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Bitter Brew
Actor Kelsey Grammer, best known for his roles in the TV sitcoms Cheers and Frasier, delivers Bitter Brew, a compelling mystery featuring Detective Bill Walsh, an upstate cop in the quiet, rural town of Beatriceville, 200 miles north of New York City, who suspects foul play in the death of millionaire city transplant Jonathan Kimball, even though the evidence points to suicide, not murder.
Between the four grown daughters he adores - even if they make him crazy - his complicated relationship with his ex, and his annoying boss, probing into a death that most have deemed a suicide is the last headache Bill needs. But the inexorable desire for justice and to do his job lead him to delve into many town secrets that most in Beatriceville citizens would prefer to keep unexamined.
Filled with colorful characters and with a riveting pace, Bitter Brew will keep listeners guessing until the unexpected denouement.
©2019 Kelsey Grammer (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.
Between the four grown daughters he adores - even if they make him crazy - his complicated relationship with his ex, and his annoying boss, probing into a death that most have deemed a suicide is the last headache Bill needs. But the inexorable desire for justice and to do his job lead him to delve into many town secrets that most in Beatriceville citizens would prefer to keep unexamined.
Filled with colorful characters and with a riveting pace, Bitter Brew will keep listeners guessing until the unexpected denouement.
©2019 Kelsey Grammer (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 5, 2020
4 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Kelsey Grammer
14 books92 followersAllen Kelsey Grammer is a five-time Emmy- and two-time Golden Globe-winning American actor best known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC sitcoms Cheers (nine years) and Frasier (eleven years). He was nominated for Emmys for playing his character on three different sitcoms (the third being a guest appearance on Wings). He has also worked as a television producer, director, writer, and a voice artist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
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January 23, 2021I found the characters vivid and interesting. It's a fantastic book in that it's both compelling and realistic. The MC is a cop, both jaded but three-dimensional. The characters have depth without being so complex you can't keep up with the. The worldbuilding is rich and realistic.... truly as if being in contemporary upstate New York.
There are twists. There are nuances. The major twist in the story.... in hindsight is a bit.... implausible, but everything else carries the story and holds it together.
A great read. Read it for the prose and the characters. Blink past the one plot arc issue. You'll enjoy it.
There are twists. There are nuances. The major twist in the story.... in hindsight is a bit.... implausible, but everything else carries the story and holds it together.
A great read. Read it for the prose and the characters. Blink past the one plot arc issue. You'll enjoy it.
March 11, 2021
Ok, so the one star is for the fact that Grammar himself does the narration, and he has a great voice. Second, sure kudos for having gender fluid side characters.
But REALLY?? Does Grammar as an author write about what he knows or what? Every single woman in this story is described in different terms for being gorgeous and the protagonist objectifies EVERY SINGLE ONE.
GROSS.
But REALLY?? Does Grammar as an author write about what he knows or what? Every single woman in this story is described in different terms for being gorgeous and the protagonist objectifies EVERY SINGLE ONE.
GROSS.
April 3, 2021
I only read this because I like Kelsey Grammar. It was pretty bad. Sorry Kelsey.
May 10, 2021
Give Kelsey Grammar 5 stars for his delightful reading of his book. Also give Amazon Originals 5 stars for publishing a novel which makes fair game of the absurd politics now fashionable in academia. Extra points, too, for not pandering to a young audience, and instead aiming some gentle, well-deserved humor at the fads and flaws of the neo-hippie wokenfolk.
As a mystery, I'd score it 4 stars, generally. The most inventive plot twists are given to a smart deputy, who does most of her solving from a hospital bed. Grammar's first person narrator, Detective Bill Walsh, and the book's setting are reminiscent of the Jesse Stone novels by Robert Parker which were turned into several slow paced but authentic feeling TV movies starring Tom Selleck. Replace Jesse's alcohol issue with Walsh's sorry love life, and there underneath is a similarly ruminative, aging country law man with a self-made chip on his shoulder.
