Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is the Buddy Read for Trouble Brewing in Harrogate by Kim M. Watt starting on July 3, 2025.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Gobbelino London, PI Series:
1. Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries (Sept 3) [link]
2. Gobbelino London & A Contagion of Zombies (Oct 3) [link]
3. Gobbelino London & A Complication of Unicorns (Nov 3) [link]
4. Gobbelino London & a Melee of Mages (Dec 3) [link]
5. Gobbelino London & a Worry of Weres (Jan 3) [link]
6. Gobbelino London and a Menace of Mermaids (Feb 3) [link]
7. Gobbelino London & a Collision of Catastrophes (Mar 3) [link]

Audio: Not on Hoopla or A+
Ebook: #1, 2, &7 are on Hoopla, not on KU or Open Library.
Let me know if you find any universal subscription/library copies. Check your own libby & libraries!

There are several connected series in this world--including The Beaufort Scales Cozy Mysteries and the DI Adams stories (What Happened in London)

Up Next!
Beaufort Scales #9 Something in the Waters (April 3) [link]

DI Adams!
0. What Happened in London (May 3) [link]
1. All Out of Leeds (Jun 3) [link]
2. Trouble Brewing in Harrogate (Jul 3)
3. A Right Shambles in York (Aug 3) [link]

Hallowbeck Cozy Mysteries by Watt & Ash?
1. Witch Slap
2. One Smart Witch
3. Life's a Witch
4. Witchfest (Expected Oct 25, 2025)

I am starting this one tonight.

Through Ch 3 (view spoiler)[A ha! It was Collin Collins as her partner in the Beaufort books. How could I forget that name lol (hide spoiler)]

Isn't he the son of Rainbow?

I think you're right.

Starting. Hah! Love the opening scene!

Through Chapter 7. Enjoying so far. (view spoiler)[Totally did not remember those details about the partner. Fun having trouble at a brewfest. Makes me think of the Dresden short--actually, I think it was a whole anthology of beer-related stories... Here we have behavior modifications and random superpowers.

I laughed a bit when Collins was telling a story about getting drunk, and the young woman said she thought it was fun hearing about old folks getting toshed. And Dandy is being amusing, as always. Interesting that someone else can see him--I didn't catch who it was. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! This was fun--(view spoiler)[Werewolves and witches and whisky oh my! I was soooo angry when Temper showed up, busting into the investigation, and arrested Adams & Collins. I loved the receptionist though--"You're not my DSI."

I love how much Dandy we got in this one. He's such a Good Boy!

Interesting that the book seems to be setting up a bigger antagonist. We didn't find out who hired the brewers--could it also be connected any previous cases, I wonder... (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 8. I'm really enjoying this. (view spoiler)[Adams accepting the magic and going with it is so much better! This is also a pretty funny case with the enchanted beer.

@Nirkatze, yeah that was pretty funny :) He's probably 30 and "old' compared to that teenager lol

It's the stupid reporter who can see Dandy. I'd forgotten that from Beaufort. (hide spoiler)]

LOL (view spoiler)[30! Seems so young now... And thank you for that detail--I have the hardest time keeping track of names. (hide spoiler)]

A couple pages into Ch 13 (view spoiler)[I'm guessing this guy Marcus is a werewolf or some sort of shifter. She keeps noting his extra sharp canine teeth. (hide spoiler)]

Nice note on details!

Zoomed through this and loved it... favorite so far... and gives me high hopes this is building to something, Gobbelino London style...

Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 8...."

I think there's some axiom that basically says that people consider "their age + 10, rounded up", to be a super old milestone... so any teenager thinks 30 is old, etc etc etc... and also why as you get older you don't think YOU'RE old, but people 15-20 years older than you are old... people your parent's age (in general), basically...

Through Ch 21. I did not expect that. (view spoiler)[That Adams and Collins would be arrested at Rory's house. Or any place outside of one of the PD buildings really. I'm debating if I think Dandy just teleports them out or if they have a more mundane escape. Given Ch 22's title - "A Breakout" - I won't have to wait long to find out.

I totally called the werewolf thing :D That was well telegraphed.

I am so excited that Adams is jumping into the deep end now that she's accepted magic and folk are real. Attempting to cast a spell! I wonder how that will play out in future books.

I like it a lot that Thompson is helping out. Adams needs catly insight even if she is more of a dog person. (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 8...."

I think there's some axiom that basically says that people consider "their age + 10, rounded up", to be a super old milestone... so any teenager thinks 30 is old,..."

That's an interesting theory. I think we never see ourselves as old as we age because there is almost always someone else older around and it would hurt our egos too much ;)

adulting is a perception... I don't feel like I adult much, other than being responsible for going to work on time/etc... my parents had so many kids they were responsible for and were way younger than me, that affects the perception...

ego probably plays into it, too...

