Member Reviews

Bartender Avalon Nash is working one evening when a woman named Sandy Wilcox leaves her suitcase behind at the bar. Trying to be helpful Avalon attempts to return the suitcase to Avalon’s family who deny having a daughter. Sandy’s body is soon found by the police and it is suspected that she died by suicide. Only Avalon, Detective Mike Spaulding and Sandy’s husband suspect foul play. The investigation revolves around the local high school reunion and local haunted house the Tranquility Lodge.

This is the fourth book in the Bartender’s Guide to Murder series. It was my first book from the series but easily picked up on the character relationships. I thought the drink recipes scattered throughout the book was such a nice touch. I didn’t particularly enjoy the resolution to the mystery. But I did like the writing style and characters and am looking forward to checking out some of the other books in the series.

The audio narration by Abbie Pfaff was excellent!

Content warning for transphobia and racism.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the audio publisher for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this book.
Things I liked about this book:
1--great narrator. She was easy to listen to. She spoke clearly and her several voices were believable.
2--I like Avalon, the main character. She was a regular woman, strong when she needed to be strong, curious, and believable.
3--sort of liked the story though it strained credulity. It verged on fun.

Things I disliked about this book:
1--The recipes between every chapter are so annoying, I almost stopped listening. They relate to nothing except giving the Bartender in the title a reason for being. If you have a choice, do not listen to this book, read it so that you can skip these terrible disruptions.
2--there was no indication that this was a series. It turns out to be #4. It took me a long time to figure out what was going on and I was shocked when I realized it was the fourth book in a series but no way for me to know that.
3--those two things are huge and enough to put anyone off this audio book.

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The story is a good one, although extremely disturbing. The one thing that annoyed me was the recipes dotted throughout the book. I guess if I were reading a physical copy this wouldn’t be a problem as I could just skip those pages. However, still a good listen with good, strong characters

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Avalon is a bartender at a local bar and is talked into going to a haunted hotel the night after Halloween where ghosts are supposed to run in strength. The night that they are supposed to go there is a stranger that walks in and asks to leave her suitcase for storage and will come back later to get it, but she doesn't. A death happens and Avalon is found in the middle of an investigation.

Such a fun series and would definitely read the others. Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

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What a wonderful read! I'll admit I was a bit hesitant as I have not read the previous books in the series, however that did not hinder me in any way. Avalon is a wonderfully developed character and the story unfolds beautifully. I will most certainly read the rest of the series and all future stories to come.
The small town setting is fabulous and charming. It is easy to fall in love with all the wonderfully portrayed characters.
Avalon is a witty bartender with a sleuth knack. She assists local detective with solving local crime by providing an outside prospective. When the local high school is having a reunion it brings up the towns history with prejudice. The towns backward views are shifting and certain locals have a hard time excepting the modern changes. It is relevant and handles hard to navigate topics that face each of us daily.

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I didn’t know this was part of a series, but being someone that hadn’t read any of the previous books I went in with fresh eyes. I loved the mystery and characters. It was a fast read with a good plot. I’m not normally a mystery series girl but I could see my self picking up the other books in this series someday.

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Description of book did not match storyline very well. Not my cup of tea, but was an okay read.

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to review “Death From Beyond”. I am appreciative and leave my sincerity review voluntarily.

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Have you ever become friends with a group of people who have known each other for years? You enjoy spending time with them, but you are missing so much back story it is hard to know what is going on? That is exactly what this book felt like.
This book is the fourth in a series; The Bartenders Guide to Murder. If I had known that going in, i would have read the others first. However i noticed nothing that indicated this was a part of a series. Instead i was confused and about 25% of the way in i went and did some googling. While the book is still enjoyable it really detracts from the story.

From a book that references the beyond in its title, it has suprisingly little to do with ghosts. It is a nice murder mystery though, and i think the subjects that the author discusses surrounding said murder are incredibly important.

