Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Mulberry Mischief is the fourth installment in the A Berry Basket Mystery series set in the small town of Oriole Point located on the shore of Lake Michigan and featuring berry store owner Marlee Jacobs. It's Halloween and the town is gearing up for the annual Harvest Health Fair which has Marlee looking forward to showcasing all of her elderberry products reputed to protect against cold and flu season. Marlee is surprised when the town recluse, Laeticia the Lake Lady approaches her and asks for a massive amount of mulberries. The eccentric woman claims that she needs to cover her house with the berries in order to protect herself and her cats from evil and the ghost.
The Harvest Fair has also brought to town the Sable family, famous for their diet and skin care books, and the mysterious Felix Bonaventure, who seems to be trying to locate Laeticia. When Marlee goes to deliver the mulberries to Laeticia's house she's shocked to find the body of Felix, shot through the heart with a mulberry arrow and the Lake Lady missing. Various clues left behind by Laeticia lead Marlee to realize there is a connection between the family, Felix and Laeticia and before she knows it Marlee finds herself the target of a killer.
A fast paced plot draws you in from page one with the return of recurring Berry Basket series regulars and the blossoming relationship between Marlee and Kit Holt, a member of the Sheriff's department, will leave you anxiously awaiting the next adventures of the Oriole Point residents.
The Harvest Fair has also brought to town the Sable family, famous for their diet and skin care books, and the mysterious Felix Bonaventure, who seems to be trying to locate Laeticia. When Marlee goes to deliver the mulberries to Laeticia's house she's shocked to find the body of Felix, shot through the heart with a mulberry arrow and the Lake Lady missing. Various clues left behind by Laeticia lead Marlee to realize there is a connection between the family, Felix and Laeticia and before she knows it Marlee finds herself the target of a killer.
A fast paced plot draws you in from page one with the return of recurring Berry Basket series regulars and the blossoming relationship between Marlee and Kit Holt, a member of the Sheriff's department, will leave you anxiously awaiting the next adventures of the Oriole Point residents.
Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow is the fourth novel in A Berry Basket Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone since Marlee's background is provided along with references to the last three cases. Marlee Jacob delivers mulberries to the home of Leticia the Lake Lady and finds a man dead with a mulberry arrow through the heart. Leticia has disappeared and becomes the police's prime suspect. Marlee knows that Leticia thought someone was out to harm her. She wants to make sure Leticia is safe plus find the killer. Mulberry Mischief has a delightful cast of characters from kindhearted Marlee to fashionista Andrew to Old Man Bowman who is fascinated with Big Foot. Leticia is an off-beat character with her unusual ideas and flaming orange hair. Oriole Point is having a Haunted Halloween Harvest Health Fair (try saying that three times fast). Piper Lyall-Pierce, the coordinator, wants to convince people to eat less candy after her husband ate a whole bag of Twizzlers last Halloween (I find licorice is like potato chips, you cannot eat just one plus they are fat free). I did find Mulberry Mischief to be a slow starter, but the pace soon picks up. The mystery was interesting with misdirection, multiple suspects and clever clues. I like that we get a complete wrap up at the end. You have to love a criminal who spills his guts. I was tickled by the names of Aunt Vicki's Doberman Pinschers. They are Buffy, Willow and Xander. I think it is wonderful that she manages an animal rescue that captures feral cats and spays them. I liked the inclusion of mulberry folklore and the health benefits of mulberries. The ending was humorous. Mulberry Mischief is an upbeat cozy mystery with Halloween hijinks, a frisky feline, mulberry mania, a costumed killer, and a booming bell.
