Devil's Kiss: A Small Batch Mystery

A Small Batch Mystery #1

by Michelle Bennington

Rook Campbell is broke, divorced, jobless, and in desperate need of steady employment, which is hard to come by in the small town of Rothdale, Kentucky. With the help of her friend and neighbor Bryan, she lands a good job at the Four Wild Horses Distillery and meets an attractive co-worker with lots of dating potential. Her life is finally headed in the right direction until a co-worker dies under suspicious circumstances and a shipment of rare small-batch bourbon goes missing. Worse, her personal life begins to unravel as her beloved grandmother falls ill. Normally she can depend on her ex, Cam, for help, but his new fiancée’s jealousy is getting in the way. As the body count rises, Rook becomes ensnared in discovering who’s committing the crimes—or she might be the next to die.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Audiobook, Contemporary

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2022

About the author

Author. Wife. Dog "mom." Aspiring Wonder Woman.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil's Kiss (A Small Batch Mystery)
by Michelle Bennington, narrated by Courtney Patterson

Rook Campbell is having a bad day, week, month, year. About eighteen months ago her marriage ended and since then she has been having a lot of trouble making ends meet while working at a local college getting paid for part time hours while putting in full time work. She's living with her grandmother now, has massive school loans, and has just quit her job in a fit of anger. A mess of a life has just gotten worse.

Thankfully, her childhood friend, Bryan, gets her a job at the Four Wild Horses Distillery where he works. On Rook's first day of work someone dies and Rook, who is a big fan of true crime, suspects murder right away. I read so many mystery thrillers I'd probably suspect murder, too. True crime and mystery thriller followers are a paranoid bunch, I must admit. It doesn't help that Rook's mother was murdered when she was eleven and she is positive the sheriff put the wrong person in prison for the murder. No wonder Rook thinks she can do a better job than local law enforcement. Let the tampering with all kinds of evidence begin!

Right off the bat, Rook can see that there is a lot of strife at the brewery, not just a little shady accounting, and some very unfriendly co-workers who don't like her nosing around the place. Does that stop Rook? No, it just sets her hotter on any trail she can find. But intermingled with Rook's sleuthing is the fact that her grandmother becomes seriously ill. At least she has at two, maybe three guys who are watching out for her welfare whether she wants them to do so or not. There is her hunky ex husband, the hunky sheriff's deputy, and her new co-worker with the looks of a model which makes him a hunk, too.

I wouldn't mind visiting these characters again and it looks like this is the beginning of a series. The narrator is new to me and she did a very good job of giving the characters distinct voices without getting cartoonish. That's nice when it can be done right.

Audiobook pub November 29, 2022

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Tahera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to listen to the audiobook of this book on a whim and it was quite good. The murder of a close friend, the disappearance of a rare shipment of bourbon and the incompetency of the sheriff paves the way for Rook Campbell to flex her amateur investigative skills and not only solve these crimes but gives her confidence a boost to finally consider looking into the years old murder case of her mother herself at the end of the book (a backstory that could play out in the succeeding books).

The narration by Courtney Patterson was done very well and I had a good time listening to the audiobook.

My thanks to NetGalley, the audiobook publisher Highbridge Audio and the author Michelle Bennington for the audio Arc of the book. Since the audiobook edition is not available on Goodreads, I am leaving my review under the Kindle edition of the book.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first book in a new series and a debut author, I found myself engaged in the characters and the mystery. I had difficulty putting the book down because I had to know what would happen next for Rook, Cam, Prim, and many others.

Rook is divorced from Cam, but thankfully it is amicable because she calls on him for help often. She doesn't want to, but she has no choice based on some other circumstances in her life. This doesn't sit well with Jacie, Cam's fiancée. But you have to wonder if Cam really wants to marry Jacie, or perhaps he still has feelings for Rook. You will have to read the book to get the answer to that question!

I loved the setting, a whiskey distillery in Kentucky. While I am not a whiskey drinker, I have wanted to visit one for many years to see how it operates. Until then, the author briefly discusses how whiskey is made to give us an idea of how the company operates. Rook is hired to work in the marketing area, and her background makes her the perfect candidate for the job. Luckily, she has an in via her best friend and next-door neighbor Bryan. However, something is happening at the company, and someone ends up dead. Rook is the new kid on the block and decides to investigate on her own despite warnings to leave it to the authorities. At least she is smart enough to hand over any information she uncovers to the police so they can unearth the killer.

