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Achewillow #1
A Dash of Demon
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26Miriam DuFour is at the end of her rope.
Kicked out of cooking school and living in her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, nothing in her life seems to be going right. That is until she inherits the estate of her dead great-grandaunt: a little café in the forgotten town of Achewillow.
Intent on selling the business and using the money to make a fresh start, Miriam visits Achewillow and discovers that the village sits firmly on the border between Vermont and Quebec. But that isn’t remotely the strangest thing about the place. There’s a cloud worshipping cult, a widow with a ghost husband, immortal raccoons, and something killing young women in the alleys.
As Miriam juggles demons, coffee, witchcraft, and baking, the town conspires to make her stay. Is it social pressure, financial hardship, or a family history that she hasn’t even begun to unravel? Only one thing seems certain: the answers to her questions are buried in the recipe books, mixing bowls, and coffee cups of the Achewillow café.
Kicked out of cooking school and living in her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, nothing in her life seems to be going right. That is until she inherits the estate of her dead great-grandaunt: a little café in the forgotten town of Achewillow.
Intent on selling the business and using the money to make a fresh start, Miriam visits Achewillow and discovers that the village sits firmly on the border between Vermont and Quebec. But that isn’t remotely the strangest thing about the place. There’s a cloud worshipping cult, a widow with a ghost husband, immortal raccoons, and something killing young women in the alleys.
As Miriam juggles demons, coffee, witchcraft, and baking, the town conspires to make her stay. Is it social pressure, financial hardship, or a family history that she hasn’t even begun to unravel? Only one thing seems certain: the answers to her questions are buried in the recipe books, mixing bowls, and coffee cups of the Achewillow café.
338 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
About the author
J.-F. Dubeau
7 books458 followersI love stories. I love consuming them and telling them. Whether as books or comics or movies or interactive role playing games or even on stage doing improv, I just love stories.
I currently work as a graphic designer where I get to tell other people's stories in images and brands. In my spare time I write and illustrate a web comic called The Eldritch Age.
I have a fascination for science, both as it is right now and for the possibilities it opens up in the technological sense but also the philosophical one.
This is where the ideas for my books come from; the clash of thought and science and where, in the long run, it can lead us as a species.
I currently work as a graphic designer where I get to tell other people's stories in images and brands. In my spare time I write and illustrate a web comic called The Eldritch Age.
I have a fascination for science, both as it is right now and for the possibilities it opens up in the technological sense but also the philosophical one.
This is where the ideas for my books come from; the clash of thought and science and where, in the long run, it can lead us as a species.
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March 13, 2026*Huge thanks to J.-F. for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*
I have to admit that I really don’t listen to any podcasts. I manage to fit in maybe one of The Ghost Story Guys podcasts a week when I can and same with Ronald McGillvray & Michael Shotter’s The Post Mortem Report. The biggest part of it, honestly, is that I just don’t have the time in the day to listen to something in any dedicated fashion. It’s also why I’ve listened to a total of three audiobooks in my life (and it probably wouldn’t surprise you to know they are the three audio only Andrew Pyper books!).
I was away of Dubeau and Frost’s ‘Achewillow’ podcast though, where Dubeau and Frost were writing this crazy world of mystery and creatures and Frost was narrating.
When it was announced that a book was being released for it, I was excited. I’m a huge fan of Dubeau’s loving both of the God in the Shed books as well as his sci-fi novel ‘The Life Engineered.’ I was intrigued and when he posted on FB about any reviewers interested, I reached out and he kindly sent me a digital copy. And he also mentioned that this wasn’t the traditional horror that I might be used to, when compared to his two (with a third coming) God in the Shed books. Fine by me! I was excited to see what they’d created and dove into this one with great anticipation.
What I liked: The novel opens with our main character, 20-something Miriam DuFour being kicked out of culinary school. On top of that, she’s living in her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, funds depleted and looking up from the very bitter bottom of her life. Then, she’s contacted out of the blue. Her grand aunt has passed away and left Miriam her coffee shop in a remote small town – Achewillow. Miriam’s never heard of this aunt, nor the town, but believing she can head there and sell the place and pocket the cash, she goes.
