The Blueberry Blowout Festival sets the stage for Marlee to hone her detecting skills again. This time, a rival of theirs winds up dead after a very loud argument between Ryan and Porter.

Killed on Blueberry Hill takes place at another berry related event. This time the competition involves Marlee's future in laws and their business rivals. Seems a bit crazy to Marlee, but I think we've all met people like that. Marlee continues to wonder about her relationship with Ryan. I wonder why the author chose this tack.

The story line doesn't really have one of those mysteries that the reader is privy to enough information that he/she can deduce who the killer is, though there is enough given that you can have suspicions, actually, lots of suspicions. there are definitely several candidates for killer.

Would love to see Natasha play more of a role in Marlee's next adventure. She may be a caricature, but she's a lot of fun.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them so I was really looking forward to this book. I love Marlee and the town of Oriole Point, Michigan. In the latest installment they are celebrating the Blueberry Blow Out week right before the Labor Day holiday. This is a big week for the town and many events are planned including a carnival. The Berry Basket has a booth at the carnival along with Marlee and her employees helping out with taking ride tickets keeping them all very busy. All of the local farms are also involved in the carnival. There were many things going on in this book, not only the mystery, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I had a range of emotions while reading this book and was so surprised by what happened at the end. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Killed on Blueberry Hill” earns 4/5 Blueberry Stains…Clever and Hard to Put
Down!
I enjoyed Sharon Farrow’s “Killed on Blueberry Hill,” the third book in her Berry Basket Mystery series. Easily read by newbies since she revisited enough background and character connections to keep the reader engaged, but fans won't feel it's too much already known info. The mystery follows a traditional cozy formula, but Sharon’s first-person writing style with vivid descriptions and entertaining banter make this a favorite. Accidental death determined not so accidental; boyfriend has motive enough to be suspected; efforts to clear his name turn up suspicions; secrets uncovered; karma wins the day! I recommend the series and this book is a “delicious” place to start.

The Blueberry Blow Out is in full swing and Marlee is participating in most events. She wins the pie eating contest. Ryan bosses her and tells her that she will participate in the tug of war between the Zellars and the Gales. Ryan and Porter Gale come to blows after one of the Zellars is hurt on a broken piece of glass during the tug of war. During the evening after the tug of war Porter Gale dies. The police find it suspicious.
Marlee has been having doubts about marrying Ryan and the doubts multiply from the fight and events that occur as the book goes on. I always wondered what Ryan's angle was and this book shows his true colors.
Marlee puts her life in danger again as she works to find the murderer.
This was an enjoyable read. This is the third book in the series. It wasn’t as intense as book two with its high speed chase. I like that the reveal of the murderer isn’t the ending of the books in this series. The author gives us a slice of celebrating life for Marlee with her friends and family.

Killed on Blueberry Hill by Sharon Farrow is the third book in the Berry Basket Mystery series. Marlee, owner of the Berry Basket, is busy with the town's Blueberry Blow Out festival. The competition among the berry growers is fierce, and it seems worst between her fiance Ryan and his rival Porter. When Porter dies mysteriously and Ryan leaves town, Marlee begins investigating. Her investigation leads to disturbing secrets about Ryan which make her question if she can really spend the rest of her life with him. The berry themes of this series are fun. I think Natasha might be my favorite character in this book. She makes an excellent friend and side kick for Marlee. I recommend all of the books, but this one easily stands on its own!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Marlee should be the happiest woman alive. Her business is thriving and she just won the Blueberry Pie Eating contest at the Blueberry Blow Out on the shores of Lake Michigan.. She’s engaged to Ryan but soon after her pie eating victory, her life seems to go into a downward spiral. It isn’t just normal pre-wedding jitters either.
Ryan gets into a brawl with a neighbouring blueberry grower and Marlee sees a side to him she never knew or wants to know. When the same rival dies on the midway ride his family sponsored, Ryan’s glee is off-putting to say the least. Who is this guy and why does she want to marry him? When Ryan disappears on a “fishing” trip the following day, the police question Marlee. The lies and secrets Ryan has been keeping tumble out one after another. It makes her wonder if she ever knew him and by the time he returns, she has serious doubts about their future marriage and even worse ones about Ryan himself. She even wonders if the man she loves might be a murderer.
There is no shortage of other suspects. The family dynamics of these blueberry dynasties would put Dallas to shame. The possible killers include the man’s sister, his nephew, his wife and assorted others. The tangled web gets stickier and stickier until Marlee witnesses something that could cost her her life.
I got caught up in the story thoroughly right to its nail biting conclusion. Marlee is a smart, savvy woman who is a great nucleus of a good series. It made me want to go to the Lake and eat blueberries.
Five purrs and two purple paws up.

