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Farmers' Market #3
Crops and Robbers
Bailey's Farmers' Market is all abuzz with the impending visit of the Central South Carolina Restaurant Association. Becca is quite excited, especially since her parents are visiting. But when the president of the Association vetoes Becca's strawberry preserves, she finds herself reeling from the snub. After pulling herself together, Becca heads home, only to find the president's body in her kitchen and her mother with bloody hands. Now, Becca has to use her sleuthing skills to get her mom out of this terrible jam...before she winds up preserving in prison.
286 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 6, 2011
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October 18, 2023
The South Carolina Restaurant Association is coming to Bailey's Market and everyone is excited and on their best behavior. Becca doesn't think her jams and preserves would be one of the top choices but maybe her neighbor, Linda's pies. Everyone except Bo, the onion seller, is eager to be chosen to have their farm fresh produce used in restaurants across the state. Joan, the president of the association, seems fair and making good matches between restaurants and vendors. Joan is even looking for new preserves for her son's cake. But when Joan tastes Becca's strawberry preserves, Joan is less than pleased- she's downright rude! Becca is shocked by the snub! To make matters worse, her parents are back in town and overheard Joan's rejection. Becca tries to shrug it off and when she gets home, she just wants to cuddle Hobbit. The sweet pup is nowhere to be found and her barks lead Becca to the barn, where the door looks like it was broken open, Hobbit is covered in blood and Joan's dead body lies bleeding on the floor. As Becca stumbles out of the barn she runs into her mother, holding a bloody knife! While Detective Sam Brion doesn't believe Becca's mom is a murderer, he has to follow the evidence, putting Mrs. Robins in the slammer! Becca and even Allison are determined to solve the mystery and clear their mom's name before the case goes to trial!
The library mistakenly had this book listed as the second in the series. There are a few spoilers for the actual book 2. That was a bit disappointed. The plot was much better than the first book, less meandering, not as dark and a bit more humor. The murderer was not easy to guess. I didn't think that person was even on the suspect list. I didn't want it to be that person. They seemed nice. The cozy is OK. Becca doesn't actually make any jam or preserves and most of the time she's not even at her stall. This is a fancy market! Becca spends most of her time sleuthing. We get one full scene at the market and some shorter quick pass throughs but no jam making. I did like learning more about Becca's family and how her parents added some levity to the mystery even though her mom was a suspect. I could do without the love triangle and hope Becca figures out what she wants.
Becca manages not to be TSTL in this book. She checks in with Sam and he even takes his free time to look around more just based on his gut feeling. He doesn't tell Becca what to do or not to do and knows she's going to investigate anyway. He would do the same in her shoes. Becca is a caring person when it comes to her family. She's also becoming a more compassionate and involved community member, working with children on a community garden project. Becca is a good dog mom. She leaves Hobbit with a trusted friend who is happy to care for the pup when Becca is out sleuthing. Becca is not such an attentive girlfriend. She is apparently dating Ian, the younger artist, even though I didn't get a spark between them. They don't really have a connection. They're good friends but don't have much time for dating. He's nice enough but I think they're just friends with benefits. Her real connection is with Sam. They've apparently been through a lot together. I like Sam better than Ian. He's a good detective and he's compassionate which is rare in a cozy mystery detective. His ego doesn't drive his investigations and he's from the big city so not blinded by the small town security and safety myths older sheriff's cling to. Sam even takes the time to do some off duty investigating. He worries about Becca and comes by to make sure she's safe just as a friend. They share more of a spark than Becca and Ian.
Becca's sister Allison gets into sleuthing here. Becca cautions her sister. Allison has more to lose- she's a wife, a mom, the market manager. Yeesh. Becca doesn't rate herself very highly. Allison can still make phone calls and do internet research. She doesn't find much and what she does won't hold up in court but Sam will find a way to make it work. The Robins parents are a hoot. Former hippies who are traveling in an RV across the country, Becca thinks they're in a mid-life crisis when she sees her dad in a collared shirt and her mom without her customary perm. They're becoming... normal! Becca doesn't have time to worry about that much before her mom becomes a suspect for murder. Polly has been arrested before but mainly for peaceful protesting. She doesn't seem to take it seriously. Sam allows Polly's husband to stay at the jail outside the cell so the older couple spend their days together as normal. They have faith in their lawyer and for some reason, the justice system.