Altho, I feel plenty old with all my aches and pains, but I also know I'm only 38 and not 76 :D

I'm almost a decade older than you and feel better now than I did in my 20s and 30s. I figured out how to get rid of all my aches and pains so it is definitely doable if you're persistent and decide your health is more important than anything.

Timelord Iain wrote: "Zoomed through this and loved it... favorite so far... and gives me high hopes this is building to something, Gobbelino London style..."

I agree, my favorite so far too! (view spoiler)[This may because of how much Dandy was in it though, <3 him so much lol Looking forward to the nest for sure! (hide spoiler)]

I do think that when we do get around to a re-read I definitely want to go chronological and not publication order. I appreciated they said where this one falls in the Beaufort series and it was not possible to read in this order this time through but I think I'd appreciate it more the next time :)

Narilka wrote: "I'm almost a decade older than you and feel better now than I did in my 20s and 30s. I figured out how to get rid of all my aches and pains so it is definitely doable if you're persistent and decid..."

I've definitely seen you and Soo talk about hot and cold therapy... I need to look into that more...

Working on concrete doesn't help...

Timelord Iain wrote: "Narilka wrote: "I'm almost a decade older than you and feel better now than I did in my 20s and 30s. I figured out how to get rid of all my aches and pains so it is definitely doable if you're pers..."

What have you got to lose? Some aches and pains? ;) Feeling better is worth it IMO.

I also finished and loved it. Definitely my favorite book of the series. I'm really looking forward to the next one. (view spoiler)[I want to understand what else DI Adams is. Is she like Callum but doesn't know it?

Dandy was awesome and I like that she's got Thompson sort of too. I'm also really glad Adams met Rory and has access to his library. She desperately needs more information on the folk.

I agree with everyone - this seems like there is a bigger set up to come. (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 8...."

I think there's some axiom that basically says that people consider "their age + 10, rounded up", to be a super old milestone... so any teenager thinks 30 is old,..."

That sounds kind of like the skeevy-dating math: half your age plus... 7? apparently is old enough to date...

Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 21. I did not expect that...."

re: Chapter 21---that made me so mad!!

I think this was also my favorite as well. I think Watt is getting better at structuring action--this felt like the best of Beaufort and Gobbelino together. The coziness of Beaufort but the more connected plot of Gobbelino...

Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Narilka wrote: "Through Ch 8...."

I think there's some axiom that basically says that people consider "their age + 10, rounded up", to be a super old milestone... so any teen..."

Yea... math that was basically invented because it works at 18 (18/2+7 = 16), and shows the growing allowable gaps up the decades until it gets questionable... (40->27 = Leonardo DiCaprio? or Demi Moore)... altho 85 year old Al Pacino and his 31yr old (ex-)girlfriend Noor Alfallah are way outside the formula...

Outside the formula--icky.

Inside the formula... sometimes still icky.

And yet we accept stories with a 1000 year old vampire and a 16 year old. Go figure :)

"we"

There is ick and then there is ICK, fine line and all that but once crossed it is just nope lol

How about a several hundred year old druid and his 20something assistant?

I feel like, for most people, ick factor has a lot to do with how old you look, rather than how old you are ..

Narilka wrote: "And yet we accept stories with a 1000 year old vampire and a 16 year old. Go figure :)"

Ugh no, I hate those. Mega ick.

Narilka wrote: "How about a several hundred year old druid and his 20something assistant?"

Yeah, that was also ick. Shoulda been Morrigan all the way.

Finally my library hold is ready. I'm starting right now and looking forward to seeing everyone's comments.

I agree that Chapter 21 got a rise out of me. How dare this guy do what he did. I am hoping that he gets what's coming to him.

Also, (view spoiler)[ I am curious to see how many werewolves there are involved. I don't think I've seen enough of them quite yet. I am kind of surprised Adams didn't have a taser. (hide spoiler)]

Hm great question... I went to the Google for answers--this is what its AI said, so take with a grain of salt: (view spoiler)[Standard equipment includes handcuffs, batons, radios, PAVA/CS incapacitant spray, a personal protective vest, and a body-worn camera.

In the UK, not all police officers carry Tasers. While Tasers were initially introduced for firearms officers, they are now also carried by specially trained officers who are not part of the firearms unit. The use of Tasers is governed by strict guidelines and training, and officers must be authorized to carry and use them. (hide spoiler)]

She needs a magic taser, like that magic gun they give the local cop in Innkeeper Chronicles...

Isn't that basically her duck?

LOL

Dandy does pretty well as a taser stand in, when he feels like it...

I wish someone would catch onto the duck and chocolate thing and start bringing her chocolate ducks to the office.

LOL we should petition the author!