Murder in the Milk Case

Trish Cunningham Mystery #1

by Candice Speare Prentice

When mommy and wife, Trish Cunningham, finds the body of pharmacist Jim Bob Jenkins behind the two-percent milk, she knows she' having a bad day. Worse, she's a suspect. Sleuthing to exonerate herself from murder charges, she shakes up a murderer who has nothing to lose by killing any one in the way - including Trish.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Cozy, Murder Mystery, Christian

250 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 7, 2007

About the author

Candice lives in the semi-suburbs of Maryland with her husband, family, and a dog named Jack. When she's not writing, she might be gardening (translate: fretting over the flowerbed, wondering what happened to her green thumb). She likes photography, scrapbooking, and housewifely endeavors. As is true with most authors, Candice's interests are numerous. In addition to mystery, romance, and suspense novels, her stack of "things to be read" includes newspapers from the 1800s, magazines from the early 1900s, biographies, diaries, and historical medical books.

Candice is represented by the MacGregor Literary Agency. She's a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). You can visit her at www.candiceprentice.com.

Reviews

[Cathy Bryant]

As most of you know, one of my biggest pet peeves is clean fiction that tries to pass itself off as Christian fiction. (You can read my rant post HERE.) Since mysteries usually start with a dead body, I wondered how an author could make a mystery–cozy or otherwise–work as a Christian book.

While Murder in the Milk Case doesn’t have a strong overall Christian theme like the Miller’s Creek novels (finding our home in Christ, regaining faith, bestowing grace on others, believing God’s promises, forgiving others, defending Christianity, etc.), it does have Christian characters who live out their Christian faith in prayer, church attendance, and lifestyle.

I’ve read books where faith references felt inserted at the last minute to make the book “Christian.” I didn’t get that sense in reading this book. The faith of the characters was interwoven throughout.

I really connected to the main character, Trish. She’s one of those who always seems to land herself in trouble of the worst kind, including finding a dead body in the milk case at the local grocery store! :)

The only negative to the story for me was too many minor characters. I couldn’t keep them all straight (which might be attributed to my currently hectic life).

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I highly encourage you to check out this book. Very readable and enjoyable!

(This review was first posted at: http://www.catbryant.com/murder-in-th...)

[Shelly]

There was something about this one that just rubbed me the wrong way. I tried to get over it, and hey, I finished it, but it just didn't jibe with me. Had some clunky parts and some better parts but I just didn't care about any of the characters and I didn't know there was such a thing as steamy "Christian" romance/mystery stories! Who knew! Too many actions that were definitely NOT Christ like that got smoothed over with a couple of mentions of prayer. Like I said, this one just rubbed me the wrong way.

[FangirlNation]

When Trish Cunningham makes a trip to the local grocery store in Murder in the Milk Case by Candice Prentice, she reaches into the milk case and finds the body of a dead man. Jim Bob Jenkins lies inside a shopping cart stabbed. The man seems to have been a blackmailer, having made overtures to Trish over a crime her brother, now in Navy boot camp, might have committed years earlier that led to the death of the first wife of Trish’s husband, Max. This detail adds to Trish’s stress and the possibility of her as a suspect. She thus determines to find the truth and starts asking questions and taking notes.

Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation

[Angie]

This was a fun little murder mystery. I enjoyed this book; there was not much blood and gore so it was fine to read. She has at least 2 more books that I am aware of, so I will definitely be reading those. This is a story about a wife and mother who happens on a man who has been murdered at the grocery store and left in the dairy case. She has recently had an altercation with this man so she is a suspect, but she is determine to prove her innocence.

[Debbie West]

I loved this book! trish was full of fun and wit. I was held in suspense at times. at other times I was smiling at her and her hubby Max. I loved the way she went after Stephanie for messing with her husband. i couldn't keep track. of why LeeAnn was a suspect, so was a little confused as to why she killed Jim Bob. that is my. fault though.candice Speare is a great author! I can't wait to see what Trish does in her next book.

[Barbara Robinson]

A good, humorous read

Loved the characters, great storyline, flowed very well. I came back to this after starting the second book because another's review kept sticking in my head. Yes, God and prayer are present in the storylines, but in a very real, everyday, humorous way. It adds, not distracts and reminds me of when I quickly say something to God, myself. This was a fun story and now I'm going back to reading the second book.