Dubeau and Frost set things up nicely. We immediately feel like we’ve known Miriam for our whole lives and we instantly want to see her succeed, see her catch any sort of break at all. Miriam hitches a ride with a burly truck driver, one that she’s unsure of, and when the man starts telling her that bodies have started to be found in Achewillow, she wonders what she’s even doing going to the town.
Once there, the authors quickly introduce us to a cavalcade of small town people, all folks who you’ve come across before in your life at some point, and we see Miriam thrust into the centre of the mystery. Who is killing these people? And was that a demon she saw walking near the shop?
The final half is a fun who-dunnit that morphs into a survival-against-huge-odds story, one where we see Miriam grow stronger and more confident while also realizing that maybe this strange place is where she wants to call home going forward.
What I didn’t like: For me, the only thing that I wished to be different, or rather that I noticed felt off, was that a body is found and Miriam is suspected to be involved almost immediately upon her arrival (technically during her first night there), and I wished it happened a day or two after, simply so that it could’ve given us a bit more time to see some of the ebbs and flows of the town. Saying that – with this being a podcast originally, that may have simply been a result of timing/ending of an episode, which would make sense based on the beats of when this happened.
Why you should buy this: I’m not overly familiar with the huge variety of sub-genres in the dark fiction world, but I have to believe this is bread-and-butter ‘comfort horror’ yeah? I imagine it’s what ‘Schitt’s Creek’ would be like if it was mixed with ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’ Or more accurately, this felt like when I watched The Kids in the Hall’s mini-series “Death Comes to Town.’
Quirky, tense, mysterious and ultimately heart-warming, this novel will be one I think will catch a lot of readers off guard, while also grabbing those same readers and not letting go.
What a wonderfully done novel, one that gives you light and dark in perfect mixture.
Pun intended.
I have to admit that I really don’t listen to any podcasts. I manage to fit in maybe one of The Ghost Story Guys podcasts a week when I can and same with Ronald McGillvray & Michael Shotter’s The Post Mortem Report. The biggest part of it, honestly, is that I just don’t have the time in the day to listen to something in any dedicated fashion. It’s also why I’ve listened to a total of three audiobooks in my life (and it probably wouldn’t surprise you to know they are the three audio only Andrew Pyper books!).
I was away of Dubeau and Frost’s ‘Achewillow’ podcast though, where Dubeau and Frost were writing this crazy world of mystery and creatures and Frost was narrating.
When it was announced that a book was being released for it, I was excited. I’m a huge fan of Dubeau’s loving both of the God in the Shed books as well as his sci-fi novel ‘The Life Engineered.’ I was intrigued and when he posted on FB about any reviewers interested, I reached out and he kindly sent me a digital copy. And he also mentioned that this wasn’t the traditional horror that I might be used to, when compared to his two (with a third coming) God in the Shed books. Fine by me! I was excited to see what they’d created and dove into this one with great anticipation.
What I liked: The novel opens with our main character, 20-something Miriam DuFour being kicked out of culinary school. On top of that, she’s living in her ex-boyfriend’s apartment, funds depleted and looking up from the very bitter bottom of her life. Then, she’s contacted out of the blue. Her grand aunt has passed away and left Miriam her coffee shop in a remote small town – Achewillow. Miriam’s never heard of this aunt, nor the town, but believing she can head there and sell the place and pocket the cash, she goes.
Dubeau and Frost set things up nicely. We immediately feel like we’ve known Miriam for our whole lives and we instantly want to see her succeed, see her catch any sort of break at all. Miriam hitches a ride with a burly truck driver, one that she’s unsure of, and when the man starts telling her that bodies have started to be found in Achewillow, she wonders what she’s even doing going to the town.
Once there, the authors quickly introduce us to a cavalcade of small town people, all folks who you’ve come across before in your life at some point, and we see Miriam thrust into the centre of the mystery. Who is killing these people? And was that a demon she saw walking near the shop?
