A Brew for Chaos by Esme Addison Narrator: Emily Durante
Series: Enchanted Bay Mystery #3
Published by Dreamscape Media on September 2, 2025
Source: NetGalley
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Length: 13 hrs 6 mins
Pages: 352
Format: Audiobook
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Pumpkins, craft beer and mermaid magic! Alex Daniels must solve a puzzling serial killer cold case in the magical third Enchanted Bay Mystery, set in a cozy small coastal town.
It’s fall, and Aleksandra Daniels is settling into her new hometown of Bellamy Bay in North Carolina. She loves her job at her aunt’s herbal apothecary, and is enjoying getting to know her new boyfriend, local detective Jack Frazier. But she’s still trying to figure out her newly discovered magical powers, inherited from a mermaid ancestor.
Leaves are changing, pumpkins are being picked, and the small coastal town is caught up in the excitement of the approaching Oktoberfest and craft beer competition. But Alex’s good friend, local journalist Pepper, is more excited by the upcoming anniversary of a spooky cold case she’s helping her boss, Jonah, investigate. Back in the eighties, a serial killer nicknamed The Fisherman abducted ten local women. He was never caught, and the women never seen again.
Alex isn’t surprised when Pepper asks for her help, but she’s done solving mysteries. She’d much rather be strolling down main street with Jack, sharing a hot cup of apple cider, and that’s not going to happen if she keeps meddling in his investigations.
But when Jonah’s body is discovered on the beach, Alex is forced to reconsider. Soon, she’s caught up in a complex, troubling plot that places not just her own life, but the lives of everyone she loves, in terrible danger.
I remember liking the first two Enchanted Bay Mysteries, which is why I picked up A Brew for Chaos, but looking back at my comments now, I definitely enjoyed the first more than the second. As for A Brew for Chaos, I really should have skipped it.
It’s fall in Bellamy Bay and Oktoberfest is coming up. I was hoping for all the fall vibes and a cozy mystery, which is not what I got. And I should have been prepared based on how I felt about the second, but I only remembered the cute town, the close-knit family, the bit of mermaid magic. Instead I got more paranormal than cozy and more government conspiracy than killer down the block. The characters are mostly well-developed and the topics it brings are worth discussing, especially in light of the political climate, but it did have me rolling my eyes occasionally at how outlandish some of the plot was.
I think this is a series I should be done with. That being said, I listened to the audio and that’s probably the only reason I finished it. The narrator did a good job keeping the story moving along.
About Esme Addison
Ever since Esme discovered Nancy Drew, she’s wanted to solve mysteries. As a mystery author, she’s finally found a way to make that dream come true. Esme lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and three boys. When she’s
not writing, you can find her visiting B&Bs, breweries, wineries, and historical sites.
Esme is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.
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