Mixologist Pepper Revelle and the Bohemia Bartenders land in London for a UK adventure—a gin festival sponsored by dashing distiller Mark Fairman, who wants them to do more than make cocktails. As valuable books mysteriously vanish from his mansion’s luxe library, Mark asks Pepper and her colleague Neil to track down the thief.
But there’s another olive in this martini of mischief. At their frenemy Alastair’s bar, a storied gin palace from Dickens’s time, bizarre break-ins add another mystery to the mix. Pepper and Neil’s sleuthing takes them on a wild ride from the city’s swank watering holes to a fascinating real-life palace as they face deception, devilry and danger.
While Pepper’s tempted by Mark’s extravagant flirting and charmed by his loaner dog, she wonders if hot nerd Neil will stop playing hard to get. But thoughts of love in London seem trivial when murder is poured into the punch. Can they solve multiple mysteries before they’re juiced like a lime in a gin and tonic?
JIGGERED BY GIN is the fourth book in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries, funny whodunits with a dash of romance set in a convivial collective of cocktail lovers, eccentrics and mixologists. These quasi-cozy culinary comedies contain a hint of heat, a splash of cursing and shots of laughter, served over hand-carved ice.
Lucy Lakestone is an award-winning author who lives on Florida's east central coast, among the towns that serve as an inspiration for the hot romances of her Bohemia Beach Series and the jumping-off point for the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries. She's been a journalist, photographer, editor and video producer but prefers living in her imagination, where the moon is full and the cocktails are divine. In her spare time, she chases tornadoes.
It’s another madcap adventure with mixologist Pepper Revelle and her Bohemia Bartenders. This time we follow their antics to England where they are surrounded by everything Charles Dickens. They are attending a gin festival hosted by distillery owner, Mark Fairman.
Mark has more than just drinks on his mind, though. Rare books are suddenly missing from his personal library and he wants Pepper and her colleague, Neil Rockaway, to help find them and put the thief behind bars. However, Pepper and Neil stumble upon secrets that Mark might not want to know about. When Pepper receives a threatening note and finds a dead body, she thinks there’s much more going on here than some missing books.
The author did a wonderful job of transporting me to London, England. I was more than ready to have my own gin cocktails. Lucy Lakestone brings the reader right into the story.
The characters are well-developed and come to life with each page. Pepper is a favorite of mine although she does have trouble making up her mind about which hot guy she wants. She doesn’t let that get in the way of her sleuthing, though. She’s determined to find the answers.
I was quite surprised at how it was all resolved and what a crazy finale. Very cleverly written. Although the mystery is solved in this book, I highly recommend starting with the first book in the series. Each story flows from one book to the next. There are no cliffhangers in this one, but it does set things up for book #5. Lakestone gets better and better with each book.
This book, as well as the previous ones, are pure fun and a joy to read. There is even a cocktail recipe at the end of the book. If you like mysteries with a touch of romance, give this series a try.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I just love this series. Jiggered by Gin takes us to jolly old England where Pepper and Neil must help Mark solve a mystery while also working a gin festival.
I love the mix of mystery, history, cocktails, and that slow burn dash of romance. I particularly enjoyed this London setting and the Dickens elements (both fact and fiction) of Jiggered by Gin.
I am happy that after three books of Pepper's eyes being drawn in two directions, this book seems to solidify where her affections truly lie.
I am excited to head off to Kentucky with the Bohemian Bartenders next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was so much fun! I didn't even mind that it was Book 4 in a series that I'd not yet read, because the characters and the mystery were both engaging enough.
Basically Florida bartender/mixologist Pepper Revelle and her friends (the Bohemia Bartenders) are in London for a gin festival when they are asked by the sponsor, handsome Mark Fairman, to investigate the disappearance of some of his rare books. The mystery deepens as "frenemy" Alastair asks them to investigate some mysterious break-ins at his gin palace.
There was plenty of mystery, a dash of romance and intrigue, and so much gin! Seriously, I've never wanted to transport myself into a good bar so badly!
What I liked:
- Pepper. She was funny and relatable. The story is told through her eyes, so she needs to be likeable, and she was. Her inner monologue was full of funny asides and great one-liners. I also appreciated her lusty thoughts about the handsome Mark Fairman.
