Put Out To Pasture is the second book in the cozy mystery series Farm To Table by Amanda Flower.
I've read so many of her cozy mysteries in many of her series and they never disappoint. I always look forward to the next. Now even though this is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone.
Shiloh Bellamy has her work cut out for her trying to keep the family farm afloat.
She and her dog Huckleberry the Pug are working from sunup til sundown doing chores and trying to turn it into an organic bakery business when she gets the idea of hosting a fall festival at her farm.
The festival is going swimmingly and she and her assistant can not keep up with the baking supply needed of the organic foods. Unfortunately this all comes to a screeching halt when a body is found in a back field.
Things go from bad to worse when the evidence all seems to point to her best friend as the main suspect. Now she not only has the farm work to do she takes it upon herself to investigate the crime so her friend won't be blamed.
I enjoyed the book a lot except for the ending when it felt kind of strange as the love interest just fizzled out.
I look forward to reading about more adventures in this series.

Pub Date 22 Feb 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second book in the series but my first one. I had no issues with not knowing the backstory of the characters. I was able to pick this book up and enjoy it from page one.

The mystery is well written with plenty of misdirections and red herrings. I was completely surprised by who the murder was and why. The characters are interesting, relatable, entertaining,and week-developed. I am excited to find a new series to enjoy.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

I love everything Amanda Flower writes and read them as soon as they come out. There's something about this series, though, that, while it's still good, is not my favorite. I think it's because it reminds me of several other series that have come out recently about farms. The writing is still good and the story is still engaging but it's not fresh and new to me. I will still continue to read them but I am hoping for more to distinguish this from the others.

This is the second book in the Farm To Table series and boy does Shiloh still have her hands full. With little money and only some part-time help, she is determined to fix up the very run-down farm to be the place she remembers when she was a child. There isn't one building or field that doesn't need extensive work and I applaud her for being able to look past the problems and see a future she wants.
Her homecoming was not welcomed by everyone, but at least she can always count on her best friend Kristy. Well, that is until Kristy gets into a very public disagreement with Minnie Devoni at the Fall Daze festival held at Shiloh's farm. Minnie winds up murdered, and the Police Chief has one suspect, Kristy.
It seems in addition to Shiloh's maybe blossoming romance with Quinn, her competition from her new organic farming neighbor, Tanner, her dwindling funds, and about one million other pressing issues, she will need to find the real killer. Except for the whodunnit and why there were a lot of threads left hanging. I assume that is because of future books and there is certainly enough material for many more.
Shiloh is an interesting character, though I have to say she still has a ways to go to be a credible amateur sleuth. Everyone has to start somewhere though and I would like to see her grow in every aspect of her life.3.5 stars.

The second installment in the Farm to Table mystery series. Shiloh Bellamy has recently returned to her home town to save her family farm. Her Father is more interested in his Michigan history items that he has bought over the years and Shiloh is overextended and money is tight. Shiloh has just kicked off a two-day Fall festival at the farm and the first day so far has been a huge success. However, Her best friend Kristie arrives and gets into an argument with Minnie who is the local beekeeper and has a booth at the local farmers market and Kristie lets Minnie know she knows she has stolen some money from the farmers market while she was on maternity. Heated exchange and voices are raised and everyone is aware something is going on. Later that evening after the day one of the festival is over Minnie is found dead near the scarecrow with Kristie’s distinctive scarf so she immediately becomes the prime suspect. The next morning when Shiloh goes to look at the crime scene she is faced down with a pistol pointed at her from a Federal Marshall. As it turns out Minnie is really “Joan the Bandit” and escaped from federal custody and the marshall was in town to find her. Now this opens up a whole list of potential suspects, unfortunately the sheriff wants an open and shut case and Kristie is his suspect. Also the fact that the sheriff’s wife was Minnie’s best friend. Quinn who was a childhood friend and potential love interest is the son of the sheriff and his Mom hates Shiloh. Shiloh knows that someone other than Kristie has killed Minnie aka Joan so she begins to investigate and finds a few other suspects and once again ends in the cross-hairs with a killer. This was a very engaging thriller and kept me engaged the entire read. Looking forward to the next installment to find out if Quinn and Shiloh are going to get into a romance or does the new owner of the other half of their farm enter into the picture.