There are various characters, but I was quite surprised when the killer was finally revealed. I had my eyes on a couple of the characters because they just seemed shady, but the truth was quite a surprise. While it is obvious to the reader what killed the victim, it takes some time for the police to connect the dots. It doesn't help that the Sheriff does not like Rook and the feeling is mutual. There is a huge backstory that explains the animosity, and I had to applaud Rook for standing up to him at every turn.

Prim is an unsung character. She is Rook's grandmother and helped to raise her when Rook's mother was killed years ago. However, Prim has health issues, and the truth is heartbreaking. She is a woman that will not let anything get her down and takes charge whenever possible.

Rook is another strong female character, and I'd like to say she got it from Prim. She doesn't take any guff and does what she must to uncover the killer. This also puts her in harm's way several times, much to the chagrin of Prim and Cam.

I was quite surprised and pleased with this new book and look forward to reading the next book in this series. We give this book 5 paws up.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5 STARS
2022; HighBridge Audio

Devil's Kiss is a fun cozy mystery with a bit romance and humour. I would read the next book in this series if it comes up.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Devil's Kiss by Michelle Bennington is about a young divorcee who has recently quit her teaching job since it wasn't paying her a great livelihood.
Can Rook figure out who killed her best friend?
Rook Campbell
Rook Campbell is our protagonist, and she has had a hard life. Now, even more so, a year ago, she got divorced. Her ex is engaged to the lady who caused the divorce. She quits her job, and her best friend gets her hired at a distillery company that he works for as an accountant, and oh yeah, on her first day, her best friend gets killed. Rook is a pretty complicated person.

She lost her mom as a kid, her dad went to jail, and her grandmother was the only person left to raise her. For all of that happening, Rook has a hard time just letting her emotions come to the forefront whenever she deals with intense emotions. I don't know if I really like Rook as a person. I get everything about why Rook is the way she is, but not allowing her emotions to come out isn't a good thing.
The Mystery
Rook Campbell is dealing with her first day at work when the guy who owns the distillery screams out because he finds her best friend Bryan dead in Bryan's office. Now Rook is tasked not only by herself but Bryan's mom to figure out what is going on. The sheriff guy doesn't think Bryan was killed, just an innocent heart attack. Rook doesn't think so because of everything she has overheard on her first day.

Let's just say that Rook stumbles upon a bigger mess than she initially thought. I got who the players were and who had the best motive pretty early on just by how everyone was acting and how Rook found the evidence and events that tied it all together.
Four Stars
Devil's Kiss by Michelle Bennington is a great first book in a new series. Ms. Bennington does an excellent job of writing this book. Just realize that with any good Southern mystery book, you should be excepting to have lots of snacks by you. Rook eats a lot of delicious food.

I am giving Devil's Kiss by Michelle Bennington four stars and recommending it to anyone that wants to try a cozy mystery set in Kentucky.


Giveaway
Prize: (1) Prize Package from Author Michelle Bennington that includes a book, mug, chocolate, candle (made by me), bookmark, hand sanitizer, car freshener, and pen, valued at about $75. The US Only

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Thank you for dropping by! What do you think of Devil's Kiss by Michelle Bennington?

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rook Campbell is going through a lot when we first meet her – still struggling to find her footing after a recent-ish divorce from ex-husband Cam, living with her grandmother Prim, and out of work. In fact, Cam and Prim are a large part of her support network (yes, she’s still close to her ex) along with her next door neighbor Bryan who is like a brother to her. As the story progresses, the author removes or limits each branch of that support network in one way or another, forcing Rook to grow up a bit more and find her own voice. I really liked the layers this process added to her character, as well as the extra dimension it gave to the story.

In fact, in this first Small Batch Mystery, Bennington has done a marvelous job of creating characters that readers will love and become invested in for the life of the series. Not only do we care about what happens to Rook & her circle in Devil’s Kiss, but our appetites are also whet for future books with a couple of plot arcs that were touched on briefly but not yet developed – namely, her mother’s past murder (for which Rook’s father is in prison) and the possibility of a romantic relationship. On that note, there were three men who appeared to be in love with her in this book, and I was positively giddy that my favorite is the one she ends up focusing on by the end.

The mystery interested me for a variety of reasons. First of all, I lived in Kentucky bourbon country from my freshman year of high school until we moved to Georgia at the end of 2020, so it was fun to feel ‘at home’ on the pages, murder notwithstanding. Secondly, the writer’s voice is warm and engaging, putting us right in the heart of a small Kentucky town with a bevy of plausible suspects who would ‘bless your heart’ right into a jail cell if needed but are also on the spot with condolence casseroles & sympathy desserts. Third, the murder was very personal for Rook and because I instantly liked her character it became personal for me too.

