Named 2016 Best Mystery Series by Texas Association of Authors. When Madison Reynolds finds herself widowed and penniless before forty, she does the only thing she knows to do – she packs up her teenage twins and moves back home with her eighty-year-old grandmother. Life in The Sisters, Texas has not changed much since she’s been gone, but at least her best friend Genesis is there to soften the … friend Genesis is there to soften the transition back into small-town life.
To make ends meet, Madison opens In a Pinch Temporary Services. Her first real client is Ronny Gleason, but when she shows up for the first day of work at the Gleason Poultry Farm, Madison makes a gruesome discovery. The dead body she finds belongs to Mr. Gleason. When a local man is arrested for murder, Madison takes on the job of proving his innocence. Even though she is not a private investigator, both mothers are desperate: Lucy Ngyen to clear her son’s name, and Madison to pay her bills. But as she begins asking questions around town, her interference is not welcome.
With a daughter determined to go back to Dallas, a son settling into small town life, a feisty grandmother who knows all the town gossip, bill collectors calling, and now someone trying to keep her silent, Madison has no time for re-kindling her high school crush with police chief Brash deCordova. She has her hands full just trying to stay alive.
If she survives her amateur investigation, Maddy has a decision to make. Will she go back to her life in Dallas, or will she build a new life here in The Sisters?
Read the Full Award-Winning Series, in Order. FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Book One: Chicken Scratch
Book Two: When the Stars Fall
Book Three: Stipulations and Complications
Book Four: Home Again: Starting Over
Book Five: Genny’s Ballad
Book Six: Christmas in The Sisters
Book Seven: The Lilac Code
Book Eight: Wildflower Wedding: With a Killer Reception
Book Nine: To Be Announced
All available FREE in Kindle Unlimited!more
My first novel by Becki Willis, and I like her style! The plot was interesting and definitely a page-turner, as you never had a clue what was going to happen next, and the characters were so real and life-like, flaws and all. Years ago now, one of my uncles by marriage had several “chicken houses,” but I never visited his facilities, and this novel gave me an inside look at the day-to-day responsibilities of this huge undertaking. Ms. Willis’ descriptions are so clear and make you feel as if you’re right with the characters in the scenes.
I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great mystery and one that gives you that wonderful home-town feeling where neighbors truly care for each other! I’m looking forward to checking out the next one in this series.
great to read something different
Fun read.
Couldn’t get my interest
good read will read more from this author did a great job of setting scene and bringing you in.
Chicken Scratch is Book One in a new series by Becki Willis, this is my first read by this author and I wasn’t disappointed. It isn’t usually a genre of book I would pick but I can’t lie I thoroughly enjoyed it! It has mystery, suspense and it had you hooked right from the start. The storyline picked up straight away giving you details that had you mentally visualising the read as though you were there. This author has created brilliant characters that really help tell the story and help you connect more to the read! Great Read Becki Willis I can’t wait to read more!
This cozy mystery series is just fun. The characters are interesting to say the least and the mysteries reasonably believable rather that contrived.
I really just couldn’t get Into this. I liked the beginning. It was snappy and easily drew me into the story. After that, things seemed to fall apart and i just couldn’t care about the characters or the story. Well I was Inretested in the murder but it seemed to veer away and too much other stuff became important. History of the town..I understand why they needed to tell about it. It got better closer to the end but I really struggled With this as a whole. I’m not sure what is wrong but I seemed to get bored and was easily distracted while reading. Just not for me.
Chicken Scratch (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 1) by Becki Willis. This is a new to me author and honestly I’m wondering how I went so long without her. This story had me hooked start to finish. I love a good mystery story and this one has definitely been added to my list of top mystery reads. Each character brings something different to a storyline that pulled me in. I like being able to figure out the end before I get there but this one definitely had me guessing and trying to read faster to see what was going to happen. It’s well written and paced nicely never feeling rushed or lacking. I’m excited to see where this author takes readers next! Four stars and highly recommended!
