Truly, Madly, Sheeply

Pumpkin Falls #4

by Heather Vogel Frederick

The Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes face a pumpkin snatcher and a haunted farm in the fourth and final “cozy mystery” ( Booklist ) of the Edgar Award–nominated middle grade series from the author of the beloved Mother-Daughter Book Club books.

It’s autumn in New England and Truly and her fellow Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes are gearing up for the annual Halloween Festival. Aunt True and her new husband, Rusty, have bought Ethel and Elmer Farnsworth’s dilapidated old farm on the edge of town, where they’re going to raise sheep and where Truly and her grandparents have volunteered to farm- and sheep-sit while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon.

But as always, there are mysteries and secrets afoot in Pumpkin Falls. Jack-o’-lanterns outside the shops downtown are going missing—in broad daylight! Plus, someone…or something …is trying to scare Truly’s aunt and uncle away from their new property with some seriously spooky hauntings.

With the arrival of Emilio, a new heartthrob student from Italy, and with Calhoun most definitely still in the picture, Truly has her hands full and will need all of her Private Eyes to help her solve the small town shenanigans this fall season.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Halloween, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction, Cozy

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new Pumpkin Falls Mystery is a one-stop October tale:
🎃 Six new sheep and one ram 🐏
🎃 Three mysteries for the Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes (PFPE) 🔎
🎃 Two wedding celebrations in the Lovejoy bookstore 📚
🎃 Two special barn owls ☁🦉
🎃 A smashing Pumpkin Falls Halloween Festival with a Pumpkin Toss using catapults 🍂

This has been such a heartwarming series. There was quite a break between the third and fourth books. I hope to see a 5th book Truly Lovejoy and her supporting cast are like old friends.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to live in Pumpkin Falls! Seriously, can we bring this town into existence, please?? I love how this series has developed over the course of its four books. When Truly first arrives in Pumpkin Falls, she is seriously struggling and with good reason. Her family is in a time of crisis and even though it doesn't seem to be the case at first, Pumpkin Falls proves the perfect place for them to land. Between Aunt True, Gramps and Lola's house, the bookstore, and the town itself, every member of Truly's family experiences restoration and it's so wonderful to see how that plays out over the four books. Though I would love love love there to be more books in the series, I'm also delighted with how this book ended. Truly is in a healthy place, and I can tell she'll go from strength to strength.

I love Aunt True as a character. She is probably my second favorite character in the series, and I love how her vocation is shifting in this book. I would love to live in the farmhouse (though I would not love to have the care of the sheep!). I also love that we got more of Gramps and Lola in this book. I also want to note that I'm WAY closer to Aunt True's age than Truly's so it can be equally appealing to kids and adults!

The big mystery in this felt a little intense/darker than I was anticipating, so I would probably give this book four stars itself. However, I upped my rating to five stars because the series overall deserves five stars from me. The town of Pumpkin Falls is like a miniature Mitford. We get to know its inhabitants and they become a wonderful bigger family beyond the Lovejoys at the heart of the story. Truly's friends are delightful too. Truly's romance potential was downplayed in this book, and I enjoyed that. She's got plenty of time for that in years to come. I love reading more about her family and the many intergenerational friendships she has in the town. She even has a couple 'nemeses'!

This is a lovely series for book lovers too! There are many nods to literature. This book features Edgar Allen Poe especially and has somoe other literary themed carved pumpkins. And also some great food descriptions! I particularly loved the food in this one since my love of baking that goes semi-dormant in the heat of summer comes fully alive in the cool days of fall.

Highly recommended middle grade series! What are you waiting for?

[Katie Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I somehow managed to read the fourth book in the series without even realizing it was a series, so that's fun. Still, this is a very sweet middle-grade mystery/adventure/slice-of-life novel, even if did include perhaps my least favorite juvenile mystery trope: the refusal to press criminal charges, because we're "nice people"... I DO NOT CARE HOW NICE YOU ARE, THAT MAN COMMITTED ARSON

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was charming and cozy. The mystery was fun, but what I really loved about the book was the fun cast of characters. I also enjoyed the small New England town in fall atmosphere. This is a fun piece of young teen lit. I look forward to reading the first three books in the series.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good ending to the pumpkin falls series!! I’ve been wanting to read this book for forever!! I had just requested this book from our library and then of course it comes on hoopla a week later🤦‍♀️.
I love how wholesome Heather Vogel Frederick’s books are!! Loved seeing how much Truly has grown since the first book!! Also loved how they went through each season!!

