The Moonshine Shack Murder

A Southern Homebrew Mystery, Book 1

By: Diane Kelly

Narrated by: Tyla Collier

In this intoxicating new cozy-mystery series, the future for modern-day moonshiner Hattie Hayes looks bright - until death darkens the doorstep of her Moonshine Shack.

The Hayes family has made moonshine in Chattanooga since the days of Prohibition, and Hattie is happy to continue the tradition, serving up fun, fruity flavors in mason jars for locals and tourists alike. All signs indicate her new 'shine shop will be a smashing success. What's more, Mounted Police Officer Marlon Landers has taken a shine to Hattie. For the first time ever, the stars seemed to have aligned in both her work and romantic life. But when a body ends up on her store's doorstep alongside a broken jar of her Firefly Moonshine, it just might be lights out for her fledgling business.

The homicide detective can't seem to identify the person who killed the owner of a nearby bar. The only witness is Hattie's longhaired gray cat, and Smoky isn't talking. When the detective learns that the victim and Hattie had a heated exchange shortly before his murder, she becomes her prime suspect.

Lest Hattie end up behind bars like her bootlegging great-grandfather a century before, she must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice.

©2021 Diane Kelly (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"If you're thirsty for a mystery overflowing with Southern flavor and a shot of humor, The Moonshine Shack Murder is sure to quench your thirst and whet your appetite for more." (V. M. Burns, Agatha Award-nominated author of Paw and Order)

"Hattie is the perfect sleuth, full of smarts, humor, and gumption to spare. Settle in for a great read!" (Winnie Archer, national best-selling author of Dough or Die)

"The Moonshine Shack Murder is a charming cozy mystery that will warm you from the inside out and keep you guessing till the end!" (Kate Lansing, author of Killer Chardonnay)

interesting characters

From the girl who opened the moonshine business to her grandfather and her friends the characters are interesting and varied. Then throw in the mystery of how the moonshine played into a murder and you have a fun mystery.

Good Story, Narration, Not So Much

I enjoyed the story the author tells, but I have to admit, it was difficult listening at times. It was like listening to Lucy from Peanuts droan on. Please consider using another narrator in the future.

Moonshine and Murder sounds about right.

I liked the idea of the story but t do enjoy as much the protagonist doing actions that I guess I wouldn't. Easy listening and humor well written.

The story teller. Sounded like the right age of the main character

Liked the story line. It was very descriptive. Hope all the history was accurate.
Thank you

Fun characters, a main character who is not TSTL!

Likable characters, interesting premise, good story, smart protagonist, and a relief not to have the tired trope of the male and female leads butting heads! Clean, too. Well written.

NannaSQ

I enjoyed the story, liked the characters, and enjoyed mention of familiar places. The narrator nailed the accents of my home state. I loved it. Usually we listen to audiobooks at a 0.8 or 0.9 sped to be able to enjoy and understand the mumbled slurred speech of fast speakers.

Cute light mystery

Nice short and sweet mystery. However the over-the-top accents take some getting used to-plus a few grating mispronounced words —- Chai for Chi…really?

Cute Cozy on Moonshine

I'm guessing Diane Kelly took a bit of creative license when writing this Moonshine series - The MC Hattie makes and bottles her Moonshine for retail sale in her store using an old family recipe, and since her love interest is a police officer, it appears to be ok - When Hattie's crotchity business neighbor ends up dead in front of her store, Hattie starts to ask questions so she isn't blamed. Ironically there is enough blame and fingers to go around since this dead business owner has proven to be under handed and ruthless himself -
Cute start to this cozy

MC

The story was good but the MC became annoying and stupid it was hard to finish.

Narrator sounded like a 10-year-old.

Good mystery as long as you can handle the narrative. I kept thinking my 10-year-old niece was reading her uncle a story.