Bottom Line: For thirty years, I lived in the area where this story takes place, or at least the area it’s modeled after, and I loved revisiting it on the pages of Devil’s Kiss by Michelle Bennington. Rook is a protagonist you’ll be rooting for as she begins to see her own strength and stands up for herself, even while solving a murder that’s very personal to her. The mystery is layered and more complex than it first appears, and it kept me invested and turning the pages. A great weekend visit to the Bluegrass with a good mystery, engaging writing style, and colorful characters!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEVIL'S KISS by Michelle Bennington
The First Small Batch Mystery

Divorced, broke, and living with her grandma, Rook Campbell's life is looking grim, especially as she just quit her job as an underappreciated, underpaid, untenured professor. Her best friend, Bryan, helps her land a job at Four Wild Horses Distillery, where he works as an accountant. Things are hectic on her first day on the job and there's an underlying sense of subterfuge as well as outright hostility. Something shady is definitely going on at Four Wild Horses. When Bryan is found dead Rook is certain it's murder and vows to discover who killed him. Things get increasingly dangerous for Rook who is desperate to keep her job. But will her decision to stay at the distillery and look for Bryan's murderer get her killed as well?

The first Small Batch Mystery is a more mature traditional mystery that introduces readers to some interesting characters. Rook is doggedly determined despite everything that goes wrong with her life-and boy is there a lot. The author seems to relish making Rook's life challenging. She does have support from the best friend who's like a brother to her (who the author quickly kills off), her grandmother (who the author soon gives major health issues), and her ex-husband (who has a jealous fiance). See what I mean about challenges?! I really like Jimmy and dislike the Sheriff and almost everyone at the distillery. They are all, however, fun to read about, especially witnessing their machinations and Rook's efforts to derail them.

I really enjoyed the complex mystery. So many people behaving badly made for some shocking scenes. Seeing Rook stand strong and fight back was exhilarating and the porch scene with Jacie still makes me grin.

DEVIL'S KISS is a mystery with grit that makes you thankful for your life and hopeful that things will get better. I look forward to seeing the distillery recover and Rook move on with her life, stronger and even more resilient.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Devil's Kiss is the first book in a new cozy series by Michelle Bennington. Released 31st May 2022 by Level Best Books, it's 278 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a small-town cozy mystery with a young ex-adjunct professor of English who has turned her back (at least temporarily) on academia to find a more lucrative job and expand her possibilities. She has a good support network including her maternal grandmother, friends, and a cordial relationship with her ex-husband. Her network also includes her best friend who helps her land a job at a local craft boutique distillery. Unfortunately, said friend dies under suspicious circumstances during her first day on the job.

The plot is a bit trope-y: main character Rook starts out jobless, broke, downtrodden, rudderless, and still emotionally dependent on her ex. She is, frankly, a bit of a doormat and is alternately browbeaten and run over by everyone she meets. The secondary characters are eccentric small town archetypes, including the requisite incompetent corpulent lazy small town sheriff who is eye-wateringly unprofessional and stubborn/stupid. 

The climax, denouement, and resolution are all self-contained in this book. The plotting is occasionally meandering, but not egregiously so. Some of the descriptive prose is a bit overblown and especially the passages dealing with the male characters ogling some of the female characters left me a bit cold. It's not over the top, but it was on the "bodice ripper" side of the spectrum. 

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 8 hours and 46 minutes and is capably narrated by Courtney Patterson. She does a good job with characters of a range of ages and both male and female. The story is set in Kentucky and she does a decent approximation of the local accents. Recording and production quality are high throughout the book.

Three and a half stars. Fans of Ellery Adams, Vicki Delany, and Kate Carlisle will likely enjoy this one. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the narrative voice in this audiobook. There was something both flippant and poignant about the more regular issues in the life of our protagonist. The protagonist is a regular woman with problems usually glossed over in books of this genre. She has a poorly paying job, one that does not provide any satisfaction while bleeding her dry, and she has debts, and medical bills are going to start piling up pretty soon.
Rook has been living in her hometown forever. Her parents (especially her father) are notorious, and she has been trying to lead a blameless life. The need for money urges her to get a new job, thanks to her best friend/almost sibling. The very man then dies soon after, throwing Rook into emotional chaos.
A lot of things start to go wrong, and Rook is sure the death was not accidental. As mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed getting to know the people in town, and the pacing of the story worked really well for an audiobook. My problem with how dense Rook was, for the most part. I do not know if it was the narrator or the smaller actions Rook took prior to investigating that made me feel like she was an efficient and intelligent person. The number of times she was blind to the obvious countered the observations!
Usually, when you read a book, a sudden glimpse at the following page might reveal some information, but in this book, even with the audio playing at normal speeds, I could tell all the clues Rook was studiously misidentifying. It took a long time for the story to arrive at the conclusions that I already had. If I had been misled or tricked, I would have rated this book higher because I really enjoyed the listening experience, but that was not the case. I might continue with the series if I get the chance, but I think the more infrequent reader of this genre will enjoy this book more than the ardent fans.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.