[Linda Husvar]

This cozy mystery mixed twists and turns in the storyline with a touch of wry humor. Trish and Max struggled with blended family problems providing intense drama to the situation. I liked Trish's determination to solve the murders, yet she seemed oblivious to Max and Detective Scott's warnings about the inherent dangers. The author kept me guessing about who committed the murders until the end of the book. Recommended for cozy mystery fans.

[David]

I really liked "Murder in the Milk Case" by Candice Miller Speare. A cozy Easter mystery with an off-beat murder - the body is really found in the milk case at the super market - and with clues scattered throughout the novel from the first page to near the last which makes a satisfying mystery read. The identity of the perp made sense. And there was a large enough cast of characters that there were other possible perps. Even better, all the important characters appear in the first chapter.

[joyce lynn]

fell in love w/ this book, this author, and the main character! she and her family are SOO down to earth!!

and it's all strange how everything plays together

will definitely be trying to find more books by this author, and can't wait for the next book in this series in particular!

[Katt Hansen]

There's a lot about this book that I never saw coming, which to me is the mark of a very good mystery. I enjoyed the characters and trying to unravel the plot. I'm going to have to dig up more books by this author I think.

[Barbara O'Neal]

Murder in milk case

Good book a little humor here and there. Interesting characters kept My attention. Couldn't figure out the killer until the very end, that's what made the book interesting

[Pamela]

Second read for me

This is the second time I have read this book and I loved it just as much as the first time. So accurate with emotions of being a step parent and also the children. Super story.

[Vicki Gooding]

Oh my goodness, what a fun book. Entertaining, cute love with her own husband, wit, prayer, family and murder. No gore, swear words, or sex. Just a plain good old fashioned mystery. A breath of fresh air. I've ordered two other books now from this same series that followed this one.

[Judy Ortiz]

Kind of a silly story. I was not challenged by it in any way. The main character was very immature in too many ways, and far to impulsive.

[Jessie]

I really enjoyed this book!

[Mary]

This book is set in Maryland with Trish going to the grocery store for milk and needing to use the rest room. She sees her nemesis the pharmacist and the assistant store manager.
She reaches for the milk and sees a hand in the cooler and its attached to the pharmacist along with a knife sticking out of him.
She is married to a widower with three children who completely adores her but she is keeping secrets about her brothers adolescent activities The pharmacist was trying to blackmail her implying he knew the secret, This makes her feel guilty and is interrogated by the police about motive and any other information she might have.
The pharmacist was married before but returned to the town after a Cayman Island vacation with a new wife who doesn't really seem all that upset by his death. She is trying to get into the storage unit which is owned by Trish and her handsome husband Max. Steffie tries to use her feminine assets to get her own way, but Max is stays loyal to his vows.
Trish does have a tendency to get into trouble and her husband's family is not impressed with her small town ways. Several time she is questioned by the police and still hasn't told her husband the secret she is keeping because its possible her brother is responsible for removing the stop sign that killed his wife.
The teenage daughter expresses her unhappiness about her dad's public display of affection and doesn't hide it even though they have been married for more than 5 years. They share a miracle child who is in kindergarten.
Trish feels the need to investigate all possible suspects even though threats have been made to her and someone tried to break into the home. She hasn't been feeling well either getting sick in the morning and feels nauseated.
She feels the stress of finding a dead body and the unhappiness of her stepdaughter is to blame. She would like to spend some alone time with her husband and tell him everything and not keep any secrets.
The world has other plans and the killer turns out to be someone not on her suspect list.

[Kaz]

I was wandering through the library and saw book 3 in this series. The blurb on the back of the book was very funny and I thought this author might be just my cup of tea (blurb was full of puns). I usually don’t mind starting a series out of order, but since book 1 was right there next to it, I grabbed it. And this is NOT my cup of tea.
I do like cozy mysteries, and the crime/investigation in this one was kind of interesting, but I couldn’t help thinking that this book needed another editor.
All in all, what turned me off was the religious aspect to the main character, which isn’t bad writing, it’s just not what I want to read about. It seemed a bit weird to me that the religious aspects didn’t impact the story, or even flesh out the character(s). Was it there to help imply Trish is a good woman? I don’t know, because that’s not what it implied to me.
If you don’t mind a bit of religion tossed in with your cozy mysteries, this might be a good choice for you.

