Sunday, April 25, 2010

Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton: Book Review and Giveaway

Farm Fresh Murder
By Paige Shelton

Berkley Publishing/Penguin Group, 2010
292 pages

Rob's Rating: 4/5

Reading Challenge: 2010 Cozy Mystery Challenge





When I find myself cooking with one hand and holding a book in the other, I know I'm reading something good. That's been my experience this week with Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton.

This mystery marks the debut of a new amateur sleuth to delight farmers' market enthusiasts everywhere.

Who killed the peach vendor? 

Becca wants to know. Twice divorced, this mid-30's knockout wants to solve the crime before it damages business at Baily's Farmers' Market. She has a personal interest in the market too since her twin sister Allison is the manager.

When Becca isn't solving crimes, she grows strawberries and pumpkins on her South Carolina farm and then makes jams and preserves to sell. Joining her at the market are a lot of colorful vendors among the produce, art and bake stands. Could one of them be a murderer? Some are connected in ways Becca never knew before and a shared secret has boiled over leaving a lot of pulp to mash through.

Abner is identified as the chief suspect. This older guy grows fantastic wildflowers for the market. Abner found the body and had threatened the victim earlier. Becca is sure of his innocence but Abner is withholding information that could clear his name. Why?

Becca's sleuth power is the pectin needed to extract the facts, preserve the market, and create a thick confection of fun.

While I'm waiting for Becca's next adventure, I plan to use her recipes from the book and make jam. There's also a Lemon Meringue Pie recipe that looks to die for.

Win An Autographed Copy of Farm Fresh Murder
Courtesy of Author Paige Shelton 

Update: Contest Ended Midnight May 8. 
Winner is Molly at My Cozy Book Nook.

Visit Paige Shelton's Facebook page, website and blog.

FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy to review.

14 comments:

  1. A great book to win.
    I filled out the form.

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  2. This sounds like a delightful new series. Thanks for the great review.

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  3. Thanks for the great review, Rob! I'm thrilled that one of your readers will win a book.

    Best,
    Paige Shelton

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  4. Just entered and ready to read the book. Just loove cozy's expecially ones with food.

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  5. Well just posted the link and comment on my Facebook page. Love being able to meet authors online.

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  6. Well just posted the link and comment on my Facebook page. Love being able to meet authors online.

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  7. Thanks for hosting another giveaway Rob

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  8. Looks like another cozy series I'll need to add to my bookshelf.

    We have a lovely farmer's market here in the heart of farm country in Michigan. Some of the local festivals regale corn, pickles and sugar beets. :)

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  9. Hi Rob, A book with recipes and a mystery, excellent.

    The last lemon mereinge(sp?) pie i made ran all over the pan once I took out the first piece. Still tasted good.

    We have two local farmers markets across the road from each other. One started out where the produce farmers gathered and then the stockyard auctions were held across the road. They operate on different days of the week, with both on Saturday. Its the St. Jacob's Farmers Market.
    I filled out the entry form as well.

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  10. Just did the form for it. . . well, I don't have a favorite farmer's market because the usual supermarkets are simply closer, but whatever farms our Wegman's gets the Jersey corn most of the time from, sure hope they never stop! :)

    Lois

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  11. My favorite farmers market is in the Sumter County Farmers Market in Webster, FL. You not only find really fresh fruits and veggies at a really cheap price, there is also a flea market there that is so big I've never been able to see it all in one day. It's only held on Mondays but attracts people from all over the world.

    Visit the website HERE

    readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

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  12. I completed the form

    readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

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  13. Sorry I missed this contest! This book looks really good! Especially since there is an Allison in it!! hahaha...

    Allison
    from
    http://allisonsatticblog.blogspot.com

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  14. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one Rob! I think it's a great start to a new series.

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