My thoughts
This is the third book in the Enchanted Bay Mysteries series. While I always advocate for reading a series from the beginning, unless it’s a series interconnected standalones, you can technically read this by itself. However, if you’ve read prior books in the series, you may find yourself bored/annoyed with all the info dumping about various events and characters. Personally, getting into the book was difficult at the beginning, because there was so much recap of stuff I already knew. I ended up just skimming those paragraphs and moved forward.
Once the primary mystery plot kicked in, I was hooked. Like the other books, this one has Alex Daniels solving yet another local mystery—a cold case from 40 years ago that suddenly becomes relevant in the present. Moreso than in previous books, this crime connects to the overarching plot. I loved that there was a deeper dive into the magic surrounding Bellamy Bay. If you started the series and were disappointed that the FMC had a mermaid gene but wasn’t a true mermaid, guess what? There are bonafide mermaids in this one
Alex’s primary relationships are with her aunt, cousins, and friends, but there is a romance subplot as well. I’ve always found her boyfriend, Jack, kind of unbearable. He’s the local detective who has arrested two of Alex’s loved ones for crimes they didn’t commit. He refused to listen to Alex when she said they were innocent, and he hates the herbal apothecary Alex’s family runs. In my opinion, this guy has no redeeming qualities, and he gets even worse in this book. You also get to somewhat understand why he behaves the way he does, but that’s not an excuse. Thankfully, it looks like he’ll play a much smaller role, if any, in the next book.
And it does end on a pretty big cliffhanger, so I’ll definitely check out the fourth book whenever it releases!
August 31, 2025
I did not realize this was a series but I'll definitely be going back for the first two books.
Set in the small coastal town Bellamy Bay, we follow our main character Alex who is trying to lay low but her journalist friend, Pepper, revisits an old cold case. But things take a darker turn when her friend’s editor is found dead on the beach, together with a woman suffering from amnesia. The shadows of The Fisherman, a decades old serial killer, begin to resurface.
As an entry point in the series the size of the cast of characters feels a bit overwhelming but you are caught up pretty well in the book. The story combines cozy and mystery well with the setting and plot. The main supernatural element being mermaids was a pleasant surprise as it's usually something else. A nice surprise was also that Alex is a steady and thoughtful main character which made it an enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC
Set in the small coastal town Bellamy Bay, we follow our main character Alex who is trying to lay low but her journalist friend, Pepper, revisits an old cold case. But things take a darker turn when her friend’s editor is found dead on the beach, together with a woman suffering from amnesia. The shadows of The Fisherman, a decades old serial killer, begin to resurface.
As an entry point in the series the size of the cast of characters feels a bit overwhelming but you are caught up pretty well in the book. The story combines cozy and mystery well with the setting and plot. The main supernatural element being mermaids was a pleasant surprise as it's usually something else. A nice surprise was also that Alex is a steady and thoughtful main character which made it an enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC
September 23, 2025
3.75⭐️
I really enjoyed this cute and cozy mystery! I never thought beer and mermaids would go together, but here we are! If you are a fan of the CW series Sirens, this gave me those vibes. I loved that this took place in October. This can be a cozy Fall or Summer read. I definitely want to read more in this series.
Audiobook provided by NetGalley for honest review
I really enjoyed this cute and cozy mystery! I never thought beer and mermaids would go together, but here we are! If you are a fan of the CW series Sirens, this gave me those vibes. I loved that this took place in October. This can be a cozy Fall or Summer read. I definitely want to read more in this series.
Audiobook provided by NetGalley for honest review
May 10, 2025
#ABrewforChaos #NetGalley is a well written addition to this series by author Esme Addison.
Alex is our protagonist who is not only a practicing herbalist, she's also the ancestor of mermaids.
Alex lives with her aunt and cousin in Bellamy Bay, and works in the family apothecary.
When Pepper, an up and coming journalist asks Alex to help research a 20 year old story of missing women, she has no idea what she's in for.
This story was an amazing one, I immediately became involved in every aspect of the book, wondering what happened to the women and would any of them be found after all these years.
The ending blew me away, I was hoping the author would give us a clue, and Ms. Addison certainly did.
I'm looking forward to next book, I am excited to see what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Alex is our protagonist who is not only a practicing herbalist, she's also the ancestor of mermaids.
Alex lives with her aunt and cousin in Bellamy Bay, and works in the family apothecary.
When Pepper, an up and coming journalist asks Alex to help research a 20 year old story of missing women, she has no idea what she's in for.
This story was an amazing one, I immediately became involved in every aspect of the book, wondering what happened to the women and would any of them be found after all these years.
The ending blew me away, I was hoping the author would give us a clue, and Ms. Addison certainly did.
I'm looking forward to next book, I am excited to see what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
September 15, 2025
⭐️: 1
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for gifting me this ARC.
DNF’d at 13%.
I knew going in this was the third book in a series that I hadn’t read the first two installments of. But from what I had read about this book, there was enough of a recap at the beginning that you could appreciate this one without reading the other two.
And I did try. I really did. But it felt like this book was written by someone in law enforcement purely by the sheer amount of information dumping the happened in the first part of the book. Like every single bit of scene detail needed to be described from the color of the shelves to the designer brand camel boots, etc. I felt like I was reading a police report and not a cozy mystery novel.
Also the boyfriend, Jack is complete trash. His condescension about Alex’s job and her family was a lot. And then when he only asked her to meet his mom so she could be her caretaker when he was working? And she was flattered?! Absolutely not. I like my cozy fantasies to actually give me curl up/relaxation vibes…not make me want to chuck the book across the room barely based the first few chapters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for gifting me this ARC.
DNF’d at 13%.
I knew going in this was the third book in a series that I hadn’t read the first two installments of. But from what I had read about this book, there was enough of a recap at the beginning that you could appreciate this one without reading the other two.
