Member Reviews
Enjoyed this one very much, another great cozy mystery from author Peg Cochran. Never disappoints, highly recommend
This story takes place in the Cranberry Bogs of Sassamanash Farms. I have never read a book in this type of setting. It was interesting to read about the process while try to figure out the true murderer. Monica's half-brother is getting married at the Farm. At the end of the reception, one of the guests is found murdered in a port-a-potty. Luckily the newlyweds have already departed. Unluckily, the murder victim is the new wife of one of Monica's employees. As Monica digs deeper, she finds that the woman if very wealthy and her employee becomes a prime suspect. Monica does not believe he killed his wife, and the woman had lots of enemies. She married older, sick and very rich men. She then inherited their money. Were the wills real? Were the men coerced or bamboozled into cutting off their own children? Monica wants to solve this quickly, not only to save her employee but to save their business as well.
This was an easy-to-read story. I have not read all the books in this series, but it was pretty easy to understand who the characters were and how they fit into the "family". The story had several twists. Very fun.
This is the 9th book in the series and it starts out with Monica‘s half-brother Jeff getting married at the Sassamanash cranberry farm. Everything starts out joyous and thankfully the happy couple is on their way to their honeymoon before the body is found by our sleuth. Monica had only just met Jolie Spencer when her talented baker/employee Mick introduced her as his wife…Monica didn’t even know he was dating. Guess who ends up at the top of the suspect list when Jolie turns up dead? As usual, our sleuth feels compelled to look into things because she just can’t imagine Mick killing anyone. Mick hasn’t exactly been 100% truthful with Monica but a being a killer is not one of the things he is hiding. It turns out that Jolie is a recent widow who had a rather well off and much older husband, whom she had met while working as his health aide while he was terribly sick. He died not long after they were married leaving behind Jolie and his two adult daughters. One can imagine what the adult daughters think about their now rich stepmom. Thus the plot thickens like a nice soup you might find at the Pepper Pot, and excellent restaurant who Monica often goes for dinner with husband or lunch with a friend. Another possible suspect is Jolie’s daughter who is not as well off as Jolie, in fact she is struggling financially and works at a seedy bar to make ends meet. Monica having recently become a mom herself, does a pretty good job of balancing “new mom” responsibilities with hunting down clues. She even takes time to get in a little exercising with Jeff’s mom, Gina. The visits to the fitness facility lead Monica down an entirely different rabbit hole...and perhaps another suspect as well. The story has you guessing and second guessing with well laid clues and tricky red herrings. In addition to an engaging and entertaining mystery you also have a great seasonal bread recipe using fresh cranberries, bananas, and walnuts waiting for you at the conclusion of the story.
This berry could have been sweeter, but no matter it was intriguing. Monica was a pushover and allowed everyone to direct her path. She had an inquisitive mind and an even more curious appetite for eavesdropping, which was ideal for an amateur sleuth. Although this book wasn’t as exciting as I would have liked, it was okay.
Monica's half-brother is getting married at Sassamanash Farms and the cranberry bogs have never looked better. The wedding was beautiful and all was going well until a guest was found dead during the reception. Monica becomes upset when one of her employees becomes the main suspect. She decides to look into things and soon discovers quite a bit about the victim. She received most of her fortune from marrying a wealthy man, one who was not only older but ill. The mans children hated her and felt they should have inherited his money. Monica begins to wonder if greed was the only motive and wants to figure out what she is missing. Follow along to see if she can keep her employee out of jail and nab the real killer.
New mom Monica is delighted when her brother gets married. The wedding is perfect until the portable potties are removed and the body of one of the guests tumbles out. Not a nice way to end the festivities. Monica’s insatiable curiosity is already in gear when the woman’s daughter begs Monica to help her. With newborn baby duties, making sure her business does not falter while she is on maternity leave and her own step mother’s penchant for dragging her off to all sorts of things, one might surmise Monica would not have time to investigate but she still manages to uncover clues that point her and the reader to the villain. But things may not be quite as the reader and Monica might expect. There is a lovely twist that allowed me to be right and wrong at the same time. Well done. It does make me chuckle when an author can do that.
This is an enjoyable series and the current book could be read as a standalone but it will be a richer experience if you have the entire backstory. Four purrs and two paws up.
