No Farm, No Foul by Peg Cochran is the first book in the Farmer's Daughter Mystery series. Shelby McDonald is running her family farm (Love Blossom Farm) and taking care of her two children (Amelia and Billy). Shelby's husband has passed away (Wild Bill) and Shelby still misses him (and it does not help that his brother looks so much like Bill). Shelby is hosting a potluck on the farm for St. Andrew's Church to raise money for the desperately needed new roof. Prudence, the pastor's wife, was washing out her crockpot in the mudroom sink, and Shelby went to check on her. Shelby found Prudence dead on the floor of the mudroom with the cord to the crockpot wrapped around her neck. Shelby rushes outside and yells for someone to call 911. While waiting for the police, several people go into the mudroom (ruining the crime scene) to check it out (idiots). Who wanted Prudence dead? She was annoying, but worth killing? Shelby cannot help but look into this crime (it did happen in her mudroom). Maybe there is more to the pastor and his wife than any of them know (like why has the pastor had three different placements in three years). Can Shelby find the culprit before the killer decides she has been too nosy?
No Farm, No Foul is a good concept, but needs a little work. Too much time is spent on Amelia, Shelby's daughter, and the many ways the tween has found to disobey and annoy her mother (and the mother is not taking the appropriate action). I wanted more time spent on the murder and less on Amelia's antics. It got on my nerves! I liked Shelby's blog posts (humorous and interesting). She mentions some delicious sounding recipes (which are at the end of the book). No Farm, No Foul is easy to read, entertaining and likeable characters, and a great setting (Love Blossom Farm in Lovett, Michigan). The mystery was extremely simple and easy to solve. I knew who committed the crime before the body was found (not good). One clue was all I needed to solve it (it was obvious). I give No Farm, No Foul 3.75 out of 5 stars. I think the author could have used fewer ten dollar words (that's what my father always called them). An example is obstreperousness (it means noisily unruly or defiant). Did she really need to use this word? That is just one example. With a little tweaking, this could be a very enjoyable new cozy mystery series. I will read the next book in A Farmer's Daughter Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of No Farm, No Foul from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
No Farm, No Foul is a good concept, but needs a little work. Too much time is spent on Amelia, Shelby's daughter, and the many ways the tween has found to disobey and annoy her mother (and the mother is not taking the appropriate action). I wanted more time spent on the murder and less on Amelia's antics. It got on my nerves! I liked Shelby's blog posts (humorous and interesting). She mentions some delicious sounding recipes (which are at the end of the book). No Farm, No Foul is easy to read, entertaining and likeable characters, and a great setting (Love Blossom Farm in Lovett, Michigan). The mystery was extremely simple and easy to solve. I knew who committed the crime before the body was found (not good). One clue was all I needed to solve it (it was obvious). I give No Farm, No Foul 3.75 out of 5 stars. I think the author could have used fewer ten dollar words (that's what my father always called them). An example is obstreperousness (it means noisily unruly or defiant). Did she really need to use this word? That is just one example. With a little tweaking, this could be a very enjoyable new cozy mystery series. I will read the next book in A Farmer's Daughter Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of No Farm, No Foul from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Dollycas's Thoughts
Shelby McDonald has a farm, ee-I-ee-I-o, and she also has a blog, The Farmer's Daughter, where she posts about her life along with recipes and gardening advice and tips and also about this murder investigation she finds herself in the middle of. I liked it because in a way it is like she is talking directly to us readers, but she scares me a bit because she shares way more than we bloggers are cautioned about, like her children and her suspicions regarding a murderer still on the loose. Thankfully the only murders I post about on my blog are fictional.
Shelby's hosts a church potluck/fundraiser on her Love Blossom Farm but as things are wrapping up she finds Prudence, the minister's wife dead. She quickly realizes there was a killer on her property and it could be someone she knows quite well. Many suspect seeds are planted in her mind by her own observations and things her friends have said. Will she by able to harvest the right one before someone else is pushing up carrots?
This is an outstanding start for this series.
Shelby comes across realistically dealing with her farm and the produce and products she sells. She is also dealing with 2 children, a adventurous boy and an about to be thirteen year old daughter whose favorite word is "fine". I remember those days and with 2 daughters I survived that phase twice. She is super friendly to everyone and has a lot going on in her life.
The Love Blossom Farm located just outside Lovett, Michigan sounds like a place I would not only love to visit but love to live. Years ago, it was a dream to live on a farm, not with cows or pigs etc. but growing fruits and veggies and having a few chickens with plenty of wide open spaces for children to play and dogs and cats to roam, much like Shelby's. It just never worked out for me so these fictional visits will have to do for me.
Peg Cochran also gives us a fruitful mystery where the suspects seem to be multiplying. Before she can eliminate one, something sends her mind toward a different person. There was one clue that stuck in my mind but I just couldn't seem to make it fit until Shelby and I shared that "a-ha moment".
This story was a delightful read. The mystery kept me guessing and the characters were fantastically written. Shelby being a blogger like me was a bonus. She recommends food and recipes and I review and recommend books that usually include food and recipes.
Shelby McDonald has a farm, ee-I-ee-I-o, and she also has a blog, The Farmer's Daughter, where she posts about her life along with recipes and gardening advice and tips and also about this murder investigation she finds herself in the middle of. I liked it because in a way it is like she is talking directly to us readers, but she scares me a bit because she shares way more than we bloggers are cautioned about, like her children and her suspicions regarding a murderer still on the loose. Thankfully the only murders I post about on my blog are fictional.
Shelby's hosts a church potluck/fundraiser on her Love Blossom Farm but as things are wrapping up she finds Prudence, the minister's wife dead. She quickly realizes there was a killer on her property and it could be someone she knows quite well. Many suspect seeds are planted in her mind by her own observations and things her friends have said. Will she by able to harvest the right one before someone else is pushing up carrots?
This is an outstanding start for this series.
Shelby comes across realistically dealing with her farm and the produce and products she sells. She is also dealing with 2 children, a adventurous boy and an about to be thirteen year old daughter whose favorite word is "fine". I remember those days and with 2 daughters I survived that phase twice. She is super friendly to everyone and has a lot going on in her life.
The Love Blossom Farm located just outside Lovett, Michigan sounds like a place I would not only love to visit but love to live. Years ago, it was a dream to live on a farm, not with cows or pigs etc. but growing fruits and veggies and having a few chickens with plenty of wide open spaces for children to play and dogs and cats to roam, much like Shelby's. It just never worked out for me so these fictional visits will have to do for me.
Peg Cochran also gives us a fruitful mystery where the suspects seem to be multiplying. Before she can eliminate one, something sends her mind toward a different person. There was one clue that stuck in my mind but I just couldn't seem to make it fit until Shelby and I shared that "a-ha moment".
This story was a delightful read. The mystery kept me guessing and the characters were fantastically written. Shelby being a blogger like me was a bonus. She recommends food and recipes and I review and recommend books that usually include food and recipes.
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Enjoyed this story very much. It's a good start to a new series. Better than any of the others, at least for me. Love the setting, the animals and the quality of the mystery.
I liked this book- good premise: Who killed the minister's wife at the town picnic? As the sleuth asks around, she finds out lots of info about the victim. I was not crazy about the "Dear Reader" parts or the fact that this chick has THREE guys vying for her- stick to the farming & the mystery!