And I did try. I really did. But it felt like this book was written by someone in law enforcement purely by the sheer amount of information dumping the happened in the first part of the book. Like every single bit of scene detail needed to be described from the color of the shelves to the designer brand camel boots, etc. I felt like I was reading a police report and not a cozy mystery novel.
Also the boyfriend, Jack is complete trash. His condescension about Alex’s job and her family was a lot. And then when he only asked her to meet his mom so she could be her caretaker when he was working? And she was flattered?! Absolutely not. I like my cozy fantasies to actually give me curl up/relaxation vibes…not make me want to chuck the book across the room barely based the first few chapters.
July 18, 2025
4.25⭐
A wonderful cozy fantasy/mystery addiction to a favorite series. Since returning to Bellamy Bay in the series, Alex Daniels learns she has a genetic marker that shows she's descended from mermaids. As she explored those implications and magical talents, she connected with relatives and friends for a real community. Here she becomes involved with helping a journalist friend, Pepper, research a serial killer from decades ago called The Fisherman. There are many threads to the plot and my only caveat to the book is the amount of exposition and characters at the beginning left me slightly confused. But don't worry, it is entirely paid off in this entertaining and exciting story. And the bombshell on the final pages has me salivating for the next book. I can't wait! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderful cozy fantasy/mystery addiction to a favorite series. Since returning to Bellamy Bay in the series, Alex Daniels learns she has a genetic marker that shows she's descended from mermaids. As she explored those implications and magical talents, she connected with relatives and friends for a real community. Here she becomes involved with helping a journalist friend, Pepper, research a serial killer from decades ago called The Fisherman. There are many threads to the plot and my only caveat to the book is the amount of exposition and characters at the beginning left me slightly confused. But don't worry, it is entirely paid off in this entertaining and exciting story. And the bombshell on the final pages has me salivating for the next book. I can't wait! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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August 31, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
A Brew for Chaos by Esme Addison is a third person-POV cozy fantasy mystery. Alex is settling into her new home and job and her new reality as a descendant of a mermaid. Between her boyfriend, Jack, and her best friend, Pepper, she’s got a lot to do. But the anniversary of an unsolved case is coming up and Pepper is ready to investigate it further and Jack wants them to stay out of it.
This is the third book in a series and I have not read the other two, so I cannot say how this one fits within this world. I do feel that Alex and the other leads were fleshed out enough and the world was explained enough that I didn’t have an issue with knowing what was happening and who the characters were after a little bit. I think this series is probably more episodic like a lot of genre mysteries are and given this has a fairly grounded fantastical element, it’s probably going to stay that way instead of a giant overarching plot that demands readers read the whole thing in order.
I was intrigued by the fact this was marked as being a blend of fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi and was curious where the sci-fi was going to come in. There’s a lot of explanations on DNA, specifically mermaid DNA, and technology that exists in the world to search for other magical beings. The aspects discussing evolution will be delightful for the people who love more scientific explanations for the fantastical.
I don’t know what is going to happen between Jack and Alex in the next book, but I’m hoping that either he has a massive change of heart and actively works to change or Alex never takes him back. He is obviously wrapped up in his grief and I can understand why he feels the way he does, but I agree with Alex that it is too much and they are not a good fit because of it. Some of his phrasing is extremely uncomfortable and he is very rigid in how he thinks.
I would recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries and contemporary fantasy and readers of fantasy who like worldbuilding with scientific explanations
A Brew for Chaos by Esme Addison is a third person-POV cozy fantasy mystery. Alex is settling into her new home and job and her new reality as a descendant of a mermaid. Between her boyfriend, Jack, and her best friend, Pepper, she’s got a lot to do. But the anniversary of an unsolved case is coming up and Pepper is ready to investigate it further and Jack wants them to stay out of it.
This is the third book in a series and I have not read the other two, so I cannot say how this one fits within this world. I do feel that Alex and the other leads were fleshed out enough and the world was explained enough that I didn’t have an issue with knowing what was happening and who the characters were after a little bit. I think this series is probably more episodic like a lot of genre mysteries are and given this has a fairly grounded fantastical element, it’s probably going to stay that way instead of a giant overarching plot that demands readers read the whole thing in order.
I was intrigued by the fact this was marked as being a blend of fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi and was curious where the sci-fi was going to come in. There’s a lot of explanations on DNA, specifically mermaid DNA, and technology that exists in the world to search for other magical beings. The aspects discussing evolution will be delightful for the people who love more scientific explanations for the fantastical.
I don’t know what is going to happen between Jack and Alex in the next book, but I’m hoping that either he has a massive change of heart and actively works to change or Alex never takes him back. He is obviously wrapped up in his grief and I can understand why he feels the way he does, but I agree with Alex that it is too much and they are not a good fit because of it. Some of his phrasing is extremely uncomfortable and he is very rigid in how he thinks.
I would recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries and contemporary fantasy and readers of fantasy who like worldbuilding with scientific explanations
September 13, 2025
Aleksandra Daniels is settling into life in Bellamy Bay, balancing her new apothecary job, her budding relationship with detective Jack Frazier, and her still-unpredictable magical powers. As the town gears up for Oktoberfest, her friend Pepper becomes consumed with an old cold case involving a serial killer who abducted ten women in the 1980s. Though Alex wants to stay out of detective work and focus on Jack, everything changes when Pepper’s boss, Jonah, is found dead on the beach. Drawn back into danger, Alex must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again—putting her and her loved ones at risk.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By 35% in, I knew this was going to be the best book in the series so far.
When I was approved for this ARC, I immediately went back and listened to the first two books before starting this one, and I’m so glad I did. Having that background really enhanced my experience and made the story even stronger.