I didn't realize that this was the final book in a series when I picked this one up. However, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. This book was just ok for me. One thing in the book that I didn't care for was the mystical/new age topics. I did enjoy the setting and the way the story ended. I had figured out whodunit by the middle of the book, but still felt like it resolved itself well. It was fun to have a cranberry bread recipe at the end too.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary copy. This is my honest review.
Wonderful edition to Cranberry Cove! A very interesting mystery with a great ending. As always wonderful characters and setting. A must read for all cozy fans!
Monica should be celebrating the most joyous time with her brothers wedding however things turn drastically grim when a body is found after a body is found at the reception. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse one of her own employees becomes a suspect in the murder. Now Monica can’t help but to dive in headfirst and figure out what what’s really going on. She soon finds herself with a crazy task of trying to balance marriage, motherhood, while trying to figure out who is a killer.
This is my first Peg Cochran read and definitely will not be my last. I know this series as well established, but I was able to catch on quick even jumping in at the ninth book. Monica is one of those people that people feel safe to be able to spell everything and then some to her. The setting is absolutely gorgeous and I love the cast of characters. I very much enjoyed the twofold mystery that we got within the story. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.
I am slowly making my way thru this series but when this popped up on Netgalley I had to jump at it. Once again, this story takes us back to Cranberry Cove which immediately made me think fall. The town sounds picturesque and I really want to visit. Also I have never seem a cranberry bog since I live in soybean and corn country. It feels good to read another book in the Cranberry Cove Mystery series. It feels very comforting.
The mystery is well-constructed with a satisfying ending. It did not take long for the body to appear, at the end of the first chapter. I appreciated the mystery on top of a mystery angle as well. I love it when I have to go through twists and turns to figure things out. It just makes it that much more fun. I enjoyed everything about this book, and I recommend it, even if you haven't read the other books yet.
This was my first Peg Cochran book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The idea of murder happening around a cranberry farm in Michigan is really what caught my attention. This is definitely not something you see or read about every day, so I was intrigued. Being as how this is the most current book, I knew it would be a little more trouble catching up on everything and everyone. However, it wasn't as bad as I thought. It only took me a few chapters to figure out who everyone was.
I really enjoyed the world building, being able to imagine myself sitting around a massive cranberry bog enjoying the sunshine and the view. I especially liked the idea of a farm store where they turn the yummy cranberries into delicious baked goods sold to visitors and local stores alike. A very neat idea.
Monica is a great character, and I liked the dynamic on new motherhood but also trying to take care of her family, the farm store, and the family farm accounts. I also liked that she left most of the snooping to the police but helped where she could. Yes, you cannot always bypass danger, but a lot of it just kind of fell into her lap. No one asks for bodies to just fall at your feet or that you find blood in erstwhile places where it should not be.
She is very caring, and her maternal side really came through, especially how she had compassion for the victim's daughter, even though most wouldn't have had. But her just having had a new baby, a lot of those hormones and emotions make you see things and people a different way. I appreciated being able to see her character in that light. It all just added together to make the book even more interesting.
I appreciated the mystery on top of a mystery angle as well. I love it when I have to go through twists and turns to figure things out. It just makes it that much more fun. I enjoyed everything about this book, and I recommend it, even if you haven't read the other books yet. The only thing that I could complain about at all was perhaps too many characters in the story all at once. I understand it was at a wedding so there will be naturally more characters but that part, was a little confusing. I still figured everyone out, I am just expressing this thought for the future. That's all.
Thanks to Net Galley, the publisher, and to Peg Cochran for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are honest and are completely my own.