Joan seemed like a good person until she was rude about Becca's jam. There was something I picked up on but was never addressed Some evidence points to Joan being a truly awful person. She broke a longtime friendship and business partnership, she sounded micromanaging at the Bistro and maybe an overbearing mother. All the staff at the Bistro have the same line but it sounds like a party line and not genuine. None of them will share the gossip with Becca if there is any. Only Betsy knew her best. Betsy was Joan's assistant at the farmer's market. She looked mousy with glasses and Joan seemed to put a lot on Betsy's shoulders. Betsy had to write down everything Joan said and did and keep track of it all. After Joan dies, Betsy suddenly looks like a Barbie doll and is belligerent towards Becca. What does Betsy want to keep hidden? What does she know about why Joan was killed and who killed her? Did Betsy kill her boss? It wouldn't be the first time.
The other chief suspect is Joan's son Nobel. From the description he might be high functioning autism which means he should not be described as "odd" or in any other similar terms. He's just not a people person or a business person. That's ok! He's a food person and loves nothing more than experimenting and creating new concoctions in the kitchen. Could Joan have pushed her son into taking over her business? Is he angry because she's undermining his role as chef, making him change his recipe? Or is there something in his preserves layer in his cake slowly poisoning his mother and someone maybe him, hastened her demise?
Manny Monetti, of Manny's Pizza, is a huge mistake in this novel. He's supposed to be a Sicilian chef yet he makes Chicago style deep dish pizza. No no no no no! I've been to Pizzeria Uno and Due in Chicago. That's a Tex-Mex dish from the 1940s. NO self-respecting Sicilian chef would even EAT that kind of pizza let alone make it. I'd give him brick oven or coal fired pizza but that's not Sicilian either. Sicilian pizza is different. Yes it's thick crust but it's rectangular, cut in squares sometimes with sauce and no cheese. It's huge around here in the Boston area and Italians are super fussy about their regional foods so right away I think this guy is a phony. Apparently not... we're supposed to take this error for real. OKayy... he seems more American and a mafia stereotype. I don't know much about him but he seems a little arrogant and brash, maybe a mafia type or maybe he was a good guy and just came across that way when being questioned by nosy sleuths.
Linda is Becca's best friend at the market. Her Little House on the Prairie getup would have appealed to me when I was a kid but now I find it anachronistic and not really in keeping with her business. She makes pies- wholesome pies by hand with natural ingredients. In LHOTP they rarely had sugar and pies would have been savory. Pioneers and Pilgrims didn't have sugar to make pies so try again Linda. She's enthusiastic about her pies though and is kind enough to recommend someone who makes a product she doesn't. It's commendable Linda doesn't say "yes I'll make a custard pie even though it's not my thing" just to get business. Herb and Don are new to the market. They sell herbs. They seem to be a couple and are a bit too into herbs, speaking in tandem and sharing more information than Becca needed to know.
Bo is Becca's new friend. His family grows onions and he is involved in the community garden project. Bo is the quiet type, not one for idle chit chat. He can be friendly but takes awhile to warm up to people. He's just a farmer who loves the land and can't imagine doing anything else. His mom, Miriam, is a hoot. She's a lively senior who grew up with Becca's mom causing trouble. Miriam may have some information that could lead to a motive for murder. Another member of the community garden project is Viola. She's an elderly lady who is a no-nonsense tough elder but wise enough to know how to deal with children effectively without being mean. She seems very nice and Becca likes her a lot. Viola's nephew, Jake Bidford, once dated Becca's sister in high school. He now owns a local restaurant and a patch of land where he grows his own produce. He seems shy and not one to toot his own horn. Becca likes him but she doesn't know him well. He seems to have been drawn into something he may not understand. I worry Jake got himself in over his head with this restaurant association and someone might have it out for him. I also thought someone was going to kill him for his land so what do I know?
I really like George, a sweet senior who looks after Hobbit. He's mostly homebound and loves mysteries. He can't get involved in Becca's investigation but he may hold the clue needed to crack the case. Another new character is Gus, Officer Brion's own CSI guy. Gus is smart and happy to help but he's a little cynical and doesn't necessarily believe justice will prevail. He doesn't know Aldous Astaire, attorney. Aldous may look like Pee-Wee Herman and move like a dancer, (he's eccentric to Becca's eyes) but he's qualified to practice law, familiar with the case and knows how to defend his client. He's charming and adds some lightness to the story. Another lighthearted character is Polly's hypnotist, a biker babe who tries to get Polly to remember what she saw when Joan was killed. Gus also doesn't know Judge Miller. Judge Miller is firm but fair. She doesn't hesitate to call out the state's Elle Woods wannabe lawyer and get the woman to shut up. Judge Miller knows the law and applies it as she sees it. I like her so much.
