Helpful Score: 3
A Farmer's Market Mystery
Release Date April 6, 2010
This is a brand new series featuring twin sisters Becca and Allison. Allison is manager of Bailey's Farm Market and Becca is a vendor at the market selling her jams and preserves.
One morning as Becca arrives at the market, late as usual, she finds her quaint farmer's market has become a crime scene. One of the peach vendors has been killed. Abner Justen, a vendor who sells wildflowers at the market and is like a father to Becca. She is shocked to learn he's is the number one suspect because he was seen arguing with the peach vendor earlier in the week.
Becca takes it upon herself to find the true murderer and ends up in a few "jams" herself.
This is a really good start to what I suspect will become a wonderful series. Lots of quirky characters you'll come to love, a budding romance, and twin sisters who can't seem to stay out of trouble.
This is Paige Shelton's first novel. She was born in Nevada, Missouri, but didnt spend a lot of time there. After a childhood full of many moves and high school and college in Des Moines, Iowa, she landed in Salt Lake City, Utah. There she met and married her husband, had a son, and worked in a variety of advertising-like jobs. She cant remember a time when she didnt want to be a writer, and she loves every moment she spends with her characters and their mysterious ways.
Release Date April 6, 2010
This is a brand new series featuring twin sisters Becca and Allison. Allison is manager of Bailey's Farm Market and Becca is a vendor at the market selling her jams and preserves.
One morning as Becca arrives at the market, late as usual, she finds her quaint farmer's market has become a crime scene. One of the peach vendors has been killed. Abner Justen, a vendor who sells wildflowers at the market and is like a father to Becca. She is shocked to learn he's is the number one suspect because he was seen arguing with the peach vendor earlier in the week.
Becca takes it upon herself to find the true murderer and ends up in a few "jams" herself.
This is a really good start to what I suspect will become a wonderful series. Lots of quirky characters you'll come to love, a budding romance, and twin sisters who can't seem to stay out of trouble.
This is Paige Shelton's first novel. She was born in Nevada, Missouri, but didnt spend a lot of time there. After a childhood full of many moves and high school and college in Des Moines, Iowa, she landed in Salt Lake City, Utah. There she met and married her husband, had a son, and worked in a variety of advertising-like jobs. She cant remember a time when she didnt want to be a writer, and she loves every moment she spends with her characters and their mysterious ways.
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read. With the theme of farmer's market, fresh produce (peaches, berries, tomatoes, etc) it was a fun summer read.
The characters were introduced at a good pace and were likeable and not shallow, makes me want to get to know them better. The clues were well written so that I was kept guessing until the end, instead of figuring it out partway thru.
Looking forward to the second book in this series.
The characters were introduced at a good pace and were likeable and not shallow, makes me want to get to know them better. The clues were well written so that I was kept guessing until the end, instead of figuring it out partway thru.
Looking forward to the second book in this series.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 1
First Line: "What?" I yelled into my cell phone.
When Becca Robins' aunt and uncle were killed in a car accident, her twin sister Allison inherited enough money to pay off her college loans and save some for her children's educations, and Becca inherited the couple's farm. Allison manages Bailey's Farmers' Market in rural South Carolina, and the morning she calls her sister in a panic, Becca has to stop working on her latest batch of jam to head straight over there.
Becca is well acquainted with Bailey's since she makes a living selling her jams and preserves there. When she arrives, she discovers that one of the new vendors, Matt Simonsen, has been murdered. The prime suspect? "Old, bald, and cranky" Abner Justen, seller of extraordinary wildflowers and the man who treats Becca like a daughter. Things are looking bad for Abner-- who's disappeared-- and Becca is determined to call a halt to her jam making until she's found the clues that will lead to the real killer.
This first book in the Farmers' Market series introduces us to homegrown and handmade treasures, a murder that involves unlocking many past secrets, and a cast of very interesting characters. If you're the type of reader who doesn't care for southern vernacular speech, you're not going to find it here. One of the few things that I didn't particularly care for was the fact that the book didn't really feel as though it was set in South Carolina, and I don't mean to infer that a writer needs to have all the characters spouting "y'all" in every sentence. The rural and small town atmosphere, however, is done very well. The mystery is also a good one. I unraveled several clues, did my own deduction, but I still hadn't figured it all out.