When Shiloh gave up her job to return home to Cherry Glen, Michigan to try and save the family farm, she never imagined that it would involve crime solving. With her father needing help, the farm mortgaged to the holt and not in very good shape she has set out to turn it into an organic business. Several months ago she solved a murder and now she's investigating again. A local woman, Minnie, has a stall at the local farmer's market and there is trouble brewing. More than a few people have had run ins with her but, after a public confrontation with Shiloh's friend, Kristy, which one of them used it as an opportunity to strangle her with Kristy's scarf and leave her body out in the field? Sure, Kristy did accuse Minnie of theft but that's no reason to kill her. As Shiloh works to remove her friend from her place as prime suspect with the police, the list of suspects grows and it becomes clear that Minnie had a lot to hide. If Shiloh can't catch the killer her family farm may be history.
As a cozy mystery this series hits all the right notes - a well written puzzle to solve, a great cast of characters, a sweet Pug named Huckleberry and a charming setting. This series has it all.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Shiloh is getting the hang of farming but there is still so much that needs fixing and not enough money to make it happen. She has organized a Fall Festival in hopes that it will bring in some much needed money. The Festival is going well with only a few hiccups when a body is found towards the end of the evening on the first day. It looks worse when all the evidence seems to point at Shiloh's best friend Kristy. There is so much going on that Shiloh isn't sure if she'll be able to investigate and help her friend. There's a new man in town that has purchased what use to be the other half of her farm and looks to be competition. The worry from that alone has been keeping her busy not to mention making sure her father stays out of trouble. The second day of the Festival was a bust and if the murder isn't found soon she's afraid it will do damage to the frame reputation. Follow along and see if Shiloh can keep her head above water and stop a killer at the same time.

Another delightful cozy mystery from Amanda Flower's newest series! We see former television producer Shiloh continuing in her attempts to rebuild her family farm, but when the most hated woman in town is murdered on her farm and her best friend is accused of the murder, Shiloh can't help but investigate.

I really enjoyed this book and love Shiloh as a heroine! But I have to say, the last 20 pages or so almost made me knock this one down a star. It felt rushed, there's a piece of the ending I didn't understand, and Shilou's "relationship" with her love interest is left in a weird place. So if we could just change the very ending, this book would be a nearly perfect cozy! But hopefully the third book puts us back on the right track--which I definitely plan on reading.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Put Out To Pasture
Farm To Table Mystery, Book #2
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

A delightful new cozy mystery from USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower!
There's fowl play afoot on the farm
Shiloh Bellamy has saved her family's farm from financial ruin—but now what? She's barely scraping by on the farm's new organic business model and the fall festival she organized to drum up business comes to a screeching halt when the body of a prominent townswoman is discovered underneath a scarecrow in a nearby field. Worst of all, the evidence points to Shiloh's childhood best friend, Kristy, as the prime suspect.
Between cooking up delicious treats made with her farm's produce, convincing her cantankerous father to let her do things her own way, and dealing with a newcomer in town who could be serious competition for her customers, Shiloh doesn't have time to wade into a murder investigation. But with a killer on the loose and suspicious activity circling closer and closer to Shiloh and the people she loves, she realizes there's nothing to do but roll up her sleeves and get down to the dirty work of finding the killer and clearing Kristy's name once and for all.
This book is perfect for cozy mystery readers and fans of Kate Carlisle, Denise Swanson, and Bree Baker! (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Instead of enjoying the success of Fall Daze, which Shiloh put together as a way to help her farm, a dead body turns up. And her good friend, Kristy, is the prime suspect. Now, beside working to keep the farm doing good, she is going to hac]ve to figure out the culprit to save Kristy.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book was a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions kept me engaged throughout the story. The mystery was well plotted and the ending surprised me. Shiloh has quite a few suspects to consider.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