The final half is a fun who-dunnit that morphs into a survival-against-huge-odds story, one where we see Miriam grow stronger and more confident while also realizing that maybe this strange place is where she wants to call home going forward.
What I didn’t like: For me, the only thing that I wished to be different, or rather that I noticed felt off, was that a body is found and Miriam is suspected to be involved almost immediately upon her arrival (technically during her first night there), and I wished it happened a day or two after, simply so that it could’ve given us a bit more time to see some of the ebbs and flows of the town. Saying that – with this being a podcast originally, that may have simply been a result of timing/ending of an episode, which would make sense based on the beats of when this happened.
Why you should buy this: I’m not overly familiar with the huge variety of sub-genres in the dark fiction world, but I have to believe this is bread-and-butter ‘comfort horror’ yeah? I imagine it’s what ‘Schitt’s Creek’ would be like if it was mixed with ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’ Or more accurately, this felt like when I watched The Kids in the Hall’s mini-series “Death Comes to Town.’
Quirky, tense, mysterious and ultimately heart-warming, this novel will be one I think will catch a lot of readers off guard, while also grabbing those same readers and not letting go.
What a wonderfully done novel, one that gives you light and dark in perfect mixture.
Pun intended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy.
This was a fun story, cozyish and snappy. Like a supernatural Gilmore Girls meets Buffy or something, I suppose. I had some mixed feelings on the lead character but the food metaphors with the magic was interesting, and I was engaged by the set up. I'd read a sequel if there is one.
This was a fun story, cozyish and snappy. Like a supernatural Gilmore Girls meets Buffy or something, I suppose. I had some mixed feelings on the lead character but the food metaphors with the magic was interesting, and I was engaged by the set up. I'd read a sequel if there is one.
March 19, 2026
Book Review
A Dash of Demon
Publisher: Inkshares
New to me author
Pub Date : June 16 2026
What Its Got
✅ Demons and murder
✅ Baking
✅ Found family
✅ Small town of Achewillow
✅ Quirky characters
✅ Cafe with paranormal tendencies
✅ Guardian Raccoons
Thoughts
I loved the cozy paranormal mystery vibes. Reminded me of Legends and Lattes or The Crescent Moon tearoom meets Schitts Creek. A cozy whodunnit with a dash of witchcraft makes this read bingeable entertainment!
Thanks to the authors for my physical copy in return for an honest review.
A Dash of Demon
Publisher: Inkshares
New to me author
Pub Date : June 16 2026
What Its Got
✅ Demons and murder
✅ Baking
✅ Found family
✅ Small town of Achewillow
✅ Quirky characters
✅ Cafe with paranormal tendencies
✅ Guardian Raccoons
Thoughts
I loved the cozy paranormal mystery vibes. Reminded me of Legends and Lattes or The Crescent Moon tearoom meets Schitts Creek. A cozy whodunnit with a dash of witchcraft makes this read bingeable entertainment!
Thanks to the authors for my physical copy in return for an honest review.
May 1, 2026
First, thank you inkshares,NetGalley, and the authors for this arc.
A Dash of Demon is a cozy horror, with some comedy and some mystery. The small town of Achewillow is odd with some very colorful characters to match. There are definitely parts that were spooky, but the meat and potatoes of the story is really found family and finding purpose even when you believe you have nothing else to loose. This story is very imaginative and unique and I really enjoyed that. I really hope to read the next book if there is one.
A Dash of Demon is a cozy horror, with some comedy and some mystery. The small town of Achewillow is odd with some very colorful characters to match. There are definitely parts that were spooky, but the meat and potatoes of the story is really found family and finding purpose even when you believe you have nothing else to loose. This story is very imaginative and unique and I really enjoyed that. I really hope to read the next book if there is one.
February 22, 2026
This was cozy! Just the right amount of horror, mystery, and calm. The story was easy to follow. Will definitely be picking up a physical copy when this is released, I want to try the coffee cake muffins!
My only complaints are the cooking references felt a bit long winded. There were also SO many of them. The plot that Miriam is a chef is not lost. Could have done with less of them or at least make them more concise.
The names in this book are bizarre. Helen Edna, wow!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this.