So who killed Joan? The answer comes a little late in the story and the motive doesn't quite make sense. It's a little rushed. I have books 2 and 4 on order from the library so I'll see how they go before I decide if I like this series enough to finish it. The recipes sound good though.
The library mistakenly had this book listed as the second in the series. There are a few spoilers for the actual book 2. That was a bit disappointed. The plot was much better than the first book, less meandering, not as dark and a bit more humor. The murderer was not easy to guess. I didn't think that person was even on the suspect list. I didn't want it to be that person. They seemed nice. The cozy is OK. Becca doesn't actually make any jam or preserves and most of the time she's not even at her stall. This is a fancy market! Becca spends most of her time sleuthing. We get one full scene at the market and some shorter quick pass throughs but no jam making. I did like learning more about Becca's family and how her parents added some levity to the mystery even though her mom was a suspect. I could do without the love triangle and hope Becca figures out what she wants.
Becca manages not to be TSTL in this book. She checks in with Sam and he even takes his free time to look around more just based on his gut feeling. He doesn't tell Becca what to do or not to do and knows she's going to investigate anyway. He would do the same in her shoes. Becca is a caring person when it comes to her family. She's also becoming a more compassionate and involved community member, working with children on a community garden project. Becca is a good dog mom. She leaves Hobbit with a trusted friend who is happy to care for the pup when Becca is out sleuthing. Becca is not such an attentive girlfriend. She is apparently dating Ian, the younger artist, even though I didn't get a spark between them. They don't really have a connection. They're good friends but don't have much time for dating. He's nice enough but I think they're just friends with benefits. Her real connection is with Sam. They've apparently been through a lot together. I like Sam better than Ian. He's a good detective and he's compassionate which is rare in a cozy mystery detective. His ego doesn't drive his investigations and he's from the big city so not blinded by the small town security and safety myths older sheriff's cling to. Sam even takes the time to do some off duty investigating. He worries about Becca and comes by to make sure she's safe just as a friend. They share more of a spark than Becca and Ian.
Becca's sister Allison gets into sleuthing here. Becca cautions her sister. Allison has more to lose- she's a wife, a mom, the market manager. Yeesh. Becca doesn't rate herself very highly. Allison can still make phone calls and do internet research. She doesn't find much and what she does won't hold up in court but Sam will find a way to make it work. The Robins parents are a hoot. Former hippies who are traveling in an RV across the country, Becca thinks they're in a mid-life crisis when she sees her dad in a collared shirt and her mom without her customary perm. They're becoming... normal! Becca doesn't have time to worry about that much before her mom becomes a suspect for murder. Polly has been arrested before but mainly for peaceful protesting. She doesn't seem to take it seriously. Sam allows Polly's husband to stay at the jail outside the cell so the older couple spend their days together as normal. They have faith in their lawyer and for some reason, the justice system.
Joan seemed like a good person until she was rude about Becca's jam. There was something I picked up on but was never addressed Some evidence points to Joan being a truly awful person. She broke a longtime friendship and business partnership, she sounded micromanaging at the Bistro and maybe an overbearing mother. All the staff at the Bistro have the same line but it sounds like a party line and not genuine. None of them will share the gossip with Becca if there is any. Only Betsy knew her best. Betsy was Joan's assistant at the farmer's market. She looked mousy with glasses and Joan seemed to put a lot on Betsy's shoulders. Betsy had to write down everything Joan said and did and keep track of it all. After Joan dies, Betsy suddenly looks like a Barbie doll and is belligerent towards Becca. What does Betsy want to keep hidden? What does she know about why Joan was killed and who killed her? Did Betsy kill her boss? It wouldn't be the first time.
The other chief suspect is Joan's son Nobel. From the description he might be high functioning autism which means he should not be described as "odd" or in any other similar terms. He's just not a people person or a business person. That's ok! He's a food person and loves nothing more than experimenting and creating new concoctions in the kitchen. Could Joan have pushed her son into taking over her business? Is he angry because she's undermining his role as chef, making him change his recipe? Or is there something in his preserves layer in his cake slowly poisoning his mother and someone maybe him, hastened her demise?
