Rum and Choke
by Sherry Harris
Surprise, Chloe! Your boss/business partner Vivi Slidell aided by Joaquín Diaz, the Sea Glass Saloon’s bartender, has entered you in the annual Florida Barback Games! Soon Chloe learns that “Barback” is the term for the person who does the prep work for the bartender and assists him in whatever will make the job easier. Of course, the “games” are more complicated than that, making for great entertainment.
In scoping out the local competition who are all professional athletes brought in as ringers, Chloe finds herself past inebriated. Could someone have spiked her drink with a drug? Things turn even more serious when Ann, the mysterious local fixer, confides a secret to Chloe, requests her assistance, and discovers a body. Both women come under suspicion of murder.
An additional backdrop to the story is Chloe’s relationship to Rip, a former lawyer and currently a volunteer firefighter. He worries about her, but is always supportive.
If you are interested in underwater treasure hunts and nice people who find themselves deep in troubles that were previously not even on their radar, I think you will enjoy Rum and Choke. Previous readers of the series have been introduced to the “fixer” Ann. To Ann’s amusement, Chloe originally thought Ann was a handywoman. Whoops! Ann fixes sticky situations, and there are lots of gray areas to her business. Chloe and the reader learn a lot more about Ann in this book. I have enjoyed the whole series as well as other cozy mysteries by Sherry Harris.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #4 in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mystery Series. Although I recommend reading the series from the beginning to understand why a child librarian is part owner in a bar, this can be read as a standalone as far as the mystery goes.
Publication: December 27, 2022—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
This place could be a hotbed of gossip at times. Mostly on days that have a d in them.
I worked my way through the crowd to the bar and ordered a drink. I didn’t believe in going into a place and not ordering anything. It was almost as bad as leaving a library without a book.
The paved road became a dirt road, which wound around until I wasn’t sure which direction we were headed. Talk about a metaphor for my life.
Another great review. I’ll have to look for this series. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Nancy. I didn’t know if I would like a book with a bar backdrop. I’m more of a tea and scones kind of girl, but I am really enjoying this series. How Chloe came to work in and be part owner of the bar is an interesting part of the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a cute series, thanks Linda~
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is Jenna. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.
LikeLike
I have heard good things about this series. It sounds like a fun one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m enjoying it!
LikeLike
This one sounds fun with a good mystery. It will be good to learn more about Ann. I have only read the first two in this series (behind again), but I am looking forward to catching up on this series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ann is a major character in this one, but not all of her secrets come to light–just some of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person