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Pour Choices takes place in August, a few months following the events in Whiskey Business. Mixologist Reece Parker hosts the first ever comedy night at his literary-themed speakeasy, Subplot, in Hope Mills Pennsylvania. The next morning, Reece's best friend, Nate, finds the star of the show dead in the Delaware River. With Nate as the prime suspect in this murder investigation, Reece is determined to find out who the real killer is. Did the popular comedian take her jokes too far or was there another motive that lead to her demise?
I am a huge fan of when weather plays a role in cozies. The heat and humidity in August come up several times in this book. Now, I am not a fan of summer weather at all. However, we are given a respite when Reece mentions the coolness of being in the A/C. It's also mentioned by one of the customers. Reece also talks about looking forward to fall weather and fall beverages. I could feel the relief from the heat as I was reading these descriptions and I'm officially ready for fall.
There is a strong sense of community in Hope Mills. Small businesses in the town support each other. There's even talk about a collaboration with a couple of them. The strong reputation of the local culinary scene is mentioned. I would love to see more of this. Foodie talk always feels cozy to me and I want to know where I'll be dining when I visit.
The main characters feel like they could be friends. I enjoyed the rapport Reece has with his co-workers and friends, but I especially adore the relationship he has with his parents. Reece's visits with the retired couple are some of my favorite scenes in the book. They feel comforting to me because he gets along so well with them.
The suspects were interesting to get to know. Juicy secrets about them were uncovered as Reece conducted his own informal investigation. There were just enough suspects to consider and I never felt overwhelmed by the number of characters.
Since Reece is recently coming to terms with his sexuality, he is taking it slow with his love interest. He wants to move on with his life and he's definitely interested in someone. However, he's treading carefully. The romance is moving at a comfortable pace that feels natural. I also love that he still has a close friendship with his ex-girlfriend Chloe. They have so much respect for each other.
A mystery of sorts begins right at the beginning of this book, which immediately pulled me in. The main mystery is well-crafted and well-paced. I had a hunch early in the book who the culprit was, which turned out to be correct. However, there really were a number of suspects who could have committed the crime. It was fun to watch Reece follow the clues that led to the big reveal. There were red herrings, twists, and turns that made it an entertaining ride.
Reece's warmth extends to his customers, as he offers both cocktails and mocktails at Subplot. As someone who does not drink alcohol, I appreciate this. It feels like a cozy establishment that I would enjoy. The descriptions of the beverages sound delightful.
As someone with a physical disability, however, I'm not sure how I would be able to enter Subplot. The main entrance has stairs, as shown on the cover of the book. The ground level back entrance feels unsafe and has gravel on the ground, which is not suitable for those with mobility impairments. All of this can be rectified by adding a lift to the stairs (that folds up when not in use), making sure the door is not too heavy, and creating a smooth paved surface instead of gravel. The ground level door could then be used as an emergency exit. My hope is that renovations will be made in a future installment so that I can visualize myself safely entering Subplot. Just like in real life, I would love to see the accessible entrance front and center with the entrance everyone else uses.
While the accessibility issue is important for inclusivity, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I loved it and I cannot wait for the next one. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this Mixology Lounge series, by Adrian Andover, beginning with Whiskey Business and reading them in order. The mysteries are self-contained in each book, but you will appreciate the character development more if you read them in order. This series is the perfect blend of cozy and mystery.
Thank you to author Adrian Andover for providing me with an eARC of Pour Choices.
