Murder and the Brewer: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery

by Marian McCarthy

In Book 4 of the Psychic Last Responder series, summer heat sizzles in Vardo as a cool new microbrewery opens on the edge of town. The resident brewer is Hildegarde Yourish, a practicing witch and distant cousin to psychic mortician Perrie Spock. The town rallies around the new venture, toasting the summer season with Hildegarde’s cold concoction, a special witbier called Solstice. But trouble brews on a hot night, as vandals desecrate the sacred Yohopa burial mounds and trash the brew deck at Hildegarde’s. At the same time, swarms of cicadas emerge from underground, along with a skull on the brewery grounds.
Perrie, now in a hot and heavy relationship with hunky Sheriff Reg Woolaroc, investigates the strange events and discovers that Vardo is built atop a large vortex of powerful energy. Next, two suspects in the Yohopa grave desecration and brewery vandalism are found dead, with no clues to the cause. Then, Perrie’s dog Django unearths a human femur on her aunt’s farm, pointing to a recent murder. Who is the victim, and who—or—what is responsible?
In the midst of the earth-shaking investigations, Reg’s ex-wife sends his son to live with his father in Vardo. Reg and Perrie must join forces to acclimate the troubled boy to his new hometown while solving a murder and the taming the environmental forces that threaten the good citizens they serve.
Can Perrie’s sixth sense team up with Reg’s forensic forte to crack the case?

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Indie · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it !! it started with the new brewery... vandalized... and ancient burial grounds ... Sheriff Reg and Mortician Perrie are dating and are first on the scene... bones and dead bodies start piling up.. Reg's son is dropped off by his ex... it's chaos !! but, in a good way !!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[ghislaine belair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Uniquely original. I loved it very much.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder and Mayhem . . .

Psychic mortician, Perrie Spock, worked hard and was busy all hours of the day and night. Still, she felt a little guilty at not mowing the lawn and caring for the flower beds. Instead, she was sitting on the front porch of the Rose Funeral Home, enjoying a cup of coffee. She was fully aware that neat, green lawns gave people comfort and instilled trust in her caring for the dead. But recently she experienced broken sprinkler heads, crabgrass, moles making tunnels... and now the mower won't start! She had completed three body retrievals last night and had assisted Dr. Wanamaker with two autopsies. This evening she had a viewing for old Mrs. Magee in the Parlor, and in the morning a funeral in the Rose Chapel would be needed. So the lawn being unkempt could not be endured. She had to get it cut somehow. And she needed it done now. She got the mower going as sweat soaked her clothing, but she kept moving until Maria insisted she come inside for a drink of water.

A new microbrewery was opening at the edge of town. Brewer Hildegarde Yourish is a practicing witch and Perrie's cousin. But vandals made a mess of things and bad events started happening as things came out of the ground. Perrie joins Sheriff Reg Woolaroc to begin an investigation of what was going on and they discovered two of the suspects who desecrated a grave and damaged the brewery were found dead. Will the two of them be able to get this case solved before more mayhem is done?

[Slynn Bookster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre/Tropes : wiccan/native mystery romance
Age appropriate : 14+ due to violence
Setting: small town
POV : dual

Perfect for readers who like a clean mystery romance with the small town family feel. The book would be at 3:00 or 4:00 for other readers it just wasn't my type of book. I read a lot of paranormal but this one was very wrapped up in spirits and witchcraft ancestors in a way that I didn't enjoy. The writer tried to put in as much happening as possible and it left me feeling like there were times it was an unfinished storyline. it had all the components that it needed and was a good story but seem to miss a spark. The mystery was solved, there was a good twist, we got our HEA and there were great family moments. Other than some dead bodies with some violence this book would be perfect for a tween or early teen.

Overall Story ***       World ***
Main Characters ***   
Side Characters **
Emotions *                
Slow build *       Steam *
Frustration **   Ending **

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder and the Brewer, the fifth book in Marian McCarthy’s Psychic First Responders series, is exactly what you want from a good Cozy Mystery — clever twists, plenty of humor, a dash of romance, and just enough suspense to keep those pages turning.

McCarthy has such a knack for creating characters you can’t help but love. They’re quirky, serious about their sleuthing, and totally endearing in that “small-town mystery” kind of way. The chemistry and banter between them add just the right sparkle to balance the darker undertones of the murder at hand.

This one was a total delight — engaging, funny, and full of charm. I read it in one sitting because I just had to know how it ended. If you enjoy mysteries that mix intuition, humor, and heart, this series (and this book in particular) deserves a spot on your TBR list. I’m already looking forward to the next installment!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange happenings in Vardo

The author is pulling out all the stops and giving us all the feels in this one. Ups and downs, crazy twists and surprises galore. Magic and mystery blended together and working for justice. What a lovely idea that comes alive in these books. I enjoyed the blend of cultures and teachings both scientific and spiritual. I love Perrie and her strength and compassion. I absolutely loved the end and no spoilers but wooo! Can’t wait for more adventures in this series!!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 4 of Psychic Last Responder Series and is absolutely wonderful!

The characters continue to grow and fascinate. They are so appealing and likeable. The world building continues to excel and impress. The plot was intriguing, exciting and such a great puzzle. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this series.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good paranormal mystery. It is a poignant story about death and love. There are multiple deaths in this story and an outstanding love story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lavada Haga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

There is a lot of mysterious things going on in this tale. Perrie and Reg are overwhelmed with murder and mayhem. I really liked the ending.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

tangled connections of hearts, bodies and minds, as the dead do not keep all their secrets, and some folks listen to them.

beginnings and endings with tangles in between.

[Grace Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mortuary Perrie is back

Ok so where is my part 5?? I’ll try to wait patiently in a cliff hanger. Cant wait. I recommend.