The eggs aren’t the only things dyeing in Buttercup… It’s springtime on Dewberry Farm, and homesteader Lucy Resnick is busy putting together her wares for the Easter Market. She’s just finished potting the last of her herb starts when a tornado rips through her farm, destroying her crops, scattering her livestock and tearing up the barn. As Lucy searches for two kids lost in the storm, she … the storm, she makes a grisly discovery: her neighbor’s home health aide, Eva, strangled with a hand-knitted scarf.
While investigating the young woman’s death, Lucy discovers that blood isn’t always thicker than water… and that somebody may be taking advantage of the town’s more vulnerable citizens. When a second body turns up, drowned in a vat of dye, the whole town is walking on eggshells. Will Lucy find the killer in time?
Or has dyeing season just begun?
more
A sudden spring tornado finds Lucy scrambling to protect her property. When she goes to her elderly neighbor’s place, she finds Dottie alone with no idea where her home health aid is. This isn’t like Eva, so the women are worried. It’s only after the storm has passed that they get an answer when Lucy finds Eva’s body. Even with the tornado having just passed, it is very clear that Eva was murdered. The tornado left behind destruction to Lucy’s crops, so she needs to replant, but she can’t help begin to investigate what happened to Eva. Will she uncover the truth?
Being a wind hating California native, this book hooked me from the opening tornado. That didn’t diminish a bit when the storm ended and Lucy found the body. The plot is strong and, while not a typical cozy formula, held my attention the entire time as I waited to see how Lucy could prove what she was pretty sure was happening and who the killer would turn out to be. It’s wonderful to spend time with these characters again, and I enjoyed getting to know some new ones, too. I suspect we’ll see more of some of them in future books; at least I hope so. I did catch a few annoying editing issues, but they can be easily fixed and don’t impact the story at all; in fact, they vanish as we get further into the book. There are seven recipes at the end, including natural dyes for eggs, perfect for Easter. This is a fast, fun read that will leave cozy fans anxious for their next trip to visit Lucy.
I love that the murder weapon is a hand-knitted scarf. Buttercup, Texas might seem idyllic but there’s darkness behind the frolicking livestock and organically dyed Easter eggs. Dewberry Farm Mysteries are fun and well-written.
Spring has sprung on Dewberry Farm, and Lucy is busy with tending to her young crops and the animals. Spring also means the Easter Market. While Lucy is preparing her wares a phone call warns her that a storm is approaching and she needs to protect her plants. Quinn, Lucy’s friend, shows up to help her. A tornado warning sounds and the women rush to the aid of Lucy’s elderly, bedridden neighbor to help her into the storm shelter.
The storm leaves damage to the farm and two kids are lost. While searching for her young goats Lucy stumbles across a body that initially appears to be a casualty of the tornado. This discovery will lead Lucy on an investigation for more than a murderer.
This is the 5th book in the Dewberry Farm series. I recommend this book and look forward to book 6. The characters are well-developed and realistic. Lucy is a great protagonist. Her investigative reporter background makes her amateur sleuthing more realistic than some characters in other cozy mystery novels. I love the setting of this book. Although it takes place in Texas it is easy to picture as there are small farms like this all over the country. This book was very engaging and I didn’t want to put it down.
I’ve loved this series since the very beginning but I seem to enjoy each book just a little bit more than the last – another great cozy mystery from author Karen MacInerney!!! A+++
I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of the Dewberry Farms cozy mystery series. For one, the author (who has two other great series) includes great craft ideas and recipes. Plus she has a great knack of writing characters you love, hate, and route for.
This book is a stand-alone book in a series and can be read by itself or with the rest of the series. For me, I like to read things in order, but it really isn’t necessary.
I loved this book! Great series!!! I left a longer review on Amazon.