Scan barcode
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Belly up to the bar and try one of Max’s new brews.
Brew pub owner Maxine “Max” O’Hara and her chef/boyfriend, Jake Lambert, are 2 awesome characters. Working with your significant other can be tough but these two compliment each other nicely and each have their own strengths. Max knows beer and Jake knows food and the Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival is the perfect place so show everyone their talents. But cranky critic Reginald Mobley is not a fan of the Allegheny Brew House fare and delvers a scathing review. It puts them in the police’s cross hairs when he dies in front of a crowd of people while eating Jake’s burger. Max’s dad is also on the case but his partner has his mind made up. It may be time to call on a higher being, Max’s brother is a priest so he will be praying but Max is determined to save Jake, herself, and their pub any way she can.
The characters in this series are very interesting. Setting the story at a festival draws an eclectic group of people too. They are also very well crafted. The lead characters are both strong and independent, equals and very supportive of each other. They lean on each other but are not dependent on each other. They have known each other most of their lives and that gave them a strong bond before they even started dating.
The author also gives us a very strong plot with plenty twists. Reading the first book in this series, I figured out the culprit before Max, this time I was right there with her and figured it out at the same time. My early suspicions were totally wrong. She also gives us enough depth into the world of micro-brews with overwhelming the reader. I love learning new things.
I enjoyed the setting of the festival and could easily picture the booths and their layout. Ms. Tremel’s descriptions were so rich I could almost taste the beer and those burgers,
This is a fantastic addition to this series and I am really looking forward to the next installment, A Room With A Brew. Now if I could just have a glass or two of Max’s citrus ale to hold me over until then…
Belly up to the bar and try one of Max’s new brews.
Brew pub owner Maxine “Max” O’Hara and her chef/boyfriend, Jake Lambert, are 2 awesome characters. Working with your significant other can be tough but these two compliment each other nicely and each have their own strengths. Max knows beer and Jake knows food and the Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival is the perfect place so show everyone their talents. But cranky critic Reginald Mobley is not a fan of the Allegheny Brew House fare and delvers a scathing review. It puts them in the police’s cross hairs when he dies in front of a crowd of people while eating Jake’s burger. Max’s dad is also on the case but his partner has his mind made up. It may be time to call on a higher being, Max’s brother is a priest so he will be praying but Max is determined to save Jake, herself, and their pub any way she can.
The characters in this series are very interesting. Setting the story at a festival draws an eclectic group of people too. They are also very well crafted. The lead characters are both strong and independent, equals and very supportive of each other. They lean on each other but are not dependent on each other. They have known each other most of their lives and that gave them a strong bond before they even started dating.
The author also gives us a very strong plot with plenty twists. Reading the first book in this series, I figured out the culprit before Max, this time I was right there with her and figured it out at the same time. My early suspicions were totally wrong. She also gives us enough depth into the world of micro-brews with overwhelming the reader. I love learning new things.
I enjoyed the setting of the festival and could easily picture the booths and their layout. Ms. Tremel’s descriptions were so rich I could almost taste the beer and those burgers,
This is a fantastic addition to this series and I am really looking forward to the next installment, A Room With A Brew. Now if I could just have a glass or two of Max’s citrus ale to hold me over until then…
jgallagher1983's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series!!! My father is from Lawrenceville so I, know a lot of he places in the book. Pittsburgh has always felt like home to me, and the people are so nice, so this book is comforting to me. Plus, the brewery, Max and Jake's relationship, and Hops! I love that little kitten
tough_cookie's review against another edition
4.0
Tangled Up in Brew is the sequel to To Brew or Not to Brew, and it is a sequel worth reading! Brewpub owner Maxine "Max" O'Hara and her chef boyfriend, Jake, are preparing for the summer beer and burger festival to be held in their town; Max has some new brews she wants to enter into the festival's contest, and Jake has a secret burger planned for the burger tasting contest. However, during the soft opening, one of the judges is called away on an emergency and is replaced by Reginald Mobley, a truly detestable food critic who only gives scathing reviews. The festival is no different, and he ends up giving all the brewers, even Max, a hard time. Then, when the festival is up and running, he dies during the first round of burger tasting, right after taking a bite of Jake's burger. Murder is suspected, and Max's father, a police officer, is called in, along with a young hot-shot newbie, Vincent, who immediately deems Max and Jake guilty and sets out to prove it. Although she trusts her father, Max can't sit idly by while "Vinnie the Viper", as she correctly calls him, focuses only on her and Jake as possible murder suspects. Thus, she takes it upon herself to investigate, along with help from Jake and her bookclub crew, Kristie, Candy, and Elmer.
For most of the book, I had no idea who the murderer could be; there were just so many possibilities! Then about 3/4 of the way through, I got a strong inkling who it was and indeed I ended up being correct, but it was still fun to see the mystery's tangled web unraveled. I utterly loathed Mobley and was not sorry when he died, and the other character I absolutely hated was Dwayne Tunstall, a hack beer brewer who stole his recipes from some of the others when he was working for them and thinks he is the greatest thing since Betty White. Vincent was the other annoyance, since he was so gun-ho about Max and Jake's guilt; it worried me that he might go so far as to pin the murder on them, but thankfully he wasn't that stupid, just obnoxious. Other than those characters, however, I enjoyed the return of the rest from the first novel. It was nice seeing Jake and Max together, even if they're taking things slowly; and of course Candy's big personality and Kristie's level-headedness were equally welcomed. Add to it Max's wonderful family and it made for a picture-perfect cast.