[Debbie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary cozy-ish mystery is an entertaining read with some unique aspects. It is set in the small community of Rothdale in Kentucky's Bluegrass country where Bourbon is king. Rook Campbell is the likeable but flawed protagonist who manages to land a job at a mid-sized local distillery and comes with a grandmother who raised her, a father in prison for the murder of Rook's mother, a local sheriff who seems to visit the sins of the father on the daughter, and a sympathetic ex-husband.

The "cozy-ish" designation is because this book deals with some hard truths, including the death of a close friend, family illness, and the reality of caring for aging loved ones. It is not all rainbows and unicorns, but fortunately, it does not get bogged down in the negative and escapes being maudlin. Rook is a survivor, even if she can be her own worst enemy, and her grandmother is saucy, tenacious, a little cantankerous, and often very entertaining. I won't include spoilers, but I will say that there is one particular scene in the book that still makes me laugh when I picture it.

I confess that I identified the villains fairly early in the book, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of following Rook's investigation to its conclusion. Yes, there may be at least one TSTL moment.

All in all, I consider this a little gem in the realm of cozy (or cozy-ish) mysteries and look forward to the second book that I intend to read now.

Courtney Patterson does an excellent job of bringing these characters to life.

[Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rook is dealing with a lot. Her marriage ended and she is back living with her beloved grandmother. She had quit a job that was costing her more to work at than she got paid and is in a financial free fall. She is still friends with her ex, Cam (they were better friends than they were a married couple) so she leans on him often. This doesn’t thrill his new fiancé, but neither of them care all that much. Her best friend Bryan helps her get a job at the distillery he works at and she is thrilled. They’ve known each other forever and he is family to her. She starts her new job and it all goes wonky. First Bryan is killed and that is the beginning of a killing spree, she is targeted and harassed by known and unknown sources, is dealing with a Sheriff who is so incredibly incompetent, inept and hateful, that on his own he couldn’t figure out who started a fire if they were holding a can of gasoline and a lit match. The only one who seems to really be working to solve the murder is Rook and if not careful it could cost her her won life. It’s a winding road to the resolution of this multiple crimes and Rook finally getting her life on the right track. Nice listen with good narration. My first by this author, but certainly to my last.
Rated up from what Id have given a 3.5 if half stars available.

I received a copy of this audiobook from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may not sound wise to resign from a job before you have a new one, but sometimes there is joy in taking action on a spontaneous decision. Not convinced? Ask Rook Campbell. She’s divorced, drowning in student loan debt, and her grandmother provides the roof over her head.

Thankfully, living with Prim also means living next door to Batrene Bishop and her son, Bryan, and Rook and Bryan have been best friends since childhood. Bryan has been working at Four Wild Horses Distillery and knows of a company job opening that needs to be filled as quickly as possible. Why not Rook?

I loved this well-written mystery! The storyline captures interest from the opening paragraph to the end. The characters have depth, and the dialogue is realistic. The twists come at unexpected moments and heighten the intrigue.

The atmospheric writing adds to the enchantment of the reading experience. The descriptive setting brings clear visuals of the Kentucky landscape. While reading, whatever your drink of preference, you’ll either wander to the kitchen for a glass of iced tea or bourbon. And don’t be surprised if you wish it were possible to enjoy Southern cooking, homemade and garden fresh.

The best news is that Book 2, "Mermaid Cove," will be released on May 31st! So don’t delay; you can read "Devil’s Kiss" now.

[Hallie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for this coziest of cozy mysteries! In her first novel, Bennington has created an enchanting setting full of multi-dimensional characters who are oh-so-relatable. When we first meet the protagonist, Rook Campbell, she’s unemployed, broke, and melancholy after her husband Cam has left her for another woman. Rook soothes her stress with moon pies and Milky Way Delights—I did say relatable—and puts her game face on as she starts a new job at a local distillery.