[Jamie Johnson Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure hoping Heather Vogel Frederick has another book for this series in the works. I love them 💜

[Elizabeth Betta · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY WORD!!!! This book was such an enjoyable autumn read. A very well paced story with a amazing cliff hangers at the end of each chapter, and I just could not. put. it. down. The characters in the book where just so lovable, and so entertaining. I can't tell you how many times I just sat there and grinned like an absolute idiot and laughed randomly. The characters where also relatable, and I grew to admire the ones I didn't really care for before. I would for sure recommend!

The only thing that kind of bugged me was that the romance really did not go anywhere which kind of bothered me. I'm not super huge on romance books, but they are nice to read about every once in a while. But this time I needed something to happen and it just d i d n ' t h a p p e n. So honestly if I could I would give it a nice 4.5✨.

Content: spoke of someone cursing but never was it said, other than that minor thing, CLEAN*:･ﾟ✧

[Shella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one about as much as the first one. I was not sure that the author was continuing this series. In previous books, there is always a lull, but this book had a great pace. This is a very fun innocent mystery series- a perfect cozy mystery series for upper elementary through middle school. This book is peppered with figurative language. If you are a homeschooler- check out this series!! I think it is left for more books to come??

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “Pumpkin Falls” series comes to an end with bang (literally!) A very satisfying and enjoyable book to wrap up the series with. But, I really, truly hope this one wasn’t actually the last one.
Come on, Heather Vogel Frederick, keep them coming, please!!

[Cecily Rehner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aunt true and Professer Rusty get married and buy a farm. They plan to raise sheep. So between all the sheep sitting Truly is doing, someone is stealing all the pumpkins. And there is a new student who's Italian and seems to like Truly.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

super cute and autumnal 🍁🍂

[Sandym24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and cozy children’s read that is a perfect autumn read with charming small town vibes and a fun mystery.

[Selah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoy this series 😉

I had a few minor gripes with the editing, and one major one: “Frances” Scott Key was, in fact, Francis Scott Key, and not an American lady🤦🏻‍♀️ There are so many others to choose from: Dolley Madison, Mary Todd Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, Louisa May Alcott, Sacagawea, Clara Barton, Betsy Ross, Emily Dickinson, Julia Ward Howe (I actually think this is who the author meant—the writer of the Battle Hymn of the Republic).

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Especially after mixed feelings with #3 in the series, I’m pleased the charm and sweetness of the first book is back. Plus: sheep.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is October in Pumpkin Falls which means the town is getting ready to be inundated by leaf peepers, prepping for the annual Pumpkin Falls Halloween festival including the pumpkin carving and catapulting competitions, Truly's class is doing presentations on Poe, and Truly's family is getting ready for Aunt True's wedding. In the midst of the busyness, the Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes are called on to figure out who is stealing pumpkins from all over town. And when Truly and her grandparents move to her Aunt and Uncle's new sheep farm during the honeymoon, she finds herself investigating strange acts of vandalism. Who is trying to scare them off their new farm?

I'm sad this is the last Pumpkin Falls mystery. I love spending time with Truly's big, loving (but realistic) family. The author left it open she could return to Pumpkin Falls if she so desired, so there's always hope. I figured out the vandalism culprit immediately, but didn't predict who was stealing the pumpkins (that mystery is solved about halfway through...the vandalism isn't solved until the end). There's a new family in town, a guest professor at the university from Italy whose son ends up in Truly's class and competes with Calhoun for her attention. I'm glad it doesn't go to Truly's head. She mostly goes 'boys are confusing!' and talks to some of the adults about it, and they tell her not to feel rushed to grow up too fast and she listens to them. I wasn't expecting all the information on sheep farming, but I liked it. Farming is such a foreign concept to many kids, that may be a fascinating look at rural life for many city kids or could help some rural kids feel seen. I think what I'm most impressed with about this series is how many different characters the author has introduced to the reader in memorable enough ways it isn't hard to keep a whole town of 30ish characters straight. That takes talent. Hand this to readers wanting cozy family stories, small town tales, New England fall settings, and cozy mysteries.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: Nothing with kids other than wondering about crushes, some adult couples kiss
Violence: There's a close call at one point, but no one is injured.
Ethnic diversity: Truly's family is White American. Other families are Italian, Jewish American, and Latino American.
GBLTQ+ content: None
Other: Truly's aunt jokes about there being a boggart causing the acts of minor vandalism and Truly and some of the others start to wonder if there really could be one. The vandalism escalates until a mannequin is hung from the rafters with a mean sign on it. Truly's dad continues to make progress in adjusting to losing his arm, he show some really good signs of growth in this one.