Manny Monetti, of Manny's Pizza, is a huge mistake in this novel. He's supposed to be a Sicilian chef yet he makes Chicago style deep dish pizza. No no no no no! I've been to Pizzeria Uno and Due in Chicago. That's a Tex-Mex dish from the 1940s. NO self-respecting Sicilian chef would even EAT that kind of pizza let alone make it. I'd give him brick oven or coal fired pizza but that's not Sicilian either. Sicilian pizza is different. Yes it's thick crust but it's rectangular, cut in squares sometimes with sauce and no cheese. It's huge around here in the Boston area and Italians are super fussy about their regional foods so right away I think this guy is a phony. Apparently not... we're supposed to take this error for real. OKayy... he seems more American and a mafia stereotype. I don't know much about him but he seems a little arrogant and brash, maybe a mafia type or maybe he was a good guy and just came across that way when being questioned by nosy sleuths.
Linda is Becca's best friend at the market. Her Little House on the Prairie getup would have appealed to me when I was a kid but now I find it anachronistic and not really in keeping with her business. She makes pies- wholesome pies by hand with natural ingredients. In LHOTP they rarely had sugar and pies would have been savory. Pioneers and Pilgrims didn't have sugar to make pies so try again Linda. She's enthusiastic about her pies though and is kind enough to recommend someone who makes a product she doesn't. It's commendable Linda doesn't say "yes I'll make a custard pie even though it's not my thing" just to get business. Herb and Don are new to the market. They sell herbs. They seem to be a couple and are a bit too into herbs, speaking in tandem and sharing more information than Becca needed to know.
Bo is Becca's new friend. His family grows onions and he is involved in the community garden project. Bo is the quiet type, not one for idle chit chat. He can be friendly but takes awhile to warm up to people. He's just a farmer who loves the land and can't imagine doing anything else. His mom, Miriam, is a hoot. She's a lively senior who grew up with Becca's mom causing trouble. Miriam may have some information that could lead to a motive for murder. Another member of the community garden project is Viola. She's an elderly lady who is a no-nonsense tough elder but wise enough to know how to deal with children effectively without being mean. She seems very nice and Becca likes her a lot. Viola's nephew, Jake Bidford, once dated Becca's sister in high school. He now owns a local restaurant and a patch of land where he grows his own produce. He seems shy and not one to toot his own horn. Becca likes him but she doesn't know him well. He seems to have been drawn into something he may not understand. I worry Jake got himself in over his head with this restaurant association and someone might have it out for him. I also thought someone was going to kill him for his land so what do I know?
I really like George, a sweet senior who looks after Hobbit. He's mostly homebound and loves mysteries. He can't get involved in Becca's investigation but he may hold the clue needed to crack the case. Another new character is Gus, Officer Brion's own CSI guy. Gus is smart and happy to help but he's a little cynical and doesn't necessarily believe justice will prevail. He doesn't know Aldous Astaire, attorney. Aldous may look like Pee-Wee Herman and move like a dancer, (he's eccentric to Becca's eyes) but he's qualified to practice law, familiar with the case and knows how to defend his client. He's charming and adds some lightness to the story. Another lighthearted character is Polly's hypnotist, a biker babe who tries to get Polly to remember what she saw when Joan was killed. Gus also doesn't know Judge Miller. Judge Miller is firm but fair. She doesn't hesitate to call out the state's Elle Woods wannabe lawyer and get the woman to shut up. Judge Miller knows the law and applies it as she sees it. I like her so much.
So who killed Joan? The answer comes a little late in the story and the motive doesn't quite make sense. It's a little rushed. I have books 2 and 4 on order from the library so I'll see how they go before I decide if I like this series enough to finish it. The recipes sound good though.
December 12, 2011
I am such a fan of this series, but I think this might be my favorite of the three that have been published. I always give a little leeway with a cozy's "mystery" because I know many crime details are left out and there is always a good dose of "character" with each book, sometimes even more than mystery. But "Crops and Robbers" manages to be cozy and still contain a well thought out mystery. It is truly well crafted.
There is also a good dose of "character" and what an interesting dose it is! I loved reading about the characters' lives and even their mistakes. There's nothing phony or contrived about these people and though they stay true to themselves, they continue to evolve.
This book, this series, along with anything Jenn McKinlay writes, are my favorites. I'm looking forward to Paige's new series in January, but it'll be difficult to like it as much as I do the farmer's market books.
There is also a good dose of "character" and what an interesting dose it is! I loved reading about the characters' lives and even their mistakes. There's nothing phony or contrived about these people and though they stay true to themselves, they continue to evolve.
