Diane Kelly’s new series introduces Hattie Hayes, a legal Moonshiner, as she opens her new venture, Moonshine Shack, where she offers various Moonshine flavors for sale.

At her shop’s successful private opening, Hattie hands out mason jars of her Firefly Brand Moonshine, and the owner of the bar across the street, Limericks, orders a case of her flavors. However, the next day he refuses delivery with the excuse he has an exclusive with Backwoods Bootleggers.

For the next several days, Hattie and her grandfather, Ben, staff the store. Before closing one day, a group of university students crowd in drinking samples and knocking over a display before running out after stealing a jug of moonshine. At home, Hattie worries she forgot to lock the store’s door or turn on the alarm, so she decides to check that the alarm is activated. In the back, she discovers she did not set the alarm. While in the back, Hattie hears a commotion out front and finds Limerick’s owner, Cormac O’Keefe, on the sidewalk in front of her building, bleeding from a nasty neck wound. A broken jar of her Cherry flavored Firefly Moonshine lies next to him. She calls 911 immediately.

Ms. Kelly introduces the following characters that support Hattie and contribute to finding the murderer: Police Officer Marlon Landers patrols on Charlotte, a chestnut mare, and likes Hattie and Detective Candace Pearce, who thanks Hattie for her help; best friends, Kiki and Kate, always lending a hand; Granddaddy Ben carves cats and horses while sitting on the porch of the Moonshine Shack; and former Limericks’ waitress Miranda takes over and renames the bar Tipperary Tavern.

A creative storyteller, the author quickly builds a delightful and engaging community, and that includes Smoky, Hattie’s cat. Ms. Kelly skillfully devises an intriguing mystery with red herrings, a few twists, and a touch of humor here and there. The Southern Homebrew series starts with a 100 proof story.

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