Culinary Cozy Mystery in which a Pennsylvania widow turns sleuth when her plans for her inherited fruit orchard are threatened after she finds the manager dead.

4/5 stars: This is the debut entry in Tremel's Cider House Mystery series, which is a Culinary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Pennsylvania and features a widow who has recently inherited a fruit orchard and has plan to open a cidery. With plenty of twists and turns, Tremel has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Tremel's character work is great, creating incredibly likable characters. Kate's a tough lady who's been through a lot, a long convalescence after being severely injured in a drunk driving accident and the loss of her husband at the same time. I look forward to seeing her character continue to grow. It's a joy getting to know the folks of Orchardville and I can't wait to see Kate's business, Red Barn Cider Works, expand. I also appreciate the blooming friendship and possible relationship with Kate's neighbor, fellow orchard owner and former state police investigator, Daniel. Oh and for the pet lovers, there's a sweet cat named Blossom. But wait, one mustn't forget all the absolutely yummy food described in the book, which you can try out yourself by using the recipes that are included. If you're looking to get in on a brand new Cozy Mystery series from the very beginning, be sure to pick up this great read.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel has Kate Mulligan returning home to her family’s orchard farm.

Can Kate solve the mystery?

Kate Mulligan
Kate Mulligan lost her husband a year ago and is finally feeling better when she decides to come home. Home is the property that has been in her family for generations and one that was left to her by her great-uncle. The property has their house and a fruit orchard on it. Kate has been wanting to do her own cider house for a while now, and she can finally do it. Kate is sad about losing her husband and wants to move on at her own pace. I like Kate as she tells you what she is thinking about and doesn’t care what you think. She is a go-getter who wants to keep the family business going, especially with adding in a cider house. She knows what she is doing with the cider making as well.

The Mystery
Kate Mulligan goes to see what Carl wants to talk about one day when she finds him dead. She decides to investigate, especially when she is put on the suspect list by the chief of police. Kate doesn’t think he knows what he is doing, so she decides to investigate. I have to say that for a small town, when they don’t want to tell someone a secret, they sure won’t, even if that person happens to have had family there for quite a while. I solved the mystery a bit before the sleuth did, and I’m glad I got it right.

Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel. Ms. Tremel entertained me and made me want to learn more about the mystery she was weaving as I plowed through the story. For that, I am recommending this book to whoever loves a good, Cozy Culinary Mystery. Kate and the rest of the crew are a great cast of characters with many more mysteries to solve.

Don’t forget to check out the recipes in the back of the book. The recipes are Dill Aioli, Apple Pie, Tomato Bisque, Kate’s Homemade Pasta Sauce, and Marguerite’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

3.5 stars, rounded up

After losing her husband and suffering injuries of her own in a terrible accident, Kate attempts to get on with her life. When she learns that she has inherited her uncle’s orchard, she takes the opportunity to start her dream business in a new town, where everything – and everyone – is new. Things are going well until she discovers the body of her orchard manager, and some of her neighbors start to question her, and her plans.

This is the first book in a new series by a new-to-me author, but I couldn’t resist the title and the book summary, but what really sold me is the location. Living not far from Gettysburg, PA, the setting of this story felt very familiar to me. I like Kate, the MC, and her determination to make her business succeed. She doesn’t use her physical limitations as an excuse, nor does she feel sorry for herself, other than moments of melancholy over the loss of her husband.

The murder victim seemed to be liked, or at least respected, by the residents of the town, so there weren’t a lot of suspects to consider. Early on, it appeared that someone was determined to prevent Kate from opening her business, and I was convinced that and the murder were related. I like the way Kate worked with the local sheriff, rather than trying to figure it out entirely on her own. I became suspicious of one particular character a bit before Kate and the rest did, but I wasn’t sure until just before it was revealed in the book. Given that character, the motive made sense, and should have been more obvious to me earlier in the story.

I look forward to visiting with Kate, Daniel and Blossom (the cat) in the next book in this series.

This cozy mystery took me by surprise. I really enjoyed reading about Kate and how she finds herself and is able to open up her dream cider shop after her husband's unexpected death. The mystery, as well, was very twisty, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters in the town and uncovering their secrets. There was so much going on that it definitely kept me guessing, and I want to reread this book to find all the clues the author left.
The only thing I found disappointing was how quickly the pace of the story was. We begin the story with Kate not even having a finished cider shop to her having an open cider shop at the end of the story. The timeline felt really rushed and rather unrealistic. Renovating and getting things delivered takes a lot more time than that. I also wish that we would get more of a glimpse of Kate's cider process. The concept really intrigues me, and I hope that we get to go more in-depth into the cider process and Kate running her own business and orchard in future books!