My only complaints are the cooking references felt a bit long winded. There were also SO many of them. The plot that Miriam is a chef is not lost. Could have done with less of them or at least make them more concise.
The names in this book are bizarre. Helen Edna, wow!
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
📚ARC Review📚
A big thanks to @inkshares , @j.f.dubeau and @daniora for the lovely ARC. I've been getting a lot of horror and horror adjacent ARCs coming my way recently, and I'm kind of liking it! A Dash of Demon is a cozy horror, so a great intro for those of you looking to get into hunting down serial killers who disembowel people, with a side of cinnamon rolls, coffee and apple orchards.
After a little too much back-talk gets her kicked out of culinary school, Miriam DuFour's life is looking pretty bleak. A surprise inheritance from a great aunt she never met gives her an unusual opportunity. She is now the proud owner of a small cafe in the tiny border town of Achewillow, a remote but charming town that straddles the Canada/US border. Intent on selling and using the money to turn her life around, Miriam sets about visiting her new property. But all in Achewillow is not as peaceful as it seems. Young women keep turning up dead and disemboweled near the cafe. There is a gang of raccoons in the dumpster out back who keep stealing her salt. And local witch hunters are looking for any signs of supernatural interference, particularly from outsiders. If Miriam wants to find her peace and keep her inheritance, she will need to get to the bottom of what is going on in Achewillow.
This was a nice gentle horror which is, quite frankly, the way I like them. Give me a plot but let me sleep at night 😅. I enjoyed the eccentricities of the locals and the small touch of the mystical. The ending was satisfying and the pacing was good. Overall I would recommend this if you're looking to try something new or in the horror/horror adjacent genre!
A big thanks to @inkshares , @j.f.dubeau and @daniora for the lovely ARC. I've been getting a lot of horror and horror adjacent ARCs coming my way recently, and I'm kind of liking it! A Dash of Demon is a cozy horror, so a great intro for those of you looking to get into hunting down serial killers who disembowel people, with a side of cinnamon rolls, coffee and apple orchards.
After a little too much back-talk gets her kicked out of culinary school, Miriam DuFour's life is looking pretty bleak. A surprise inheritance from a great aunt she never met gives her an unusual opportunity. She is now the proud owner of a small cafe in the tiny border town of Achewillow, a remote but charming town that straddles the Canada/US border. Intent on selling and using the money to turn her life around, Miriam sets about visiting her new property. But all in Achewillow is not as peaceful as it seems. Young women keep turning up dead and disemboweled near the cafe. There is a gang of raccoons in the dumpster out back who keep stealing her salt. And local witch hunters are looking for any signs of supernatural interference, particularly from outsiders. If Miriam wants to find her peace and keep her inheritance, she will need to get to the bottom of what is going on in Achewillow.
This was a nice gentle horror which is, quite frankly, the way I like them. Give me a plot but let me sleep at night 😅. I enjoyed the eccentricities of the locals and the small touch of the mystical. The ending was satisfying and the pacing was good. Overall I would recommend this if you're looking to try something new or in the horror/horror adjacent genre!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Title: A Dash of Demon
Author: J-F. Dubeau & Amy Frost
Rating: ⭐️/5
Release date: 6/16/26
Miriam DuFour, a down-on-her-luck but aspiring chef hits rock bottom after her expulsion from culinary school and being left in financial ruin by her ex-boyfriend. Her luck appears to change when she inherits the Achewillow, a small cafe, from an unknown late relative. Upon arrival, she quickly learns that the town is intertwined with supernatural entities, cults, and demons. Her situation escalates after a series of murders occur, putting her in a battle for survival against an entity. What does she have to do to help stop the murders? Read this book to find out.
I loved Dubeau's "A God in the Shed" series and was excited for this however, the story quickly fell flat. You learn about Miriam's family history but I do feel that her character was poorly developed. She is a rash, abrasive person and loves cooking and baking. That's about it. The pacing of the narrative was, for me, mind-numbingly slow. The book itself is not long but could be, I feel, trimmed down significantly. For example, there are quite a few spots where she talks about her cooking, in detail. A long paragraph that could be trimmed down to a few sentences. This book does feel like it's geared toward the YA crowd however, I will not say why as I do not want to spoil a key plot point for those of you that choose to read this when it's released. Finally, there are a number of unanswered questions. Hopefully there will be another book where they are answered but for now, the reader has to make do...