[Olivia G · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest installment of the Pumpkin Falls series was delightful and though it's been a while since I've read anything in the series, it still felt like coming home.
Something I love about all the novels is the blend of mystery with simple daily life. The atmosphere of Pumpkin Falls is always so present throughout despite all the things going on and it feels perfectly in line with the 21st century while still having the small-town flair. The complexity of the mystery with multiple culprits who aren't all immediately evident makes the book one that you just can't put down.
Another angle of this story is Truly's boy issues. I don't usually enjoy that in books, and thankfully this subplot was minimal. It did make things more complicated for her, but was light enough that it wasn't as annoying. A HUGE shoutout to Truly's mom telling her she's too young to be thinking about boys.
J.T's arc over the course of the series is one of my personal favorites. Seeing him go through one of the worst periods of his life and slowly heal over several books is so powerful - and everyone around him can see it, but they can't force anything. To see him and his family realizing that they don't always need to be worried about him was very heartwarming.
All in all, Heather Vogel Frederick has once again hit it out of the park, and I'd highly recommend this book and its series to anyone!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly, Madly, Sheeply by Heather Vogel Frederick
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: none / middle grade series

Plot summary: Young investigator, Truly, enlists her friends to help solve a mystery of the pumpkin snatcher in her quaint town of Pumpkin Falls. However, she quickly learns something else is afoot.

*Disclaimer: I grabbed this book on Libby as it was available and looked cute, not realizing it is part of a middle grade series. So please keep that in mind as I am absolutely not the targeted demographic.*

My thoughts: This story had its moments but ultimately wasn’t for me. The plot centers around Truly, a quirky (and slightly egotistical?) main character who genuinely cares for her friends and family. While I appreciated her personality, the story felt uneven. The middle section dragged, and some of the numerous side characters lacked depth, making it harder to stay engaged.

That said, the final reveal was a highlight! The pacing picked up dramatically, and I found myself hooked for the last few chapters.

Overall, this is a cute read that’s clearly geared toward a younger audience. It’s imaginative and lighthearted but didn’t quite resonate with me as an adult reader.

[Roxy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was actually a highly anticipated release for me, as I really loved the Mother-Daughter Book Club series (for my convenience, in this review I will call the Mother Daughter Book Club series MDBC) ,by this same author. I had already read the rest of this series as well, but after I read MDBC because these books feature characters from the last book in MDBC. But anyway, I thought I was going to like this series just as much as MDBC, but sadly, I didn't. The main character in this series, Truly, is a tall kid, and I have faced the same annoyances and discomforts as her, because I am pretty tall myself. But I didn't really like this series as much. I don't even know why. But I would still recommend if you were absolutely obsessed with MDBC, and want a chance to hang out with some minor characters from MDBC.

[Susan Findling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good finish to the Pumpkin Falls mystery series (4th/5th grade). I was happy that there was an actual mystery to the story as opposed to the third book in the series which was quite disappointing. I love the characters in these books, and I was happy that the grandparents made an appearance in this one.

The one thing that bugged me is the lack of editing. The female sheep (ewes) are named after important women in history. One of the sheep is named Frances Scott Key supposedly after the lyrist of the Star Spangled Banner. I would have thought that some editor (if not the author) would have caught the error. The national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key, a man who was a lawyer, author and poet. Naming a female sheep after him just seems wrong (and definitely inaccurate).

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After Absolutely Truly, Yours Truly, and Really Truly, Truly is still in Pumpkin Falls, where her Aunt True and her new husband have bought a dilapidated Sheep Farm. It falls to Truly and her grandparents to watch the farm while her aunt is on her honeymoon. Of course, there are some mysteries that unfold, as well as a cute new boy, Emilio, from Italy.

