What do you think?
Rate this book
Farm-to-Fork #4.5
Penned In
Angie Turner, chef at Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant, has organized a team-building event at a haunted prison, only to find a real-life murderer in their midst. . . .
Contented employees make for a successful restaurant, which is why the County Seat’s crew goes on a quarterly out-of-office meeting. This time, the location is the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills, a prison brimming with ghostly lore. The lock-in features actors role-playing as guards, fascinating prison stories . . . and an unscripted murder.
Who sentenced one of the faux guards to a very authentic death? Angie, her boyfriend, and the County Seat gang are locked in with a killer—excellent motivation for a little sleuthing. Between ghostly apparitions and flesh-and-blood suspects, Angie’s plate is full, but will her luck, and her life, hold out until the gates reopen at dawn?
Contented employees make for a successful restaurant, which is why the County Seat’s crew goes on a quarterly out-of-office meeting. This time, the location is the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills, a prison brimming with ghostly lore. The lock-in features actors role-playing as guards, fascinating prison stories . . . and an unscripted murder.
Who sentenced one of the faux guards to a very authentic death? Angie, her boyfriend, and the County Seat gang are locked in with a killer—excellent motivation for a little sleuthing. Between ghostly apparitions and flesh-and-blood suspects, Angie’s plate is full, but will her luck, and her life, hold out until the gates reopen at dawn?
92 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2020
280 people are currently reading
1242 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Cahoon
105 books2,399 followersNYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, writes the Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer, Farm-to-Fork, Kitchen Witch, Survivors' Book Club, the Haunted Life, and the Bainbridge Island cozy mystery series. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
July 7, 2020
Penned In is the latest book in the Farm-to-Fork mystery series written by Lynn Cahoon. It's the fifth tale in the series, considered a novella at under 1000 Kindle lines, and will be published just in time for Halloween this year. The restaurant staff in this Idaho-based cozy hold a team-building event inside a local prison that now gives tours. The seven main characters are thrust together with four guards and a group of other attendees, but someone turns up dead. Whodunnit?
What a perfect locked door theme! Only 12 to 15 people could've been involved, and we know the main cast is innocent, so it had to be a handful of people we met in the first few chapters, right? Or is it the mysterious ghost of a prisoner who went nuts and killed her fellow inmates when something was stolen from her? Either way, the plot was fun... interesting relationships between the guards and the guests made it more curious too.
The writing is fine, the length is perfect for a quick 1-hour read before bed. Save it for a spooky time. Think about the effects, enjoy the camaraderie between the restaurant workers, and try to figure out who had the most to gain by someone's death. It's easy to solve in one way, difficult in another. A good way to whet our appetite in between regular editions in the series. Thanks NetGalley!
What a perfect locked door theme! Only 12 to 15 people could've been involved, and we know the main cast is innocent, so it had to be a handful of people we met in the first few chapters, right? Or is it the mysterious ghost of a prisoner who went nuts and killed her fellow inmates when something was stolen from her? Either way, the plot was fun... interesting relationships between the guards and the guests made it more curious too.
The writing is fine, the length is perfect for a quick 1-hour read before bed. Save it for a spooky time. Think about the effects, enjoy the camaraderie between the restaurant workers, and try to figure out who had the most to gain by someone's death. It's easy to solve in one way, difficult in another. A good way to whet our appetite in between regular editions in the series. Thanks NetGalley!
October 17, 2020
I was looking for something light to read and found out that Kate Baxter read the book "One Potato, Two Potato, Dead" (Farm-to-Fork Mystery # 3) by Lynn Cahoon. I looked for this author on Scribd.com and found some cozy mystery books by her. So I decided to read the book with the smallest number of pages to see if I'd be able to understand the text in English since I'm studying this language by myself. I read this novella and listened to the audio on Scribd.com and learned so many phrasal verbs and idioms! For me, the only problem with this book is that the dog Dom has only quite little role in solving the murder. This was my first cozy mystery and I loved this kind of book!