EXCERPT: Quinn pointed at me. 'Call 911. My father should be on call. I'm going to find this scarecrow.' He started to leave.
'Wait! I'm coming with you.' I went after him with my cell phone in my hand. 'The scarecrow is just beyond that ridge. Hazel and I put him up.'
The colour drained from his face.
'Quinn, Hazel is fine. She's in the barn playing with Esmeralda and the barn cats.'
He nodded, looking as if that was the best he could do because he was unable to speak.
'Follow me,' I said and began to run in the direction of the scarecrow.
The scarecrow stood proudly above the small pumpkin patch. A large crow rested on one of its outstretched wooden arms and stared down at the ground. The bird unfolded its wings and took off, flapping them twice before disappearing in the trees.
'That's not a very effective scarecrow,' Quinn said.
I didn't respond because now I was close enough to see what Whit had seen at the scarecrow's feet.
Minnie Devani lay on the cold ground with her right cheek pressed into the dry grass, eyes wide and glassy, Kristy's beloved scarf wrapped tightly around her throat.

ABOUT 'PUT OUT TO PASTURE': Shiloh Bellamy has saved her family's farm from financial ruin—but now what? She's barely scraping by on the farm's new organic business model and the fall festival she organized to drum up business comes to a screeching halt when the body of a prominent townswoman is discovered underneath a scarecrow in a nearby field. Worst of all, the evidence points to Shiloh's childhood best friend, Kristy, as the prime suspect.

Between cooking up delicious treats made with her farm's produce, convincing her cantankerous father to let her do things her own way, and dealing with a newcomer in town who could be serious competition for her customers, Shiloh doesn't have time to wade into a murder investigation. But with a killer on the loose and suspicious activity circling closer and closer to Shiloh and the people she loves, she realizes there's nothing to do but roll up her sleeves and get down to the dirty work of finding the killer and clearing Kristy's name once and for all.

MY THOUGHTS: I have, over the past year or so, taken quite a shine to cosy mysteries. This is the first I have read by Amanda Flower and it has left me sitting on the fence.

I enjoyed the rural atmosphere in Put Out to Pasture, organic farming and love the concept of Fall festivals. I loved the small town setting with its well depicted characters and the very obvious hierarchy that exists, with the 'Queen Bee' ejecting those who pose a threat from her circle - or, in this case, her book club. I like the relationship between Quinn and Shiloh, but would have liked to have seen a bit more of Quinn's daughter, Hazel.

I mostly liked the plot, which is unusual to say the least, but . . . the investigation was basically non-existent, there was zero suspense, the 'main suspect' never really featured, Shiloh didn't really do any serious investigating other than the dead woman's neighbour - she just fluffed about quite aimlessly and took people at their word. I didn't like the resolution. It was hasty with not much of a lead in. And there were no clues as to the perpetrator scattered through the plot.

And Tanner? I guess he was introduced to provide a possible love interest in future books.

An okay read. I won't go out of my way to read more of this series, but if another landed in my lap, I would probably read it.

⭐⭐.5

#PutOuttoPasture #NetGalley

I: @amandaflowerauthor @poisonedpenpress

T: @aflowerwriter @PPPress

#contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #murdermystery

THE AUTHOR: Amanda Flower is an award-winning mystery author under both her pen name and her real name, Isabella Alan, and writes both for children and adults.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Put Out to Pasture by Amanda Flower. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage.

This is the second book in the Farm to Table series. Shiloh is working hard to bring Bellamy Farm back to life. Minnie, the town grouch, is found dead on the farm during the event and Shiloh must work to clear her best friend.

This was an interesting addition to the series. Minnie was an obnoxious character in the previous book. We learn that she has a checkered past that has finally caught up with her. There are so many suspects because of her horrible disposition.

We revisit with former characters and meet a few new ones. A handsome stranger has bought the other half of Bellamy Farm and plans to turn it into an organic farm. This should be interesting since that is Shiloh's plan as well.