- The gin. This isn't a plot point, but I LOVED the descriptions of Victorian England cocktails. As a history nerd and cocktail enthusiast, this was just *chef's kiss*
- The bits of history peppered throughout the story. In between sleuthing and prepping cocktails, Pepper is sightseeing in London and learning bits about the city's past, and particularly about Charles Dickens since he used to frequent the bar Alastair now owns. This was such a cool inclusion.
What didn't work:
- Bits of the mystery were a bit… obvious. This is my first "cozy mystery" so maybe I'm to hardened a mystery reader, but it was pretty easy to guess whodunnit. There were some aspects I did not anticipate, and I definitely enjoyed watching the mystery unfold (and it was satisfying to know I was right), but still…
- There are a lot of characters to remember. Most of them are non-essential to the main plot, so it wasn't vital that I remember who was who among the Bohemia Bartenders, but it felt confusing at times. I wondered if I had read the preceding books if I'd know the characters better, care about them and their side mentions. But for my taste in this story, the only Bohemian besides Pepper that I cared about was Neil.
All in all, though, this was such a fun read that I'm getting ready to read the other books in the series. I hope my liver can handle it!
*I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was new to this series so it took me a short bit to get acquainted with all the characters and will now need to go back to the first book and read it to get all the backstories. I felt a need to understand why Pepper and Neil were asked by their host, Mark, to look into the theft of his books when the guy was obviously wealthy and could afford to hire people to do that. He wanted to keep it quiet but I didn't get how these two, who are mixologists, would be the ones to figure it out. I guess this is because I didn't read the previous books and they must have experience at that sort of thing.
The book flowed along smoothly and kept my interest. It was a good mystery and more things to investigate kept popping up besides the initial case of the missing books, which I liked. Liked all the references to Dickens and his history and that of the different places in London (whether they are true or not) even though I have not read any Dickens.
The story was interesting in the fact that a bunch of mixologists would travel to London to attend a gin festival. Didn't even know things like that existed. Couldn't believe the amount of cocktails they drank on a daily basis and it didn't seem to bother them much, maybe a higher tolerance level. Found the discussions on the different drinks interesting as I am not much of a cocktail person and didn't know there were so many different kinds and what all went into them and some of the history behind them.
The main characters, Pepper and Neil, manage to fit in investigating while doing all the necessary events at the festival. There is some romance thrown in as Pepper is attracted to Neil but he is a bit elusive and she also is attracted to Mark. The staff that populates Marks house each had their own quirks and added to the story as did his small dog. Some of the happenings and people who were met along the way I could tell were a setup for the next book in the series, i.e. the investment in the bourbon place in Kentucky.
Enjoyed the book and interested enough to read others in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is one of my favorite series that I have discovered this year. I love the fact that it is set in one of my absolute favorite places to read about then you add in how awesome Pepper is. She's completely relatable, intelligent, fun loving, and doggedly stubborn about finding out whodunnit. I love that this one is in London. Such a fun place to read about! And I love Neil but man! The sexual tension between him and Pepper is so palpable! I cannot wait to see if they end up together. I sure hope they do. I honestly think that their characters are perfect for one another.
I love the world building and all of the characters. This mystery really threw me for a loop. I had one of the characters right as I suspected but what happened after that totally blew my mind. I love that you have to mentally put all of the puzzle pieces together to be able to see the big picture. These are my favorite kind of mysteries. The ones that make you think. Nothing some good old stimulation to the brain to take you out of your worries and stress and help you relax.
I love how this series is always in some fun places and you just never know what kind of trouble they're going to get into. Lucy Lakestone is one of my new favorite authors of this year. I look forward to every new book of hers. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
And another thing that I really like is how much you learn. I love that! You're never too old to learn new things. And to me that just enhances the experience that you get from the book. Because, believe me, if you're reading a book and it's an amazing book then it's definitely an experience. And this book is definitely an experience!
I absolutely loved the heck out of this book! I could not recommend this book enough. I am not kidding when I say that this series is one of my favorites!