September 9, 2020
Penned In by Lynn Cahoon is the second companion novella in the cozy Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. There are also four full length books in the series in addition to the two novellas with this second novella coming after the fourth full length book. Each of the books in the series however could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so with all containing their own mystery that is solved within. There is always a bit of character building carrying over from book to book though for those who follow from the beginning.
In this series Angie Turner has moved back to her hometown in rural Idaho after her grandmother’s passing and opened up a new restaurant, the County Seat. Angie’s restaurant has really taken off in the small town offering fresh ingredients straight from the surrounding farms. Angie has also gotten pretty good at solving the murders that keep turning up in the area although she keeps hoping to be done with her crime solving.
This time around Angie and her employees of the County Seat restaurant have planned to have their quarterly out of office meeting at the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills. This team building excursion was said to be full of fun with a lock-in featuring actors role-playing as guards and lots of prison stories. However, what the team did not expect was one of the fake guards to end up really dead by the way of murder so of course being locked in with the latest corpse Angie needs to find the killer fast before they find her or her friends.
I have followed the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series from the very beginning so with that being said it’s probably pretty obvious that I do enjoy these characters and stories. The series is one that has that great combination of quirky fun and small town charm that I like to find in a cozy read. This latest novella also has some eerie scares being set in the old jail while telling some scary tales to bring on a nice fall Halloween feel to it which I loved. I’ll definitely be back for more as long as the series continues too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In this series Angie Turner has moved back to her hometown in rural Idaho after her grandmother’s passing and opened up a new restaurant, the County Seat. Angie’s restaurant has really taken off in the small town offering fresh ingredients straight from the surrounding farms. Angie has also gotten pretty good at solving the murders that keep turning up in the area although she keeps hoping to be done with her crime solving.
This time around Angie and her employees of the County Seat restaurant have planned to have their quarterly out of office meeting at the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills. This team building excursion was said to be full of fun with a lock-in featuring actors role-playing as guards and lots of prison stories. However, what the team did not expect was one of the fake guards to end up really dead by the way of murder so of course being locked in with the latest corpse Angie needs to find the killer fast before they find her or her friends.
I have followed the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series from the very beginning so with that being said it’s probably pretty obvious that I do enjoy these characters and stories. The series is one that has that great combination of quirky fun and small town charm that I like to find in a cozy read. This latest novella also has some eerie scares being set in the old jail while telling some scary tales to bring on a nice fall Halloween feel to it which I loved. I’ll definitely be back for more as long as the series continues too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 28, 2020
In this spooky Halloween novella, Angie Turner hosts a team meeting of her County Seat Restaurant staff in the Idaho foothills at an old, haunted penitentiary site. Locked inside for 24 hours with no cell phones and a murderer among them—who they gonna call—when a ghost appears?
It’s a frighteningly fun short story just perfect for Halloween!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington. Thank you.
It’s a frighteningly fun short story just perfect for Halloween!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington. Thank you.
August 7, 2020
Penned In is a quick fun read that is a great addition to the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. The County Seat crew is having a team building out of the office get together. It is Matt's turn to pick the venue and he has picked a overnight lock up in the Old Idaho Penitentiary. The guards are all actors and are taking their job seriously but things don't seem quite right between two of the guys, especially when one turns up dead. This is the beginning of a tense night in a dark locked up prison that doesn't open until 6 AM with other guests and the guards.
Enjoy a scary time as Angie and friends try to find out who the killer is and try to stay safe.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
Enjoy a scary time as Angie and friends try to find out who the killer is and try to stay safe.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
May 19, 2020
The County Seat crew are doing one of their team building exercises and this time they have elected to get locked into a supposedly haunted historical penitentiary, but it all goes awry when the screaming starts and a body drops. This book read so quickly that it felt more like a novella than a full book, but it could be that the story was so compelling that I just kept turning pages to see what happened next too quickly! I have to say that I wasn't sure about the premise when I started reading, but I absolutely love the characters in this series and the plot line was entertaining! It drew me in and kept me reading until I finished the last page! I love the interaction between the characters and felt that this book developed some of the auxiliary characters even more. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! I'm definitely giving this one 5 stars for the further introduction to the entire team. I really feel connected to these characters even more so after this book!