This book wasn't my cup of tea, but I'm sure someone will enjoy it.
Author: J-F. Dubeau & Amy Frost
Rating: ⭐️/5
Release date: 6/16/26
Miriam DuFour, a down-on-her-luck but aspiring chef hits rock bottom after her expulsion from culinary school and being left in financial ruin by her ex-boyfriend. Her luck appears to change when she inherits the Achewillow, a small cafe, from an unknown late relative. Upon arrival, she quickly learns that the town is intertwined with supernatural entities, cults, and demons. Her situation escalates after a series of murders occur, putting her in a battle for survival against an entity. What does she have to do to help stop the murders? Read this book to find out.
I loved Dubeau's "A God in the Shed" series and was excited for this however, the story quickly fell flat. You learn about Miriam's family history but I do feel that her character was poorly developed. She is a rash, abrasive person and loves cooking and baking. That's about it. The pacing of the narrative was, for me, mind-numbingly slow. The book itself is not long but could be, I feel, trimmed down significantly. For example, there are quite a few spots where she talks about her cooking, in detail. A long paragraph that could be trimmed down to a few sentences. This book does feel like it's geared toward the YA crowd however, I will not say why as I do not want to spoil a key plot point for those of you that choose to read this when it's released. Finally, there are a number of unanswered questions. Hopefully there will be another book where they are answered but for now, the reader has to make do...
This book wasn't my cup of tea, but I'm sure someone will enjoy it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐳𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐲, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬.
Meet Miriam DuFour, a woman whose life has done a complete 180. Living with her ex-boyfriend and having to see his new girlfriend every day is definitely not how she envisioned her life. To make matters worse, she gets kicked out of cooking school—her true passion! Just when she thinks she’s hit rock bottom, she receives a letter from a long-lost relative about inheriting a café in a town she’s never even heard of.
Achewillow isn’t quite what it seems; sure, the town has its quirks and some unusual townsfolk, but there’s a darker side—someone or something is targeting young women. What unfolds is a mystery that only Miriam can tackle, as she always faces challenges head-on. I absolutely loved the characters and the charming small-town atmosphere. Imagine Hallmark, but with a twist of demons! This book flows beautifully and had me all tangled up in my emotions. You definitely need to give this one a read! I’m intrigued to read the other books in this series.
Thank you, Inkshares, J-F. Dubeau, Amy Frost, and Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Meet Miriam DuFour, a woman whose life has done a complete 180. Living with her ex-boyfriend and having to see his new girlfriend every day is definitely not how she envisioned her life. To make matters worse, she gets kicked out of cooking school—her true passion! Just when she thinks she’s hit rock bottom, she receives a letter from a long-lost relative about inheriting a café in a town she’s never even heard of.
Achewillow isn’t quite what it seems; sure, the town has its quirks and some unusual townsfolk, but there’s a darker side—someone or something is targeting young women. What unfolds is a mystery that only Miriam can tackle, as she always faces challenges head-on. I absolutely loved the characters and the charming small-town atmosphere. Imagine Hallmark, but with a twist of demons! This book flows beautifully and had me all tangled up in my emotions. You definitely need to give this one a read! I’m intrigued to read the other books in this series.
Thank you, Inkshares, J-F. Dubeau, Amy Frost, and Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book ended up being such a comfort read for me in the best spooky way possible. From the very beginning I was completely pulled into the atmosphere of Achewillow and never wanted to leave. It had the perfect mix of creepy moments, humor, mystery, and heart that made it impossible not to love.
What really made this book shine for me were the characters. They felt so warm, lovable, and real that by the end I honestly felt like I was part of the town right alongside them. Their friendships and interactions were one of my favorite parts of the story. Every character brought something special, and I got so attached to all of them.
