Rum and Choke
The Florida Panhandle Barback Games are coming up, and Chloe’s been drafted to represent the Sea Glass Saloon, competing in various obstacle-course events that conclude with rolling an empty keg up a hill. The rivalries are so fierce that some participating bars even stoop to bringing in ringers.
Meanwhile, Chloe’s friend Ann, a descendant of the famed pirate Jean Lafitte, asks her to come along for a boat ride as Ann dives into the Gulf of Mexico. She’s found some old papers that may identify the location of sunken treasure. Instead, she finds a sunken body, of one of the ringers hired for the Barback Games. Now that murder is in the mix, Chloe has to figure out whether one of the competitors went overboard.
The Details
Series: A Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mystery – Book #4
Author: Sherry Harris
Genre/Category: Cozy – Amateur Sleuth/Pub
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
ISBN: 1496734386
Page Count: 336
Rating: 
The Review
Rum and Choke is another hit in the “Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mystery” series. Chloe has her hands full with the barback games she has been forced to participate in by her business partner; she secretly wants to win but doesn’t want anyone to know. But the death of a ringer from one of the other bars and a sunken treasure are causing her concern.
The body of one of the barback games competitors is discovered when Chloe and Ann set out to find a sunken treasure. Fingers point at them when a treasure hunt turns into a murder investigation. Suspects are everywhere, and Chloe weeds through them until she eliminates the innocents. It takes a lot of time and puts her and Ann in grave danger while tracking down this killer. Evidence is in short supply, even the police seem to have their eyes firmly focused on Chloe and Ann and no one else. But even when her life is in danger, Chloe moves forward with the investigation and finds the killer when she least expects it.
The pace of Rum and Choke is steady, with no unnecessary long-winded exchanges or finite details that are irrelevant. The suspects are all contained and easy to find, with solid motives. The evidence is hidden, like the treasure Chloe and Ann are searching for, but it slowly comes together to paint a picture of the killer. In the end, the culprit is uncovered and will surprise many readers. The barback games are held as scheduled, and Chloe manages to keep up with the other competitors. The ending of this story will have readers smiling with happiness and ready for the next installment!
The Author
Sherry Harris is the Agatha Award–nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries. Check out books by this author, such as Three Shots To The Wind or Absence of Alice. Connect with Sherry on social media or via email on her website.
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