This book, this series, along with anything Jenn McKinlay writes, are my favorites. I'm looking forward to Paige's new series in January, but it'll be difficult to like it as much as I do the farmer's market books.
December 12, 2011
Crops and Robbers, Paige Shelton’s third book in the Farmers’ Market Mystery series, is a rollicking return to my favorite town of Monson, South Carolina. By now, the vendors at Bailey’s Farmers’ Market are like old friends I love catching up with.
The first two books in the series had Becca Robins investigating murders that affected her friends. But when her hippie RV living parents come for a visit, this murder mystery hits home in the worst way.
After being snubbed by the Central South Carolina Restaurant Association President, Becca returns to her farm to find her barn broken into and a knife plunged into the chest of the very same very dead president. Worse still, her mom appears in the doorway with blood on her hands.
Sam, Becca’s friend and a police officer, has to take her mother into custody. Bail is denied and things aren’t looking good for Mama Robins.
Becca and her straight laced fraternal twin sister, Allison, refuse to sit around and wait for the police to clear their mom. Becca goes so far as to recruit her boyfriend, Ian, to help her sneak and snoop.
My laugh out loud moments?
When Becca is trying to help chase a rowdy rat out of the kitchen and ends up being called “the rat whisperer.”
The Pee-Wee Herman-esque arrival of the defense attorney, Aldous.
The identity of the murderer and the motive for the murder remain a mystery for most of the book. It isn’t until the end that a few clear suspects come to the forefront. And even then, the truth doesn’t unravel until the absolute end. This is the kind of mystery I love, where I can’t figure out the ending on my own.
Ms. Shelton does a phenomenal job with setting, weaving in Becca’s strawberry and pumpkin patches and Ian’s soon to be lavender fields. I love how she sets the scene and immerses the reader in it so that I can feel the prickly pumpkin leaves and see which onions are ready for harvesting. Fabulous writing!
I enjoyed each and every character in Ms. Shelton’s book. All were well drawn and quirky enough to be memorable but still remained three-dimensional characters.
Hobbit is my favorite canine character ever. I wish I could hang out with her for a week.
The recipes included at the end of the book are mouth-watering good. I’m really interested in trying out Bo’s Snickerdoodles.
I love love love the triangle coalescing between Becca, her boyfriend Ian, and her good friend Sam. What a cliffhanger ending there.
I’ll be counting the days until the fourth book!
The first two books in the series had Becca Robins investigating murders that affected her friends. But when her hippie RV living parents come for a visit, this murder mystery hits home in the worst way.
After being snubbed by the Central South Carolina Restaurant Association President, Becca returns to her farm to find her barn broken into and a knife plunged into the chest of the very same very dead president. Worse still, her mom appears in the doorway with blood on her hands.
Sam, Becca’s friend and a police officer, has to take her mother into custody. Bail is denied and things aren’t looking good for Mama Robins.
Becca and her straight laced fraternal twin sister, Allison, refuse to sit around and wait for the police to clear their mom. Becca goes so far as to recruit her boyfriend, Ian, to help her sneak and snoop.
My laugh out loud moments?
When Becca is trying to help chase a rowdy rat out of the kitchen and ends up being called “the rat whisperer.”
The Pee-Wee Herman-esque arrival of the defense attorney, Aldous.
The identity of the murderer and the motive for the murder remain a mystery for most of the book. It isn’t until the end that a few clear suspects come to the forefront. And even then, the truth doesn’t unravel until the absolute end. This is the kind of mystery I love, where I can’t figure out the ending on my own.
Ms. Shelton does a phenomenal job with setting, weaving in Becca’s strawberry and pumpkin patches and Ian’s soon to be lavender fields. I love how she sets the scene and immerses the reader in it so that I can feel the prickly pumpkin leaves and see which onions are ready for harvesting. Fabulous writing!
I enjoyed each and every character in Ms. Shelton’s book. All were well drawn and quirky enough to be memorable but still remained three-dimensional characters.
Hobbit is my favorite canine character ever. I wish I could hang out with her for a week.
The recipes included at the end of the book are mouth-watering good. I’m really interested in trying out Bo’s Snickerdoodles.
I love love love the triangle coalescing between Becca, her boyfriend Ian, and her good friend Sam. What a cliffhanger ending there.
I’ll be counting the days until the fourth book!
January 1, 2012
This was a good story from beginning to the ending. About mid-way through the hunt for the killer, I had a vague idea, but, it was so nicely tied up at the ending that the thought never spoiled the book for me.