The spooky vibe was also perfect. It was eerie enough to keep me hooked, but still cozy and comforting at the same time. The small-town setting mixed with demons, mystery, and quirky characters made this such a fun reading experience. It felt like curling up with a warm blanket while listening to ghost stories on a chilly night.
I loved this book so much and I already can’t wait to continue the series. If you love paranormal stories with lovable characters, cozy spooky vibes, and a story that feels like home, this is absolutely worth reading. Easy 5 stars for me
What really made this book shine for me were the characters. They felt so warm, lovable, and real that by the end I honestly felt like I was part of the town right alongside them. Their friendships and interactions were one of my favorite parts of the story. Every character brought something special, and I got so attached to all of them.
The spooky vibe was also perfect. It was eerie enough to keep me hooked, but still cozy and comforting at the same time. The small-town setting mixed with demons, mystery, and quirky characters made this such a fun reading experience. It felt like curling up with a warm blanket while listening to ghost stories on a chilly night.
I loved this book so much and I already can’t wait to continue the series. If you love paranormal stories with lovable characters, cozy spooky vibes, and a story that feels like home, this is absolutely worth reading. Easy 5 stars for me
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🍪🏘
An amazing cozy story with thriller, horror, and magic elements that is also heavily entwined with cooking.
I have to admit, the atmosphere here isn't something I usually like, but, intrigued, I kept reading and it turned out totally worth it. The characters, the town of Achewillow, the cooking, the raccoons! Every little detail this book consists of won me over and in the end I was completely in love with the story. I'd love to see more stories with these characters and the lovely Achewillow Café!
By the way, there are some recipes from the story in the end!!
Highly recommend to everyone who does and doesn't like cozy stories, because you either will fit completely into this book's magic, or it will envelope you in it and you'll have no choice but to love it too.
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
An amazing cozy story with thriller, horror, and magic elements that is also heavily entwined with cooking.
I have to admit, the atmosphere here isn't something I usually like, but, intrigued, I kept reading and it turned out totally worth it. The characters, the town of Achewillow, the cooking, the raccoons! Every little detail this book consists of won me over and in the end I was completely in love with the story. I'd love to see more stories with these characters and the lovely Achewillow Café!
By the way, there are some recipes from the story in the end!!
Highly recommend to everyone who does and doesn't like cozy stories, because you either will fit completely into this book's magic, or it will envelope you in it and you'll have no choice but to love it too.
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Miriam DeFour is at her lowest—she has been kicked out of cooking school even though she believes she is exceptionally talented, and still lives with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. The same day she is forced to leave her school she finds out that she has inherited the estate of her great grandaunt. Miriam takes the opportunity to pay-off her student loan and get a fresh start, but when she arrives in Achewillow, a town on the border of Vermont and Quebec, she learns many things are not normal and it will not be so easy to sell her inherited café. The town residents are eccentric and there’s a dangerous demon lurking in the shadows. This cozy paranormal horror read is atmospheric but also creepy, and will keep the reader entertained with intriguing and quirky secondary characters.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A cozy paranormal mystery without a forced, uncomfortable romance angle??? Yes please!
This was such a good time!
I found the main character to be a bit childish and somewhat annoying at the beginning of the story, but she really did mature throughout and ended up growing on me quite a bit. The pacing was good and I'm hoping that I will have the opportunity to get to know the residents of this charming( and a wee bit terrifying) town better in future installments of the series? The Canadian content was appreciated and I do plan to test out some of the recipes included!
A big thank you to NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to access this book before publication and free of charge. I'm leaving my honest review voluntarily.
This was such a good time!
I found the main character to be a bit childish and somewhat annoying at the beginning of the story, but she really did mature throughout and ended up growing on me quite a bit. The pacing was good and I'm hoping that I will have the opportunity to get to know the residents of this charming( and a wee bit terrifying) town better in future installments of the series? The Canadian content was appreciated and I do plan to test out some of the recipes included!
A big thank you to NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to access this book before publication and free of charge. I'm leaving my honest review voluntarily.