The pace was set well, neither too slow nor too fast, and the ending wasn't thrown together at the last minute, but instead proceeded just as one would expect from such an extensive investigation. And the resolution was just right, adding enough to settle things from the climax and offer reconciliations where needed, but not dragging on for too many pages. Another cozy mystery I highly recommend, even without the delicious food recipes at the back!
For most of the book, I had no idea who the murderer could be; there were just so many possibilities! Then about 3/4 of the way through, I got a strong inkling who it was and indeed I ended up being correct, but it was still fun to see the mystery's tangled web unraveled. I utterly loathed Mobley and was not sorry when he died, and the other character I absolutely hated was Dwayne Tunstall, a hack beer brewer who stole his recipes from some of the others when he was working for them and thinks he is the greatest thing since Betty White. Vincent was the other annoyance, since he was so gun-ho about Max and Jake's guilt; it worried me that he might go so far as to pin the murder on them, but thankfully he wasn't that stupid, just obnoxious. Other than those characters, however, I enjoyed the return of the rest from the first novel. It was nice seeing Jake and Max together, even if they're taking things slowly; and of course Candy's big personality and Kristie's level-headedness were equally welcomed. Add to it Max's wonderful family and it made for a picture-perfect cast.
The pace was set well, neither too slow nor too fast, and the ending wasn't thrown together at the last minute, but instead proceeded just as one would expect from such an extensive investigation. And the resolution was just right, adding enough to settle things from the climax and offer reconciliations where needed, but not dragging on for too many pages. Another cozy mystery I highly recommend, even without the delicious food recipes at the back!
moondance120's review against another edition
4.0
I looked at the printout in my hand one more time, then checked the number spray-painted on the gravel in the formerly empty lot in Pittsburgh's Strip District.
Maxine "Max" O' Hara and her boyfriend, Jake Lambert are participants in the first Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival. Max' brewpub has been doing well and she has three beers entered for the contest. Jake has a burger that he hopes will bring him the prize. One of the judges is called away unexpectedly and the relief judge is an obnoxious food critic that has created havoc in the food world of Pittsburgh. The judge, Reginald Mobley, drops dead after eating Jake's burger. Max' dad's new partner, Vince is convinced that Jake and Max killed the judge. So begins the investigation to clear their names.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this was excellent as well. I like the characters and how they are presented. I really appreciate all the information about making beer even though I am not much of a beer drinker. I think it is the geek in me that likes the chemistry of it all.
Reginald is a despicable character that has way too many enemies to pick just one as the killer. You almost want to congratulate the murderer for taking him out. But then you learn what made him the way he is and you feel badly for thinking that.
A second murder puts everyone on edge and threatens the return of the festival. Max and Jake go into full detective mode to discover who is behind the killings.
I enjoyed meeting Jake's parents and interacting more with Max' family. Her friends, Candy, Kristie and Elmer are a hoot.
The story moved very quickly for me and I read it in pretty much one sitting. I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here.
Maxine "Max" O' Hara and her boyfriend, Jake Lambert are participants in the first Three Rivers Brews and Burgers Festival. Max' brewpub has been doing well and she has three beers entered for the contest. Jake has a burger that he hopes will bring him the prize. One of the judges is called away unexpectedly and the relief judge is an obnoxious food critic that has created havoc in the food world of Pittsburgh. The judge, Reginald Mobley, drops dead after eating Jake's burger. Max' dad's new partner, Vince is convinced that Jake and Max killed the judge. So begins the investigation to clear their names.
I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this was excellent as well. I like the characters and how they are presented. I really appreciate all the information about making beer even though I am not much of a beer drinker. I think it is the geek in me that likes the chemistry of it all.
Reginald is a despicable character that has way too many enemies to pick just one as the killer. You almost want to congratulate the murderer for taking him out. But then you learn what made him the way he is and you feel badly for thinking that.
A second murder puts everyone on edge and threatens the return of the festival. Max and Jake go into full detective mode to discover who is behind the killings.
I enjoyed meeting Jake's parents and interacting more with Max' family. Her friends, Candy, Kristie and Elmer are a hoot.
The story moved very quickly for me and I read it in pretty much one sitting. I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here.
mandyk's review
3.0
Tangled Up in Brew is the second installment in the Brewing Trouble trilogy. This time our MC is a vendor in a new beer festival when one of the judges dies suddenly. The victim was a much-hated critic for the local paper, and the list of suspects is nearly endless. Unfortunately, the new detective on the case is convinced the killers were our MC and her boyfriend/chef.
While the first in this series was devoid of any of the cozy tropes I dislike, this one managed to hit two of them: MC being the prime suspect and an enemy detective. However, the tropes were handled in such a way that it never got annoying. So while I was disheartened to see both tropes pop up at once (although to be fair, the two do tend to be utilized together) it didn't turn out as bad as I feared.The MC's dad being the lead detective on the case, and the fact that the real killer was never trying to frame someone else is what kept the tropes in check and less annoying than they tend to be.
I liked the mystery in the first book better, I felt that the first one did better with weaving clues to the real killer earlier on than this one did. However, I adored the festival setting and really enjoyed the burger and craft beer competition side plot.
While the first in this series was devoid of any of the cozy tropes I dislike, this one managed to hit two of them: MC being the prime suspect and an enemy detective. However, the tropes were handled in such a way that it never got annoying. So while I was disheartened to see both tropes pop up at once (although to be fair, the two do tend to be utilized together) it didn't turn out as bad as I feared.
I liked the mystery in the first book better, I felt that the first one did better with weaving clues to the real killer earlier on than this one did. However, I adored the festival setting and really enjoyed the burger and craft beer competition side plot.
More...