The mystery itself keeps us guessing, but not the payoff. Our detective makes an all too familiar mistake, and soon after heads down a remote staircase. Next time, Kelsey, try surprising us. Think of your reader as Niles on that rare day when he wants port instead of sherry.
Despite its rookie mistakes, this first novel could win your heart. If it were turned into a series of TV mysteries for Amazon Prime --starring Kelsey, of course -- I'd be more likely to watch it than 95% of their original fare.
As a mystery, I'd score it 4 stars, generally. The most inventive plot twists are given to a smart deputy, who does most of her solving from a hospital bed. Grammar's first person narrator, Detective Bill Walsh, and the book's setting are reminiscent of the Jesse Stone novels by Robert Parker which were turned into several slow paced but authentic feeling TV movies starring Tom Selleck. Replace Jesse's alcohol issue with Walsh's sorry love life, and there underneath is a similarly ruminative, aging country law man with a self-made chip on his shoulder.
The mystery itself keeps us guessing, but not the payoff. Our detective makes an all too familiar mistake, and soon after heads down a remote staircase. Next time, Kelsey, try surprising us. Think of your reader as Niles on that rare day when he wants port instead of sherry.
Despite its rookie mistakes, this first novel could win your heart. If it were turned into a series of TV mysteries for Amazon Prime --starring Kelsey, of course -- I'd be more likely to watch it than 95% of their original fare.
September 17, 2024
Quite a few cringey parts, a lot of objectification, and the ultimate twist/reveal is a bit... odd, but not an entirely terrible story overall.
2.5 stars raised to 3 because Grammer's narration is done really well.
2.5 stars raised to 3 because Grammer's narration is done really well.
July 11, 2024
I had mixed feelings about this one. I liked the majority of the story. I'm from small town PA, which isn't that horribly different from upstate New York (where I've also lived), so the setting felt familiar, and listening to the authentic voice of the Boomer-aged male protagonist often made me want to call my dad. There were certain aspects of the voice that were a bit cringey to read (any time he interacted with a queer or non-binary person, for example, or when he talked about how his daughters all could have been gorgeous but their specific tastes and styles "hid" it), but again, it was authentic for someone of that age range and general life experience, and it didn't feel like the author was trying to say anything objectively negative. In fact, I appreciated that the cast of supporting characters was fairly diverse.
The mystery itself was fairly interesting, and I enjoyed following our protagonist's exploration of the brewery, the llama farm, and other various country settings. However, everything sort of felt like it fell off the rails with the last 45 minutes or so of the audiobook. Maybe it was just me, but the actual explanation for what happened didn't feel like it was hinted at much at all throughout the novel prior to that point. I was also a bit disappointed that
I grew up on Frasier and mainly just picked up this audiobook to enjoy listening to Kelsey Grammer. As such, I hadn't expected anything in particular from the story and ended up getting an entertaining (if slightly problematic) tale. After the ending, I don't know that I would pick up a sequel, should one ever be made, but entering into this without any specific expectations meant I also wasn't all that disappointed. I don't think I would specifically recommend this to anyone in particular, but again, there was still a lot to enjoy about it, and I wouldn't dissuade someone from it, either, as long as they knew what to expect.
The mystery itself was fairly interesting, and I enjoyed following our protagonist's exploration of the brewery, the llama farm, and other various country settings. However, everything sort of felt like it fell off the rails with the last 45 minutes or so of the audiobook. Maybe it was just me, but the actual explanation for what happened didn't feel like it was hinted at much at all throughout the novel prior to that point. I was also a bit disappointed that
I grew up on Frasier and mainly just picked up this audiobook to enjoy listening to Kelsey Grammer. As such, I hadn't expected anything in particular from the story and ended up getting an entertaining (if slightly problematic) tale. After the ending, I don't know that I would pick up a sequel, should one ever be made, but entering into this without any specific expectations meant I also wasn't all that disappointed. I don't think I would specifically recommend this to anyone in particular, but again, there was still a lot to enjoy about it, and I wouldn't dissuade someone from it, either, as long as they knew what to expect.