These books have the best covers, and are cozy mysteries for middle schoolers. Why aren't there more of these, like Beil's Swallowtail Legacy? I love the town, the farm, everything about it, and this is a perfect fall read for those of us who can't travel to New England to be "leaf peepers"! Excuse me while I go grab some cider and a doughnut.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew it had been awhile since I read the last Pumpkin Falls mystery, but I didn't realize that it had been 3 years! With the first book in the quartet having come out in 2014! The good news is that all four are now available for middle grade readers to binge in a row, as they undoubtedly will want to. (Definitely read them in order.) This is a fun mystery series set in a quaint New England town. The names of the characters are super clever, the mysteries are full of just enough red herrings, and there are great book recommendations throughout. This fourth book is no exception, as Truly and her friends work to solve a few different mysteries and protect Aunt True's new sheep farm. Recommended for grades 4 & up

eARC provided by NetGalley & Edelweiss

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Pumpkin Fall mystery books so much. They're the coziest middle grade mysteries imaginable, and there's just enough details about Truly's family running their book store to delight me.
That being said, this book had one glaring flaw- Truly's aunt gets a flock of sheep and names them after famous American women. One of them is named Frances Scott Key, after the writer of the Star-Spangled Banner. Only Francis Scott Key was definitely a dude?? And his name was spelled with an I? That's a very weird and sorta blatant historical error to have not been caught by anyone in the publishing process, but it's not a big deal. Just bugged me lol

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly, Madly, Sheeply, book 4 in the Pumpkin Falls mystery series by Heather Vogel Frederick is the perfect fall read for middle grade readers of all ages. First of all…just look at the cover! It gives me all the fall vibes–I want to hang it on my wall and stare at it.

“It’s autumn in New England and Truly and her fellow Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes are gearing up for the annual Halloween Festival. Aunt True and her new husband, Rusty, have bought Ethel and Elmer Farnsworth’s dilapidated old farm on the edge of town, where they’re going to raise sheep and where Truly and her grandparents have volunteered to farm- and sheep-sit while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon.”

Set in a wonderfully charming small town, this is a delightful cozy mystery featuring middle school sleuths and a wonderful cast of characters. The friendships and family dynamics gave me a warm feeling as I read. I read quickly but kept stopping because I didn’t want it to end. This is a series I wish I could be in. I’m sorry that this is the last one in this series, but thankfully Heather has a wonderful backlist and perhaps new projects in the works? This reader surely hopes so.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wonderful! The atmosphere felt so cozy (even though I'm reading this in the middle of summer lol) and the characters felt real and fleshed out. I liked the plot and while the mystery wasn't anything mind-blowing (given that this is geared towards middle schoolers, it's more like a cozy mystery than a YA or adult mystery), I found myself wanting to keep reading and find out who the culprit was

I hope Heather comes out with more books in this world!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simply written, some colorful descriptions, wholesome, one recipe in the back, but with all the food talk, I wish there had been more. A couple quotes, one true, one completely false: "Life is about experiences and spending time with the people you love, not about things." "Listen to your heart, it will never steer you wrong." The Bible says the heart is deceitfully wicked above all things. I know what the author means, but it is very poor advice.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to see there was another book in this series, however, I didn’t love this one. There was a lot of jumping around and parts that just didn’t flow. And so confused why Frances Scott Key was referred to as a woman of American history. Was it a joke? I might be done with pumpkin falls even if the author isn’t.

[Téa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series by one of my favorite authors. It was so well written for the age group. With a book per season, Frederick rounds out the full year/story with this final book bringing details full circle and showing how Truly has grown into herself.

Wish I was in a small New England town right now!

[Tweller83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun ending to the series. I liked the mystery in this one and although it was pretty obvious who the "boggart" was, it was still fun to read about all the doings in Pumpkin Falls. I like this series a lot more than the mother/daughter book club series which I may or may not continue. But this one was fun and we left Truly in a great place. Highly recommend.

[Trina Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, middle-grade mystery with some cozy farm elements. The premise was cute, but didn’t leave me with the cozy, heartwarming feel I was hoping for. The audiobook narration was the best part — it added charm and kept me engaged enough to finish it with my granddaughter. Overall, it’s sweet but forgettable.

2.5 stars rounded to 3

[Tina Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun JF read by one of my favorite authors. The mystery in this one wasn't as interesting as in the previous two books but it did provide a delightful visit to Pumpkin Falls and all the characters there. A perfect fall read.