The author does an amazing job with the magical system—both the powers and the rules feel well thought out and consistent. I also really enjoyed the subtle love triangle between Alex, Dillon, and Jack. It never overtakes the plot, but it adds just enough tension and drama to keep things interesting. In earlier books, I wasn’t sure why Alex was placed in that situation, but now I understand, and it worked perfectly.
This book really centers on Jack and his story, which I loved. We also get more insight into Alex’s mom, and those moments hit me with so many emotions.
One of my favorite things about this series—and it continues here—is the twists and turns. They keep the mystery engaging and unpredictable, while still being easy to follow. Overall, this was such a fun and emotional read, and I think it’s the strongest of the series yet.
Thank you Dream Scape Media for this ARC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By 35% in, I knew this was going to be the best book in the series so far.
When I was approved for this ARC, I immediately went back and listened to the first two books before starting this one, and I’m so glad I did. Having that background really enhanced my experience and made the story even stronger.
The author does an amazing job with the magical system—both the powers and the rules feel well thought out and consistent. I also really enjoyed the subtle love triangle between Alex, Dillon, and Jack. It never overtakes the plot, but it adds just enough tension and drama to keep things interesting. In earlier books, I wasn’t sure why Alex was placed in that situation, but now I understand, and it worked perfectly.
This book really centers on Jack and his story, which I loved. We also get more insight into Alex’s mom, and those moments hit me with so many emotions.
One of my favorite things about this series—and it continues here—is the twists and turns. They keep the mystery engaging and unpredictable, while still being easy to follow. Overall, this was such a fun and emotional read, and I think it’s the strongest of the series yet.
Thank you Dream Scape Media for this ARC.
August 30, 2025
Big Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'A Brew for Chaos' is the third book in the 'Enchanted Bay Mysteries' series. The book follows Alexandra, a descendant of a legendary mermaid, as she and her family tanlge into an old serial killer case.
I didn't expect the story to be so dark, but that set it apart from the other cozy fantasy mystery books. The lore was also well handled, often used science to explain the fantasy element, and the case was intense and had some unpredictable twists. The plot got emotional, too.
The characters were endearing as well, all but some. The romance, moreover, was okay, but I liked the outcome as I had certain love hate views for the guy.
The atmosphere, in addition, was quite autumnal and just right for the season. The writing was enjoyable as well.
Finally, the audiobook was well narrated and produced.
'A Brew for Chaos' is the third book in the 'Enchanted Bay Mysteries' series. The book follows Alexandra, a descendant of a legendary mermaid, as she and her family tanlge into an old serial killer case.
I didn't expect the story to be so dark, but that set it apart from the other cozy fantasy mystery books. The lore was also well handled, often used science to explain the fantasy element, and the case was intense and had some unpredictable twists. The plot got emotional, too.
The characters were endearing as well, all but some. The romance, moreover, was okay, but I liked the outcome as I had certain love hate views for the guy.
The atmosphere, in addition, was quite autumnal and just right for the season. The writing was enjoyable as well.
Finally, the audiobook was well narrated and produced.
August 27, 2025
A cosy mystery story set in the small coastal town of Bellamy Bay.
I enjoyed the fact that there were several storylines present. It was interesting to see how they played out and linked as the story opened up. It was also interesting to see how the magical element was present in the small coastal town.
There are several characters in this story, it’s a small town and everyone knows it had a connection to someone. It reminded me of a hallmark film and could imagine watching this as I was reading it.
I did struggle at the start of the book to connect with the story, but am glad I persevered with it. I soon became invested in the story a few chapters in and needed to know what was going on, who the bad guy(s) were.
If you like cosy mystery stories, with added magic then this one would be perfect for you.
Thank you so much to the author and to Severn House Imprint for the early copy. Opinions expressed here are my own.
3.75⭐️
I enjoyed the fact that there were several storylines present. It was interesting to see how they played out and linked as the story opened up. It was also interesting to see how the magical element was present in the small coastal town.
There are several characters in this story, it’s a small town and everyone knows it had a connection to someone. It reminded me of a hallmark film and could imagine watching this as I was reading it.
I did struggle at the start of the book to connect with the story, but am glad I persevered with it. I soon became invested in the story a few chapters in and needed to know what was going on, who the bad guy(s) were.
If you like cosy mystery stories, with added magic then this one would be perfect for you.
Thank you so much to the author and to Severn House Imprint for the early copy. Opinions expressed here are my own.
3.75⭐️
September 1, 2025
A brew for Chaos | Esme Addison
Narrated by Emily Durante
Publication date: 2nd of September!
Summary: A Brew for Chaos is a cozy mystery featuring Aleksandra "Alex" Daniels, a woman with mermaid ancestry and magical powers, who is drawn into solving a cold case of a serial killer known as "The Fisherman" after a friend is murdered.
This was a fun read, however I wish I had of known it was part of a series before I jumped in. I was very lucky to be gifted this ALC by NetGalley. My own fault for not looking into it more, as there was a few references that had me guessing what was happening.
Definitely makes me want to read the prior books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrated by Emily Durante
Publication date: 2nd of September!
Summary: A Brew for Chaos is a cozy mystery featuring Aleksandra "Alex" Daniels, a woman with mermaid ancestry and magical powers, who is drawn into solving a cold case of a serial killer known as "The Fisherman" after a friend is murdered.
This was a fun read, however I wish I had of known it was part of a series before I jumped in. I was very lucky to be gifted this ALC by NetGalley. My own fault for not looking into it more, as there was a few references that had me guessing what was happening.
Definitely makes me want to read the prior books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 31, 2025
Thank you to Severn House for kindly sending me an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.
My first cosy mystery of the year, and whilst it was perhaps a little slow to get going, once it picked up, I enjoyed this a lot.
This is book 3 in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series, but I would say it can be read as a standalone as I'd not read the first 2 and had no trouble keeping up with the story.
I will say, there were a lot of characters to try and keep up with, and at points, I was a little confused with who was who and how they were linked, but as I say, as the story continued I found myself fully invested and read the majority within 2 days.
