Cocktails and Murder

Barefoot Sleuth Mysteries, Book 3

By: H.Y. Hanna

Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Ellie is looking forward to finally enjoying her unexpected vacation in Florida: strolling on the white sand beaches, lounging in luxurious cabanas, and swimming in the sparkling waters of the Gulf. But she's barely sipped her first mojito before she finds herself sucked into another mystery! This time, Ellie is on the trail of a clever murderer who uses a deadly tiki cocktail to kill, and her search for clues takes her aboard a luxury yacht, fishing in Tampa Bay, and even up close and personal with one of the Sunshine State's most famous residents: the American alligator! 

Ellie is horrified when her newfound friend - headwaiter Sol - is named the key suspect, and she's determined to prove his innocence. But it's not just the murder that's troubling her: There's also her budding romance with handsome resort doctor, Blake Thornton, and his strange behavior on the night of the murder. Is he cheating on her? Or is it something more sinister?

With her eccentric Aunt Olive giving her sleuthing tips and the two resort animals lending a beak and a paw, Ellie is sure she can crack the case. But if she turns out to be wrong, she might find out what "swimming with the fishes" really means....

©2020 H.Y. Hanna (P)2020 H.Y. Hanna

Will keep you guessing!

In this 3rd entry in the Barefoot Sleuth series, murder suspects and alligators abound!
A class on how to make cocktails, a visit to an alligator farm, a fishing trip, and of course a murder, make for an exciting week for Ellie, an English girl visiting Florida.
This was an entertaining story. H.Y. Hanna is an expert at combining humor and suspense, and creating interesting characters. Her descriptions are always spot on, and make me feel like I'm right there. Some parts of it were laugh out loud funny, and some were on the edge of my seat scary. Never a dull moment in an H.Y. Hanna book!
Pearl Hewitt is an expert at bringing the characters to life with her excellent reading style.
I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

love this series

I have enjoyed the whole series. I like all of the books that I've read by H.Y. Hanna, but I think this series is my favorite. I wish she would write more of them. I enjoy the tropical setting. They have fun, interesting characters. The mystery is always well developed. Also, each book has a different theme to add interest.

Earns 5+/5 Scorpion Punches...Engaging Delight!

I am a big fan of H.Y. Hanna and her “cozy” work especially her Barefoot Sleuth Mystery series with Ellie Bishop trying to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea of the gulf coast of Florida, but in between enjoying some regional treats and becoming friends with some of the locals, she’s again entangled in another murder. In “Cocktails and Murder,” karma toasts a wealthy investor with murder filled with several plausible motives and suspects including his trophy wife, needy nephew, questionable partner, and a couple of resort employees he pranked. But what better way to enjoy all the dramatic twists and turns, misunderstandings, close calls with reptiles, nods to romance, and humorous predicaments than with the audiobook version narrated by Pearl Hewitt. Her voice artistry brilliantly enriched H.Y. Hanna’s portraying each character and their personality with various British and American dialects emphasizing tone and gender. Every box is checked for cozy fans: clever mystery not easily exposed, rich characters evoking lots of fun emotions, a perilous ending with a satisfying arrest, and a delightful voice reading it to you in all its glory! Hurrah to Hanna! Praise to Pearl!

relaxing story

a nice who dun it. not over the top or something that would give u nitemares. I enjoyed the narrator more than the story line.

The mystery continues.

I loved it. a really great listen. The mystery continues...The narrator does it justice..characters have become friends

can't wait for the next!!!

Hannah and Hewitt are perfect together ❤ I do wish one of the characters would hurry up and get with the guy!!!!

Cocktails,scorpions,gators and murder?

Ellie is finally able to start enjoying her holiday at the resort and goes to enjoy a few cocktails. When her plan to enjoy a cocktail and a snack with her people watching turns into witnessing a mean prank ending with Ellie's new friend Sol's job being threatened Ellie has about had enough. Things really go astray when A wealthy business man staying at the resort winds up dead after having one cozy of a cocktail and Sol is the prime suspect!
On top of her worry over Sol Ellie starts to suspect her hunky resort doctor might be seeing someone else when her sleuthing has her wind up in a awkward hiding place.
This one had me laughing out loud,fuming, and on the edge of my seat waiting to find the killer's identity.
Great addition to this series and I'm eagerly waiting for the next.

*disclaimer*
I was given this copy of the book for honest review. All the opinions above are my own.

Lighthearted and easy listening.

I have enjoyed the series and can’t wait for book 4.
The lighthearted story keeps your interest and reminds you of sun and summer holidays!

Great fun.

This was a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed reading about the various cocktails and the information about the alligators.
The mystery was good but I got a sense that the series is becoming somewhat predictable and formulaic. Ellie seems to stumble headlong into each investigation and wrangles herself out of bother with equal ease and not much skill.
I'd like to see more from the aunt as she is such a unique character and a mystery writer to boot. I'd also like to see some background story for the resort doctor as he is such a nice character.
A quick and entertaining read. Perfect weekend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed a gifted review copy.

Sit back with a cocktail and enjoy

I read this book when it came out on kindle but just had to add it to my audio book collection. Glad I did as the books just get funnier and funnier as the characters develop or as you learn more about them. The author always includes animals in her series and I am a big cat fan but I think it has to be the inclusion of the parrot that makes the books, he is so funny and naughty and a real character that just brings a smile to your face. I also like the fact that crocodiles made it in to this book because when I think of Florida crocodiles are the first thing I think of but after reading this book I won't be thinking of them in the same way hehe (you will have to read it to see what I mean). The rest of the characters are just as much fun. There is also lots of helpful tips and myth busters (you have to say the author does her research) like how to get away from a crocodile or how make a cocktail, just so you know if you ever find yourself in Flordia. All round a good book with an interesting mystery, that doesn't go in the direction you think it will. Can't wait for the next book, although I think it is only to be the last in the series.
Ellie is a very down to earth type of girl and set in her ways, like only drinking one type of drink. So dropping everything and going to stay with her aunt for a month in Florida is living on the edge. So is signing up for cocktail lesson but that is exactly what she does. She had no idea that by doing so she would have front row seats to a murder. When an obnoxious rich man is found dead her new friend Sol is the police's number one suspect. Can Ellie find the culprit? Sol doesn't help himself as he is obviously keeping secrets and so is the good doctor. Why did he break a date with Ellie? Ellie 's aunt is the mystery write but not even she would come up with the real motive behind the murder.
Pearl Hewitt does another impressive job of bringing the characters to life in this fun beach mystery.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.