Killed on Blueberry Hill is the newest installment in the Berry Basket coztmy mystery series. It can easily be read as a stand alone but if you haven't read the previous books in the series, get ready to purchase them. This book has everything I want in a mystery including a tad of romance. I really like everything about this book. Its s delight from beginning to end. Thank you netgalley for the arc. The opinions are my own thoughts

Marlee Jacob is getting ready for the annual Blueberry Blow Out. As the owner of The Berry Basket shop, she’s quite excited about this opportunity. What she isn’t excited about is her fiance, Ryan Zeller, entering her into competitions with his arch rival and putting her in the direct line of fire. The first event is a pie-eating contest, followed by a tug of war. She wished he would have asked her before signing her up for these contests.

When Ryan’s arch rival suddenly dies, it was assumed it was due to his poor health condition. As the investigation continues, the police discover that someone deliberately caused his death. Of course Ryan is the prime suspect and it’s up to Marlee to prove his innocence. Unfortunately, she’s not so sure he is innocent. As she looks into the murder, she uncovers some shocking family secrets and realizes there is a long line of people who had reason to kill the man.

This is the third book in the series and the first one I read. I didn’t feel as if I missed anything at all by starting with the third book. I immediately fell in love with the characters, especially Marlee. They are well-developed and the story is well written.

Killed on Blueberry Hill is a page-turner for me. I could not put my Kindle down. I just wanted to keep reading and was disappointed when it ended. There were several twists along the way to finding a killer. I was very surprised at how it all wrapped up.

I’ve already added the first two books to my TBR and I’m looking forward to seeing how this all began. Sharon Farrow is a new-to-me author that I’ll be keeping an eye open for - by the end of this book, I had an unusual craving for blueberries!

Killed on Blueberry Hill

by Sharon Farrow

Oh, yes! I have a new series to add to a favorites list for cozy mysteries. Although I jumped into Sharon Farrow’s Berry Basket Mystery Series with the third book, I had no trouble following the storyline of Killed on Blueberry Hill. At first, given the theme of the book and the series, I was afraid blueberries would be overdone in this book. While they do take center stage as a motif, the emphasis is not forced because the setting is Oriole Point’s Blueberry Blow Out festival. It is, in fact, integral to the plot. Although blueberries are found all through the book, their inclusion is not repetitious because of the variety of ways the theme is used—food, drinks, atmosphere, businesses, costumes, and carnival fun.

The plot of Killed on Blueberry Hill has lots of threads that tie together well…in the end. Along the way they seem contradictory and confusing, pointing a finger at many suspects with plausible motives. This cozy mystery contains a wonderful assortment of characters, but many are not who they seem to be. Secrets and deceptions underlie the festive atmosphere. Marlee is the owner of The Berry Basket, a store in town that sells blueberry products, so she knows the three major producers, all family-run businesses. Her fiancé Ryan is a member of the close-knit Zellar family. Why is he pushing Marlee so hard on the wedding date, selling her family home, and just about every other decision in her life? When the owner of another blueberry farm is murdered on his own carnival ride, who will get the blame? There are several deaths in Oriole County. Who is set to inherit the wealth? This cozy has an exciting, action packed ending and major surprises. Along the way we meet Natasha, the recently widowed Miss Russia, with her delightful accent and choice of words. Not only does she add humor to the book, but she is instrumental in helping Marlee. I don’t know if Natasha will be included in future books in the series, but I hope so. She ramped up the book from 4 stars to 5 for me.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #3 in the Berry Basket Mystery Series, but works well as a standalone. Added to the book are three delicious sounding recipes that were featured in the story—blueberry, of course.