The mystery is very well done with just enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. The characters are well rounded and believable.

The various animals make me smile. Huckleberry is such a typical pug. Esmeralda is the perfect cat. The raucous chickens make me laugh.

I enjoyed learning more about Cherry Glen and the Bellamy family. I look forward to seeing where the relationship with Shiloh and Quinn goes.

Amanda Flower never disappoints. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the second book in the Farm to Table Mysteries series. I really enjoyed the characters in this cozy mystery. The mystery in this book was good, and it kept me guessing through out this book. I love the farm setting in this book, and I love reading the farm parts. I really loved the Cherry Trees part. I have to say one of the reasons I loved this series is the Farm settings in this book. There was a lot going on in this book, and the drama was more then this the mystery. I think all the drama worked in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Poisoned Pen Press) or author (Amanda Flower) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Put Out To Pasture by Amanda Flower is the second book in the Farm to Table cozy mystery series. I didn't feel as if I were missing anything because it's early in the series, and the mystery is wrapped up by the end. The author skillfully weaves details about the characters into the story, so the reader can discern what they may have missed about their backstories. This is exactly the way I like to discover the characters' personalities and traits. It feels natural and doesn't distract from what's happening in the plot. Speaking of the plot, this one is well-paced making Put Out To Pasture a quick, easy read.

I really enjoyed getting to know all of the main characters and look forward to reading more about them. Since this is a cozy mystery, of course the main character, Shiloh Bellamy, is crucial to solving the mystery much to the annoyance of the authorities. But her best friend is a possible suspect, and Shi has to get her name off of the suspect list by finding other potential murderers! You'll find some really annoying characters too, but what would a cozy be without them? One thing I was missing though was quirky characters. Those type of characters typically end up as some of my faves! Maybe Shiloh's dad, with is Michigan history obsession, will be....to be determined!

Put Out To Pasture really is a delightful, entertaining cozy mystery. With its well-written characters, fun farm setting, and perplexing mystery, it's one I highly recommend.

Even if I'm liking this series it's not my favorite by Amanda Flower. I appreciate fleshed out and realistic characters but Shiloh and Quinn seem to be grieving for their loss and this feeling makes the story a bit less enjoyable.
The mystery is solid and the kept me guessing. I liked some of the characters but all of them are fleshed out.
Ms Flower is an excellent writer and she can surely deliver a compelling story.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Put Out To Pasture is the second book in the Farm To Table Mysteries series by Amanda Flower.

Shiloh Bellamy has returned from California to save the family farm and turn it into a profitable organic farm. It is autumn in Cherry Glen, MI, and Shiloh Bellamy has decided to have an Autumn Daze gathering at her farm. She has decided to open the pasture next to her barn for people to walk around and learn of her plans. There are bales of straw and even a scarecrow. Shiloh is overwhelmed by the attendance, which she attributes to her BFF, Kristy Brown, getting a local television station airing a spot about the event. But soon, the joyful gathering will have a black cloud to overshadow the event when the body of Minnie Devani is found near the scarecrow. Minnie had been strangled with a scarf that Kristy had been wearing earlier in the day. Kristy manages the local farmer’s market, where Minnie has a homemade honey stall. Kristy and Minnie had an altercation earlier at the farm over monies that Minnie had reportedly stolen from the market when she was filling for Kristy. Sheriff Killian will look to Kristy as his prime suspect. But then, while Killian is conducting his investigation, U.S. Marshall Lynn Chuff arrives, saying that Minnie is wanted for bank robbery, and she has been trailing her for several years.

Shiloh is sure that Killian isn’t interested in looking any further than Kristy for being the killer and will begin her own investigation. Shiloh will find that many residents support Minnie, but many have confronted her. Minnie’s neighbor has been battling her since she moved into the neighborhood or possibly somebody she robbed while using an ATM.

