Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Helpful Score: 1
A Muddied Murder is the first in the new Greenhouse Mystery series. Megan Sawyer is recovering from the recent loss of her military husband Mitch and has returned to her hometown of Winsome, PA. A corporate lawyer in Chicago, Megan abandons her career in order to help her Grandmother Bonnie "Bibi" Birch run the family farm, Washington Acres and start up the Washington Acres Farm Café and Larder in the center of town.
Megan has been having problems with the permitting process thanks to Simon Duvall, Zoning Administrator. Simon had issues with Megan's father Eddie and is now passing his ill will on to Megan and Bibi. After a heated discussion with Simon, Megan discovers his bludgeoned body later that evening in her goat pen. With so many witnesses to their argument it is no wonder that Megan and her Grandmother become the main suspects.
Determined to clear her name and save the farm, Megan sets out with the help of her two employees, brother and sister Clay and Clover Hand, and the local vet Dr. Daniel "Denver" Finn. Megan does have backup from Police Chief Bob King who happens to be dating Clover and believes in her innocence.
Thrown in to the mix of suspects is veteran Brian "Brick" Porter. Suffering from a bad case of PTSD and alcoholism, Brick is not an easy person to contend with and his actions point to a tendency towards violence. Believing that Brick much like her husband has seen too many things fighting the War, chooses to believe in his innocence.
Washington Acres Farm has been named based upon a rumor that George Washington had known the Caldbeck's, the original owners of the homestead. The members of the town's historical society have their sights set on getting Washington Acres named to the National Historic Registry, but Megan and her Grandmother are both opposed as that might have an adverse on their plans to return the Farm to it's original state in addition to the expansions necessary for their new business.
I really enjoyed this mystery - a great storyline with lots of twists and turns. Great descriptions of the planting and harvesting of the crops Megan grows on her farm, the animals (pygmy goats Dimples and Heidi and dogs Sadie and Gunther) will keep you smiling with their love and devotion to their master, and the characters are so likeable you'll want to move to Winsome. You learn a little about Megan's parents and great Aunt Sarah, but the author leaves plenty of questions unanswered that I'm sure will surface in the upcoming installments. And of course, there is the developing relationship between Megan and Denver that has plenty of opportunity for growth. I'll be looking forward to the next in the series "Bitter Harvest".
Megan has been having problems with the permitting process thanks to Simon Duvall, Zoning Administrator. Simon had issues with Megan's father Eddie and is now passing his ill will on to Megan and Bibi. After a heated discussion with Simon, Megan discovers his bludgeoned body later that evening in her goat pen. With so many witnesses to their argument it is no wonder that Megan and her Grandmother become the main suspects.
Determined to clear her name and save the farm, Megan sets out with the help of her two employees, brother and sister Clay and Clover Hand, and the local vet Dr. Daniel "Denver" Finn. Megan does have backup from Police Chief Bob King who happens to be dating Clover and believes in her innocence.
Thrown in to the mix of suspects is veteran Brian "Brick" Porter. Suffering from a bad case of PTSD and alcoholism, Brick is not an easy person to contend with and his actions point to a tendency towards violence. Believing that Brick much like her husband has seen too many things fighting the War, chooses to believe in his innocence.
Washington Acres Farm has been named based upon a rumor that George Washington had known the Caldbeck's, the original owners of the homestead. The members of the town's historical society have their sights set on getting Washington Acres named to the National Historic Registry, but Megan and her Grandmother are both opposed as that might have an adverse on their plans to return the Farm to it's original state in addition to the expansions necessary for their new business.
I really enjoyed this mystery - a great storyline with lots of twists and turns. Great descriptions of the planting and harvesting of the crops Megan grows on her farm, the animals (pygmy goats Dimples and Heidi and dogs Sadie and Gunther) will keep you smiling with their love and devotion to their master, and the characters are so likeable you'll want to move to Winsome. You learn a little about Megan's parents and great Aunt Sarah, but the author leaves plenty of questions unanswered that I'm sure will surface in the upcoming installments. And of course, there is the developing relationship between Megan and Denver that has plenty of opportunity for growth. I'll be looking forward to the next in the series "Bitter Harvest".
Dollycas's Thoughts
Like our author, Megan Sawyer is a lawyer. Megan feels like she is leaving the rat race behind when she returns to Winsome to help her grandmother and open a store and café featuring things grown on her family's organic farm. But Winsome has its own share of rats, namely Zoning Commissioner, Simon Duvall. He is holding up her permits and keeping her from her grand opening. She can handle the rain and her goats wandering but she can't let one man keep her from her livelihood.
With the goats getting loose a lot, she has the veterinarian on speed dial. Dr. Denver Finn, is easy on the eyes and has a delicious accent and he would like to get to know Megan even better. Romance takes a back seat when she and the good doctor find Simon Duvall dead in her barn. Her grievance with the man was public knowledge making her the prime suspect in his murder. She may live in Winsome but she could lose some if she doesn't dig deep and figure out who really killed the rat, I mean Mr. Duvall.