Good mystery.
My first story by Becki Willis has been time well spent! This story is well written, funny and interesting! Chicken Scratch is an original mystery. My only complaint is that I wish the romance between Brash and Madison would have developed into more…maybe that just means there will be another story in the Sisters series. (Fingers crossed!)
The characters in this story get into a little mischief, but when solving a murder that can happen. The story behind the towns that make up the setting for this story, which I loved, is rather original. Chicken Scratch also includes danger, friendship and enough information about chickens houses than I thought I would ever know! I am looking forward to what other stories Willis comes up with.
Chicken Scratch (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 1) by Becki Willis
5 stars
Oh my goodness, where has this author been all my life? I was so enthralled with this book that i got nothing done around my house once I started.
I love a good mystery and I had my finger pointed to 2 different people for who did it, and while one of them was right, it still took me by surprise as to how and why and what else followed.
I loved seeing the main characters struggle and her life in general but also she wasn’t just a damsel in distress she took action and kept on going.
This has a small undercurrent of a budding attraction but the main story is the murder and I liked the break from reality this gave me.
Will be reading more!
Chicken Scratch (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 1) by Becki Willis is a thrilling mystery romance that you will keep turning page after page to get to the end. Who needs sleep? I have not read any of Becki’s work and I am truly impressed. The plot is superb, the pace just right, the characters are unique and a little quirky and lots of suspense to enjoy this tale to its fullest.
Maddison’s husband left her in a mess and having no choice returned to her hometown and into the arms of her grandmother with her twins in tow. To her surprise she discovers a body on her first day at a new job. Will she continue or has she put not only herself in danger but the rest of her family as well?
This is one of the best stories in this genre I have read this year and I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the next instalment.
Chicken Scratch (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 1) by Becki Willis. This is such a fun read. Its the story of Madison Reynolds who find herself at 40 moving back to her hometown because she has lost her husband. Her and her teenage twins move in with her 80 year old grandma. Her Grandma is so happy but Madison and the twins not so much. The Sisters is the small town in Texas where she grew up and without her best friend Genesis life would be miserable here. She is broke so she decides to open up a handy girl service. In doing so she meets Ronny Gleason who owns Gleason Poultry Farm and he hires her to work in his chicken houses. On her very first day she finds a body in the first chicken house and she is traumatized horribly. What’s worse is the Chief of Police is Brash DeCordova the one guy she had a major crush on in high school. Will Brash and Madison reconnect and who was murdered and who murdered them? Read Chicken Scratch to find out!
A fun read and learned a lot about chicken farming.
I liked it and it was witty. The plot twist was good. Wasn’t expecting the bad guy. It was funny. Chicken farming is no joke. Looking forward to the next book
Good read
The Texas towns of Juliet and Naomi sit across the railroad tracks from one another, and together they’re called “the sisters.” Madeline, at age thirty-nine, moves back with son Blake and daughter Bethani after Maddy s husband dies. While living with Granny Bert, Maddy is penniless, so she opens a temporary employment agency called “In a Pinch,” and her first job is to walk the six buildings of a chicken farm. Her first day on the week-long job, Maddy finds the dead body of her employer. She doesn’t plan to get involved in solving the murder, but in this small town where everyone knows and is probably related to the others, Maddy hears things. She becomes the target of the murderer herself. Thanks to good friends, family, Chief Brash, and a firefighter named Cutter, things end well.
Chicken Scratch (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 1) by Becki Willis
5-Stars
Chicken Scratch (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 1) by Becki Willis was an excellent mystery suspense novel. It was immediately addicting with the opening chapter of main character Madison finding a body in a chicken house. I can imagine how terrible the smell was and felt the author did an awesome job depicting the scene. Over all the author did excellent with the various detail involved in the setting making it easy for readers to visualize as they read. I loved that it is based in Texas and that I also share a first name with one of the main characters. Brash, Madi, and all other characters were developed and depicted well. This was such an excellent read. I highly recommend it!
My new favorite author.