“A Berry Suspicious Death”, the ninth book in Peg Cochran’s Cranberry Cove cozy mystery series starts out nicely with a murdered body found in an outhouse at a wedding. Amateur sleuth Monica has plenty of reasons to investigate the murder since it took place at her half-brother’s wedding. However, I found the book didn’t quite live up to the promising opening. Monica doesn’t so much as investigate the murder as she does stumble across clues – no matter where she goes (even the bathroom!) she either overhears conversations that offer clues or initiates conversations where perfect strangers offer her helpful clues. A little of this went a long way and by the end I was rolling my eyes every time she was given a clue (and thinking with her kind of luck she should play the lottery). There are a few mysteries in the book and while most are wrapped up by the end of the book although one was frustratingly not. Perhaps Cochran plans on addressing it in future books in the series but it felt forgotten to me.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
A Berry Suspicious Death by Peg Cochran is the ninth A Cranberry Cove Mystery. It is nice to return to Cranberry Cove and Sassamanash Farm. I enjoyed the description of the cranberry bog filled with the different colored cranberries ready to be harvested. The murder begins at the end of the first chapter (a wee bit early). I found the mystery to be formulaic. Monica, sometimes with and sometimes without the baby, asks questions and searches for clues. A reason is found for Monica to be at certain places where she gathers helpful information or evidence (right place at the right time). The solution to the whodunit was obvious and it did not take long to figure out why. I did find one aspect of the mystery to be unique and amusing. Greg was not prominent in this story. He was helpful in taking care of Teddy and as a listening ear. I feel bad for Greg’s bookstore employee. She has a crush on Greg, and the couple use this to their advantage when they need a babysitter. I did feel that Gina was too much (I do not know why Monica does not put her foot down and tell her no) at times. A Berry Suspicious Death is a nice story, but it is different from earlier books in the series (lacking joie de vivre). This story can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. A Berry Suspicious Death transports readers to Cranberry Cove for a sweet wedding, a bouncing baby, nanny interviews, a slain spouse, fitness fun, and tempting cranberry treats.
A new setting for me, they raise cranberries. Likable characters. Fun mystery at mc step brother wedding. when body shows up. Many colorful characters who could have committed the murder
This is the ninth book in the Cranberry Cove Mystery series. The writing was great. It’s too bad that people can’t take responsibility for themselves and their actions. Learn to work and make your own way in life.
I have notes to this book that say “Cry me a river! For Pete’s sake do what you can legally to get the life you want to lead.” Expecting others to give you everything is just unfathomable to me.
I am glad that we kept babies and pets safe in the book. I would expect nothing less in a cozy mystery. The mystery was well plotted with enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages.
I was given an advanced copy and am not required to leave a positive review. I would rate it 3.5 but since the rating system is whole numbers, I’ll be rounding up.
During her half-brother's wedding Monica finds out about another marriage that seems sort of suspicious. However, she really was too busy to think much about it until a body is found in an unusual place.
A Berry Suspicious Death is another enjoyable installment in the Cranberry Cove Mystery series. It has a nice balance of family, friends and mystery.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!
I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and loved this well plotted and entertaining cozy mystery.
Well plotted, it kept me reading and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is the 9th. book in the Cranberry Cove Mysteries.
Death by porta-potty? The porta potty happens to be an important element in this book, and it is all revealed at the end.
I liked the fun plot, and the characters, well…most of them. This is a typical cozy in that there are so many characters, and you are led to believe one of the characters is the guilty one, but then things change and you believe that another is the murderer.
One important fact that is explained in this book is how to alert a policeman when you are in danger without saying a word. I like to learn from books in addition to getting involved in a mystery.
I give this book 4 stars because of the fact that since Monica just had a baby, obviously she had to feed it. In my opinion, there was too much written about feeding times. I felt this was overdone, and distracting.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it.
Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and Net Galley for making an advance reader’s copy available for me to read and then post a personal review.
A Berry Suspicious Death by Peg Cochran takes us back to Cranberry Cove, Michigan where we join Jeff’s and Lauren’s wedding in progress. All is beautiful until well after the reception, when the bride and groom have left for a short honeymoon and the vendors are tearing down the food and the tent. The port-a-potty guy is there to take those back to his yard when one falls off his cart and a body falls out. Several people rush to her side only to find out it’s too late. What a weird end to a glorious day. Monica was still on maternity leave after birthing adorable Teddy, but that didn’t stop her from investigating. It was all odd. First Mick, her baker, introduces her to his new wife, a woman several decades his elder, and now she is dead. Thankfully Jeff and Lauren missed this part.
Monica did as much research online as she was able, but she also drove into town and asked questions of several people. She also listened when people were talking to others. It was a complicated mystery with many moving parts and they were slow to come together. Then, her prime suspect ends up dead. Meanwhile there was Teddy and the farm shop to occupy her time. Monica is a good character. She is a regular person living her best life in a small town. She is clever and curious, but also loyal and loving. Her marriage to Greg appears to be going well and in her spare time she is packing to move to their new home. Jeff and Lauren will move into her cottage. This are all lovely people that Peg Cochran has written into a community. They are just everyday folks, like the ones the readers all know. It is a fun series and this was a good addition. Thanks Peg Cochran for creating this series!
I was invited to read A Berry Suspicious Death by Beyond The Page Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BeyondThePagePublishing #PegCochran #ABerrySuspiciousDeath