This is the 4th book in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries and it does not disappoint! We are treated to a wonderful travelogue in London and it's history as well as an in depth study of Charles Dickens. But of course we have a wonderful mystery to solve. Our Protagonists, Pepper and Neil and their Bohemian Team are invited to London by Mark, who runs a distillery for a Gin Festival. We get to see Mark's immense house as he puts them all up in his mansion complete with a staff and the cutest puppy named Victoria. While the mixologists prepare for the festival with special drinks Mark asks Pepper and Neil to help him with a mystery. It seems he has an immense library of books with a great deal of expensive first editions and some of his books seem to have been taken. At the same time one of the tavern owners, Alistair, says some of his very expensive bottles of alcohol are missing from his wine cellar under the bar and wants Pepper and Neil to help solve that mystery as well. There are quite a few characters in this story that become red-herrings and diversions including Mark's staff. There are so many twists and turns in this book but the Author deftly pulls them all together for great Conclusion. I love the main characters and how sarcastic and funny Pepper can be! Also we are treated to a little flirting and romance. I can't wait to see what will happen at the next festival in Kentucky! I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
I adore the Bohemia Bartender mysteries and all the loveable and a little odd characters that make up the Bohemia Bartenders. In this episode they are asked by their English friend Mark to be a part of his celebration of his gin distillery by making gin cocktails for the guests. He also wants Pepper and Neil to investigate the theft of valuable books from his very impressive library including a Dickens first edition. A major perk on this adventure is they get to live in Mark's posh stately home in the English countryside. They also learn that valuable bottles of wine have been purloined from Mark and Alistair's pub, an old gin palace that had been frequented by Dickens. There were many red herrings that kept them (and me!) guessing before they reached the final solution (not only who done it but why).
And, oh yes, Mark's dog is a sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Victoria who helps keep Pepper from missing her own Cavapoo too much. I have three of them, and Victoria fit the description and personality of the breed to a T!
I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Review Copy from BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this next Bohemia Bartenders mystery (I was given an advance copy, and am writing an honest review voluntarily). What another fun, flirty story - as much as you can call murder fun. Honestly have to say that this one is my fave so far, and although each book can be read alone, it’s great if you’ve read the previous three so you have a good depth of knowledge of the characters. This one had me totally pulling for a “formal” relationship between Neil and Pepper, but of course also wanting to see what all the flirting between Mark and Pepper would lead to… The book is set in London, which is perfect for some mystery and romance, with a bit of history thrown in as well. As always, the author’s writing is distinctly descriptive - I could almost smell the library of old books in Mark’s mansion. I absolutely love that the characters are depicted so well that I now have actual faces and clothing styles in my mind, as if I’d met them myself. Whether you’re new to this series or have read some or all, you certainly won’t want to miss this one! Cheers!
This is book 4 in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries. You can check out goodreads or amazon for the synopsis.
Here is my short and sweet book review.
Book…JIGGERED BY GIN
Author…LUCY LAKESTONE
Pub Date…OUT NOW
THINGS I LIKED
🍸Great group of Characters
🍸London setting
🍸Dickens references
🍸Descriptive writing! I could visualize the characters and their quirky clothing
🍸Quick read that flowed smoothly
🍸Mystery, romance and twists
THINGS THAT WEREN’T MY FAVORITE
•Lots of characters in this book and at times I was confused. But it definitely didn’t take away from the story
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
All in all this was such a fun book! In fact it might be my favorite in the series! While it can be read as a standalone I highly suggest reading the others first. Bonus is each book comes with a drink recipe!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
This is the fourth book in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries and they just keep getting better! This time the mixologists are going to London for the Gin Festival. Their acquaintance Mark Fairman needs their help with the disappearing of some treasured older books one in particular that his father had gave him. This mystery leads too several people and it was so fun to go on this ride with Pepper and Neil. Being stuck in that cellar and the water rising freaked me out! I definitely was shocked at the discovery of who was involved. Pepper and Neil was finally getting a little closer but then the good looking rich Mark Fairman was making it hard on Pepper. Loved the banter between Mark and Pepper and Neil being a little on the jealous side. I can’t wait for the next book! Great series!