I would like to read this series from the beginning and see if that fills in some gaps because the book did keep my attention. Also, the name of the series is pretty awesome.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

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5 stars +++. I loved this audio version even more than the ordinary book and I really liked that. The narrator has the perfect voice for this story, and a real skill many don’t to voice the characters believably. What follows is the review I wrote for the kindle edition - Real fun read, but with a dark thread twisting the story line. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but immediately found the setting and pace. This a mix of many things. hiding, finding your place, a murder mystery, the fictional cocktail of small town America, humour, romance, friendship, relationships, population migration, and so much more. Fiction mixed with some excellent research on real events to make a great book to pass away a few hours with. Thank you to Arundal publishing and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

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Book Title: Death from Beyond: An Avalon Nash Mystery
Series: A Bartender’s Guide to Murder #4
Author: Sharon Linnea
Narrator: Abbie Pfaff
Publisher: Arundel Publisher Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks
Genre: Mystery Thriller, Historical Fiction
Audiobook Pub Date: September 9, 2023
My Rating: 4.4 Stars
Pages: 272

This story got my attention as the Tranquility High School 10th year class reunion is being planned for Halloween! Yep! Not the typical summer weekend of a family picnic as well as a dinner dance; but Halloween sounds like fun.
.Our protagonist is Avalon Nash a bartender.
(In case you like fancy drink Avalon includes 30 of her favorite Cocktail Recipes.)
Avalon and her boyfriend Mike Spalding, a policeman is on the outs but things happened after the reunion that has them working together.

A woman named Sandy Wilcox is back in town for the reunion and leaves her suitcase at the bar where Avalon worked. Avalon tries to return the suitcase to the address connected to the suitcase but the couple there states they don’t have a daughter. It turns out Sandy was Frank and her parents have not forgiven her. Sandy is looking forward to seeing high school friends that she hasn’t seen in nearly ten years. Sadly people like Sandy as well as anyone considered’ ‘different’ are not welcome in Tranquility.
When Sandy turns up dead after the reunion it is believed to be a suicide. Although Inspector Spalding isn’t so sure it was suicide especially when Jared Banks who also attended the reunion turns up dead ~ things certainly look suspicious.

Avalon wants to explore the remains of Appleton Lodge which was destroyed by fire and is Tranquility's infamous haunted lodge. As she explores she uncovers evidence of murders that have happened over the years. Is this connected to the present day deaths?

I love a good audiobook and believe the narrator is key! In this case, narrator Abbie Pfaff is awesome! She did a super job performing the characters. Her voice is so pleasant it was a joy to listen to this story!
Additionally I love the “Author’s Note” ~ Author:, Sharon Linnea provides us with a lot more information about the Lake Placid area as well as what is fact and what is her imagination and thus historical fiction.

I totally enjoyed this story. It was my first book by Sharon Linnea thus my first in this series.
I certainly am hoping for ~ A Bartender’s Guide to Murder #5!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Arundel Publisher Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 9, 2023.

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This was the first book by the author and in this series that I have read. I enjoyed the writing style and setting, as well as the characters. I was very interested in the mystery and story line. With that being said, I do feel that there were way too many social injustices packed into 300 pages. While hard to read at many points, which hard topics are sometimes, I just think it was too much for one novel. This book hits on issues with LQBT+, racism, religion, cancer, mental illness, and of course death. I just feel it was too overloaded with issues and lost some of the messages the author was trying to convey along the way.

I have heard really good things about the previous books in the series. I may read them in time.

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I haven't read anything quite like this before, but I enjoyed it! At first, the recipes between chapters seemed out of place, but by the end, I was making notes of what might be fun to try! I appreciated the ease of listening to this narrator - she seemed devoted to each character. I feel with books in this genre, I'm often gearing up for a twist and then disappointed by the outcome. I didn't feel that here - I was just so intrigued to know what Avalon found next, to know what happened to Sandy or to hear what other theories were of what happened to Sandy.

