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saranel81's review
3.0
Nice little first in a series. Nothing really fantastically twisty or shocking about the plot (murderer seemed pretty obvious about halfway through), but a good solid mystery that moves at a good pace and comes to a logical conclusion. Likable characters, with lots of potential for further developments as the series progresses. Looking forward to picking up the second in the series.
git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, I liked this first in a new-to-me series. A nifty premise of a computer programmer, Cam, come home to run her uncle's farm that he's given her in Massachusetts. She wants it to be organic and is working hard, even with odds against her. Someone is sabotaging her crops and a former employee is found dead in her barn.
I liked her blossoming relationship with a chef that's off to a bumpy start. I liked seeing how hard she works to keep her farm going, seeing how many different types of crops she grows. I would like to get a mental image of the size of the farm.
There are quite a few characters to keep track of, the volunteers and the militia that is hinted at and will hopefully show up in future books. Some characters are fleshed out and others are mentioned in bits here and there. I had a bit of trouble keeping folks straight, that may have been just me though.
I did like how Cam came to investigate the murder. It felt natural since the suspect is Cam's friend and the police seem to stop looking now that they have someone in custody.
A little rough around the edges, but I do like the main character, the setting and the premise. I love gardening and growing crops and seeing how others accomplish it. I look forward to seeing how Cam and her potential beau get along. And where the militia fits in. I'll be getting the next in the series, TIL DIRT DO US PART.
I recommend this mystery.
I liked her blossoming relationship with a chef that's off to a bumpy start. I liked seeing how hard she works to keep her farm going, seeing how many different types of crops she grows. I would like to get a mental image of the size of the farm.
There are quite a few characters to keep track of, the volunteers and the militia that is hinted at and will hopefully show up in future books. Some characters are fleshed out and others are mentioned in bits here and there. I had a bit of trouble keeping folks straight, that may have been just me though.
I did like how Cam came to investigate the murder. It felt natural since the suspect is Cam's friend and the police seem to stop looking now that they have someone in custody.
A little rough around the edges, but I do like the main character, the setting and the premise. I love gardening and growing crops and seeing how others accomplish it. I look forward to seeing how Cam and her potential beau get along. And where the militia fits in. I'll be getting the next in the series, TIL DIRT DO US PART.
I recommend this mystery.
knightsmoon's review
3.0
Good story
The story was good but there were some jarring transitions that left me momentarily confused if I had somehow skipped pages.
The story was good but there were some jarring transitions that left me momentarily confused if I had somehow skipped pages.
attytheresa's review
3.0
Zipcar is mentioned! First time I've spotted this car time share in my contemporary reading, and of course it's a perfect fit in a locavore farm themed mystery. I enjoyed this, even if culprit a bit obvious, in large part because of quirky characters and location in NE Massachusetts. The possible motives are wrested from today's debates over immigration, organic farming and locavore movements, and ultra-conservative exclusionist movements, adding an interesting layer of subplot. I will definitely read more in the series.
exurbanis's review
3.0
Cameron Flaherty, downsized from her corporate job, has moved from the city to take over her inheritance: her great uncle’s farm in rural Massachusetts. There, she sets up a Community Supported Agriculture project. In this first of a planned series of “local food mysteries”, a killer strikes on Cameron’s property just in time for her customers’ first produce pick-up.
I found the characters typical for a cozy mystery, but the murderer in this story was so obvious that I discarded him as a suspect.
While the mystery was less than stellar, I did very much enjoy the premise of the series: leaving the city, and going back to the land. After all, that’s what Exurbanis is supposed to be about!
Read this if: you’d like a look at how a (albeit idealistic) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is run. 3 stars
I found the characters typical for a cozy mystery, but the murderer in this story was so obvious that I discarded him as a suspect.
While the mystery was less than stellar, I did very much enjoy the premise of the series: leaving the city, and going back to the land. After all, that’s what Exurbanis is supposed to be about!
Read this if: you’d like a look at how a (albeit idealistic) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is run. 3 stars
felynesandfiction's review
1.0
My review is going to sound a little manic - perhaps a lot like this book.
I never like ripping into an author's first publication. It feels dirty to me. But this book left me with more frustration than any book I've read as of late.
The characters are bland and uninteresting, and SO much focus is on what they wear on any given day. I don't care what they wear to volunteer on the farm; unnecessary description isn't what makes a good read.
And the main character herself, Cam - oh sweet Jesus. She's irritating from the beginning. She willingly withholds evidence, "forgets" about it, then gets mad at the cops for their investigation & for interfering with her work? Like sis someone got murdered on your farm, of course life isn't going to go back to normal right after! And it took till what, half way through the book or more for her to go "guess I'll do it MYSELF"?? So arrogant and obnoxious.
And the entire racist farmers plot?? What. It left me with more frustration than answers. Why make an entire organization just to like....hint at it then never do anything with it? Just to prove the killer was racist? That wasn't necessary! Maybe the sequel goes into it more ...but I doubt it and I don't want to find out.