[Mary Ann]

Four times I started to read this book, then I'd just stop...I just couldn't stick with it. Finally, I decided not to buy any books until I'd read the ones I had. This book was the first one I tackled after making that promise to myself. I'm glad I finished it. It's what I call a light-hearted mystery... One where I never felt that the protagonist was ever in danger. Very quick read, I finished it in a day. If you're looking for suspense, there's not much here, in my opinion. However, it was a nice break from the Collen Coblentz series I'd just completed.

[Susan]

Trish Cunningham finds the supermarket pharmacist dead in the milk case while doing her shopping, and is reluctant to admit that he had just started blackmailing her, claiming her kid brother was responsible for the death of her husband's first wife. In addition to her terrible temper, Trish has to contend with her stepdaughter's rancor, police suspicions, and a sketchy journalist who claims to want an interview with her. Trish's nagging mother, and her fear of her socialite in-laws complicate her life further.

[Lyn Anderson]

I have never read a Christian murder mystery before. It was a good read, with normal people depicted in it. Now to find the other 2 in the series.

[Mandy P.]

I appreciated that the main characters were Christians and how that added to the drama in their lives, but there was a lot of drama. There was not much focus on the mystery.

[April]

quirky good mystery read 😊

[Paula Ratcliffe]

When Trish Cunningham wife of Maxwell Cunningham discovers dead Jim Bob Jenkins in the milk case she is determined to find out what happened and to keep a secret about her brother and his street sign in his room. What she doesn't know is there is no shortage of suspects in this book.

Jim Bob Jenkins is blackmailing numerous people. He seems to have dirt on everyone in town and is even blackmailing families all over the same secret. Trish is also having some stomach issues which do resolve as to what they are towards the end of the book.

This book was definitely different with a cozy aspect. Trish is as far from an amateur sleuth as they come. She works at her husband public storage, which Jim Bob's wife is trying desperately to get into. She tries to charm many into taking her where she wants to get but finds herself out of luck on more than one occasion. Trish is also dealing with one angry teen, Karen Max's daughter with his late wife. Karen is mad and taking everything out on Trish until Trish learns what she is really angry at.

This book also had a religious aspect as Trish and Max are religious parents who go to church, teach Sunday School and are very involved with their kids, and family life. It was a great cozy mystery I thoroughly enjoyed!

[Robyn]

I'm related to the author!! I've always wanted to say that! Ok, ok....its not exactly my sister or anything. Try my mother's, cousin's daughter. I think that's it. Are we even still related at that point? At any rate....

This is a fun read. A light hearted mystery with a touch of faith. I loved the main character. Even though more open with faith then I am, something that tends to make me uncomfortable, I really like her. She wasNOT perfect!! So great to see in a good-hearted character. She admits to beating kids up as a child! hysterical!! I love an imperfect main character especially when they can admit their flaws and mistakes.!!
A very enjoyable read!

[Hemant Jain]

An interesting novel where a housewife and a struggling 'step-mom' not only comes across a dead man in the super market ... but also manages to become a suspect.

She begins her own investigation to clear herself and others from various blames and ends up sowing seeds of becoming a future 'investigator' !!

[Lynn]

This is a clean Christian mystery.. I am spiritual not religious, so the praying and such was ??...

Other than that it was a good story line. I think I found 1 typo in it. Other wise it was good..

[Dianne Sidebottom]

Cunningham's were a delightful family to get to know.... and the town's locals. What would it be like if you came upon a dead body what, how, would you react. Police force that wanted answers n even wanted to know your secrets... interesting tale to tell. Max sure did love Trish.

[Mascanlon]

A fun, easy read new cozy.

[Cindy]

Good book by a new author to me. I'm looking forward to reading more by her!

[Paige]

Highly enjoyable first in the Trisha Cunnigham series. Plot well thought out and written, kept me interested throughout and starting on her second. Hope for more Mrs.C in the near future.