Our heroine, Becca Robins, owns a berries and pumpkin farm. Becca's twin sister, Allison, manages the farm market, Bailey's, where Becca and a bunch of other farmers sell their products. The book opens with the anticipation of a local restaurant associations vetting of the market to see if they wish to purchase fresh and local products there.
Added to the anxiety, is an unexpected, but happy, reunion with Becca and Allison's parents. Jason and Polly Robins have been touring the U.S.A. for the past two years in their RV.
To everyone's shock, the President of the restaurant association, Joan Ashworth treats, not only, Becca rudely, but totally ignores Bo who grows the best onions in the South! Becca tries to not take it personally, but her mother is upset.
Becca heads home later to find...well, you know what? I'm not going to relate that here as it would spoil the story and I did enjoy the story. So, I want you to discover it for yourselves.
There is also a mild romantic tale running through the novel and it is beginning to heat up in the direction I've been hoping for.
I wonder what will happen in the next novel?
Our heroine, Becca Robins, owns a berries and pumpkin farm. Becca's twin sister, Allison, manages the farm market, Bailey's, where Becca and a bunch of other farmers sell their products. The book opens with the anticipation of a local restaurant associations vetting of the market to see if they wish to purchase fresh and local products there.
Added to the anxiety, is an unexpected, but happy, reunion with Becca and Allison's parents. Jason and Polly Robins have been touring the U.S.A. for the past two years in their RV.
To everyone's shock, the President of the restaurant association, Joan Ashworth treats, not only, Becca rudely, but totally ignores Bo who grows the best onions in the South! Becca tries to not take it personally, but her mother is upset.
Becca heads home later to find...well, you know what? I'm not going to relate that here as it would spoil the story and I did enjoy the story. So, I want you to discover it for yourselves.
There is also a mild romantic tale running through the novel and it is beginning to heat up in the direction I've been hoping for.
I wonder what will happen in the next novel?
November 2, 2012
Amateur sleuth meets amateur author and comes across as rather immature. I love a good old-fashioned murder mystery, yet this one fell quite-short of my expectations. The main character is supposedly someone who has lived a little: a couple husbands and subsequent divorces under her belt, her own business, a few scrapes with death. You would think this kind of background would make for an interesting character with some depth. I felt like I was reading a book for tweens. And her thoughts and actions towards the multiple men in her life felt like something straight out of the halls of a middle school.
October 10, 2011
This book didn't rock my world, but I didn't guess who the killer was, so that's good.
Reviewed for the December issue of Affaire de Coeur. Http://affairedecoeur.com.
Reviewed for the December issue of Affaire de Coeur. Http://affairedecoeur.com.
December 25, 2017
This was fun! In the third installment of the Farmers Market Mysteries, we meet Becca's parents, and see more of her family interacting with each other. They're cool! Definitely the kind of people I'd enjoy being friends with in real life. I had an idea early on who the killer might be but I didn't know why until the reveal! I genuinely enjoyed the mystery. I also like that Hobbit was more prominent in this story! Its a cozy mystery so thankfully the romance is light, but I'm enjoying the little added mystery between Becca and Sam and I find it interesting that while Ian had such a prominent role in the previous story, he wasn't very involved in this one. We'll see how the series progresses from here on out.
March 22, 2020
Man oh man that is the mother of all cliff hangers! 😲 I was pounding the arms of my chair in frustration when I finished reading it! 😬 Loved the book though.
February 26, 2020
So far, I continue to enjoy this series, although this installment had very little Farmer's Market time, which is my favourite part. The mystery was all-consuming (understandable when it concerns a close family member) and kept Becca away from the farm and her stall. The ending made me want to immediately read on. That being said, if we're heading into extended,messy, love triangle territory, I will probably abandon the series. Does anyone enjoy that, honestly?
August 6, 2018
As I read more of these, I like them more and more. I know the first book in any series is a little iffy, as not only is the author setting up characters for a book, but the secondary characters have to be set up in more depth to make a series work.
This time someone actually dies in Becca’s work kitchen and her momma is accused of the murder! So, she can’t be considered a nosey busybody when she’s trying to clear her momma’s name!
Plus, I’ve always thought Becca and Sam would have something going on! And they do!!!! Not that I don’t like Ian, but I love me some Sam! But she’s still with Ian! And Oh shit, her daddy knows whats going on! It’s some drama heating up. Not that I condone cheating, but I was a little excited! I can’t wait to see what happens. A little drama other than murder to watch out for!