January 30, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A kitchen crew goes on a team building exercise, by spending Halloween night in an old haunted prison. Soon enough, there's a murder. The team scrambles to figure out who did it, with some ghostly assistance.
Not bad, if a bit short.
A kitchen crew goes on a team building exercise, by spending Halloween night in an old haunted prison. Soon enough, there's a murder. The team scrambles to figure out who did it, with some ghostly assistance.
Not bad, if a bit short.
June 3, 2020
Penned In was a quick and spooky read. Angie finds herself entangled in a ghostly murder mystery that was exciting to read. Choosing a prison for a team building exercise was questionable to me but made for a thrilling time.This story was not short of suspense. I only part I did not enjoy was when one of the chefs turned into the ghost. A little overkill for the story and my beliefs in the paranormal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2020
Mini Review: Penned In is a Halloween/Fall novella and book 4.5 in the series. While I wish the book was longer (as I love the Farm-to-Fork mystery series) this was a cute "who-dun-it" short. Angie and the gang are back in this installment, and while staying at a lock in at a nearby prison, find that a murder just occurred! Who could have done it when they are all in this together? You'll have to read to find out!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 3, 2021
A clever title for the newest in A Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. The County Seat employees are having a team building experience by going to a lock-in at the haunted Old Idaho Penitentiary. They wound up getting a lot more than they bargained for when they ended up locked in with a murderer and a ghost.
I really enjoy this series and the group dynamics of the characters who work at The County Seat. I missed that this shortened story does not leave much room for character development. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoy this series and the group dynamics of the characters who work at The County Seat. I missed that this shortened story does not leave much room for character development. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 8, 2020
Penned In is a Halloween novella to keep us happy while waiting for the next full length novel in the Farm to Fork mystery series. In this story, Angie and her team are on one of their team building outings. This time, they are spending the night locked in at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, known as The Haunted Prison. Not my idea of a team building activity, but then, they are a lot younger than I am. Of course, there is a murder and being as they are all locked in, it has to be someone spending the night. This is a short, fun, locked room mystery that Angie and her team are able to sort out. As usual with Lynn Cahoon's books, I was unable to figure out who the culprit was. I enjoyed watching the group investigate this murder in a very small and enclosed space. The reveal was great and unexpected. I would have loved this one to be longer, but it was enjoyable and an easy afternoon read. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
August 13, 2020
Penned In
Farm-To-Fork Mystery, Book #4.5
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Angie Turner, chef at Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant, has organized a team-building event at a haunted prison, only to find a real-life murderer in their midst. . . .
Contented employees make for a successful restaurant, which is why the County Seat’s crew goes on a quarterly out-of-office meeting. This time, the location is the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills, a prison brimming with ghostly lore. The lock-in features actors role-playing as guards, fascinating prison stories . . . and an unscripted murder.
Who sentenced one of the faux guards to a very authentic death? Angie, her boyfriend, and the County Seat gang are locked in with a killer—excellent motivation for a little sleuthing. Between ghostly apparitions and flesh-and-blood suspects, Angie’s plate is full, but will her luck, and her life, hold out until the gates reopen at dawn?
Praise for Lynn Cahoon's Tourist Trap Mysteries
“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.”
—Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries
“Lynn Cahoon has created an absorbing, good fun mystery in Mission to Murder.”
—Fresh Fiction
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. For their quarterly team building trip, they decide to go to the Old Idaho Penitentiary. They are going to spend the night in the prison, which is said to be haunted. What could possibly go wrong? Angie and her employees are locked in the prison with a killer and they will have to solve the mystery before the prison door closes for good.
The author is very talented in her descriptive and these descriptions helped me get a clear picture in my mind. The writing style flows smoothly and the novella is a quick easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved.
