The Proof Is in the Poison (A Southern Homebrew Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Tennessee
Publisher : Berkley (June 7, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593333241
ISBN-13 : 978-0593333242
Kindle ASIN : B09FNYS517
Moonshine shop owner Hattie Hayes is ready to lend a hand when a mystery starts brewing at a train convention in Chattanooga, TN, in this charming cozy mystery series.
Now that her moonshine shop is up and running, Hattie Hayes can focus her efforts on expanding her fledgling business to events in the area, like the Chattanooga Choo Choo Model Train Convention, which is running full steam ahead at the convention center down the block. Hattie is all aboard, seizing this perfect opportunity to promote her Southern homebrew to the folks who have come to the city for the annual event.
But when an attendee dies after drinking some of Hattie’s moonshine, she’ll need to prove her innocence. Between tight-lipped train hobbyists and competitors for a coveted convention prize, Hattie has a wide array of suspects to choose from, and she’ll need to use all the tricks up her sleeve to make sure her moonshine business can survive a murderer and stay on track.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Chattanooga Choo Choo Model Train Convention is chugging right along and with The Moonshine Shack just down the street owner Hattie Hayes is capitalizing on the opportunity to promote her Southern homebrew to the members and all their visitors. She has convinced the hotel convention manager to hold a Monday Moonshine Mixer featuring her moonshine. She even worked with the bartenders to create train-themed drinks.
When a train enthusiast and leading contender to win at least one of the many contests passes out and dies by his exhibit Hattie’s “shine” takes the blame. She knows she is meticulous when she makes her flavored moonshine and no one else who drank had ill effects so now she has to prove she had nothing to do with the man’s death. Just walking around the convention center she found several suspects, now she needs to get them to talk.
Will Hattie be able to bottle a murder? or has The Moonshine Shack served its last jar of shine?
Ms. Kelly has created some wonderful characters for this series. I love the relationship Hattie has with her granddaddy. She picks him up almost daily from the Singing River Retirement Home, where he waits for her on his metallic red scooter usually surrounded by two or three senior ladies looking for fun and companionship. He goes with her to the shop where he visits with customers, makes recommendations, whittles cute little critters, and takes a little nap or two. He is a big fan of model trains and is excited to go to the convention with Hattie to hand out flyers and swag to everyone. He is so proud of her for taking on the family business and taking it to new heights. She is also a darn good amateur sleuth.
I also love the relationship that is building between Hattie and the handsome Officer Marlon Landers. He is a mounted officer, and his horse Charlotte is a big, beautiful chestnut mare with a flaxen mane. The relationship is new, but he truly cares about her and wants to keep her safe. The woman takes some crazy risks that scare the bejesus out of him. Detective Candance Ace almost took Hattie’s antics in stride.
Solving the mystery was based more on observations than questioning suspects which was a good thing because Hattie needs to work on her interview skills but she has gotten better than she was in the first book, The Moonshine Shack Murder. The detective knew Hattie could help her because she had spent a lot of time at the convention hall and knew things about the attendees that helped put things in perspective. I don’t think she knew the lengths Hattie would go to though to catch the killer. Holy cow! I was on the edge of my seat during the entire chase and I believe I was holding my breath. Yes, I had the right suspect at the top of my list before Hattie but I really had a great time tagging along with her for every step.
I appreciated all the information about model trains and all the contests held at this convention. There was a time when our children were small that a plywood board painted green with tracks, trains, assorted buildings, and scenery sat on a table in our garage. We attended some local conventions and they were great family days that sparked our imaginations. The enthusiasts in this story took things to a high level and the author described each set-up so well I envisioned each one easily.
Heartwarming characters, an intriguing mystery, tons of model train info, interesting moonshine drinks, and a heart-pounding showdown all came together to make The Proof Is in the Poison a Perfect Escape. I am unsure why I got behind on this series but I am moving book 3, Fiddling with Fate up on my TBR stack.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
A former tax advisor, Diane Kelly inadvertently worked with white-collar criminals more than once. Lest she end up in an orange jumpsuit, Diane decided self-employment would be a good idea. Her fingers hit the keyboard and thus began her “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. A graduate of her hometown’s Citizen Police Academy, Diane Kelly also writes the hilarious Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the Busted female motorcycle cop series, the House Flipper series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series.
Diane’s books have been awarded the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® Award and a Reviewers Choice Award.
Be the first to receive book news by signing up for Diane’s newsletter at www.dianekelly.com. “Like” Diane on Facebook at her Author Diane Kelly page, and follow her on Instagram at @DianeKellyBooks Twitter @DianeKellyBooks
Find all of Diane Kelly’s books Here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
was another fun read from Vicki Fee. I can’t wait to return to Dixie to see what shenanigans Liv and Di get into next. 
is hollering at me from my Kindle. I will be featuring it on another #FlashbackFriday in the future. 
from Henery Press and the 
from Kensington.
expert. However, as I think back over my journey of transitioning from writing romance to writing mysteries, I believe the seeds may have been planted years ago while watching 
.
before the dramatic conclusion of the movie. Mine was the only hand raised. Not only had I figured the ending out ahead of time, but I’d figured it out during the first scene of the movie. I thought it was so obvious after being bombarded for weeks by all those trailers on TV of Haley Joel Osment telling Bruce Willis, “I see dead people.”
. To my utter shock and amazement, I couldn’t figure out whodunit! Not only couldn’t I figure out whodunit, but then Dame Agatha threw me one huge curve of an ending. I remember sitting there thinking, “Well done!”