This time someone actually dies in Becca’s work kitchen and her momma is accused of the murder! So, she can’t be considered a nosey busybody when she’s trying to clear her momma’s name!
Plus, I’ve always thought Becca and Sam would have something going on! And they do!!!! Not that I don’t like Ian, but I love me some Sam! But she’s still with Ian! And Oh shit, her daddy knows whats going on! It’s some drama heating up. Not that I condone cheating, but I was a little excited! I can’t wait to see what happens. A little drama other than murder to watch out for!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2021
Crops and Robbers (A Farmers' Market Mystery, #3) Paige Shelton
A fast paced murder mystery with likable characters and fun plot. Becca's Hippie parents are visiting when a dead body is found in Becca's home (and) her Mother the prime suspect. Becca is determined to solve the mystery and clear her Mother's name. Overall I enjoyed Crops and Robbers and recommend to those who enjoy cozy murder mysteries. Bonus recipes at the end for those who enjoy cooking.
A fast paced murder mystery with likable characters and fun plot. Becca's Hippie parents are visiting when a dead body is found in Becca's home (and) her Mother the prime suspect. Becca is determined to solve the mystery and clear her Mother's name. Overall I enjoyed Crops and Robbers and recommend to those who enjoy cozy murder mysteries. Bonus recipes at the end for those who enjoy cooking.
October 9, 2022
The farmers who sell their produce at Bailey’s Market are trying to increase their sales by arranging to sell to the restaurants. When the Restaurant Association visits the markets, Becca is shocked when the major spokesperson does not like her preserves. ….. and then later that same woman is found murdered in Becca’s barn/kitchen. Worse, Becca’s parents are visiting – and her mother is the chief suspect in the murder. What’s going on??? Another peasant read.
April 13, 2025
I wasn't a huge fan of the previous book in the series, but I always try to give a series more than one chance. Especially if I really like other ones by the same author. But I didn't care so much for this one either. The characters just don't pull me in, even the hippie parents, whom I would have expected to feel a kinship with. The story was okay, but I didn't find myself drawn, or even really caring about the solution.
September 9, 2018
This is the third book of A Farmers' Market and the great characters and well told story line continues. Joan head of the Restaurant Association hates Becka's jams and then is found dead in Becka's barn and the prime suspect Becka's mother. The story will keep you glued to it till the end. Added to it is a new surprise to Becka's love life. Must read book.
March 26, 2025
Another book read and well enjoyed. This series isn't as gritty as some of the other books I read. They are though provoking books. They make you think in other directions and I like that. Having said that, I really did think I solved this one but right at the last everything changed again.......it was so worth it.....
October 7, 2025
Becca and Allison's parents are back to visit. Their first day visiting aat the market a murder occurs at Becca's barn. her mother is arrested and Becca and Allison set out to find who is framing her. Sam is giving Their mother privileges like her father staying with here in the next cell. lots of twisters , a good read and fast hard to put it down. Looking forward to next in series.
March 23, 2023
Way to end on a relationship cliffhanger!! I am enjoying the series, as I do with all of Paige Shelton's, but I wish there'd been a few more hints to follow. Also a bit confused about the random vandalism. (I really like Ian, but I am Team Sam!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2024
a great series
What a fantastic read. Each on has gotten better than the previous. Great character building and relationships. I enjoyed meeting the parents in this one and how they became involved in the latest crime. Twits and turns made me question the killer. A solid read
What a fantastic read. Each on has gotten better than the previous. Great character building and relationships. I enjoyed meeting the parents in this one and how they became involved in the latest crime. Twits and turns made me question the killer. A solid read
June 4, 2017
Enjoyed it very much. Looking forward to the next one. The romance angle was handled nicely here.
August 22, 2018
Bit ordinary
December 3, 2018
Quite repetitive. Will not continue with the series.
April 4, 2019
I just plain enjoy her mysteries.
April 9, 2019
Good series!
February 10, 2021
#teamsam
January 6, 2023
Another good one. Once again I couldn't figure it out. I enjoyed following along as clues were explored. And the good thing, I've got the next book to read!
April 18, 2024
Just a solid cozy from a good author
May 20, 2025
cozy mysteries can get away with pun names. they just work
May 14, 2019
another great book by Paige Shelton. She is a great author.