May 22, 2020
The story had a large cast of characters and many were quite unique and had modern identities, eg gender-fluid, poly-amorous, Wiccan lesbian couple etc. I’m unsure if this is a true portrayal of demographics in small town America, but I thought that Bill’s response to these identities was very accurate, but at the same time was not insulting. It was a believable insight into the way older generations think about new ideas around gender and identity, and try to assimilate foreign concepts that younger generations accept more easily.
I don’t read mystery or crime novels usually (Kelsey Grammer sucked me in with his soothing voice!), so I’m certainly no expert on them, but I found the mystery to be interesting and compelling and I didn’t know what would happen next.
I figured out the murderer about 2 minutes before the reveal, which I think is a sign of good writing. I’m keen to go back and listen again to hear any clues I missed.
I hope Kelsey Grammer keeps writing, and narrating because he has a great voice and his story was well written and well told.
I don’t read mystery or crime novels usually (Kelsey Grammer sucked me in with his soothing voice!), so I’m certainly no expert on them, but I found the mystery to be interesting and compelling and I didn’t know what would happen next.
I figured out the murderer about 2 minutes before the reveal, which I think is a sign of good writing. I’m keen to go back and listen again to hear any clues I missed.
I hope Kelsey Grammer keeps writing, and narrating because he has a great voice and his story was well written and well told.
May 14, 2023
I bought this during an Audible sale, mostly to hear Kelsey Grammer read it. It was like a combination of rural cop story and A Prairie Home Companion.
Bill Walsh is a detective in a rural community in New York. He is a folksy man who should retire but just hasn’t. He gets called in to check out a suicide and wonders about why a guy who seemed to have a pretty good life would kill himself. In his curiosity, he starts asking questions and it turns out it was a murder.
While all of this is going on, we are introduced to his four daughters, who are all beautiful. His old high school or college flame, also beautiful. He visits someone he’s worried about in the hospital and, gosh, wouldn’t you know it, there’s a beautiful woman there and she’s kind to him in a time of crisis, so he imagines himself to suddenly be falling in love with her. Wait, what? Yep.
Then he gets involved with someone in the case, who is, yes, another beautiful woman. This one is twenty years younger than him and related to the murder victim, but he decides to have sex with her, even though he knows he shouldn’t.
And then, you’ll never guess, he “realizes” she’s crazy - within 24-hours of having sex with her.
There’s also a young female officer he works with and he feels very fatherly toward her. Why? I have to suspect because those are the only options he has with women - either you’re sexually attracted to them or they’re like your daughter. The only women who seem to exist outside of this paradigm are two lesbians, who, of course, have “witchy” ceremonies in the woods.
Grammer does a fantastic job reading this book, but he should stick to the reading and abandon the writing.
Bill Walsh is a detective in a rural community in New York. He is a folksy man who should retire but just hasn’t. He gets called in to check out a suicide and wonders about why a guy who seemed to have a pretty good life would kill himself. In his curiosity, he starts asking questions and it turns out it was a murder.
While all of this is going on, we are introduced to his four daughters, who are all beautiful. His old high school or college flame, also beautiful. He visits someone he’s worried about in the hospital and, gosh, wouldn’t you know it, there’s a beautiful woman there and she’s kind to him in a time of crisis, so he imagines himself to suddenly be falling in love with her. Wait, what? Yep.
Then he gets involved with someone in the case, who is, yes, another beautiful woman. This one is twenty years younger than him and related to the murder victim, but he decides to have sex with her, even though he knows he shouldn’t.
And then, you’ll never guess, he “realizes” she’s crazy - within 24-hours of having sex with her.
