Sloan Krause Books In Order

Publication Order of Sloan Krause Books

Publication Order of Sloan Krause Mystery Shorts Books

Sloan Krause Series by Ellie Alexander
Author Ellie Alexander writes the “Sloan Krause” series of cozy mystery novels. Set in Beervaria (Leavenworth, Washington), which is a German inspired village that’s nestled in the alps of the Northern Cascades. Sloan Krause, brew mistress, has got a penchant for murder and a nose for hops. Sloan is a foster child turned chef, mother, and brewer.

“Death on Tap” is the first novel in the “Sloan Krause” series and was released in 2017. Sloan Krause walks in on Mac, her husband, screwing a barmaid, she promptly gives him the boot. Sloan’s spent her entire life in Leavenworth becoming an expert in brewing craftbeer, and she has zero time to be held back by her soon-to-be ex-husband.

She decides it’s time to strike out on her own, and break away from the Krause family brewery, and starts working for Nitro, which is the hip new nano-brewery in the Bavarian themed town. Garrett Strong, the Nitro’s owner and a brewmaster, has got the brew world abuzz with “Pucker-Up IPA”, his latest recipe. This place is the new cool place in the town, and Mac cannot help but be green with envy at their success.

However right as she is settling into this new gig, she discovers one of Nitro’s competitors dead in the fermenting tub, clutching the secret recipe for this IPA. When Mac’s arrested, Sloan knows that her ex may be a cheater, however a killer? There’s no way. Danger’s brewing in Beervaria and Sloan is suddenly on the case.

This is an entertaining sip of the world of tourist towns and brew pubs. Sloan’s an interesting protagonist, and fans want more of her. Readers fell hard and fast for the Krause family, their brewery Der Keller, and the small Bavarian town of Leavenworth.

“The Pint of No Return” is the second novel in the “Sloan Krause” series and was released in 2018. There is no other festival that compares to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington. The entire town is buzzing with excitement over this coming year’s activities and is eagerly awaiting for Nitro’s latest offering called Cherrywizen, which is made with locally sourced cherries. However Sloan Krause, local brewmaster, is tapped out. Between her pending divorce from Mac, attempting to manage the pub, and her mounting feelings for Garrett, she is fermenting in internal turmoil.

To complicate things further, Mitchell Morgan (dreamy movie star) and his production crew have shown up in the village in order to film during this authentic Bavarian brewfest. Mitchell has got his eyes on Sloan and has a taste for Nitro’s Cherrywizen. Sloan escapes from his advances for good when she discovers Mitchell slumped over the bar. Could this just be a matter of a pint too many, or has Mitchell been murdered by microbrew?

“Beyond a Reasonable Stout” is the third novel in the “Sloan Krause” series and was released in 2019. Sloan Krause dives into the murderous political world in another delightful mystery.

It is the dead season in Leavenworth. The throngs of Oktoberfest crowds have gone home, and the charming Bavarian streets are momentarily calm and quiet. Villagers are using this reprieve to take in the crisp autumn mountain air and get ready for the upcoming winter light festival. Before long the German inspired restaurants and shops are going to be aglow with thousands of twinkling lights. Visitors are going to return to the northern Cascades to drink warm mulled cider and peruse all of the holiday markets.

Sloan and Garrett Strong, her partner in crime, are using this slowdown to stock up on a new line of their signature craft beers at Nitro. They are experimenting with this chocolate hazelnut stout and a hoppy holiday pine. This small brewery is alive with bubbling batches of brew and delicious scents.

Sloan’s in her element. She loves all of this creativity and low-key atmosphere at Nitro. But that’s soon threatened by Kristopher Cooper, the incumbent city council member. Kristopher’s running for reelection on this platform of making Leavenworth dry. Everybody in beertopia’s fuming, since Leavenworth’s economy relies on keeping the kegs fully flowing. Kristopher is hoping to banish beer, which is a policy that could bankrupt the whole village.

But Kristopher winds up dead just days before election night. Sloan soon realizes that his murder is not the work of some stranger. Family, friends, and every other business owner had motive to murder him, including none other than April Ablin, Leavenworth’s self described ambassador of all things German. Sloan finds she’s defending April and attempting to sleuth out a killer among a group of familiar faces.

“Without a Brew” is the fourth novel in the “Sloan Krause” series and was released in 2020. It is winter in Leavenworth, which for Sloan means citrus and pine flavored craft beers, a lot of layers, getting the new guest rooms at Nitro into pristine condition before visitors flood in for IceFest, which is a local tradition filled with ice carving, fireworks, and winter games of all sorts. However Sloan and Garret soon learn that being brewkeepers turned innkeepers might not be so idyllic as it once sounded.

Despite one couple that stays with them appears totally smitten, this flashy group arrives in the evening demanding rooms. Garrett and Sloan each seem less than impressed, however they agree to rent to them anyway. The night takes a turn once Liv Paxton, a brewery patron, finishes her frothy pint, and without any previous plans for spending the night in Leavenworth, eagerly takes Sloan up on her offer of sanctuary from the snow. That is, up until she has an odd run in with some locals and some of the other guests.

Sloan could be imagining things, however when Liv’s room is discovered trashed the very next morning, one hateful message painted on her car, and Liv is nowhere to be found, Sloan’s convinced there’s another mystery brewing. With many potential suspects hunkering down under Nitro’s roof, she knows that her friends and co-workers will not be safe until she serves the killer up a hoppy pint of justice.