The story is well-written, plotted and the characters are well-developed and believable. I enjoyed the interaction between Quinn and Shiloh. Will they be able to overcome their past differences?

Shiloh’s Quick Farm Tips is also included in the book.

I am awaiting the next book in this enjoyable series.

3.5 stars
Book 2 of Amanda Flowers’ Farm to Table series begins with a solid premise and a good setup for the mystery. Characters we met and started to love in book 1 are back: Shiloh, her father, and of course, Huckleberry (I do have to say that Huckleberry should not be in the diner).

The pacing and the further development of the town are both solid, which we would expect from a veteran writer like Flowers. We do have a bit of info.-dumping by law enforcement, which is always unbelievable, no matter how often it happens in cozies. Also, there are places where the book seems to fall into formula.

Overall, Put Out to Pasture is a perfectly respectable book 2 in a cozy series, and I will read book 3 when it arrives.

Thank you to Amanda Flower, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Shiloh Bellamy has left the glamour and glitz of Hollywood behind to help save her family's farm from bankruptcy. She is doing organic farming and trying to drive more customers to the farm with new marketing ploys. Everything seems to be going well until a dead body is found on the farm during Bellamy Farms Fall Daze festival. Shiloh's best friend is the prime suspect, and Shiloh is determined to prove her innocence. It was fun to read this book in the cold winter months so I could dream of fall festivals, pumpkins and corn mazes. I love the characters in this book. Shiloh has kind heart and wants to help everyone. Quinn is her long time friend and neighbor. I look forward to seeing more of him in future stories. Esmeralda the cat will steal your heart with her antics. I especially loved Huckleberry the pug (more affectionately know as "Huck"). Huck is lazy but mischievous, and he is always getting into something. He loves car rides! Cherry Glen is a great setting for an organic farm. Amanda Flower does a good job of providing a long list of possible suspects, and she provides several red herrings. I look forward to reading more in this series as they become available. This was a clean mystery with a little humor and romance mixed in.

In an attempt to help the coffers of her family farm, Shiloh has organized a fall festival at the farm. But when the body of one of the town's most prominent women is found nearby, the festival is shut down. Shiloh's best friend is suspect #1, and the police chief isn't inclined to look any further, Shiloh conducts her own investigation.

This is the second book in this series, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. The author is one of my favorite cozy authors, and I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books.

Although I've never had to rely on income from a farm, I grew up helping my parents with their rather large garden and orchard, so I can identify with some of what is involved in maintaining a farm and preparing for the next step, be it planting, harvesting or any of the multitude of steps in between. I like the characters here, and enjoyed getting to know them a bit better in this book. There were quite a few legitimate suspects, and my mental list kept changing as the story progressed, but I was ultimately able to figure out the killer's identity before it was revealed in the book. I look forward to the next book in this series.

In Amanda Flower's second installment of the Farm to Table Mystery series, Put Out to Pasture, Shiloh Bellamy and her friends are cleaning up after the first day of Fall Daze at her family farm when the body of Minnie Devani is discovered in one of Shiloh's fields. Unfortunately, Shiloh's best friend Kristy becomes a primary suspect due to an argument that she had with Minnie earlier that day and the weapon used to kill Minnie was Kristy's scarf.

As with all of this author's works, the protagonist is a strong female character with extensive ties to the community. For this series, the author has included additional dynamics and conflicts with various members of the community due to Shiloh's past history during her youth and the rumors and innuendos that continue to be talked about within the community, as well as the challenges of converting a traditional family farm into an organic farm.

This book also highlights the conflicts that can arise when a crime crosses jurisdictional lines and different agencies have different focuses and interpretations of the evidence. As the story unfolded with the revelation of the victim's past, this quickly became a book that I could not put down until the very end and was totally surprised by the final reveal of the intricacies of the details behind the motive and killer's identity. I am definitely looking forward to the future adventures of Shiloh and her neighbors.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I like this series! Charming small town, good cast of secondary characters, an interesting career (in this case organic farming), and a decent murder mystery. I'll be picking up the next book!