January 16, 2016
Becca Robin’s farm-made jams and jellies are “to die for” but that is because they are delicious not that they would actually kill anyone. Unless of course you are Joan Ashworth of the South Carolina Restaurant Association. Her group visited Bailey’s Farm Market to set up contracts to purchase local produce and products. Becca couldn’t wait until they tasted her preserves. With her family wedged tightly in her booth Joan takes a bite of the strawberry jam, they are all surprised by her reaction, her face sours and she openly rejects Becca’s jam. Becca is heartbroken but knows she has a wonderful product and all her friends and family try to console her. She pulls herself together, completes her day and heads home. She gets there only to find Joan Ashworth dead and her mother with blood on her hands. Now she really needs to work fast to figure out what really happened and get her mom out an enormous jam.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I have loved this entire series and this one just continues to deliver farm fresh mystery for me to “escape” into within minutes. No matter the weather outside it is always a perfect time to visit Bailey’s Farm Market and catch up with all the characters that have sprouted warmly in our hearts. The in depth peek into Becca and Allison’s parent’s life was truly a pleasure. Sticking together through thick and thin and barely even leaving each other’s side even when one of them is behind bars is a great testament to a long happy marriage. Their positive attitude is really something to admire.
The bump in Becca’s love life gives us something to look forward to as the series continues. It should be very interesting. Wonder who is going to get themselves into a pickle next.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I have loved this entire series and this one just continues to deliver farm fresh mystery for me to “escape” into within minutes. No matter the weather outside it is always a perfect time to visit Bailey’s Farm Market and catch up with all the characters that have sprouted warmly in our hearts. The in depth peek into Becca and Allison’s parent’s life was truly a pleasure. Sticking together through thick and thin and barely even leaving each other’s side even when one of them is behind bars is a great testament to a long happy marriage. Their positive attitude is really something to admire.
The bump in Becca’s love life gives us something to look forward to as the series continues. It should be very interesting. Wonder who is going to get themselves into a pickle next.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 23, 2012
I have mixed feelings about this story. It is rather uneven.
On one hand, it was absolutely delightful to know the various characters in that little town of Monson who revolve around Becca. Author has a wonderful descriptive and lively style and the most darling way to describe the minutiae of small town life. Becca is a lovely person who is content and busy with her farm growing strawberries and pumpkins and selling her preserves at Bailey's market.
Very detailed touching or entertaining scenes, like the one with the rat, or her special tete-a-tete moments with the man in her life, or the intriguing impulsive kiss with Sam, or just the description of her time with the community garden and the youngsters.
On the other hand, there is a murder or two which lead to her mother being arrested and jailed. This draws Becca's protectiveness to the fore and focuses her own curious instincts to poke and pry... Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the writing, I found the killer rather contrived and his motive less than compelling - what could possibly have motivated him to stalk and kill two people? The whole association being set up as a fund-raising group for personal gain is rather strange: how is it possible that businessmen and women could allow themselves to be milked regularly for membership fees without asking for financial reporting? That is hard to believe in this day and age. Anyone knows that a group has to have meeting minutes and financial records open to its members. The whole story wrapping the oddball Nobel - a genius chef - as the man keeping an eye on the illegal money laundering is also rather bizarre. He is supposed to have no interest in business, duh?
So it was a delightful read but I had difficulty wrapping my brains around the bad guys and the bad things that were happening.
On one hand, it was absolutely delightful to know the various characters in that little town of Monson who revolve around Becca. Author has a wonderful descriptive and lively style and the most darling way to describe the minutiae of small town life. Becca is a lovely person who is content and busy with her farm growing strawberries and pumpkins and selling her preserves at Bailey's market.
Very detailed touching or entertaining scenes, like the one with the rat, or her special tete-a-tete moments with the man in her life, or the intriguing impulsive kiss with Sam, or just the description of her time with the community garden and the youngsters.
On the other hand, there is a murder or two which lead to her mother being arrested and jailed. This draws Becca's protectiveness to the fore and focuses her own curious instincts to poke and pry... Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the writing, I found the killer rather contrived and his motive less than compelling - what could possibly have motivated him to stalk and kill two people? The whole association being set up as a fund-raising group for personal gain is rather strange: how is it possible that businessmen and women could allow themselves to be milked regularly for membership fees without asking for financial reporting? That is hard to believe in this day and age. Anyone knows that a group has to have meeting minutes and financial records open to its members. The whole story wrapping the oddball Nobel - a genius chef - as the man keeping an eye on the illegal money laundering is also rather bizarre. He is supposed to have no interest in business, duh?
So it was a delightful read but I had difficulty wrapping my brains around the bad guys and the bad things that were happening.
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