The ending was action-filled and kept me page-turning feverishly! There were some good little twists, and overall I felt it had a very satisfying ending.
I also loved the mermaid theme, which seemed so unique.
I'd read more in this series, as the cosy, small-town vibes were great.
My first cosy mystery of the year, and whilst it was perhaps a little slow to get going, once it picked up, I enjoyed this a lot.
This is book 3 in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series, but I would say it can be read as a standalone as I'd not read the first 2 and had no trouble keeping up with the story.
I will say, there were a lot of characters to try and keep up with, and at points, I was a little confused with who was who and how they were linked, but as I say, as the story continued I found myself fully invested and read the majority within 2 days.
The ending was action-filled and kept me page-turning feverishly! There were some good little twists, and overall I felt it had a very satisfying ending.
I also loved the mermaid theme, which seemed so unique.
I'd read more in this series, as the cosy, small-town vibes were great.
September 16, 2025
Mermaid murder mystery was such an interesting concept. To preface, this is the first book in the series I have read, and it can be read as a standalone and enjoyed with minor spoilers from the previous books. I love the science and alchemy stuff in this story the most. The way the FMC is so smart and is able to piece together the clues of the case, along with her knowledge of genetics and alchemy, was amazing! Overall, a great read for someone looking for something unique, intriguing, and full of mystery.
Expect: Genetics, science experiments for evil, mermaid genetics, murder mystery
Expect: Genetics, science experiments for evil, mermaid genetics, murder mystery
August 22, 2025
THAT ENDING?!? I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW. Also, as someone who struggles to suspend disbelief, I appreciate the author taking the time to make this a fantasy rooted in science that kind of makes it make sense. I actually enjoyed hearing how some of this “magic” was rooted in possible biological reactions.
November 18, 2025
This took my awhile to get through not because it was bad I’m just so busy with school so I feel like I didn’t give this book enough appreciation and attention it deserved.
It was a cozy mystery with lots of magical and mysterious elements that make it a great read for the fall. I’ll definitely be re reading to give it the love it deserves
It was a cozy mystery with lots of magical and mysterious elements that make it a great read for the fall. I’ll definitely be re reading to give it the love it deserves
September 19, 2025
Okay, this book has more substance and story than the previous two, but I still find the characters annoying and immature, particularly the world's worst detective, Jack, and hypocrite Alex. But I really wanted the solution to all the nefarious things going on in this small town.
October 4, 2025
Jack doesn't do a lot to make me like him. if anything, I just hate him more. I'm not sure how I feel about Dylan....I could like him but...blowing up her tires. I don't think I'll get over that. it didn't even happen in this book. still, I'm going to need a book 4.
September 10, 2025
This was a cosy mystery in a fantasy world, with a splash of sci-fi, action and plenty of conspiracies. I liked the mix of exploring her abilities being a mermaid descendant and the science behind it all, combined with the mystery and intrigue from the murder investigations.
There were a lot of characters to keep up with, but it's a creative plot and the ending leaves you curious for more.
There were a lot of characters to keep up with, but it's a creative plot and the ending leaves you curious for more.
August 27, 2025
This book is stressing me out, and not because of the murder. It's not cozy. It's a lot of information dumping surrounding a "romantic" relationship with a unpleasant, controlling man. Whenever the cop boyfriend or his mom are on the scene, it reads more like a true crime thriller. Anyway, I'm anxious and bored neither of which is a recipe for a good cozy mystery
August 2, 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy*
This was a very middle-road kind of mystery book with way too many characters being juggled and far too many elements going on.
It was confusing and kind of boring, I wasn’t overall excited about the cast or the mystery itself.
This was a very middle-road kind of mystery book with way too many characters being juggled and far too many elements going on.
It was confusing and kind of boring, I wasn’t overall excited about the cast or the mystery itself.
August 27, 2025
Summary
✨ The third book in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series. ✨
Still coming to terms with her mermaid heritage, Alex Daniels gets pulled into solving a puzzling serial killer cold case. Working at her aunt's enchanted herbal apothecary in a charming beach town during cozy fall, she finds herself drawn into this magical cozy mystery.
Aleksandra Daniels is settling into her new home in Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. She loves her apothecary job, and is enjoying getting to know her boyfriend, local detective Jack Frazier. But she’s still trying to figure out her magical powers.
In the eighties, a serial killer abducted ten local women and was never caught, the women never seen again. Local journalist Pepper asks Alex for help, but she’s done solving mysteries. She’d rather be with Jack sharing apple cider. That won't happen if she keeps meddling in his investigations.
When [Pepper’s boss] Jonah’s body is found on the beach, Alex is forced to reconsider. Soon she’s caught in a plot that places her life and the lives of everyone she loves in terrible danger.
Review
🌊 Small Coastal Town
🕵🏼♀️ Murder Mystery
🧜🏼♀️ Mermaid Heritage
✨ Magical Powers
✨ Full disclosure: ✨
I skimmed the description of this book and totally overlooked that it was part of a series! When reading it, it alludes to the events of previous books (which I wasn’t aware of at the time) and kept thinking, “why are they telling me instead of showing me?!”
I would recommend reading the other books in the series to get a full picture of the story and really flesh out the characters BUT it isn’t entirely necessary to understand it. I only read the first two of the Enchanted Bay series after finishing this one!
This is such a cute murder mystery (which I know sounds like an oxymoron!). The mermaid elements (e.g. magical powers and heritage history) is so well thought out and makes complete sense to the story. The beer, however, didn’t seem to make as much sense. I understood it but thought some bits were a bit bizarre. 🤣
Alex is a really likeable FMC and I enjoyed her antics throughout the book. She finds out that she descends from a line of mermaids and, whilst they no longer have mermaid tails, they do have magical, water-related powers. I thought some of these were a bit of a stretch (like the telepathy using the water in the body/brain) but I still thought they were cool! I loved that Alex slowly began to discover the extent of her powers throughout the book - it was like she was really growing into herself as the story progressed.
