February 1, 2016
This pleasant first in a new cozy series from Tyson (Deadly Assets) introduces former-lawyer-turned-organic-farmer Megan Sawyer, who has returned to her hometown of Winsome, Pa., to run the family farm, Washington Acres. Megan is baffled by the refusal of zoning commissioner Simon Duvall to grant the permits she needs to finish the renovations for her long-planned organic cafe, but before Megan can challenge him, she and local veterinarian Daniel “Denver” Finn find Simon’s bludgeoned body in her barn. Her years as a lawyer have given Megan the skills to do her own digging, and she discovers that she’s not the only one in town with a painful past and long-buried family secrets. Tyson gives us an evocative sense of place, a bit of romance, and dimensional characters with interesting backstories. Readers are left looking forward to the next book in the series and hankering for organic mushroom tartlets.
March 1, 2016
Megan Sawyer left Chicago and her legal career to help her grandmother run the family farm and cafe in Winsome, PA. Washington Acres dates back to colonial times, and rumor has it that George Washington slept there. Simon Duvall, the local zoning commissioner, is determined to bring the farm under the aegis of the historical society and stands in Maggie's way at every step. When she and local veterinarian Daniel "Denver" Flinn find Duvall's body in her barn, Megan must take action to protect her grandmother and the farm. VERDICT The author of the "Allison Campbell" mysteries (Killer Image) switches gears with this charming and entertaining cozy series debut that joins the ranks of such farm-related mysteries as Meera Lester's A Beeline to Murder. Megan is a spunky heroine who loves her family and wants to succeed. Readers of animal-centric cozies will flock to this.
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