I was already a fan of this author and her Allison Campbell Mysteries so I was anxious to read this story. She has started off this series wonderfully.
First she gives us great realistic characters with depth. Megan is a strong woman with a dream. I think it will be a great success and she is definitely going to need more help. Especially if she keeps tracking down murders. Her grandmother, Bibi, will find her way right into your heart. Another strong woman who hates to slow down. She is excited about the new family venture and will do anything she can to help. Dr. Denver Finn is an interesting man and has a way with both people and animals. He is watching over a veteran with some issues due to his time overseas. He also rescues animals. He had me in his corner immediately. We also have a few 4 legged characters as well to add to the fun.
Wendy Tyson wraps these characters in a story that meshes history, politics, and general small time life. She also blends in a murder mystery with more twists than a tornado. Each time I thought I had it figured out there was another clue that wrecked my theory. She added an element I never even thought about that turned the story on its ear. The ending was just fabulous!
I hope this series lasts a good long time. I will tramp through the mud, the rain, the snow with Megan anytime. I want to get to know all the characters better. I can hardly wait for the second book.
Like our author, Megan Sawyer is a lawyer. Megan feels like she is leaving the rat race behind when she returns to Winsome to help her grandmother and open a store and café featuring things grown on her family's organic farm. But Winsome has its own share of rats, namely Zoning Commissioner, Simon Duvall. He is holding up her permits and keeping her from her grand opening. She can handle the rain and her goats wandering but she can't let one man keep her from her livelihood.
With the goats getting loose a lot, she has the veterinarian on speed dial. Dr. Denver Finn, is easy on the eyes and has a delicious accent and he would like to get to know Megan even better. Romance takes a back seat when she and the good doctor find Simon Duvall dead in her barn. Her grievance with the man was public knowledge making her the prime suspect in his murder. She may live in Winsome but she could lose some if she doesn't dig deep and figure out who really killed the rat, I mean Mr. Duvall.
I was already a fan of this author and her Allison Campbell Mysteries so I was anxious to read this story. She has started off this series wonderfully.
First she gives us great realistic characters with depth. Megan is a strong woman with a dream. I think it will be a great success and she is definitely going to need more help. Especially if she keeps tracking down murders. Her grandmother, Bibi, will find her way right into your heart. Another strong woman who hates to slow down. She is excited about the new family venture and will do anything she can to help. Dr. Denver Finn is an interesting man and has a way with both people and animals. He is watching over a veteran with some issues due to his time overseas. He also rescues animals. He had me in his corner immediately. We also have a few 4 legged characters as well to add to the fun.
Wendy Tyson wraps these characters in a story that meshes history, politics, and general small time life. She also blends in a murder mystery with more twists than a tornado. Each time I thought I had it figured out there was another clue that wrecked my theory. She added an element I never even thought about that turned the story on its ear. The ending was just fabulous!
I hope this series lasts a good long time. I will tramp through the mud, the rain, the snow with Megan anytime. I want to get to know all the characters better. I can hardly wait for the second book.
A Muddied Murder by Wendy Tyson is the first book in A Greenhouse Mystery series. Megan Sawyer has returned to Winsome, Pennsylvania to stay with her grandmother, Bibi. Megan did live in Chicago and worked as a lawyer but came home when Bibi needed her. Megan is helping with the family farm, Washington Acres, and is opening a combination store and café in town. Megan is also turning the Washington Acres into an organic farm. But Megan has been encountering difficulties in opening the store/café. She keeps getting denied the appropriate permits (methinks someone is against her new venture). Simon Duvall is the person behind it (and he is one nasty man). Then Simon Duvall ends up dead in her barn. When Bibi ends up being a suspect, Megan sets out to clear her with help from the local vet, Dr. Daniel Finn (there is a romantic spark between them). Then the sabotage starts. Will Megan be able to find the culprit and open her new store/cafe?
I enjoyed A Muddied Murder. It has good characters, a lovely setting (sounds like a beautiful town and farm), and a good mystery. The mystery was complicated (just the way I like them), but there are few clues provided (you can solve the mystery without them). One thing I did not like was Megan's impatience. She wanted answers NOW (became frustrating). The romance in the book was a little rushed. It was too much for the first book. I give A Muddied Murder 4.25 out of 5 stars (since I was able to solve it). I think this is the beginning of a good series. I look forward to reading the next book in the series next spring.
I received a complimentary copy of A Muddied Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
I enjoyed A Muddied Murder. It has good characters, a lovely setting (sounds like a beautiful town and farm), and a good mystery. The mystery was complicated (just the way I like them), but there are few clues provided (you can solve the mystery without them). One thing I did not like was Megan's impatience. She wanted answers NOW (became frustrating). The romance in the book was a little rushed. It was too much for the first book. I give A Muddied Murder 4.25 out of 5 stars (since I was able to solve it). I think this is the beginning of a good series. I look forward to reading the next book in the series next spring.
I received a complimentary copy of A Muddied Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