I would highly recommend this whole series to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what adventure awaits them next.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Farm-To-Fork Mystery, Book #4.5
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Angie Turner, chef at Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant, has organized a team-building event at a haunted prison, only to find a real-life murderer in their midst. . . .
Contented employees make for a successful restaurant, which is why the County Seat’s crew goes on a quarterly out-of-office meeting. This time, the location is the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills, a prison brimming with ghostly lore. The lock-in features actors role-playing as guards, fascinating prison stories . . . and an unscripted murder.
Who sentenced one of the faux guards to a very authentic death? Angie, her boyfriend, and the County Seat gang are locked in with a killer—excellent motivation for a little sleuthing. Between ghostly apparitions and flesh-and-blood suspects, Angie’s plate is full, but will her luck, and her life, hold out until the gates reopen at dawn?
Praise for Lynn Cahoon's Tourist Trap Mysteries
“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.”
—Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries
“Lynn Cahoon has created an absorbing, good fun mystery in Mission to Murder.”
—Fresh Fiction
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. For their quarterly team building trip, they decide to go to the Old Idaho Penitentiary. They are going to spend the night in the prison, which is said to be haunted. What could possibly go wrong? Angie and her employees are locked in the prison with a killer and they will have to solve the mystery before the prison door closes for good.
The author is very talented in her descriptive and these descriptions helped me get a clear picture in my mind. The writing style flows smoothly and the novella is a quick easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved.
I would highly recommend this whole series to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what adventure awaits them next.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
October 26, 2020
Although this is book 4.5, this is my first book in this series. I had no problems following the story. This is a fun novella that is perfect for the spooky season. The characters are interesting, and the mystery was full of twists and turns. I wish the story was a little longer since I was enjoying reading it. I will definitely read more of this series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
September 22, 2020
The “A Farm-To-Fork Mystery” restaurant series is one of my favorites. Having a new novella, Penned In, to read in between full-length books and just before Halloween, cements it as a fantastic series and a compelling, enjoyable read at any time of the year. Time spent with these books is never wasted or a disappointment. They are exquisite in every way.
Characters such as Angie, Ian, as well as the County Seat’s crew, are all well defined, easy to like, and keep readers on their toes. The premise of this story and, indeed, all of the books in this series are always easy to understand and follow. The restaurant doesn’t play a big part in this short book, but it is still seen via the crew who keep customers coming back. This is a Halloween, ghost, and team-building exercise for Angie and company, and readers will thrill at the spooky prison, ghostly history, and the murder mystery.
Suspects are limited to those who get locked into the penitentiary and the guards (actors) who keep the feel authentic. The victim was the biggest surprise, the killer was easy to figure out, but the motive was elusive for most of the book. Ms. Cahoon has a way of telling and unraveling a story that makes readers want to join in the investigation, eat at her restaurant, and solve a murder. It comes as no surprise when Angie and her faithful sidekicks find the killer just in time while they are in danger of becoming a piece of the prison’s infamy.
I am ecstatic to recommend Penned In to readers who love a good who-done-it, with engaging characters and situations, restaurant food and recipes that will have them running to the kitchen, and a storyteller who knows how to grab her audience’s attention and keeps it exactly where it needs to be.
Characters such as Angie, Ian, as well as the County Seat’s crew, are all well defined, easy to like, and keep readers on their toes. The premise of this story and, indeed, all of the books in this series are always easy to understand and follow. The restaurant doesn’t play a big part in this short book, but it is still seen via the crew who keep customers coming back. This is a Halloween, ghost, and team-building exercise for Angie and company, and readers will thrill at the spooky prison, ghostly history, and the murder mystery.
Suspects are limited to those who get locked into the penitentiary and the guards (actors) who keep the feel authentic. The victim was the biggest surprise, the killer was easy to figure out, but the motive was elusive for most of the book. Ms. Cahoon has a way of telling and unraveling a story that makes readers want to join in the investigation, eat at her restaurant, and solve a murder. It comes as no surprise when Angie and her faithful sidekicks find the killer just in time while they are in danger of becoming a piece of the prison’s infamy.