As with most cozy mysteries, it was the cast of characters that drew most of my attention. Becca is the most interesting, not just because she is the main character, but because she's flawed. She tends to be very focused and self-centered, and as a result, she's really only socialized with her co-workers at the farmers' market itself. She doesn't know where most of her friends live, and she's only ever invited them to her own home if she's needed help with her work. I liked watching her learn a few uncomfortable truths about herself during the course of her investigation, and I look forward to seeing if she's really learned her lesson. I also liked the character of cranky old Abner as well as another stall owner named Jeanine, who "didn't make a habit of being friendly, but she wasn't rude." Naturally Becca was the character in the spotlight throughout Farm Fresh Murder, and I'm looking forward to seeing the other characters Shelton created being developed more fully in subsequent books.
The farmers' market is a winning setting. Combine that with a keen eye for a mystery and a cast of characters you want to get to know better, and I know I'll be wandering through Bailey's Farmers' Market again in the future.
When Becca Robins' aunt and uncle were killed in a car accident, her twin sister Allison inherited enough money to pay off her college loans and save some for her children's educations, and Becca inherited the couple's farm. Allison manages Bailey's Farmers' Market in rural South Carolina, and the morning she calls her sister in a panic, Becca has to stop working on her latest batch of jam to head straight over there.
Becca is well acquainted with Bailey's since she makes a living selling her jams and preserves there. When she arrives, she discovers that one of the new vendors, Matt Simonsen, has been murdered. The prime suspect? "Old, bald, and cranky" Abner Justen, seller of extraordinary wildflowers and the man who treats Becca like a daughter. Things are looking bad for Abner-- who's disappeared-- and Becca is determined to call a halt to her jam making until she's found the clues that will lead to the real killer.
This first book in the Farmers' Market series introduces us to homegrown and handmade treasures, a murder that involves unlocking many past secrets, and a cast of very interesting characters. If you're the type of reader who doesn't care for southern vernacular speech, you're not going to find it here. One of the few things that I didn't particularly care for was the fact that the book didn't really feel as though it was set in South Carolina, and I don't mean to infer that a writer needs to have all the characters spouting "y'all" in every sentence. The rural and small town atmosphere, however, is done very well. The mystery is also a good one. I unraveled several clues, did my own deduction, but I still hadn't figured it all out.
As with most cozy mysteries, it was the cast of characters that drew most of my attention. Becca is the most interesting, not just because she is the main character, but because she's flawed. She tends to be very focused and self-centered, and as a result, she's really only socialized with her co-workers at the farmers' market itself. She doesn't know where most of her friends live, and she's only ever invited them to her own home if she's needed help with her work. I liked watching her learn a few uncomfortable truths about herself during the course of her investigation, and I look forward to seeing if she's really learned her lesson. I also liked the character of cranky old Abner as well as another stall owner named Jeanine, who "didn't make a habit of being friendly, but she wasn't rude." Naturally Becca was the character in the spotlight throughout Farm Fresh Murder, and I'm looking forward to seeing the other characters Shelton created being developed more fully in subsequent books.
The farmers' market is a winning setting. Combine that with a keen eye for a mystery and a cast of characters you want to get to know better, and I know I'll be wandering through Bailey's Farmers' Market again in the future.
Sheila A. (mysterylady) -
A really great start to a new series! I look forward to reading the next installment!
I enjoyed this book..I've recently started reading some cozy mysteries and glad I found this series..A quick fun read with some quirky characters..
This was a pretty good cozy. I liked the diverse character base, which kept things interesting. The story kept me guessing pretty much until the end, and had me suspecting the wrong person a few times. There's some good potential for story development in the next installment, as there was also a hint of a developing love triangle. I'll definitely be reading book 2 to see what happens next.
great new series; very interesting
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Enjoyed this story very much. Did figure out who the murderer was, but toward the end. Want more about Hobbit, Ian, Sam and the Farmers Market.
Lynn P. (Bama-Booklover) -
Introduction to a new series of cozy mysteries with a farmer's market setting. Heroine farms her own berries and pumpkin to make jam/preserves that she sells at the farmers market. Other characters are other sellers at the market and of course the policeman who she is developing a romance with. Yes, we've seen that story line before. I enjoyed the book because the farmer's market is a new setting for me; and I love jams/preserves! Might even try some of those recipes.
Well written book, easy to follow and read, although I did guess the killer and the motive about half way through the book. I will read more of the series.
Well written book, easy to follow and read, although I did guess the killer and the motive about half way through the book. I will read more of the series.
I could use this review with at least 6 Cozy Mysteries that I've read in the last year. The plot is almost a sub-genre with publishers. Stubborn female lead thinks it's smart to ask questions of everyone until she becomes a target of the killer much to the consternation of the emotionally broken police officer who is part of a love triangle as she lusts after both the officer and the sexy male creative genius in town.