There’s also a young female officer he works with and he feels very fatherly toward her. Why? I have to suspect because those are the only options he has with women - either you’re sexually attracted to them or they’re like your daughter. The only women who seem to exist outside of this paradigm are two lesbians, who, of course, have “witchy” ceremonies in the woods.
Grammer does a fantastic job reading this book, but he should stick to the reading and abandon the writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2020
I can't even describe how this book delighted me - I was especially thrilled (as I listened to it via Audible) to hear it read by the author. Additionally, the audio quality was far superior to any other audible book - unsure why,however this was immediately obvious. Perhaps odd I am, Sam I am, but for me, Kelsey Grammer has the PERFECT male voice, diction, accent, that I I could happily listen to all day (as I did with this audiobook). Mr. Grammer's acting skills make this book a work of art. I have over 1,500 books in my Audible library, and this is among my favorites, if not my 1st choice... The storyline involves a suicide that might not be what it seems (read the book for details) well woven mystery, with interesting character development (slightly reminiscent of C.J. Box, yet with a more intellectual flair). Loved the local brewery sub-story. I dearly hope that this novel is the start of a new (and lengthy) writing career for this revered actor.
February 3, 2021
Read by the author, Grammer's outstanding voice is a pleasure to hear. Very nice and proper mystery. Characters are attractive, relatable, well developed. Clues and puzzles paced just excruciating enough to please, even a reddit connection - very timely. Some of new favorite characters (my own two divorces and challenges with ex-wives, gen-X kids, general fatherly responses and other personal experiences may contribute to my opinions). Exciting action. Certainly rewarding as a mystery, a story and a clever, suspenseful resolve. Good story well written, well told. Hoping that Kelsey gives us more mysteries soon!
September 10, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this police procedural mystery, especially as narrated by Kelsey Grammer. I wonder how much Ms Bailey was involved in the writing. In any case, the story was well-plotted and written. Plus, the back story of the detective lead was both well presented and turned out to have relevance to the main story. And, the ironic and humorous tone the hero had about himself and his life and his wives added to my enjoyment. All in all, a very welcome novel and, I hope, just the first in a series of Detective Bill Walsh.
July 16, 2021
I don't remember buying this book and not sure I would buy it now but it was fun. This reads like a future Netflix movie. This is a nice start and I hope Kelsey Grammer continues the story. The characters are nice.
Edited to add
This is an audible original and Kelsey Grammer is also the reader. He does convey how befuddled many of us 60 somethings are in life. We want to be right but we can be confused. I know I mentioned Netflix but this may be closer to a Hallmark mystery. Enough there to spend sometime but not to get to concerned over. More Midsomer Murders than Law and Order.
Edited to add
This is an audible original and Kelsey Grammer is also the reader. He does convey how befuddled many of us 60 somethings are in life. We want to be right but we can be confused. I know I mentioned Netflix but this may be closer to a Hallmark mystery. Enough there to spend sometime but not to get to concerned over. More Midsomer Murders than Law and Order.
July 19, 2020
This is a decent murder mystery with an engaging detective who is not overly confident and supporting characters that enhance the story. A wildly successful brewery owner seemingly commits suicide. He is universally loved and has no financial problems or other life struggles. Detective Bill Walsh just cannot fathom why he would kill himself. In looking for a motive, Walsh discovers that like the rest of us mortals, millionaires have secrets too.
June 22, 2024
3.5
I enjoyed the mystery. The idea of Kelsey Grammer writing a book is what drew me to this. The incompetent boss is a bit too incompetent. The character's navigation of the evolving gender discussion I can relate to as an older person, but it felt forced, like they had to shoehorn that in. The mystery itself was good. I thought I knew who the killer was up until the end, and I was wrong. Not bad for a first book at all. I hope he keeps writing.
