Fatal Frost is the second novel in the popular Dewberry Farm by bestselling author, Karen MacInerney, which finds Lucy picking up some goats from her friend, Peter’s farm when they discover a fire and when they investigate, discover the body of a waitress from Lucy’s best friend Quinn’s restaurant. Someone has been digging up Lucy’s farm, and things are going on in Buttercup, Texas. Lucy, who is an amateur sleuth, investigates.

The characters are well developed, and Lucy, who is the protagonist, is likeable and seems very real. The sub-characters are also good and their interactions ring true. Things in the small town are typical, and, since the town seems charming, it is a good setting for a story.

MacInerney is an excellent storyteller and has a knack for keeping readers interested, as she slowly builds suspense and adds scenarios that keep those readers on the edge. There are ups and downs, and surprises. One of the best things is that this is a culinary mystery, so there are dozens of food references that will make readers want to create the dishes. It’s nice that there are good recipes included, and they are mouthwatering and easy to make.

This is a fun series, and a good cozy, which means it doesn’t include blatant violence, sex, or profanity; it is perfect for all ages. Fans will want to read the entire series.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Fabulous cosy mystery. Great book and I look forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend to others!

Fun, fast-paced mystery in a charming setting.

What could be worse than arson, your boyfriend's ex coming for an (extended) visit, and a yard full of treasure hunters? Your parents dropping by for the holidays with no warning!

Christmas in the adorable town of Buttercup, Texas is filled with humor, murder, and mayhem. When Lucy Resnick expands Dewberry Farm by adding two mischievous goats to her operation, she might have bitten off more than she can handle. Then her best friend is arrested for murder, and Lucy takes matters into her own hands, investigating a trail of danger to save her friend and reveal the real killer.

Fatal Frost, the sequel to the hilarious Killer Jam, does not disappoint. The residents of Buttercup are fun to visit with and the action never stops. I couldn't put Fatal Frost down!

Overall I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. This is the second book in the series. Lucy and the Town of Buttercup, Texas are celebrating Christmas. Lucy is woken in the middle of the night by someone digging for treasure on her property. The next day when picking up her goats they smell smoke and discover a house on fire and a dead body in the house. When her friend is arrested for the murder she sets out to solve the crime. I like the characters and the small town setting. I do not like it when the police are portrayed as stupid and need the amateur sleuth to solve the crime. The mystery was good and there were enough suspects to keep it interesting. There are a few surprises. The visit from Lucy's parents was a nice distraction. Enjoy this Holiday Cozy

Lucy Resnick is an ex-investigative reporter who moved to her late grandmother's farm in Buttercup, Texas. She's struggling to make ends meet, and doesn't know if her truck will make it through the winter. But she's doing her best, and determined to make something of her farm. While in bed one night, her poodle Chuck starts barking and won't stop. Lucy hears noises outside, and goes to investigate, armed only with a hoe. But she trips and is hit over the head, awaking two hours later.

The next morning, she goes to pick up two goats from her friend Peter, and while there, they see smoke in the distance. When they go to see what's happening, a home is on fire. Peter, a volunteer fireman, tells Lucy to call 911 -- and runs inside to see if anyone is home. He comes out with a young woman, and then once again with a black puppy. The woman is Krystal, a waitress for her friend Quinn, and it appears she was dead when the fire started.

When people are questioned about who wanted Krystal dead, the first person thought of is Lucy's friend Molly, who had an argument with her about Molly's daughter Brittney. Now Molly is in jail for murder, Lucy's trying to keep her goats penned, her parents have come for Christmas, and she finds out her boyfriend, local veterinarian Tobias's ex-wife Mindy is in town. Not an auspicious start for a memorable Christmas, but if she doesn't find the real killer, Molly isn't going to be celebrating it at all...

I read the first in this series and really enjoyed it. But with the beginning of this book, I wasn't sure how the rest of the book would go. It seems there are times when Lucy is Too Stupid to Live. She hears someone outside, doesn't own a gun (stupid of her living in Texas and in the country, to boot), and decides to investigate - in the dark - armed only with a hoe. Then she trips and gets hit over the head, knocking her out. Did I mention she was wearing only pajamas and a robe? In winter? And was out for two hours? When she wakes, she's not even cold. My family's from Texas, and it gets chilly in the middle of the night there, though not frigid. Then, she doesn't even call the sheriff because she 'knows he won't do anything.' Say what? I don't care if he hates her. She was knocked out on her own land. The sheriff needs to investigate.

Why is this man sheriff anyway? He doesn't know his job, and when he arrests someone, it's for his convenience, not because they're guilty. Why isn't anyone running against him? Why isn't he removed from his position? I rarely hate the 'evil nemesis' enough to want to see them done in, but I sure hope in the next book he's the victim; having someone this detestable and worthless in the book just nearly ruins it.

Now that I'm done with my rant - for the rest of the book, I thought the mystery was fine, and there were a few red herrings strewn about, which is always a nice thing. While it didn't seem that Krystal had done anything to get herself murdered, the fact is that she was, and Lucy is trying to figure out who not only killed her, but committed arson to hide the crime. Obviously, the horrible sheriff isn't going to do anything and would rather send an innocent woman to prison, but at least Lucy has help from her friend Quinn, who has a few ideas of her own.

I do like Lucy's parents, and would hope to see more of them in future books. Her dad indulges her, and her mom's a softy, although she doesn't want anyone to know that. Lucy's lucky to have them. While there aren't a lot of descriptions of the farm nor the surrounding countryside, we may forgive that because there was plenty of action in this story, with everything occurring at the same time.

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, it's a bit of a surprise, but there are clues leading up to it, though as I mentioned before, the red herrings move things in other directions. When everything is said and done, aside from Sheriff Do-Nothing, the book was very good and I will read the next in the series. Recommended.

This is a good solid mystery. It has lots of action and I definitely enjoyed all the twists and turns.

This is the second book in the Dewberry Farm Mystery series and although not as good as the first one, was still an interesting and amusing read. This book had many subplots that did not necessarily have to do with the murder in the story, but did tie together at the end. A new-fangled church, someone digging on property by Dewberry Creek, a 17 year old that leaves home to elope, poison pen letters, the Christmas Market as well as two murders.

Once again we find Lucy struggling to make a go of Dewberry Farms. When she finds out that someone is digging up her land near the creek, she investigates and gets hit on the head with a shovel. Her Dewberry patch has been dug up and two of her peach trees upended as well as her truck is giving out. She is continuing her relationship with the local vet, but his ex-wife is in town. When the waitress, Krystal, from her best friend's cafe is found murdered, Rooster Kocurek, the incompetent sheriff arrests her friend Molly. Molly's daughter runs off with the son of the new pastor of the upstart church and she is frantic. Wanda and Ethel, two crusty women that belong to the new church seem to have it out for Molly and Lucy. When Lucy receives a poison pen letter about her relationship, she finds out that a lot of others have as well. Of course Lucy can't let Molly remain in jail so she sets off to investigate.

I like Karen MacInerney's writing style and read this book very quickly. She added some humour to the mystery along with a hint of a romance. The return to town of the ex-wife had Lucy on her heals, but it all turns out. Bringing in the delightful setting makes for a very well rounded story. It also has recipes at the end of the book that look yummy. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy Cozy Mysteries, especially if you love the food and the chance to make it at home.