Her relationship with Jack felt so complicated, with them both keeping secrets, but I liked it nonetheless. I thought Jack was interesting: I was super suspicious of him from the beginning and was worried that his mum was being mistreated but pleased with how that plot point unfolded.
There are a tonne of side characters and, if you’re unfamiliar with the series, this may be a bit overwhelming. It’s also important to know that there are a few storylines occurring at the same time, which all come together in the end. There are twists and turns at every corner and I loved questioning everything that is said/done!
🎧
Emily Durante is excellent: I listened to this and Durante is a wonderful narrator. I’d be inclined to listen to anything I come across in the future with her as a narrator!
Thank you NetGalley, Esme Addison and Dreamscape Media.
✨ The third book in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series. ✨
Still coming to terms with her mermaid heritage, Alex Daniels gets pulled into solving a puzzling serial killer cold case. Working at her aunt's enchanted herbal apothecary in a charming beach town during cozy fall, she finds herself drawn into this magical cozy mystery.
Aleksandra Daniels is settling into her new home in Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. She loves her apothecary job, and is enjoying getting to know her boyfriend, local detective Jack Frazier. But she’s still trying to figure out her magical powers.
In the eighties, a serial killer abducted ten local women and was never caught, the women never seen again. Local journalist Pepper asks Alex for help, but she’s done solving mysteries. She’d rather be with Jack sharing apple cider. That won't happen if she keeps meddling in his investigations.
When [Pepper’s boss] Jonah’s body is found on the beach, Alex is forced to reconsider. Soon she’s caught in a plot that places her life and the lives of everyone she loves in terrible danger.
Review
🌊 Small Coastal Town
🕵🏼♀️ Murder Mystery
🧜🏼♀️ Mermaid Heritage
✨ Magical Powers
✨ Full disclosure: ✨
I skimmed the description of this book and totally overlooked that it was part of a series! When reading it, it alludes to the events of previous books (which I wasn’t aware of at the time) and kept thinking, “why are they telling me instead of showing me?!”
I would recommend reading the other books in the series to get a full picture of the story and really flesh out the characters BUT it isn’t entirely necessary to understand it. I only read the first two of the Enchanted Bay series after finishing this one!
This is such a cute murder mystery (which I know sounds like an oxymoron!). The mermaid elements (e.g. magical powers and heritage history) is so well thought out and makes complete sense to the story. The beer, however, didn’t seem to make as much sense. I understood it but thought some bits were a bit bizarre. 🤣
Alex is a really likeable FMC and I enjoyed her antics throughout the book. She finds out that she descends from a line of mermaids and, whilst they no longer have mermaid tails, they do have magical, water-related powers. I thought some of these were a bit of a stretch (like the telepathy using the water in the body/brain) but I still thought they were cool! I loved that Alex slowly began to discover the extent of her powers throughout the book - it was like she was really growing into herself as the story progressed.
Her relationship with Jack felt so complicated, with them both keeping secrets, but I liked it nonetheless. I thought Jack was interesting: I was super suspicious of him from the beginning and was worried that his mum was being mistreated but pleased with how that plot point unfolded.
There are a tonne of side characters and, if you’re unfamiliar with the series, this may be a bit overwhelming. It’s also important to know that there are a few storylines occurring at the same time, which all come together in the end. There are twists and turns at every corner and I loved questioning everything that is said/done!
🎧
Emily Durante is excellent: I listened to this and Durante is a wonderful narrator. I’d be inclined to listen to anything I come across in the future with her as a narrator!
Thank you NetGalley, Esme Addison and Dreamscape Media.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2025
🧙♀️ Autumn vibes, mermaid magic, and a murder mystery wrapped in folklore
A Brew for Chaos is an enchanting, emotionally grounded cozy mystery that weaves together mermaid mythology, small-town charm, and an unsettling cold case that stirs up more than just memories. Though this is the third book in Esme Addison’s Enchanted Bay Mystery series, it still offers a welcoming entry point with plenty of context—and an atmosphere that feels tailor-made for curling up with on a crisp fall evening.
We return to Bellamy Bay, a picturesque coastal town with strong magical roots and a proud lineage of Sobieski women descended from ancient water spirits. Alex Daniels—apothecary worker, mermaid descendant, and part-time sleuth—is looking forward to Oktoberfest and some downtime with her detective boyfriend, Jack. But things take a darker turn when her friend’s editor is found dead on the beach—next to a woman suffering from amnesia—and the shadows of a decades-old serial killer known only as The Fisherman begin to resurface.
💫 What Worked So Well
A heroine with quiet strength and magical intuition
Alex is a refreshing cozy mystery protagonist: thoughtful, intuitive, and emotionally nuanced. Her magic is subtle but well-integrated, giving her a unique perspective on the mystery without ever overshadowing the investigation.
The folklore and fantasy elements
The mermaid-descendant lore gives the book a unique texture, setting it apart from typical cozy mysteries. There’s also a light thread of speculative sci-fi (including a government interest in “the mer gene”) that adds intrigue without overcomplicating the story.
A layered mystery that connects past and present
The cold case of The Fisherman brings real tension into the story. The mystery unspools slowly but effectively, and though not all threads are tightly tied, the emotional payoff feels satisfying.
Strong seasonal atmosphere
Fall festivals, spicy cider, and coastal winds give the setting real depth and comfort. It’s the kind of book you want to read with a blanket and warm drink.
🔻 A Few Things to Note
As a new reader to the series, I occasionally felt I was missing backstory—especially around secondary characters like Minka and Lidia. That said, the author gives just enough exposition for newcomers to stay afloat.