I received this ARC from Booksirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Another fun book with the mixologists as they travel to London. Lots of activity, fun conversations and more information than you'll even need to know about gin. I rather enjoyed all the history of gin and Dickens and the gin palaces. It inspired me to do a little reading on the side. A lot of detail and research went into the writing of this book. The cover gives enough info so I'll not repeat any story. Just read it and enjoy. Great read. I was provided this book as an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author, publisher and Book Sirens for allowing me to read this book. Quite enjoyable.
Jiggered by Gin is the 4th book in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries.
If you are eager for a fun cozy mystery, then this series is for you.
This has us following Pepper and Bohemia Bartenders to London for a gin festival. The mystery has them looking for valuable books that have been disappearing and Mark – the gin festival sponsor- who owns the books asks Pepper and the gang to help solve this mystery.
This is a great addition to this series and it was a joy to read! I like a mystery that takes twists and turns and isn't easy to solve.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Each book in this series is better than the last and they are all 5 stars. Pepper, Neil and the gang are in London for a Gin Festival. While there, Mark asks for their help when he notices valuable books missing from his library. Things escalate when bazaar break-ins start happening. The story is fun as they all explore London, attend the Gin Festival locations, and make and taste intriguing cocktails. Add in the suspense from stalkers and secrets and I couldn't stop reading this book. I can hardly wait for the next one. I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Pepper Revelle and the Bohemia Bartenders are visiting London for a gin festival. Great drinks and parties are in store. They’re staying with a Mark, a local distiller in a mansion. Just to add a diversion Mark mentions that someone seems to be stealing books from his amazing library and possibly Pepper could solve this mystery. It’s always great to be with the Bohemian Bartenders and London is just a plus. It’s an interesting setting and has lots of good gin information. Love a book where you can and enjoy and learn a little at the same time.
What a wonderful cast of characters! Such fun descriptions, you can totally visualize all of them. A group of mixologists with a tremendous understanding of literature are in London for a Gin Festival. Of course, we are presented with missing rare books, as well as expensive spirits and the possibility of a jewel heist! Neil and Pepper are on the case, but are they headed in the right direction or faced with a bunch of coincidences?? Fun mystery with a bit of Charles Dickens history thrown in for our pleasure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Another enjoyable cocktail mystery, this one on location in London. The Bohemia Bartenders travel to London and solve a mystery involving lost Dickens letters. I enjoyed this mystery, the setting and the relationships of the characters. I like a series when the characters develop, but still feel familiar. This hit all the right notes. I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Love this series! And I loved being in London, which had me dreaming of a vacation. The on again, off again romance seems to be picking up, but Mark's still flirting like crazy. The Bohemia Beach Bartenders are in London to show off Mark's wares at a gin festival, but really, he's brought Neil and Pepper to help him figure out why very valuable books are disappearing from his library. To make matters worse, the suspects are all people they know and like.
While this book is #4 in a series it was complete to read as a standalone. I loved the interactions and relationships of the characters. The mystery was well integrated into the story. Looking forward to reading the previous and future books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A series about booze and partying, what could be better? Actually, the book's focuses on a mystery. The mystery is intriguing and (just a little) twisted. The characters are mildly amusing. There is even a cocktail recipe at the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pepper heads to a gin festival London and ends up in a missing book mystery. Exploring London, finding a thief and solving a murder make for an exciting adventure for them and an entertaining for the readers of this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This series is just so engaging. I am always drawn in right from the start. There are always lots of plot twists to keep you guessing. Can’t wait for the next adventure.
I think this book series is so fun! This one wasn’t my favourite, but I still enjoyed it! hopefully in the next book something happens between pepper and Neil! Please the suspense is killing me 🤣
“Jiggered by Gin” is the fourth book in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries, a series of whodunnits which are a step up from ‘cozy’, seasoned with a splash of funny and a dash of romance and random facts. This time the crew is in London, one of my favourite cities for its history, but it is in this book I regrettably learnt about the secret life of Charles Dickens.
Quirky Pepper Revelle has grown a bit since book 1 with a better understanding of who she is and what/who she wants so that, by the end of this quick read, she’s solved the mystery and made up her mind between Mark and Neil.
