Death Among the Stars

The Bartender's Guide to Murder, Book 3

By: Sharon Linnea

Narrated by: Abbie Pfaff

An Actor to Die For

Bartender Avalon Nash's youthful crush has become a movie star, but does he even remember her? And why are the women he dates turning up dead? Does Avalon dare let her longtime dream come true, knowing she might be next?

Avalon must use her superpower of collecting people’s stories to protect people she loves by discovering and stopping the killer.

Buy this book for a highly entertaining, edge-of-your-seat limo ride of a whodunit.

©2021 Sharon Linnea (P)2023 Sharon Linnea

Critic reviews

"A shot of classic noir, half-ounce of modern flair and several ounces of bitters round out this intoxicating literary cocktail. This is a series that fans of both modern and vintage crime alike will not want to miss!" (Tosca Lee, New York Times best-selling author)

"A spellbinding mystery I couldn't put down. The bonus? A menu of delicious craft cocktails too tempting to pass up." (Cathi Stoler, award-winning author of the Murder on the Rocks series)

Another great one in the series

This series is great and this one is awesome. Fun read and keeps your attention. I received a free copy and left my honest review

A Twisty Mystery Full of Drama and Distractions

~Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy of this book.~

The long-awaited film festival has finally arrived in this book, bringing even more danger and drama for Avalon, who, like most mystery protagonists, can't seem to avoid trouble. As always, she continues to collect stories from various people along the way.

However, I felt that the initial death at the beginning took a backseat to Avalon’s encounters with past acquaintances and stalkers. I was so caught up in that drama that by the time the death was mentioned again, I had practically forgotten about it.

This was the first book in the series where I struggled to keep the newly introduced characters straight. Whether there were simply more characters or the differentiation between them wasn't as clear, I'm not sure, but it made following the plot harder than usual.

The ending escalated rapidly, and the reveal of the murderer felt much quicker than in the previous two books. The conclusion seemed rushed compared to the build-up.

As with the previous books, there are cocktail recipes included at the end of each chapter, but as usual, I haven’t tried making any, so I can’t comment on their quality.

Abbie Pfaff continues to provide solid narration for the series, and I have no complaints in that department.

My advice to new readers: start at the beginning of the series rather than jumping into the third book.

Death among the stars

This was another great book in the Bartender series.Avalon tries to not get caught up in the murders that go on in town,but she always seems to be at the heart of the issues.When her old friends show up for a big film festival,death follows them. narration by Abbie Plaff was terrific!I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Tense, stunning with a finish I didn’t see coming!

With the Tranquility Film Festival set to begin, Avalon realizes a few childhood chums have made it BIG in Hollywood. When one in particular turns up in Tranquility, followed by stalkers … stalkers that start turning up … deceased … it will take every skill Avalon possesses to not join them in the afterlife! A fast moving, distinctly “noir” feeling glimpse into the world of the young titans of the entertainment industry, “Death Among the Stars” is gripping! The author does not shy away from some of the certainly all to true, if less than savory (or legal), aspects of life (for some) in the limelight, nor does she over sensationalize. While these details could be disturbing for some, I found “Death Among the Stars” to be not only a refreshingly honest portrayal, but one that is necessary to the integrity of THIS story. I’m not going to play spoiler! Just listen with an open mind, and trust me, everything the author includes is necessary to make this story work as effectively, and as powerfully, as it does! As with any Sharon Linnea story, the characters are pure genius! Without exception, every character is spot on complete, and fits perfectly into the smooth flowing story! There is no lagging, no information gaps, and the build to the finale is a fast paced, heart in your throat, wild ride that had this listener screaming “holy ?$&@“ because my guess as to “who done it” was way off! Vibrantly performed, the author’s vision truly came alive with emotional, perfectly timed, beautifully voiced narration. I have to say, this stunning story not only entertained me, but really gave me a few things to think about, and as a parent, perhaps serves as a bit of a cautionary tale. The complete package earns a resounding five stars! So much so that I listened a second time straight through!

Movies and Mayhem

This is the third book in the series and we find the town of Tranquility hosting a Movie Festival that has been mentioned in the previous two books. This brings lots of A-list stars into town as well as an old friend form Avalon's past. The story is written in such a way that you start guessing who the perpetrator for the murders that occur along with Avalon. There is some action at the end of the story that will have you holding onto your seat. I love that this series of books finishes each chapter with a cocktail recipe.