The cast is fairly large, and with some character names and magical lineages echoing each other, it took a bit of time to keep track of who’s who. A character guide or series recap would’ve been helpful.
🧡 Final Thoughts
A Brew for Chaos is a cozy mystery with soul. It blends the lightness of small-town charm with emotional depth, a sprinkle of magic, and a compelling murder mystery that respects its readers’ intelligence. While longtime series fans will no doubt appreciate the character development more fully, this installment still stands strong on its own.
I’ll definitely be going back to read the earlier books—and I’m looking forward to where Alex’s story goes next.
A Brew for Chaos is an enchanting, emotionally grounded cozy mystery that weaves together mermaid mythology, small-town charm, and an unsettling cold case that stirs up more than just memories. Though this is the third book in Esme Addison’s Enchanted Bay Mystery series, it still offers a welcoming entry point with plenty of context—and an atmosphere that feels tailor-made for curling up with on a crisp fall evening.
We return to Bellamy Bay, a picturesque coastal town with strong magical roots and a proud lineage of Sobieski women descended from ancient water spirits. Alex Daniels—apothecary worker, mermaid descendant, and part-time sleuth—is looking forward to Oktoberfest and some downtime with her detective boyfriend, Jack. But things take a darker turn when her friend’s editor is found dead on the beach—next to a woman suffering from amnesia—and the shadows of a decades-old serial killer known only as The Fisherman begin to resurface.
💫 What Worked So Well
A heroine with quiet strength and magical intuition
Alex is a refreshing cozy mystery protagonist: thoughtful, intuitive, and emotionally nuanced. Her magic is subtle but well-integrated, giving her a unique perspective on the mystery without ever overshadowing the investigation.
The folklore and fantasy elements
The mermaid-descendant lore gives the book a unique texture, setting it apart from typical cozy mysteries. There’s also a light thread of speculative sci-fi (including a government interest in “the mer gene”) that adds intrigue without overcomplicating the story.
A layered mystery that connects past and present
The cold case of The Fisherman brings real tension into the story. The mystery unspools slowly but effectively, and though not all threads are tightly tied, the emotional payoff feels satisfying.
Strong seasonal atmosphere
Fall festivals, spicy cider, and coastal winds give the setting real depth and comfort. It’s the kind of book you want to read with a blanket and warm drink.
🔻 A Few Things to Note
As a new reader to the series, I occasionally felt I was missing backstory—especially around secondary characters like Minka and Lidia. That said, the author gives just enough exposition for newcomers to stay afloat.
The cast is fairly large, and with some character names and magical lineages echoing each other, it took a bit of time to keep track of who’s who. A character guide or series recap would’ve been helpful.
🧡 Final Thoughts
A Brew for Chaos is a cozy mystery with soul. It blends the lightness of small-town charm with emotional depth, a sprinkle of magic, and a compelling murder mystery that respects its readers’ intelligence. While longtime series fans will no doubt appreciate the character development more fully, this installment still stands strong on its own.
I’ll definitely be going back to read the earlier books—and I’m looking forward to where Alex’s story goes next.
May 13, 2025
Book Review: A Brew for Chaos (Enchanted Bay Mysteries #3) by Esme Addison
Esme Addison’s A Brew for Chaos is a whimsical yet tightly plotted addition to the Enchanted Bay cozy mystery series, blending supernatural elements with classic whodunit intrigue. The novel follows herbal apothecary worker and secret mermaid descendant Alex Daniels as she investigates a cold-case serial killer mystery after a body is discovered on the beach. Addison’s strength lies in her ability to balance lighthearted charm with darker thematic undertones, creating a narrative that appeals to both genre enthusiasts and scholars of contemporary cozy mysteries.
Key Strengths and Contributions
-Genre Innovation: Addison deftly merges cozy mystery tropes (small-town dynamics, amateur sleuthing) with magical realism, offering a fresh take on the subgenre. The inclusion of mermaid lore and herbal magic elevates the plot beyond conventional mysteries.
-Character Depth: Protagonist Alex Daniels is a compelling lead, with her conflicted identity as a mermaid descendant and her emotional ties to her mother’s hidden past. Secondary characters, including the victim Jonah, are sketched with enough nuance to avoid cliché.
-Thematic Layering: Beneath the surface of a beach-town mystery, the novel explores themes of legacy, secrecy, and the moral weight of uncovering truths—particularly through Alex’s reckoning with her family’s supernatural heritage.
Critiques and Limitations
-Pacing Issues: The middle section sags under excessive exposition about magical lore, slowing the momentum of the central mystery.
-Villain Transparency: The killer’s identity leans on predictable tropes, diminishing the impact of the final reveal.
-Worldbuilding Gaps: While the magical elements are imaginative, their rules feel inconsistently applied, particularly in climactic scenes.
Thematic and Analytical Insights
Addison’s exploration of hidden histories—both familial and supernatural—resonates with broader literary discussions about identity and belonging. The novel’s emphasis on herbalism and natural magic could be read as a metaphor for reclaiming marginalized knowledge, though this thread is underexplored. The resolution’s reliance on intuition over logic may frustrate readers seeking traditional mystery rigor.
Overall Rating: 3.8/5
Section Scoring Breakdown
-Plot Structure: 4.0/5 — Clever twists but uneven pacing.
-Character Development: 4.2/5 — Alex’s arc shines; secondary roles need refinement.
-Worldbuilding: 3.5/5 — Creative but inconsistent magical systems.
-Thematic Depth: 4.0/5 — Subtle social commentary buried under genre conventions.
-Engagement: 4.1/5 — A page-turner with occasional lapses in tension.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Esme Addison for providing an advance copy of this enchanting mystery in exchange for an honest review.