Publication: October 30, 2018—Kensington Publishing

Memorable Lines:

When I came to a stop in front of the yellow farmhouse, I could almost see my younger pigtailed self on the bottom porch step, eating fresh-picked blueberries from a pail. It seemed a lifetime ago. But also as recent as last month.

“Don’t be such a snob. Not everyone was born with an entire set of silver spoons in their mouth.”

I threw myself into work with such single-minded dedication, Ebenezer Scrooge himself would have given me a raise. And he wouldn’t have needed any visits from ghosts to prompt it.

Marlee is making the most of the Blueberry Blow Out to bring in business to The Berry Basket. Between her two young helpers, the shy baker, and herself the store and the booth at the festival are going strong. What should be a great and fun time is marred by the competition between the Zellers and Gales, with both families determined to win every competition. Engaged to Ryan Zeller, Marlee is volunteered for the women's blueberry pie eating contest. Only it seems, Ryan wants to make a lot of decisions for Marlee and that's an added layer of conflict. Add to that the ugly fight between Ryan and Porter, a less than heartfelt apology, and then Porter is dead.

Many of the towns people talk about the hostility and the tug of war incident, only Ryan has conveniently left to go fishing with his buddy. In between finishing out the festival, Marlee is busy trying to prove that Ryan didn't kill Porter. The more she tries to understand, the more secrets she uncovers and the more comfortable she is about the whole situation. Unfortunately, uncovering secrets is not always good for one's health, Marlee's or Ryan's included.

The story is well-paced and the ending isn't obvious, though believable. I liked Marlee and the Berry Basket crew. The story has a small town feel with feuding families, yet not immune to more big city problems. Although this is the third in the series, it's the first I've read. It can be easily read as a stand alone. If you enjoy a cozy mystery, you'll enjoy Killed on Blueberry Hill.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

This is book three in the "Berry Basket Mystery Series". I have read and enjoyed every book in the series. This can be read as a stand alone . Each book in the series is delightful and a fun sleuth. .
In this next in this charming series our protagonist Marlee is participating in a Blueberry festival in the town of lakeside village of Oriole Point, Michigan. Marlee is owner of a Berry business and her Aunt owns a animal shelter. Marlee is engaged to marry Ryan who she has serious doubts about and is keeping secrets from her. he is also pressuring her to sell her beautiful home which she does not want to do. During the festival he further upsets her by entering her in contests without telling her ! She is now fully fed up with him. During the festival he has a business rival enter one of his contest and they exchange words. When the rival is found dead Ryan is the first suspect. Marlee goes ahead and investigates because she feels a obligation to him.
This was a well rounded sleuth with many twist and turns. I like all the supporting background and the charcters all add to the story. The town is described in a most charming way by the author. This is a very enjoyable series that I highly recommend.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

Killed on Blueberry Hill by Sharon Farrow is the third installment in Berry Basket Mystery series but can be read as a stand alone, although I would suggest starting with book one as it would be better to follow the characters lives developing from the start.

Blueberry festival is the biggest thing for the little town of Oriole and a perfect chance for everyone to have fun and show their produce. Marlee is certainly enjoying herself even though she needs to win blueberry pie eating contest as instructed by her fiance. He on the other hand is using fun games as a chance to best his arch nemesis, showing a ruthless and ugly side that Marlee doesn't like at all.
When fiance's nemesis ends up dead after a huge fight with Marlee's fiance things go from bad to worse.
Even though Marlee is not sure about her feelings toward her fiance she is certainly not going to let him be accused of murder.

Fun and enjoyable story with nice set of characters. I like the gossipy employees and the easy banter. It is nicely paced without a dull moment with many twists and turns. This series has all aspects of mystery and light romance making it a perfect choice for all cozy lovers.