So, kick back, relax and enjoy – preferably with a cocktail!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Book Review of Jiggered by Gin written by Nicole Harmon
Title: Jiggered by Gin: Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries, Book 4 Author: Lucy Lakestone Publish Date: March 15, 2022 Publisher: Velvet Petal Press
Book Blurb(s): “I giggled at his film noir lingo, and both of the guys looked at me. I adopted a sober expression and tried to look intelligent.” “To the rapturous, wild, and ineffable pleasure of drinking at someone else’s expense,” he said.
Summary: Pepper Revelle, Neil, Ben, and the rest of the crew were at the gin festival in London with other Bohemia Bars Mixologists. Neil and Pepper had started a relationship that seemed to be going nowhere a few months before but may go somewhere this trip. Also, there to mix it up was Mark the gorgeous one and Ben the broody one. While at the conference the entire crew was invited to stay at the home of Mark. He has a beautiful library with vintage books and first editions that he was just beginning to catalogue. But someone was trying to or actually stealing some of his inventory. While there Mark, Pepper, and Neil decided to solve the mystery of the Mixologist Thief. As the festival went on it became clear that someone was indeed entering the house all stayed in to walk out with something but no one could figure out what until that night. One night, Pepper heard some noise and went to investigate with Mark by her side. The two found a hidden room at the bottom of the staircase with another hidden door. The door led to a wine cellar. It still left no clue as to who was stealing and what. It did however let them know that someone was indeed after property and possibly something pricey because of what was missing from the wine cellar. One night at the festival when the home of Mark was filled with guests and mixologists Pepper and Mark found out that Ben had made an unscheduled change to his boss’s plans for the basement. He installed another door that led to a billiards room as well as a stash place for stolen goods. Disturbed that Ben hadn’t told him, Mark concluded that his thief was indeed his friend and co-worker/employee Ben. Upon being found out Ben went on the run during the party and ended up dead in the pool by homicide. At the end of the book, the police were investigating his murder and Mark, as well as the other mixologists, were enjoying the rest of the festival. Mark was able to find out what Ben was after and he may have gotten back his stolen goods.
Analysis: I give this book a rating of 5. I read it in three days when I finally started the book. Altogether though I seriously have had the book for one month and had other books to read prior to this one. And in three days I finished this book. What was interesting was the author is not only a very good writer but appears to be well-read and informed of the classic writers as well. The grasp of history about the author Charles Dicken’s life is amazing. I didn’t even know some of what the author put in here. I seriously was Googling throughout the read of this book. By the way, read about Charles Dicken’s love child with his mistress. On to the mystery- I loved the idea of a thief going after vintage and first edition books that are worth millions of dollars to collectors. I loved the idea that the person was after collectables. It seems that proof of the love child is a collectable worth a huge chunk of money. Also, this book shows that bartenders and people who drink in general happen to be well-read individuals. You wouldn’t think that of a person who is a drunk. But to name some of the drinks you would have to be well-read. (I Googled the drink names too.) The staircase that led to the basement and the wine cellar with the hidden door into the billiards room was just a lovely story mechanism. It also cinches the idea that someone is trying to make illegal money or sell something to make money illegally. It ties up the whole question of means and motivation. The romance triangle is a great story mechanism as well to create another form of conflict that enhances the dynamic play between parties and how each reacts to certain situations. I truly thought nothing of Ben until it became clear that he was indeed the culprit behind the whole crime-and all to make a dollar. I honestly think that when you read this novel you will laugh, get very thirsty and desire to try some of the liquor out; and that you will love reading this novel until the end. Jiggered by Gin makes for a good weekend or beach read! Disclosure: I receive a copy of this book via BookSirens to write a book review and all opinions expressed here are my own.
I. LOVE. THIS. SERIES. Pepper and Neil and the gang are always so much fun and the group that they hang with are such colorful characters that their stories never disappoint. This was such a fun read. I couldn't put it down. I want to learn to mix drinks so I can hang with them!
The Bohemia Bartenders are shaking up drinks in London and find themselves again in the center of a delicious mystery. I love these characters more with each story. The situations they get themselves into and out of are entertaining and fun. Highly recommend!
I enjoyed the romp through London's scenic areas as well as dark side. This book was very entertaining and each installment is better than the last! On to Bourbon and Kentucky!