You guys know I love a good cozy mystery! This one was good but it won’t be on my favorites list for this genre.

In true cozy mystery fashion, this book had a great small town setting. The apple cider house was the perfect location for this book, and it really got me in the autumn spirit. I liked how this was a fairly short book — it was straight to the point and did not take an unnecessary amount of twists and turns. The only caveat of this is that I felt that the ending was a bit abrupt, to the point that when I flipped the last page on my kindle, I thought there was going to be at least another chapter or two.

On the down side, I did not feel a connection to any of the characters. Not that any of them were necessarily unlikable, they just didn’t stick out to me.

I liked this book for the cozy vibes, but I’m not 100% certain that I would read a sequel to this book if I were to find out that it is the first book of a series (as I know a lot of cozy mysteries are).

When Kate Mulligan inherits her great uncles fruit orchard she quickly realizes that apples aren’t the only thing that can have rotten cores. After having lost her husband in a terrible car crash Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. While she has recovered physically she worries her spirit never will. When she inherited the orchard from her uncle she knew she wanted to open a cider house. But then when she discovers the body of the orchard manager Carl Randolph she has to figure out who is at the core of his murder. Not everyone is quick to buy what she is selling Uncle Stan’s lawyer Robert Larabee paints a less rosey financial outlook of the orchards past present and future. Too many hidden secrets come to the surface somebody wants to buy all the neighboring land some are being blackmailed. Will Kate be able to figure things out before someone else gets hurt and make her dream of a cider house happen. This was a very enjoyable story great characters and story line.

New to me Author Joyce Tremel did not disappoint this Cozy Mystery reader. The book has a slow pace in the beginning but as the story moves forward I found that chapters ended leaving me eager to read the next one. The murder didn’t happen till a few chapters into the book giving readers a chance to become acquainted with the many characters. I was drawn into the story and kept there till the last page. I loved the way the slueth went about following her clues working along with the local sheriff to solve the murder and discover whodunit. Readers will haft to wait till close to the end before the right killer is bought to justice. I will be reading more cozies by this Author!

Main character Katie Mulligan is surprised to learn that she has inherited her Uncle Stan’s house and his orchard business . She packs up and moves to Orchardville Pennsylvania and sets a goal to open a cider barn. The community welcomes her and supports her goals and decisions. Not everyone supports Katie however and it isn’t long before someone is murdered on her property. Would this have anything to do with an unknown rich investor who is intent on buying her orchard ? Money seems to be the least of his concerns? Katie wants to get answers to who killed her orchard manager and why .

I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mystery thrillers and fans of the author. I read the book as a standalone. This book is scheduled to be released on 1/16/24.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are entirely my own.

#DeadlytotheCore #NetGalley

What a fun new cozy series! I.will definitely read more in the series. The charcters were enjoyable and the mystery kept my interest. Can't wait for the next one in this series.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a decent cozy mystery. The characters were solid. I look forward to the next in the series.

Deadly To The Core
Joyce Tremel
3.5 stars

Deadly To The Core is the first in a new series as well as a new author to me! I was immediately drawn into the story of the cider house and the mystery of Carl's death. As I started reading, I was very skeptical about the very overused trope of a dead relative leaving land/house to an heir they barely know and the ex-cop sidekick. Daniel, the ex-cop is at least very competent. It seems all cozy mysteries have either a competent ex-cop or a bumbling fool of a cop who is the main investigator. Those type of characters get very tiring, yet the ones Tremel has employed are well written.

I enjoyed the characters and the setting, I do wish she had fleshed out the mine and old maps' storyline out more, as it is a very interesting premise for the mystery. I do feel like a few things were rushed in the ending, and it all wrapped up a tad too quickly.
I look forward to book 2 of this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

Loved, loved, loved this! Really enjoyed the plot, the characters and the writing style. Can't wait to read more. Recipes at the back of the book is always a plus!

Kate Mulligan has been through a lot of loss in the last year, first a tragic accident that took the life of her husband and put her in the ICU for months, then her uncle passed away, leaving her the family farm. In her previous life she lived in the big city and ran a cidery so the orchards on the farm are perfect for the cidery she wants to open on her own.

Things take a turn quickly as her orchard manager turns up bludgeoned to death with Kate's cane. She immediately becomes a suspect but is quickly cleared. Even when she's out of the spotlight, Kate can't stop until she finds out who killed Carl. She gets sidetracked by a suspicious Civil War reenactor and mysterious offers to buy her farm. Unfortunately the person who's in the best position to give her information is her lawyer, Robert Larrabee, but he goes missing and doesn't return her phone calls.