Esme Addison’s A Brew for Chaos is a whimsical yet tightly plotted addition to the Enchanted Bay cozy mystery series, blending supernatural elements with classic whodunit intrigue. The novel follows herbal apothecary worker and secret mermaid descendant Alex Daniels as she investigates a cold-case serial killer mystery after a body is discovered on the beach. Addison’s strength lies in her ability to balance lighthearted charm with darker thematic undertones, creating a narrative that appeals to both genre enthusiasts and scholars of contemporary cozy mysteries.
Key Strengths and Contributions
-Genre Innovation: Addison deftly merges cozy mystery tropes (small-town dynamics, amateur sleuthing) with magical realism, offering a fresh take on the subgenre. The inclusion of mermaid lore and herbal magic elevates the plot beyond conventional mysteries.
-Character Depth: Protagonist Alex Daniels is a compelling lead, with her conflicted identity as a mermaid descendant and her emotional ties to her mother’s hidden past. Secondary characters, including the victim Jonah, are sketched with enough nuance to avoid cliché.
-Thematic Layering: Beneath the surface of a beach-town mystery, the novel explores themes of legacy, secrecy, and the moral weight of uncovering truths—particularly through Alex’s reckoning with her family’s supernatural heritage.
Critiques and Limitations
-Pacing Issues: The middle section sags under excessive exposition about magical lore, slowing the momentum of the central mystery.
-Villain Transparency: The killer’s identity leans on predictable tropes, diminishing the impact of the final reveal.
-Worldbuilding Gaps: While the magical elements are imaginative, their rules feel inconsistently applied, particularly in climactic scenes.
Thematic and Analytical Insights
Addison’s exploration of hidden histories—both familial and supernatural—resonates with broader literary discussions about identity and belonging. The novel’s emphasis on herbalism and natural magic could be read as a metaphor for reclaiming marginalized knowledge, though this thread is underexplored. The resolution’s reliance on intuition over logic may frustrate readers seeking traditional mystery rigor.
Overall Rating: 3.8/5
Section Scoring Breakdown
-Plot Structure: 4.0/5 — Clever twists but uneven pacing.
-Character Development: 4.2/5 — Alex’s arc shines; secondary roles need refinement.
-Worldbuilding: 3.5/5 — Creative but inconsistent magical systems.
-Thematic Depth: 4.0/5 — Subtle social commentary buried under genre conventions.
-Engagement: 4.1/5 — A page-turner with occasional lapses in tension.
Thank you to NetGalley and author Esme Addison for providing an advance copy of this enchanting mystery in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2025
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
It's Oktoberfest in Bellamy Bay and they are doing their annual beer brewing competition. Jonah, who runs the paper, is known for his famous beer, so when he is found dead on the beach and an unconscious woman with no memory is found beside him, the whole town doesn't know what to think. Alex's family agrees to take in the woman and try to nurse her back to health, meanwhile Alex it's helping her friend research a serial killer from the '80s who was never caught – a killer known only as the Fisherman – and her boyfriend, who has been very secretive about his personal life, is finally allowing her in. As everything happens at once, Alex finds herself not only dealing with all of this, but also finds herself at the very center of a plot that could change the magical population forever.
Okay so, so much makes sense now from the previous books as we get explanations as to what's going on, who is doing what, and what's really happening behind the scenes. Alex for a change doesn't make law enforcement look stupid since she doesn't really accidentally uncover stuff, but more that everything is connected now and so is she? So her researching one thing finally answers another thing which is opening up the past to something else… literally, everything is connected. This is a believable mystery that she solved, although once again she puts herself in a situation where she's alone and the person who's doing whatever is able to get her. That aside, we find out a lot more about the community and the way that the governments around the world deal with them. This is probably the darkest of the three books because of what is discovered as she's knees deep into this investigation/ mystery. I'm really looking forward to the next one because there's a hint at the end of what we can expect and I'm wondering if that's going to be the final book in the series because there's only so much randomness that can go on that's all connected to Alex and her family. Like I said, this was definitely better than the second book and I would also say definitely better than the first one? In fact, this might be my favorite of the three so far. Now I just need her love life to get better because Jack was not it for me.
It's Oktoberfest in Bellamy Bay and they are doing their annual beer brewing competition. Jonah, who runs the paper, is known for his famous beer, so when he is found dead on the beach and an unconscious woman with no memory is found beside him, the whole town doesn't know what to think. Alex's family agrees to take in the woman and try to nurse her back to health, meanwhile Alex it's helping her friend research a serial killer from the '80s who was never caught – a killer known only as the Fisherman – and her boyfriend, who has been very secretive about his personal life, is finally allowing her in. As everything happens at once, Alex finds herself not only dealing with all of this, but also finds herself at the very center of a plot that could change the magical population forever.
Okay so, so much makes sense now from the previous books as we get explanations as to what's going on, who is doing what, and what's really happening behind the scenes. Alex for a change doesn't make law enforcement look stupid since she doesn't really accidentally uncover stuff, but more that everything is connected now and so is she? So her researching one thing finally answers another thing which is opening up the past to something else… literally, everything is connected. This is a believable mystery that she solved, although once again she puts herself in a situation where she's alone and the person who's doing whatever is able to get her. That aside, we find out a lot more about the community and the way that the governments around the world deal with them. This is probably the darkest of the three books because of what is discovered as she's knees deep into this investigation/ mystery. I'm really looking forward to the next one because there's a hint at the end of what we can expect and I'm wondering if that's going to be the final book in the series because there's only so much randomness that can go on that's all connected to Alex and her family. Like I said, this was definitely better than the second book and I would also say definitely better than the first one? In fact, this might be my favorite of the three so far. Now I just need her love life to get better because Jack was not it for me.
September 5, 2025
I was expecting an entertaining whodunit with some interesting characters, having already enjoyed Addison’s writing in An Intrigue of Witches. What I hadn’t expected was to get quite so caught up in the story and really care about what is happening to all those missing women.
