This was another 5 star read for me by Ellie Alexander. She is truly one of the best people and writers I have ever read. I am so sad that this is going to be the last in the series. I feel like Ellie was forced to write out and finish out the series too fast. But she didn't let that stop her from writing another edge of my seat cozy!
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Sloan Krause and her partner Garrett Strong are finishing up the final touches for their new craft beer, Lemon Kiss just i time for the Maifest celebration in Leavenworth, but things aren't when Sloane is confronted by a specter from her past - a woman named Marianne who claims to be her long lost aunt and has come to warn her that she and her family are in danger. Can the danger be real? Was the murdered housekeeper at the local hotel (found in Marianne's room) really a warning that Marianne is telling the truth? Sloane is confused but will her friends and family help her find the truth?

This was a great addition to the series, taking the reader farther into Sloane's thoughts and feelings as well as bringing her background front and center.

Loved it! ( )

The Cure for What Ales You by Ellie Alexander is the 5th A Sloan Krause Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. It is spring in Leavenworth, Washington which means it is time for the Maifest Festival which includes booths, parade, costumes, food, and good brews. The author brings Leavenworth alive with her vivid descriptions of the city. I enjoyed reading about the charming Bavarian looking buildings, the food, the drinks, parade, and festival fun. This series is character driven. The characters are realistic and friendly. I like how they are there for each other and are a family. The main characters have grown and developed since Death on Tap. There are two mysteries in this book. A figure from Sloan’s past, Marianne surfaces. Sloan might finally get the answers she seeks about her birth parents. It seems danger has followed Marianne to town. A housekeeper at the local hotel ends up murdered in Marianne’s room. Marianne claims that Sloan and her family are in danger. Marianne behavior is a little frenetic and some of her actions make the book seem more like a suspense instead of a cozy mystery. I am glad that this storyline is finally wrapped up. I have not been a fan of it and the details were a little out there. I was disappointed with the resolution. The death of the housekeeper was a mystery more in keeping with a cozy. There are several suspects including Marianne. It is a straightforward whodunit which can be solved before the reveal. I could have done without Sloan repeating the list of suspects so often. The ending was warm with Sloan reflecting upon her future. Sloan and her son, Alex are lucky to have such close friends and the Kraus family. I liked learning more about the brewing process and what goes into creating unique brews. The final brew in the book was certainly different. The Cure for What Ales You is a gripping tale with crafty brews, a shadowy woman, terrifying threats, a miniscule costume, and a fun Maipole Festival. ( )

Ugh! I hate to give the Sloan Krause Mysteries by Ellie Alexander anything less than five stars because I love this series, but The Cure for What Ales You just didn’t hold up as well as her previous books in the series.

There are still the fantastic descriptions of the village, breweries, and Germanic history that Alexander infuses in this series, and which I love so much about it. As well as the wonderful and caring characters that keeps me coming back to Leavenworth, Washington. But I found myself skimming more than I would have liked due to the hectic nature of Marianne, which seemed to want to pull this cozy mystery into a suspense book, but just didn’t have the oomph to do so. Along with how much Sloan kept going over information about the possible suspects made some of the sections very long winded. Now I know that every main character does this in a cozy, but this just seemed a lot more than Alexander usually writes.

I was pleased that we finally wrapped up the questions Sloan had about her mother and childhood history that she can’t remember, but it felt a bit out there and more suited for a thriller…. which is fine, but it was something that stood out and not in a great way for me. And usually the endings are not quite as rushed in Alexander’s books, but this one was and the inclusion of the letter to finalize the story line felt like a bit of an easy out as a way to finish the book.

Will this stop me from reading future installments of the Sloan Krause Mysteries, no, no it will not! ( )

Sloan Krause, Garrett, and others are preparing for a their quaint town's annual Maifest when a woman who seems mentally disturbed shows up, warning her that she is in danger. The woman claims to be an aunt who gave her up to the foster care system to protect Sloan. Sloan's own mother died when she was young, and she was adopted by the Krause family. The woman also says there is a body in her hotel room, and she believes she was the intended victim. Sloan calls the police chief who goes to the hotel room and then listens to the woman. The police chief assigns a tail to Sloan and eventually calls in additional police from Seattle and Spokane to assist as her investigation shows some truths to the woman's claims which might indicate not only Sloan but the entire village could be in danger if the man truly is in the area. This fifth series installment is the first I've read, but I want to go back and read earlier ones. Sloan notifies the police chief when she gets ready to "check something out." Of course, with a tail on her, she's safer than most cozy sleuths. I wasn't sure I'd enjoy a beer-themed mystery, but I found this one worked for me. I loved the local German flavor in the town. I received this through a GoodReads giveaway, and although an honest review is appreciated, it is not required. ( )