In Deadly to the Core, Kate returns, after a devastating loss, to her newly inherited family orchard. She intends to live there and open a Cider Barn. But she’s not the only one interested in the property, and with the help of friends, she needs to find out what’s going on.

I found this to be a promising start to a new series. I liked Kate and her friends, and it will be interesting to see how things develop. Happy to give this a solid four stars and will look for the next installment.

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

This is the start of a new series for Joyce Tremel. It resembles a cozy fall read with a mystery at the Apple orchard.

I was enticed by the cover of the novel & the fall mystery. I love apple picking in real life, making me absolutely want to read this. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, however, it just didn’t give me that exciting feeling.

There was nothing specific wrong, just not my favourite.

I will say that I’m giving this an extra star for the soul purpose that Joyce went the extra mile and added recipes to the back of the book. Not every other adds something special to their book and I feel this does deserve some extra stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of DEADLY TO THE CORE (Book 1 of the Cider House Mysteries) by Joyce Tremel in exchange for an honest review. Kate is in the process of recovering from the terrible car crash that killed her husband. When Kate inherits an orchard from her Great Uncle Stan, she’s glad of the opportunity for change. Kate knows she’s lucky because her uncle’s orchard manager, Carl, plans to stick around and is enthusiastic about her plans to open a cider house. Kate’s luck seems to run out, though, when Carl is murdered and his death stalls her plans for the orchard. A dive into Carl’s background and financials leaves Kate with more questions than answers. Meanwhile, her uncle’s attorney keeps insisting to Kate that the orchard was struggling financially and pressuring Kate to sell the property to a mystery buyer. As it turns out, many of Kate’s neighbors have also received offers from a mysterious party. Who killed Carl and what’s up with the real estate grab?

I liked this book and thought it was a solid start to a new series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring fresh starts, tragedy, farms, small businesses, and real estate shenanigans.

#DeadlytotheCore #NetGalley

A nice, cosy read with tons of Autumnal vibes to get into the season's spirit. It's a debut, so the series will surely develop overtime and characters will change, but unfortunately, this one failed to catch my attention, and I do need to feel engaged enough to commit to read the following installments.

When you’re new to an area, even if you used to visit regularly, getting to know your neighbours can take a while. If, during that process, you discover the body of one of the few people you've interacted with, learning who to trust can be tricky. Kate Mulligan has had a traumatic year. After losing her husband, Brian, in a car accident in which she was seriously injured, she discovered her Uncle Stan had also passed leaving her his fruit orchard so she has relocated to the small town of Orchardville.

Having run a cidery in Pittsburgh, Kate is eager to set up her own similar business, but everything changes as the investigation gathers speed. Having reluctantly accepted the help of one of her new neighbours Kate begins preparing her new cidery alongside questioning those who knew the victim and persuading her lawyer she has no intention of selling up. Then, just as a solution seems to be getting closer, another body is found along with devastating information which could change everything. The cidery is Kate's dream but could it instead become her worst nightmare?

Joyce Tremel's new series is sympathetically written with a main protagonist who is instantly likeable and a small town it is easy to picture. The author mentions her own cider making in the acknowledgements but this is also apparent in the seemingly effortless but informative way the business side of the story is written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which also includes yummy sounding recipes at the end and I will definitely be on the lookout for the second installment in what promises to be a great new series to get hooked on.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an easy book to recommend.

I loved this book! It is set during spring time but definitely works as a fall read with the apple orchard/cidery vibes.
It was the perfect cozy mystery. There was a part in the book that fell a bit flat for me which is why it wasn’t a 5 star read for me. The ending was a bit of a surprise, which I wasn’t expecting and I love when that happens.

