Helpful Score: 1
This is a fun new cozy mystery that I especially enjoyed with many laugh-out-loud moments. I like the characters a lot. Great interactions and dialog. I am looking forward to a second book in the series. If you like cozy mysteries don't miss Cobblered to Death.
Helpful Score: 1
Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross has readers enjoying the Pocono Mountains in May. Courtney Archer is the host of Cooking with the Farmer's Daughter even though she has never stepped foot on a farm in her life. Courtney is now co-hosting The American Baking Battle on location while filming episodes of her own show. The one thing Courtney wishes is to present her real self to the audience, but her contract precludes her from revealing the truth. She finds it even more challenging working alongside Shannon Collins, host of Southern Comfort Foods, who is so genuine and extends friendship to Courtney. There is drama on the set between the baking contests and problems off screen thanks to contestant Mick who overheard a conversation between Courtney and her producer. Courtney sheds her worries while baking a cheery cobbler in a cast-iron pan for her show the next day. The next morning, she stops to pick it up and finds it on the floor alongside a very dead Mick. With Courtney in the hot seat as the police's top suspect, she digs in to find the true culprit. Cobblered to Death is the debut of A Courtney Archer Mystery series. Courtney was a mixed bag for me. I liked her, but I also found her frustrating. If you are presenting yourself as a farmer's daughter on air, would you not visit a farm and do research? I did not understand why the author has Courtney floundering after hosting the show for three years especially when Eric's family owns a farm. I hope in the next book we get to know more about Courtney besides she likes to carve fruit, from Chicago, and dislikes lying to her viewers. I liked Courtney's friend and producer, Eric Iverson. I found him friendly and caring. I also enjoyed the blossoming friendship between Courtney and Shannon Collins. Shannon was my favorite character in the story. There is baking galore for those readers who enjoy culinary cozies. I loved the descriptions of the red mixers on the lovely blue countertops (my two favorite colors). The mystery was lacking. It was obvious who would die and who would be blamed. I was easily able to solve this whodunit. There was an absence of suspects and pointed clues. I wanted less of Courtney upset about her situation (not being a farmer's daughter, the clause in her contract) and a more solid mystery. There are two love interests for Courtney (of course). Cobblered to Death is what I call a light and breezy cozy mystery. Cobblered to Death is a new culinary cozy mystery with a crushing cherry cobbler, an abundance of baking, a complaining contestant, and a carking contract clause.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Cobblered to Death is the debut of the Courtney Archer Mystery series featuring cooking show host Courtney Archer. Famous for her show Cooking with the Farmer's Daughter she's now joined the cast of the reality show The American Baking Battle which is filming on location in the Pocono Mountains.
Courtney is joined on location by her producer Eric as she will filming for the reality show but also taping episodes for her own show. Courtney has a secret.. she's not really a farmer's daughter instead is born and raised in Chicago, and she desperately wants to tell her fans the truth. But a clause in her contract with the network says that she must continue with her fake persona. Courtney is once again begging Eric to get her out of the clause when she realizes that someone at the next table is eavesdropping on their conversation. Much to her surprise she soon discovers that the eavesdropper, Mick is one of the baking contestants and now he knows her secret.
Worrying that Mick is going to expose her secret, Courtney is horrified when she discovers his dead body lying in her test kitchen the next morning, clobbered over the head with her cast iron pan of cobbler. The local Sheriff and head of security both think that Courtney is a person of interest, especially when background checks on all of the contestants and crew of the show are done and they learn that Mick, who was actually an undercover investigative reporter, had a file on his computer exposing Courtney.
Determined to clear her name, Courtney sets out to track down the real killer. It seems that several of the contestants have something to hide and there seems to be a link between them that they don't want exposed. A fast paced plot, an interesting premise and cast of characters, brand new friendships and a hint of romance. Fingers crossed that the dreaded love triangle doesn't continue in future additions to the series.
Courtney is joined on location by her producer Eric as she will filming for the reality show but also taping episodes for her own show. Courtney has a secret.. she's not really a farmer's daughter instead is born and raised in Chicago, and she desperately wants to tell her fans the truth. But a clause in her contract with the network says that she must continue with her fake persona. Courtney is once again begging Eric to get her out of the clause when she realizes that someone at the next table is eavesdropping on their conversation. Much to her surprise she soon discovers that the eavesdropper, Mick is one of the baking contestants and now he knows her secret.
Worrying that Mick is going to expose her secret, Courtney is horrified when she discovers his dead body lying in her test kitchen the next morning, clobbered over the head with her cast iron pan of cobbler. The local Sheriff and head of security both think that Courtney is a person of interest, especially when background checks on all of the contestants and crew of the show are done and they learn that Mick, who was actually an undercover investigative reporter, had a file on his computer exposing Courtney.
Determined to clear her name, Courtney sets out to track down the real killer. It seems that several of the contestants have something to hide and there seems to be a link between them that they don't want exposed. A fast paced plot, an interesting premise and cast of characters, brand new friendships and a hint of romance. Fingers crossed that the dreaded love triangle doesn't continue in future additions to the series.