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Amazing! From the very beginning, this book had me hooked. The characters were dynamic and intriguing, especially the likable main character who left me yearning to uncover more about her. The secondary characters added depth to the story, making it even more enjoyable. The storyline felt believable, keeping my curiosity constantly piqued. With several engaging subplots, the book managed to keep me captivated without overwhelming me.

The satisfying ending was a refreshing touch, leaving some loose ends just as we encounter in real life. And let's not forget the mouthwatering recipes at the end of each chapter; they sound absolutely amazing, and I can't wait to try them out.

To top it all off, the narrator's pleasant voice and the skillful use of inflection added an extra layer of enjoyment to the entire experience. Overall, this book proved to be an enthralling and immersive read, making it a true standout among others in its genre. #DeathfromBeyond #NetGalley

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When Avalon Nash enters the haunted lodge in her hometown she unleashes deadly secrets associated with the lodge. These secrets relate to format locals as well as a newcomer that was in town for a High School reunion.

great narration of the story.

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Book 4/4. An Avalon Nash Mystery. Audio is narrated by Abbie Pfaff.

“When bartender Avalon Nash dares enter the remains of Tranquility’s infamous haunted lodge, she unleashes deadly secrets waiting to come back to life. Some things are called spooky for a reason.”

This book is the 4th in the series although I did not realize that until the end. I did feel like I was missing something, but I was still able to read it as a stand-alone.

The books was very slow paced and I thought it needed some more action throughout. Overall, this was a good book with a clear story line but I recommend reading the three others first. If you don’t like slow burns, this one isn’t for you but if you like a mystery with an ending, read it! 🙂

Trigger warning: ending another’s life, addiction, pronouns are disrespected

#netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #deathfrombeyond #sharonlinnéa #abbiepfaff #honestreview #bookstagram #slowburn #mystery

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Thank you NetGalley and Arundel Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is the fourth installment in the Bartenders guide to Murder series. I didn't realize this until the end. There were several points in the book where I felt like I was missing some context or back story. Although it was OK as a standalone, I think it would have been more enjoyable if I had read the earlier installments.

I was expecting more of a ghost story than it was. It was a decent murder mystery. There is a healthy amount of drama mixed into and influencing the murder investigation which did keep me more interested. However this could be pretty slow paced at times which wasn't helped by the narrators slow pace. There were several subplots which although not overwhelming, some just didn't add to the book/story. I gave this a 3 star, it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat but I was still interested in seeing how the story played out.

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This book caught me from the start. The characters are dynamic and interesting. The main character is likeable and has you wanting to know more about her. The secondary characters are interesting and enjoyable. The storyline is believable and keeps your curiosity piqued. With many subplots you are never bored but it is not overwhelming. The ending is satisfying and I like that there are loose ends, as often happens in real life. The recipes at the end of each chapter sound amazing and I would love to try them. The narrator has a pleasant voice with lots of inflection.

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This was a fun mystery book. It is the fourth installment of a series but can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed all the history built into the story. This town seems so interesting too.

The narrator did a fantastic job. I really liked her voice. It wasn’t overwhelming and too much. Perfect.

Highly recommend for a cozy mystery. Go in blind and enjoy the ride.

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Thank you goes out to Arundel Publishing, NetGalley, Author Sharon Linnea, and narrator Abbie Pfaff for the excellent audiobook Death From Beyond. This book was quite entertaining and I loved all the details about the history of the area the book took place in. I also enjoyed how she used mixed drink recipes as chapter breaks. That was a great idea and definitely worth trying out some of them. Love to read more from her and get to know these characters more. Definitely a 5 star recommendation.

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Good series!
This is the fourth book in this series. Even though the previous three are really good, I liked this one the most. Engaging mystery & very well described characters. It started a little bit slow, but it picked up & kept me on the edge. Shedding light on racist was a plus.
I listened to the audiobook, the narration was great.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

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