I recommend it for anyone looking for a spring or autumn read because it definitely meets the vibe and to anyone looking for a great, light and cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for the copy of this eARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! In fact, once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

“Deadly to the Core” by Joyce Tremel in the nicely done first book in the Cider House cozy mystery series. This book introduces readers to Kate Mulligan who is still dealing with the tragic death of her husband in a car accident when she inherits her uncle’s fruit orchard. I like Kate as a main character – it is a delicate balance to write about a character who is not only dealing with physical pain but the emotional pain of losing her husband but Tremel pulls it off nicely, with Kate mourning but moving on with her life. The inheritance of the fruit orchard not only gives Kate a chance to begin a new life but offers small glimpses into her background. The rest of the characters are well done, including the murder victim whom we get to know a little before the murder. Speaking of the murder, the mystery is very well done, with just the right amount of suspects and red herrings – there were some things I figured out before Kate but was totally surprised by other events. All in all a well done first book in what looks to be an enjoyable cozy mystery series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Deadly to the Core is the debut of the A Cider House Mystery series set in Orchardville, Pennsylvania and featuring Kate Driscoll Mulligan. Kate lost her husband, Brian a year ago in an auto accident that has left her broken physically and mentally and now has inherited her Great Uncle Stan's farm and apple orchard.

Having managed a cidery in the past, Kate is looking forward to opening her own cider house in an old barn on the property with the help of Carl Randolph, her uncle's orchard manager. Things seem a little off though, when her uncle's attorney claims the orchard is losing money and there is an offer for the property, but Carl claims the orchard was one of the few in the area turning a profit.

Kate stumbles upon the dead body of Carl and questions begin to surface about the mysterious man. It seems that he appeared at Stan's several years ago but shared very little about himself with Stan or the locals. The only person that does seem to know anything about him is Kate's neighbor, Daniel Martinez.

With the help of Daniel and her friends Marguerite and Noah, Kate sets out to catch a killer and find out what's really going on in Orchardville. A quick afternoon read with interesting characters, a furry feline, the hint of romance and some delicious cider and food recipes.

I received a copy of Deadly to the Core from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Katie tries to mend her heart and lifeline by moving back home and continuing the cider business and the orchard left to her. She discovers the people working there having a little to much distaste for her willynillying back into the farm, and trying to take over. There's an absolute cutest of a cat called apple blossom and sadly the cats owner is found murdered on the premises. Katie digs into her uncles past and the man he hired having weird deposits and shady identity.
Absolutely loved it and the vibe just fits to the crafty title , cover, content and just an all around delight to gorge on.

This was a fun cozy book. Kinda slow for me. But overall it was well written and good. I would recommend it

Kate, recently widowed, has just inherited an apple orchard from her Uncle Stan and is ready for a new start. She is moving back to the small town she often visited as a child and is going to open a cidery. Everything is moving along well until she finds a body. There is also a mysterious corporation trying to buy out the farms in the area, including Katie’s.
This is a good cozy mystery, full of good friends, warmth, and a touch of romance.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Boos for the ARC.

I enjoyed this fall cozy mystery . i"m a sucker for a good cozy that gives me that autumn vibes. I love all things fall.

Deadly to the Core is definitely a must-read!


After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do with it: open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of this murder.

Deadly To The Core is the first book in series and the perfect start to a engaging fun cozy series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

Kate is a widow recovering from her husbands death in a car crash. She finds out she inherited a apple orchard and land in a small town outside Gettysburg Pennsylvania . She immediatly leaves to start her new life and begin plans to make cider and open a cider house on the property. She runs into opposition right away and finds out a mysterious entity wants to force her to sell. .She is not selling and stands firm amid troubles to start her business.

The property and orchard is presented to the reader as so idyllic and a place we all want to live. Kate has a rough start to her business when a murder then occurs and she feels she must help to solve the murder to save her business and her reputation. She is a savvy smart independent woman who has good instincts and I cannot wait for the next in series. The author writes her as hard working, intelligent and ready to create her successful new business. The sleuth was well crafted and kept me guessing to conclusion.

I loved the description of the orchard, the business and the local village. This has all the charms that we cozy readers enjoy. The supporting charcters all add to the fun and the author did a wonderful job of building each character for the reader. A excellent cozy that I hope will be a long running series . Well done to the author.

Deadly to the Core is the first book in a new cozy mystery series set against the backdrop of an orchard and a new hard cider business. Kate Mulligan is almost fully recovered from an automobile accident that killed her husband and severely injured her. Her great uncle left her his orchard near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where she remembers good times before her mother became estranged from her grandmother. Now Kate is determined to make her dream come true of starting a cidery. Then she finds her great uncle’s trusted orchard manager dead and someone is pushing to buy up the local land. Kate is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery even as the danger seems to amp up. Making new friends and launching a new business, Kate solves a murder a sets down new roots in her apple orchard in a promising new cozy series that is an unpredictable whodunnit full of interesting characters. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.