In this next book of the series the Blueberry Blow Out festival has started and Marlee is excited to have a booth to show off what The Berry Basket has to offer. All looks good I told her fiance Ryan signs her up for a pie eating contest without telling her. She reluctantly agrees and actually wins but is noticing that Ryan seems to do things all the time without asking her opinion. Things start to go down hill when Ryan gets into a fight with his rival during the tug-of-war competition. Marlee is beginning to see Ryan in a different light, what happened to the man she fell in love with? When Porter, Ryan's rival, ends up dead on one of the rides it looks like he had a heartache. After it comes to light that he was poisoned Marlee worries that Ryan will be a top suspect and with the way things are going she isn't sure how to feel about it all. She realizes that she can't just sit by and do nothing so she starts her own investigation. During her search for answers she comes across several secrets that the dead mans family had hidden away. With so many suspects to choose from Marlee doesn't know if she'll find the answers she seeks. What about Ryan? Can she trust and marry a man that has been acting crazy and been caught in a lie? Follow along as Marlee digs deep to come up with the an explanation for who the killer is and why. This is a fantastic series that will having you craving berries!!!

Had me at “former Army brat” & “the picturesque seaside town of Britton Bay on the Oregon Coast seems like the perfect place.”

I could not decide who I wanted to be killed off more, Ryan or Porter, the Blueberry King. I secretly hoped both would die. The author did a great job with the characters, plot, and development. There are plenty of realistic suspects, reasons and information introduced as needed.

I liked the well thought out novel and look forward to many more.

Killed on Blueberry Hill by Sharon Farrow is the 3rd book in A Berry Basket Mystery series, and a great addition. Marlee Jacobs owns the Berry Basket in Oriole Point, Michigan, where she sells berries and berry related items. The town is celebrating blueberry season with their annual Blueberry Blow Out festival. Marlee's fiance Ryan is showing a dark side Marlee has never seen in him before, against Porter Gale, who owns Blueberry Hill Farm. When someone is murdered, Marlee must find the killer. This is one of the best cozy mystery books I have read in a long time. I stayed up until 3am to finishing this book. I could not stop reading, and all the secrets revealed, WOW! I can not wait to read the next book in the series. I strongly recommend this book for cozy mystery lovers like me.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

Killed on Blueberry Hill
By: Sharon Farrow
Kensington Books
4 Stars

It’s time for the Blueberry Blow Out in Oriole Point, Michigan. The town is bustling with tourists who are there for the rides, the carnival food, the games, and of course the blueberries. One of the big sponsors of the Blueberry Blow out is the “King” of Blueberry Hill, Porter Gale. There is a long standing feud between the Gale family and the Zellar family. Marlee’s fiancé, Ryan, is one of the Zellars. He is determined to best the Gales in the blueberry pie eating contest and the tug of war game. Porter Gale wins the men’s pie eating contest. Marlee, who was coerced to enter by Ryan, is competing for the Zellar women. Marlee easily wins, and Ryan couldn’t be more ecstatic. The next contest is the tug-of-war, and it’s the Gales versus the Zellars. After an extremely close and vigorously fought match, the Gales pull out the win. Ryan accuses the Gales of cheating and a knock-out brawl breaks out. Afterwards, Porter and Ryan shake hands and appear to make up. All is not copacetic though as later in the evening Porter tries to egg on Ryan. Marlee makes Ryan walk away. As they are leaving Porter decides to ride on the Blueberry Death Drop. The name holds true for Porter who is dead at the end of his drop. Ryan becomes the prime suspect once his death is ruled a homicide, and Marlee wrestles with the idea that her fiancé might have killed someone.

What a great, fast-paced cozy mystery from start to finish. I didn’t want to put the book down until I completed it. I absolutely loved all the character match-ups and their interlaced involvement in if the murder of Porter Gale. We have the Zellar’s vs. the Gales, Ryan vs. Porter, Marlee vs. Ryan, Ryan vs. himself, Marlee vs. Wyatt, and the murderer vs. justice. These match-ups become the backbone of the story, and they seem to come together effortlessly. The story is as much about the characters as the story itself.

It took me until almost until the end of the book to figure out who the murderer was. It didn’t ruin the ending for me at all though. There was so much more to go through at the end. It was far more than just announcing the murderer.

As an added bonus, there are delicious sounding recipes at the end of the story. I’d actually suggest making at least one of the recipes while reading the book. That way you can cuddle up with the book and a blueberry treat.