April 13, 2026
I could not put this down. It’s based on season 1 of a podcast which I haven’t listened to and that had no effect on my enjoyment of the book. It’s a cozy lite horror with all the right mix of small town demons and a quaint cafe. But unlike some cozy books it wasn’t slow or boring. The fast paced drama had me hooked. I hope they continue making the podcast into a book series! I would snatch up book 2 in an instant.
The title “dash of demon” is a cooking reference and it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that.
Vibes:
small town Vermont/Canada
bakery with a demon problem
mystery to solve
found family
sneaky raccoons
I’ll have my usual please
ghosts
orange poppyseed honey cake
but with a side of disemboweled guts
The title “dash of demon” is a cooking reference and it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that.
Vibes:
small town Vermont/Canada
bakery with a demon problem
mystery to solve
found family
sneaky raccoons
I’ll have my usual please
ghosts
orange poppyseed honey cake
but with a side of disemboweled guts
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thought this story was quite interesting. I could feel Miriam's frustrations with some of the situations she was put in. Customer service PTSD when people would just say "their usual" to a person they've literally never seen/met before. There was tension as to who could really be trusted.
There was a lot of questions that I would love answered at some point. Like how did Doris get into demons and ghosts and things? Why is the Don so smart? And so on.
If the series continues, I would definitely be interested in reading more.
There was a lot of questions that I would love answered at some point. Like how did Doris get into demons and ghosts and things? Why is the Don so smart? And so on.
If the series continues, I would definitely be interested in reading more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks for Netgalley for this ARC, which I received in exchange for my opinion. A Dash of Demon by JF Dubeau, Amy Frost. This cozy story features our FMC, Miriam, who has inherited a cafe in a small town. The pacing is good. It kept my attention without boring me. The characters were quirky (there's a raccoon!!) and I enjoyed reading about the goings-on in their town. There's cults and demons and lots going on. I would recommend this to anyone who likes cozy horror, which I didn't even know could be a thing! 3 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley, Inkshares, J-F. Dubeau and Amy Frost for providing me with a free copy of this book for the purposes of review.
This isnt a bad start to a cozy paranormal series. Miriam is a little bit hard to like as a character, there's a lot of woe is me and dithering but she gets there in the end. Pacing is a little lopsided and a few characters could do with some more depth but on the whole, I enjoyed it and would read book 2.
This isnt a bad start to a cozy paranormal series. Miriam is a little bit hard to like as a character, there's a lot of woe is me and dithering but she gets there in the end. Pacing is a little lopsided and a few characters could do with some more depth but on the whole, I enjoyed it and would read book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Many questions left unanswered with this book! Was it Doris who summoned the demon? How did the Don become smart enough to figure out the salt circle? Will Miriam have to keep feeding the demon forever? Overall a cute read, but I don't think I'd read a sequel. Thank you to the publishers for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you love the podcast, you will love this book. Has its charm, its mystery, its humor all in one tightly written and well paced package.
June 4, 2026
Thank you so much to netgalley for this arc. I flew through this because I loved it so much. I need more.
I need a romance between gulliver and Miriam. Please. I need more of this weird ass town.
I need a romance between gulliver and Miriam. Please. I need more of this weird ass town.
February 16, 2026
I get the feeling this is just the beginning of a series I’m going to absolutely love! What’s better than a little whimsy, a little murder, and a little baking? Honestly, not much.
The characters are all incredibly likable, and I’m already invested in seeing how their relationships grow and unfold as the series continues. The story strikes a fun balance between cozy charm and mystery, which made it such an enjoyable read.
I also have a very soft spot for raccoons, so I loved that they play such a staple role in the book. I’ll definitely be giving mine extra treats tonight in honor of this one! 🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝
The characters are all incredibly likable, and I’m already invested in seeing how their relationships grow and unfold as the series continues. The story strikes a fun balance between cozy charm and mystery, which made it such an enjoyable read.
I also have a very soft spot for raccoons, so I loved that they play such a staple role in the book. I’ll definitely be giving mine extra treats tonight in honor of this one! 🦝🦝🦝🦝🦝
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