I already traded in my book, but one thing I noticed but never double checked, but it seems as though the foreign woman (who's name I've already forgotten! She's that interesting!) spoke perfectly fine English until it's brought up she is an immigrant - then her English is broken. How tacky.
My friend & I read this as our first book in our mini book club, and while we kind of want to read the second book since this one irritated us so much, I really don't know. It's a light read, it's something to pass the time, but it's more of a love to hate it read then something enjoyable. It's more fun to complain about it afterwards.
I never like ripping into an author's first publication. It feels dirty to me. But this book left me with more frustration than any book I've read as of late.
The characters are bland and uninteresting, and SO much focus is on what they wear on any given day. I don't care what they wear to volunteer on the farm; unnecessary description isn't what makes a good read.
And the main character herself, Cam - oh sweet Jesus. She's irritating from the beginning. She willingly withholds evidence, "forgets" about it, then gets mad at the cops for their investigation & for interfering with her work? Like sis someone got murdered on your farm, of course life isn't going to go back to normal right after! And it took till what, half way through the book or more for her to go "guess I'll do it MYSELF"?? So arrogant and obnoxious.
And the entire racist farmers plot?? What. It left me with more frustration than answers. Why make an entire organization just to like....hint at it then never do anything with it? Just to prove the killer was racist? That wasn't necessary! Maybe the sequel goes into it more ...but I doubt it and I don't want to find out.
I already traded in my book, but one thing I noticed but never double checked, but it seems as though the foreign woman (who's name I've already forgotten! She's that interesting!) spoke perfectly fine English until it's brought up she is an immigrant - then her English is broken. How tacky.
My friend & I read this as our first book in our mini book club, and while we kind of want to read the second book since this one irritated us so much, I really don't know. It's a light read, it's something to pass the time, but it's more of a love to hate it read then something enjoyable. It's more fun to complain about it afterwards.
dollycas's review
5.0
An excellent debut!!
Cam Flaherty is a protagonist that is easy to identify with. She has come back to Westbury to take over the farm where she spent so many summers growing up. Just when her ideas starts to bear fruit a man is murdered.
Maxwell has surrounded Cam with more than a few suspects and friends that keep her strong as she fights to clear her name. These characters are really well fleshed out for the first book in a series. We learn a lot about their backgrounds which always makes the reader invested in their lives and the story. It also makes the book extremely hard to put down.
With issues like a local militia, some residents with immigration problems, and the localore way of eating many Westbury area residents are adapting makes this a very interesting story in addition to a well plotted mystery.
Edith Maxwell has firmly planted a great foundation for what I know is going to be a very tasty series!
Cam Flaherty is a protagonist that is easy to identify with. She has come back to Westbury to take over the farm where she spent so many summers growing up. Just when her ideas starts to bear fruit a man is murdered.
Maxwell has surrounded Cam with more than a few suspects and friends that keep her strong as she fights to clear her name. These characters are really well fleshed out for the first book in a series. We learn a lot about their backgrounds which always makes the reader invested in their lives and the story. It also makes the book extremely hard to put down.
With issues like a local militia, some residents with immigration problems, and the localore way of eating many Westbury area residents are adapting makes this a very interesting story in addition to a well plotted mystery.
Edith Maxwell has firmly planted a great foundation for what I know is going to be a very tasty series!
scarlettletters's review
2.0
Ok this would really be a 2.5, but I rounded down just to make the distinction from other cozies I've read that I rated a 3.
First, the good things:
I liked the general premise here. The main character is a young computer programmer-turned-organic farmer. There are some fun supporting characters and relationships that I could see being fleshed out in subsequent titles. I read this book quickly and enjoyed my time reading it.
The not so good things:
There are a few sort of weird transitions, where time skips a bit and the author basically just tells what the main character did/said during that time. It didn't really feel natural; sometimes I would make sure I hadn't skipped a page. There were also some kind of cartoony/straw man antagonists, and I'm not sure it would have been possible to "solve the case" just from the information in the book. I also feel like if you're going to write a cozy mystery about food, include the recipes! There was some tasty sounding stuff in here that I wish I could make.
I would describe this as a promising debut that was worth the 2 bucks or whatever it was I paid for it.
First, the good things:
I liked the general premise here. The main character is a young computer programmer-turned-organic farmer. There are some fun supporting characters and relationships that I could see being fleshed out in subsequent titles. I read this book quickly and enjoyed my time reading it.
The not so good things:
There are a few sort of weird transitions, where time skips a bit and the author basically just tells what the main character did/said during that time. It didn't really feel natural; sometimes I would make sure I hadn't skipped a page. There were also some kind of cartoony/straw man antagonists, and I'm not sure it would have been possible to "solve the case" just from the information in the book. I also feel like if you're going to write a cozy mystery about food, include the recipes! There was some tasty sounding stuff in here that I wish I could make.
I would describe this as a promising debut that was worth the 2 bucks or whatever it was I paid for it.