Southern Homebrew Mystery Books in Order

The Southern Homebrew mysteries are built around a premise that feels very Diane Kelly, a practical, hardworking woman with an unusual business suddenly finds herself far too close to murder. In this case the woman is Hattie Hayes, owner of a Chattanooga moonshine shop. Her family has been making moonshine since Prohibition, and Hattie is carrying that history into the present with flavored jars for locals and tourists. It is a fun setup, but Kelly makes sure it never feels gimmicky.

Hattie's business is central to everything. The Moonshine Shack is not just a colorful backdrop. It is the reason suspects notice her, the reason she gets pulled into local events, and often the reason she becomes entangled in the crime itself. In The Moonshine Shack Murder, a body turns up by her store with one of her jars nearby. In The Proof Is in the Poison, a convention attendee dies after drinking her product. In Fiddling with Fate, her moonshine is again linked to trouble, this time around a bluegrass event. Hattie cannot simply walk away from these mysteries because her livelihood is on the line.

The supporting cast gives the series warmth. Hattie's cat Smoky is always nearby, and her family history is never far from the surface. There is also a romantic thread involving mounted police officer Marlon Landers, which fits the series nicely because it grows out of shared place and community rather than feeling pasted on.

Chattanooga and the surrounding region matter a lot here. Kelly clearly enjoys the local history, from moonshining roots to riverfront events, tourist traffic, and mountain culture. These books have a relaxed Southern atmosphere, but they also show the pressure of running a small business, protecting a family name, and trying not to get blamed every time something goes wrong.

The tone is cozy and inviting, with a bit of extra flavor from bootlegging history, local festivals, and the plain fact that moonshine makes for a memorable clue. Hattie is a good lead because she is levelheaded and observant without losing her warmth. She feels like someone who could actually keep a business running while half the town gossips around her.

If you want a mystery series with strong regional character, a likable business-owner heroine, and just enough history stirred into the present-day plot, Southern Homebrew is easy to recommend. Start at the beginning, because Hattie's world grows more rewarding as the shop, the town, and her relationships all take shape.