Even though this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone book. The author does a great job of catching up new readers without being too repetitive for the readers who have already read the previous books.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for an ARC book. #NetGalley #KilledOnBlueberryHill

Killed on Blueberry Hill is the third installment in the A Berry Basket Mystery series set in Oriole Point, MI and featuring berry shop owner, Marlee Jacob. Business at the Berry Basket is booming and it's time for the town's annual Blueberry Blow Out, where Marlee and her employees will be having a vendor booth and sponsoring the popular Bounce House for kids.

Rivalry between two popular berry farms, Zeller Orchards and Blueberry Hill ripens during the festival games with Marlee's fiance, Ryan Zeller determined to beat his nemesis, Porter Gale at everything from the blueberry pie eating contest to the tug of war. Marlee is not happy that Ryan has signed her up as a member of his team without consulting her, but she participates and wins the pie eating contest. With a terrible stomach ache she begs off from the next competition and is watching the tug of war from the sidelines when things take an evil twist. Blueberry Hill wins the tug of war and thinking that Porter was responsible for planting a piece of glass that injures one of the Zeller team, Ryan goes ballistic and attacks Porter almost killing the man.

Already having second thoughts about her relationship, Marlee is both shocked and saddened by Ryan's behavior and flees the fairground. Later in the day she learns that the two men have apparently made amends and rejoins the orchard families for their nightly dinner. Unfortunately, the peace doesn't last long and Porter begins needling Ryan to take a ride on the Blueberry Hill sponsored "Death Drop". Anxious to prove he is King of the Hill, Porter climbs aboard the ride alongside his trophy wife and when the ride comes to a stop he's dead. Thinking the diabetic suffered a heart attack brought on by his overindulgence of sugar and alcohol throughout the day, the community is stunned to learn that in fact he has been murdered. It appears that someone has substituted his insulin with potassium chloride and all fingers point to Ryan.

A fast paced, descriptive plot transports readers to the center of a fairground. You can smell the foods, hear the bells on the midway games, listen to the joyful screams coming from the rides and flinch as you make your way through the Fun House. A mystery full of cons, grifters and gambling, delicious berry treats all topped off with the hysterical antics of Marlee's pet African Gray Parrot, Minnie. This series gets better and better and readers won't be disappointed with this latest installment.

I received an advanced copy of Killed on Blueberry Hill from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Killed on Blueberry Hill is the third book in Sharon Farrow’s Berry Basket Mystery series. This steadily paced book is entertaining and easy to read. The mystery is interesting, and the characters are well developed. The author provides lots of twists and turns and possible suspects to keep the reader engaged. Other than some adult language, this is a clean read. I’m looking forward to reading future installments in this series.

Marlee Jacob owns the Berry Basket, which is located in the charming lakeside village of Oriole Point, Michigan. Her Aunt Vicki owns and operates Humane Hearts, an animal shelter, and Marlee adopted a beautiful and talkative African Grey Parrot, named Minnie. She’s engaged to Ryan Zellar, but is having second thoughts about going through with the wedding, and isn’t sure if it’s just wedding jitters or the fact that he holds lots of secrets close to his vest and is overbearing and controlling. She’s also troubled because Ryan is insistent that she sell her beautiful lakeside home and move to Zellar Orchards. Oriole Point residents, business owners, and tourists are enjoying the town’s annual Blueberry Blow Out, a weeklong festival. Without consulting her, Ryan entered her into the pie-eating contest, which she won, and the tug-of-war competition. Fortunately, for Marlee the team decided to go “all male,” and she didn’t have to participate. Ryan’s family owns Zellar Orchards and grows everything from peaches and apples to four kinds of berries. The Gale family, led by Porter, own Blueberry Hill, the largest blueberry farm in the state. Ryan and Porter don’t like each other and have been rivals for years. Their rivalry turns into a brawl after the tug-of-war when Ryan accuses Porter of placing a piece of glass in the sand on his team’s side. When Porter dies later that evening, officials discover that someone tampered with his insulin, and Ryan becomes the number one suspect.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Marlee's fiance Ryan can be a bit much sometimes but surely he didn't kill Porter by fooling with his insulin. Porter was not, in a classic cozy victim way, a good guy so there are plenty of suspects but the police are focused in Ryan. Marlee finds herself investigating and then she finds some things she did not expect about Ryan and his family. This has good twists and turns, a good setting, and a terrific protagonist in Marlee. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh and there are also delicious recipes!