It’s summertime in Winsome. Washington Acres is abloom, Megan is preparing for the grand opening of their wood-fired pizza farm, and things with Megan’s beau, handsome Dr. Finn, are getting as hot as the August temperatures. But when Megan’s ne’er-do-well father arrives in Pennsylvania with his high-maintenance Italian wife, Sylvia, and announces they’re staying at the new yoga retreat center a … a town away, a sweet occasion sours.Eager to secure pieces for her Milan boutique, Sylvia finagles a meeting with up-and-coming artist Thana Moore, whose work is showing at the retreat center. After their explosive encounter, Thana is murdered and Sylvia becomes the prime suspect. Only Sylvia isn’t the only one with ties to the artist-once upon a time, Thana Moore had been Megan’s best friend. As Megan delves into Thana’s past, piecing together the years since their falling out, she realizes that something sinister is afoot in Bucks County. Unless Megan can find the killer, this idyllic summer will turn nightmarish. Innocent people may be imprisoned-and even more could die.
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Megan Sawyer is finding August to be extremely busy. While trying to keep the farm running during a drought, she is helping get things ready for the opening of the wood-fired pizza farm in her barn and her father and his wife, Sylvia, are in town for a visit. Then there’s the new yoga retreat center opening nearby. As part of their opening celebration, they are hosting an art festival, and the headlining artist is Megan’s old friend Thana. However, the celebration turns to tragedy when Thana is found murdered and Sylvia becomes a suspect. Her father didn’t marry a killer, did he?
This series has had a strong storyline involving Megan and her complicated past with various family members, and that continues here by introducing us to her father. Additionally, there are developments in other ongoing storylines. I enjoyed getting the next chapter in Megan’s life. The characters are as strong as always, whether main characters, series regulars, or those introduced for this book. The subplots did distract from the main mystery at times, but there is still a solid mystery here. One element of the mystery needed to be included better, but overall it was a minor issue. We got great twists and red herrings on the way to a surprising ending. Fans of the series will be pleased with this new entry.
Very intriguing! I really enjoyed meeting Megan’s father in this book and seeing the family dynamics. It was also interesting to see more of Megan’s mother and watch the two try to figure out their relationship. Megan’s father’s new wife, Sylvia, as well as Alvaro’s wife, Maria, are suspects in the murder of a local artist at the new spa resort. The dead woman was once a friend of Megan’s and she once again gets involved investigating. This book was interesting as the murder occurred in a different town and Bobby is not involved, though he does do what he can to help Megan. We also see the addition of the pizza farm to Washington Acres. I found this concept to be intriguing. I missed seeing Denver as he was in Scotland helping his injured sister for most of the book. These are well-written characters and stories that leave you wanting more. I look forward to what’s next for Megan!
“Rooted in Deceit” earns 5/5 Farm-to-Oven Pizzas…Murderously Fun!
After a two-year absence, Megan’s father has returned from Italy, new wife in tow, but instead of staying with her and her grandmother at the family farm, the wife made arrangements for them to stay at the upscale Summit Yoga Retreat Center and Spa. That leads to discovering former friends, missing artwork, a strangled body, stalkers, and step-mom at the top of the suspect list. Alibis are not solid, and when the investigation expands to include former boyfriends, disgruntled employees, and more family and friends, Megan can’t help but once again get involved.
Yes! I loved it! Wendy Tyson has penned a very engaging murder mystery with a third-person narrative rich with descriptions of the farm and woods you can almost smell, the people you can almost envision, and the pizzas you can almost taste. But beyond the clever mystery with twists and turns and revisiting past grievances challenging one’s inner Sherlock and dialogue that illustrates well personality, tone, and emotion, it is the side dramas that make the entire book very entertaining. I greatly enjoy a story that depicts real life…no one drops their life to investigate murder 24/7. So, along with following the ups and downs of running the farm and cafe, harvesting tomatoes and fresh herbs, and managing all the animals, Tyson adds a “pizza farm” as the newest venture, Megan and Denver’s relationship is temporarily long-distance, interactions with her grandmother, friends, and employees continue, and an emotional family quadrangle between father/daughter/step-mother and an estranged mother is precariously navigated. Wendy Tyson goes beyond the cozy mystery formula to bring fans a delightful series, and newbies can easily join with this fourth book. It definitely blossoms as one of my favorites!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Summer brings Megan’s father and his wife Sylvia to Winsome from Italy. Megan thinks it a vacation to see her but Sylvia quickly tells her it is for business and that they will be staying at a new resort a whole town away. Her feelings are hurt but realizes having Sylvia and her dad at the resort will give her more time to focus on the grand opening of the new wood-fired pizza farm.
But when one of the artists Sylvia met with to acquire pieces for boutique ends up dead and the police suspect her of the murder things quickly go downhill. The artist, Thana Moore, had once been Megan’s best friend, but they have not been in contact for years. Megan decides to look into Thana’s past to try to clear her father’s wife, but what she uncovers in really surprising and could put more lives in jeopardy.
So much is happening in Winsome in this installment that the pages almost flew from one to the next. I love the idea of the wood-fired pizza farm and all the plans to expand it after the grand opening. The town and store/restaurant are places I would love to visit.
The characters are what really bears fruit in this story. Megan and her grandmother Bibi are true and so genuine. I felt so bad for them. They wanted to spend time with their father/son and Sylvia planned everything so that there was little time for that. Megan’s mother makes an appearance too. I found the way they all interacted very believable. The new characters in this story are very fleshed out, unique, and true to life. They all made an impression on me may it be good or bad or somewhere in between.
The mystery was compelling, with many facets that truly kept me guessing right up until the end. It was nicely balanced with everyday life. The main suspects are close to Megan so she is very invested in finding the true killer.
Rooted in Deceit will have you rooted to your seat from the first page to the last. A first-rate mystery with very interesting characters. This story is ripe and ready for picking. “Pick” up your copy as soon as you can. I have enjoyed every book in the Greenhouse Mystery Series!