Given this story is essentially about unsolved kidnappings, I’m giving a trigger warning. There is emotional heft within this whodunit, as Addison had me really caring about the fate of the women who’d disappeared from the beach. And when someone does return, the changes to her are concerning. I thought I knew where the story was going and who was the perpetrator – but I was wrong with all my guesses and in the meantime, the stakes continue to be raised.
It’s a bit difficult to discuss this one, without venturing into Spoiler territory – which would be a real shame as the blurb, for once, isn’t too chatty. But suffice to say there are plenty of viable suspects and instead of the story being allll about exploring their relative motives and possible alibis – there is also the scenario behind the kidnappings and murder steadily unfurling. It takes deft handling to manage these two narratives alongside each other without any jarring collisions. I also very much appreciated Addison’s exploration of what makes reasonably decent, often very moral people get to a mindset where they are able to tolerate the ill treatment and torture of other humans beings, because they’ve managed to persuade themselves those folks were somehow too dangerous to be treated properly. Given how much we’re seeing this dynamic being demonstrated internationally right now – it seemed a very apt subject to be examining.
All in all, this is a smart, thought-provoking story told with energy and skill that had me turning the pages far later than I should have done – and the denouement was satisfying and worked well. Given how much tension was generated and how much I’d cared for the main character throughout – that was important. I’m now very keen to read the next book. Highly recommended for fans of cosy mysteries with a magical element. While I obtained an arc of A Brew for Chaos from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Given this story is essentially about unsolved kidnappings, I’m giving a trigger warning. There is emotional heft within this whodunit, as Addison had me really caring about the fate of the women who’d disappeared from the beach. And when someone does return, the changes to her are concerning. I thought I knew where the story was going and who was the perpetrator – but I was wrong with all my guesses and in the meantime, the stakes continue to be raised.
It’s a bit difficult to discuss this one, without venturing into Spoiler territory – which would be a real shame as the blurb, for once, isn’t too chatty. But suffice to say there are plenty of viable suspects and instead of the story being allll about exploring their relative motives and possible alibis – there is also the scenario behind the kidnappings and murder steadily unfurling. It takes deft handling to manage these two narratives alongside each other without any jarring collisions. I also very much appreciated Addison’s exploration of what makes reasonably decent, often very moral people get to a mindset where they are able to tolerate the ill treatment and torture of other humans beings, because they’ve managed to persuade themselves those folks were somehow too dangerous to be treated properly. Given how much we’re seeing this dynamic being demonstrated internationally right now – it seemed a very apt subject to be examining.
All in all, this is a smart, thought-provoking story told with energy and skill that had me turning the pages far later than I should have done – and the denouement was satisfying and worked well. Given how much tension was generated and how much I’d cared for the main character throughout – that was important. I’m now very keen to read the next book. Highly recommended for fans of cosy mysteries with a magical element. While I obtained an arc of A Brew for Chaos from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
June 8, 2025
Returning to Bellamy Bay in A Brew for Chaos felt like slipping into a cozy sweater on a breezy day, comforting and just a little bit magical! Esme Addison delivers a gentle mystery steeped in family, folklore, and quiet strength, with Alex Daniels once again at the heart of it all.
Alex is the kind of protagonist I really enjoy spending time with calm, thoughtful, and refreshingly grounded. She’s not overly quirky or impulsive, but there’s a steady resilience to her that draws you in. As she juggles a murder investigation and her complicated magical legacy and her challenging relationship the story weaves mystery and personal growth in a way that’s satisfying, if occasionally a little too subtle.
The murder itself was well-structured, with enough red herrings to keep me engaged. That said, some of the side characters felt a bit more like background noise than actual players in the mystery, and I found myself wishing a few had been given more texture or time on the page.
What I really appreciated, though, was the sense of small town. Bellamy Bay was the highlight full of that small- dynamic where everyone knows everyone (and sometimes, that’s the problem). The magical elements are soft and understated, which works for the cozy tone, but I do hope future books delve deeper into the magical lore. There’s clearly more beneath the surface.
And ending left it on an exciting cliffhanger ready to read more of this series.
Strengths:
• Warm, relatable protagonist
• Strong setting with a cozy, slightly magical vibe
• Balanced mystery with some solid twists
• Authentic family relationships
• A good blend of magic and realism
Weaknesses:
• Some underdeveloped side characters
• The magical system still feels vague
• Middle pacing lagged in some places
Overall, A Brew for Chaos is a light, enjoyable read that feels like catching up with old friends, if your friends just happened to be magical and investigating murder.
Many thanks to Severn House NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Alex is the kind of protagonist I really enjoy spending time with calm, thoughtful, and refreshingly grounded. She’s not overly quirky or impulsive, but there’s a steady resilience to her that draws you in. As she juggles a murder investigation and her complicated magical legacy and her challenging relationship the story weaves mystery and personal growth in a way that’s satisfying, if occasionally a little too subtle.
The murder itself was well-structured, with enough red herrings to keep me engaged. That said, some of the side characters felt a bit more like background noise than actual players in the mystery, and I found myself wishing a few had been given more texture or time on the page.
What I really appreciated, though, was the sense of small town. Bellamy Bay was the highlight full of that small- dynamic where everyone knows everyone (and sometimes, that’s the problem). The magical elements are soft and understated, which works for the cozy tone, but I do hope future books delve deeper into the magical lore. There’s clearly more beneath the surface.
And ending left it on an exciting cliffhanger ready to read more of this series.
Strengths:
• Warm, relatable protagonist
• Strong setting with a cozy, slightly magical vibe
• Balanced mystery with some solid twists
• Authentic family relationships
• A good blend of magic and realism
Weaknesses:
• Some underdeveloped side characters
• The magical system still feels vague
• Middle pacing lagged in some places
Overall, A Brew for Chaos is a light, enjoyable read that feels like catching up with old friends, if your friends just happened to be magical and investigating murder.
Many thanks to Severn House NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
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