A Brew for Chaos

by Esme Addison Narrated by Emily Durante

Overview

Herbal apothecary worker and secret mermaid descendant Alex Daniels has to solve a puzzling serial killer cold case in this intriguing and magical cozy mystery installment set in an endearing small coastal town during fall festivities.

Aleksandra Daniels is settling into her new home in Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. She loves her apothecary job, and is enjoying getting to know her boyfriend, local detective Jack Frazier. But she's still trying to figure out her magical powers.

Leaves are changing, pumpkins are being picked, and the small coastal town is caught in the excitement of the approaching Oktoberfest. Alex's friend Pepper is more excited by the anniversary of a cold case she's helping her boss, Jonah, investigate. In the eighties, a serial killer abducted ten local women and was never caught, the women never seen again.

Pepper asks Alex for help, but she's done solving mysteries. She'd rather be with Jack sharing apple cider. That won't happen if she keeps meddling in his investigations.

When Jonah's body is found on the beach, Alex is forced to reconsider. Soon she's caught in a plot that places her life and the lives of everyone she loves in terrible danger.

An intricately plotted, quirky and charming book that gives you an enticing genre-blend of cozy mystery, contemporary fantasy and a hint of sci-fi. Fans of Esme Addison's An Intrigue of Witches as well as Iris Beaglehole, Amanda Flower and Ellery Adams shouldn't miss this “enchanting read” (Kirkus Reviews).

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal on An Intrigue of Witches

A page-turning mix of Dan Brown meets National Treasure with some magic . . . Those who enjoy a little history with their magic will find this novel difficult to put down

Booklist

The charming small-town setting, fast pacing, plot twists, and well-drawn characters will appeal to readers who like a hint of magic in their cozies

Booklist on A Spell for Trouble

Well-developed characters and charming seaside setting, and framed by plant and mermaid lore, will appeal to those who enjoy stories with a touch of magic

First Clue Reviews on An Intrigue of Witches

A winning series starter

Booklist on A Hex for Danger

Close family relationships, friendship, a lovingly portrayed coastal setting – all framed by details of running an herbal apothecary – distinguish this cozy

Kirkus Reviews on A Spell for Trouble

[A] sparkling debut . . . For those who love cozies, romance with an edge, and magical adventures

New York Times bestselling author on An Intrigue o Steve Berry

Poignant and entertaining, this one is loaded with intrigue – a feast for anyone, like myself, who loves action, history, secrets and conspiracies. A stellar read

Kirkus Reviews on An Intrigue of Witches

Those who buy into the magic will enjoy the mystery

Kirkus Reviews on A Hex for Danger

Magical mysteries, romance, and a Harry Potter–like storyline add up to an enchanting read

Booklist on An Intrigue of Witches

Fans of Addison’s Enchanted Bay series and those attracted by the supernatural, history, and mystery will enjoy this series starter

Publishers Weekly

A sparkling supernatural cozy

Kirkus Reviews

A long, complex mystery that spotlights humans’ inhumanity to living creatures and offers a spark of hope

Anthony-nominated and bestselling author of Her Na Yasmin Angoe

Watch out, Robert Langdon, because Sidney Taylor has arrived! An intrepid historian with a lot of voice, a national conspiracy dating back centuries, a secret magical society, and discovering one’s legacy—the best elements to a captivating read

Kirkus Reviews

2025-07-17
The lovely seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina, is beset with problems both magical and diabolical.

Aleksandra Daniels belongs to the Sobieski family, whose members trace their lineage to a famous mermaid, carry the Mer gene, and have special abilities relating to water. After Alex's mother drowned, though, her father, a police detective, kept her far away from the clan. Now that he's died, she's been reunited with her Aunt Lidia and cousins Minka and Kamila. Kamila is a police officer with little interest in Botanika, the family’s herbal healing business, while Minka was Lidia’s helper until they had a falling out over the younger woman's work for Leviathan Industries, which is owned by the powerful Montgomery Blue, who has dragon blood. Alex’s friend Pepper works for Jonah Fox, editor of theBellamy Bay Bugler, who’s writing a story about the serial killer dubbed the Fisherman and is also known for his winning home-brew beer recipe, which tavern owner Spencer Francis is desperate to obtain before Oktoberfest. Although Alex’s boyfriend, Jack Frazier, is a police detective who’s against anything with even a hint of woo-woo, he asks her to meet his mother, whose fascination with mermaids and mental vagueness troubles him; she tells Alex that Jack's in the military, which doesn't seem right. When a woman is attacked on the beach and left with amnesia right next to the body of Jonah Fox, all hell breaks loose. Nasty, dangerous secrets that have been hidden for years bubble up, placing Alex and her family in great danger. Since Jack thinks Mer people aren’t even human, Alex, who’s solved several murders using her special abilities, must fight for her family and all magical people against dark forces that include the government.

A long, complex mystery that spotlights humans’ inhumanity to living creatures and offers a spark of hope.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940195270216
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	09/02/2025
Series:	Enchanted Bay Mysteries , #3
Edition description:	Unabridged

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