Chaos ensues, however, when a close friend is murdered, and Rook discovers that things aren’t quite what they seem at the distillery. I enjoyed this premise and I especially appreciated that Rook’s ex-husband, Cam, is not quite the scoundrel we thought he was at the beginning.

In DEVIL’S KISS, Bennington has skillfully set up the series and leaves the reader wanting more. Not only is her writing style clever, with colorful phrases like crinkum-crankum, condolence peach cobbler, and my personal favorite, “tender, gooey feeling that accompanied images of baby animals,” but her plot is smart, full of twists, and very, very satisfying.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next Small Batch Mystery! Bravo, Ms. Bennington!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This murder mystery is set at a bourbon distillery in Kentucky. I am headed that way next month on vacation, so I was hoping to get the feel for the region before I go.

Unfortunately it is not terribly original in that the main character is broke, divorced, jobless and in need of stability in her life. She crutches on her ex husband Cam way too much. She has terrible taste in men, jumping into a relationship with her boss. Dinner at a nice restaurant is just not worth the sacrifice. She talks herself into the relationship for all the wrong reasons.

This book is filled with delightful southern characters, but there are several who are a bit over the top mean, and it is probably no surprise why. Rook is way too nice to deal with them, but she needs to solve the murder of her best friend. She is also distracted by her only living relative who is seriously ill.

I hope if there is a sequel that Rook opens her eyes to the other possibilities around her.

I purchased a copy, and it arrived signed! What a nice surprise.

[Linda McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dead Men Don't Snitch"

Well that's a definite clue to Rook that her co worker's death wasn't just a heart attack. In book 1 of the new A Small Batch Mystery series, Devil's Kiss by Michelle Bennington, Rook's first day at the distillery is anything but easy. There's murder, her Grandma Prim is ill and her ex husband is marrying her nemesis.

This was a great introduction to small town quirky characters, a possible romance that is not who you think it's with and a nice tutorial on making expensive whiskey called Devil's Kiss. Narrator Courtney Patterson was on point as the distraught Rook. I didn't see the real murderer until the fun surprise reveal.

There is an underlying mystery about Rook's mother which hopefully will be dealt with in book 2 coming out 3/31/23! Devil's Kiss was a fine chef's kiss.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Highbridge Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

*This Review Is For The Audiobook*

[Books Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "DEVIL'S KISS" by Michelle Bennington, readers are treated to a cozy mystery that is both charming and engaging. The protagonist, Rook Campbell, is relatable and endearing as she navigates a challenging time in her life, including a recent divorce and unemployment. Bennington skillfully creates a setting filled with multi-dimensional characters.
As the plot unfolds, Rook finds herself caught up in a murder mystery that hits close to home, and readers are taken on a journey of twists and turns that keep them guessing until the end.
One of the strengths of "DEVIL'S KISS" is the character development, particularly with Rook. She undergoes personal growth and discovers her own strength as she faces challenges and stands up for herself. The supporting characters are also well-drawn, and readers will find themselves invested in their lives and eager to see how their stories unfold in future books in the series.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mystery and bourbon

This was an interesting mystery by a new author to me. I liked Rook, I have to say, her life and this book were a little heavier than your regular cozy mystery. Rook has a lot going on. She is starting a new job, her good friend and next door neighbor helped her get at the Bourbon distillery where he worke d. Unfortunately, her friend dies on Rook's first day, and she can not believe that it was natural causes. This was a very good mystery, although I will say I felt that Rook took way too many chances that were not necessarily well thought out. I would like to thank the author for an opportunity to read.

[Carmen Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The plot and setting are great—especially with the strong Southern vibes—but it’s the characters I fell in love with most. They were well developed, with very real struggles, motivations, and emotions. I immediately connected with Rook, Cam, and Prim, and found myself rooting hard for each of them. The mystery itself was very interesting and everything tied together well. The writing was beautiful and had a natural flow, making this an easy and enjoyable read. Sign me up for the next book in the series! #TeamCam

[SarahH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn’t normally consider myself a cozy mystery reader, but I loved reading this book - cozy indeed. Bourbon, bluegrass, and murder! It was fun as a Kentuckian to recognize the landscape around Lexington. Rook definitely gets in her own way where love is concerned, but she is easy to relate to and root for where solving crimes is concerned! Fun read! Looking forward to reading the next book in the Small Batch series - Mermaid Cove.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I normally do not read mysteries but thought I would give this a try. It is fun and the descriptions of KY and the people that live here are spot on. You can certainly tell she is a native. I am anxious to read another one of her books.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery, which I can't remember anything about, so how good could it be??