There's a LOT going on in this book. There's a murder at the orchard, her lawyer goes missing, and there are several people in Orchardville who are obviously hiding something. Kate has her hands full trying to get the red barn ready to open her cidery, but she makes time to hang out with old childhood friends and investigate the strange things that are happening in town. There's also a handsome single neighbor who's been awfully helpful around the farm.

I really enjoyed this series debut. I look forward to reading future books as Kate gets settled in at the farm, gets to know Daniel better, and the cidery gets up and running.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!

Still reeling from the death of her husband, the chance to start over with the inheritance of the families fruit orchard seems ideal! However, mysterious offers to buy her property and a murder test anyone's resolve

I enjoyed this book. I liked that there was actual Investigating going on throughout the story. It felt like the story was developing as you read. I was expecting that the threat to Kate would come sooner or that something happens to the cidery. I was definitely surprised by who the bad guy is, I had no clue. I’m glad to see a romance developing. #DeadlytotheCore #NetGalley

Deadly to the Core is the first in a new series by Joyce Tremel. Having previously managed a cidery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kate Driscoll Mulligan has an opportunity from an inheritance to make a dream come true. Excitement is tempered to open a cider house as it was a dream by both husband and wife, Brian and Kate. A devastating auto accident took Brian's life, and Kate has endured a long recovery. Will she be able to handle it?

I just love books when it feels like you’re there in the story! It felt like I knew the characters and I gotta say this will not be my last book from this author! Definitely going to add to my list of favorites.

Thank you Netgalley, Joyce Tremel and Crooked lane Books for allowing me the opportunity to read this amazing ARC due to be published January 16 2024.

Thirty five year old Kate has lost her husband and lost her spirit but has inherited an orchard. This is a new beginning for her but what will happen when she finds the body of the orchard manager and must find out who killed him.

A great story that has some good characters a good plot and is easy to read. ate is a great character for this story and she brings strength to the story and is very likeable. The other characters are good too and the setting gives it realness.

An enjoyable and easy read and one that will continue in the next book in the series I hope. Looking forward to it.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks netgallery for this ARC. I enjoyed this cozy mystery. The main characters were all very enjoyable with individual stories and personalities. The community of orchidville was quaint and somewhere you would want to live. The storyline moved at a great pace and had some great moments. Definitely recommend anyone who loves a cozy mystery to read this one. Very enjoyable.

I think I have to admit that the cozy mystery genre is just not for me - I keep trying it as I'm a massive fan of mystery, crime, thriller, whodunits, etc. but, like most books in the cozy mystery genre, this one is unfortunately predictable, formulaic, and forgettable.

🍎Book Review🍎
Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel
Publication Date: 01/16/2024
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kate Mulligan inherits her Great-Uncle Stan’s orchard, intending to startup her dream cider house she and her late husband had planned for the future. However, her orchard manager Carl Randolph is found murdered in his on-property cabin, and Kate realizes even this sleepy town is hiding bad apples.

The pacing is good, and most of the characters are relatable. Once the actual murder occurs, the book picks up and flows great. Definitely would recommend others give this first-in-a-new-series a try.

Thank you to @Crooked Lane Books, Joyce Tremel, and @NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#DeadlytotheCore #CiderHouseMystery #NetGalley #cozymystery #CrookedLaneBooks #ARCRead #joycetremel #bookstagram #bookreview

This was nice. A new series, with a bunch of comforting characters and made me look forward to seeing them ahead in the series.

The female character was good and well written but some of her decisions made me go “really?”.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This is an enjoyable cozy with a likeable main character, Kate. It uses the common trope of someone inheriting a property/business and then coming to town to take it over and stay. Kate's relatable and has lots of common sense, and of course there's a reconnection with an old best friend and a new connection to a possible future love interest. While these elements are pretty predictable, the plot and resolution of the actual murders is well done and holds my interest. It does seem quite unbelievable that Kate comes to town and has the cidery refurbished and open for business so quickly. Every single element of that goes so smoothly. I know cozies aren't known for their realism, but that--even more than the use of genre tropes--made it feel unrealistic! Still, a fun and satisfying read.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book that I have read by Joyce St Anthony and it certainly will not be the last one. Once I picked this book up I just could not put it down.

Loved how Kate was determined to solve the murder that let nothing stand in her way.

Daniel thought he was going to keep his past a secret from her but that doesn't work out that well for him.

I can't wait to read more books by her and I think you will like this one too.

A good mystery with interesting characters and several twists along the way. Would recommend

Thank you to Joyce Tremel, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc of this book