I enjoyed the mystery. The idea of Kelsey Grammer writing a book is what drew me to this. The incompetent boss is a bit too incompetent. The character's navigation of the evolving gender discussion I can relate to as an older person, but it felt forced, like they had to shoehorn that in. The mystery itself was good. I thought I knew who the killer was up until the end, and I was wrong. Not bad for a first book at all. I hope he keeps writing.
October 18, 2020
For me the book was between 3 to 4 stars. The mystery part of the story was 4 stars but some scenes and dialogue were cheesy. His immediate crush on the first encounter with most every women seemed lame. And the ending was a little weak. The narration was enjoyable. Kelsey delivered the story well with his usual wit and sarcasm showing in all of the right places.
November 15, 2020
Kelsey Grammer wrote and narrated this audiobook. His performance is good, bringing a nice level of creativity to his reading without it being over the top. Listen to it a x0.8 speed for a nice drawl.
The story and the mystery both work. The lead character is a homocide detective born and raised in a small town in NY state.
The story and the mystery both work. The lead character is a homocide detective born and raised in a small town in NY state.
March 13, 2021
This one was a hard one to finish. At first I thought it was because I have never lived in a small town and couldn't put myself in that environment. But then the cliches started to mount up. I don't think he missed many. Right down to the cops and their love affair with donuts. But hey some may like it. In the audio version the author read it himself and he wasn't a half bad narrator.
August 6, 2021
This was a wonderful story and funny. He weaved in a number of "woke" reference that I thought were witty and well done. The writing is evocative and story is tight and moves at the perfect pace. As you would expect from Kelsey Grammer the narration was delightful. Definitely worth your credit. I hope Mr. Grammer does a follow up.
October 17, 2020
Brilliant narration by Kelsey Grammer
I’ll make this short and sweet. An exciting murder mystery mixed with Grammer’s witty humor, quirky characters and an ending I never saw coming. Well worth my money and time. Have fun and enjoy!
👏✍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👏✍🏻
I’ll make this short and sweet. An exciting murder mystery mixed with Grammer’s witty humor, quirky characters and an ending I never saw coming. Well worth my money and time. Have fun and enjoy!
👏✍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👏✍🏻
December 19, 2020
Fun listening on a roadtrip with my hubby. He was frequently chuckling and we were both guessing 'who dun it' to the end. We don't always enjoy the same types of books and this one kept us to the end. Not too long, creative storyline and great narration by Kelsey Grammer. (and we REALLY love beer)
September 2, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first time author. Kelsey Grammer kept me entertained throughout, both as a narrator and as an author. His main character Detective Bill Walsh I found to be both relatable and enjoyable as a reader. I hope Mr. Grammer continues this series.
October 26, 2021
This book started off really well. The main character was interesting, the case seemed interesting, the side characters and setting were all strong. Then it all went into (spoiler coming) crazed, love-sick female territory. Like a trope gone over the top. Kind of ruined it all for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
This audio book was only OK. The characters were engaging but, to me, the plot was a bit weak. I think what really held me back from a higher rating was what seemed to be a hole in the plot late in the book and the narrator's (KG) female voice affectation.
June 4, 2020
Bitter Brew was a long drink of detective work solving 2 murders, a man & a bird. Not my favorite flavor!
June 26, 2020
A great book of family,pain,growing up, faith and resolve. This booked evolved to be more as I read it.
July 18, 2020
Very well crafted mystery novel. A good ole whodunit noir that makes a classic procedural detective immerse himself in millennial culture. Good laughs, great story development.
July 26, 2020
Pretty good murder mystery. My favorite part however, was Kelsey Grammer’s voice reading it! Terrific!
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July 28, 2020Much better than I anticipated.. His style is ok, but the plot took an unexpected turn and there was definitely a good ending. Looking forward to reading his future endeavors..
July 29, 2020
Bad plot, ridiculous characters and dialog. Don't waste your time.
August 2, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. It is a smart, well-constructed light murder mystery and Mr. Grammer is a delightful narrator of his work.
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