I am ecstatic to recommend Penned In to readers who love a good who-done-it, with engaging characters and situations, restaurant food and recipes that will have them running to the kitchen, and a storyteller who knows how to grab her audience’s attention and keeps it exactly where it needs to be.
August 17, 2020
This is the first book that I have read in this series and I would recommend starting with Book 1. I had no idea who anyone was and got somewhat confused. However, I really enjoyed the storyline and where the story took place. The characters were great and I really got caught up in the book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley.
June 6, 2020
Angie Turner and her County Seat restaurant crew, have a team building exercise....overnight...in a 'haunted' prison accompanied by her dog Dom. It had been Matt's turn to pick. Surprise.
The crew along with the prison's employees and a few other guests are locked in overnight. It's too bad, one's a murderer and there's a few suspects until the ghost helps Angie and crew narrow it down.
Fun cozy with paranormal elements.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse gratis and offer my opinion in the same spirit.
The crew along with the prison's employees and a few other guests are locked in overnight. It's too bad, one's a murderer and there's a few suspects until the ghost helps Angie and crew narrow it down.
Fun cozy with paranormal elements.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse gratis and offer my opinion in the same spirit.
October 13, 2020
Short, but good story with Angie and her gang. Nice story to read before Halloween with it's haunted prison.
September 26, 2020
Even though I have only read one other book in Lynn Cahoon's Farm-to-Fork Mystery series set in a restaurant, 'The County Seat' in Idaho, I still jumped at the opportunity to read this one, Penned In as I enjoy a well written cosy, and this looked like it fitted the bill.
Angie Turner runs her own restaurant alongside her best friend, Felicia. In this novella, Angie, believing that her team are in need of a spot of team building, has organised an event which is due to take place at the Old Idaho Prison. The exercise is in the form of a locked-in affair featuring prison anecdotes and role-playing. When a fake prison warden dies under suspicious circumstances, Angie is perfectly placed to look into the murder case herself to find out the identity of the perpetrator, hopefully before (s)he strikes again.
Although there is some character building in these stories I had no difficulties keeping up with characters and events, and this book can be enjoyed as an individual instalment. The plot was fun and lively and some interesting relationships between the wardens and the guests helped to make it a compelling tale. There was some great camaraderie between the restaurant workers, and events moved along at a comfortable pace. The mystery itself was fantastic and whilst the choice of viable suspects was fairly limited, the ending was still a surprise to me. I had a blast reading this highly amusing and entertaining cozy mystery and I'm already looking forward to catching up with Angie and her cohorts in book #5, Killer Comfort Food, as well as grabbing copies of the books I've missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Angie Turner runs her own restaurant alongside her best friend, Felicia. In this novella, Angie, believing that her team are in need of a spot of team building, has organised an event which is due to take place at the Old Idaho Prison. The exercise is in the form of a locked-in affair featuring prison anecdotes and role-playing. When a fake prison warden dies under suspicious circumstances, Angie is perfectly placed to look into the murder case herself to find out the identity of the perpetrator, hopefully before (s)he strikes again.
Although there is some character building in these stories I had no difficulties keeping up with characters and events, and this book can be enjoyed as an individual instalment. The plot was fun and lively and some interesting relationships between the wardens and the guests helped to make it a compelling tale. There was some great camaraderie between the restaurant workers, and events moved along at a comfortable pace. The mystery itself was fantastic and whilst the choice of viable suspects was fairly limited, the ending was still a surprise to me. I had a blast reading this highly amusing and entertaining cozy mystery and I'm already looking forward to catching up with Angie and her cohorts in book #5, Killer Comfort Food, as well as grabbing copies of the books I've missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 17, 2020
Penned In is a quick fun novella by author Lynn Cahoon set in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. This author does a fantastic job with the novella in each of her series. She gives her readers a satisfying return to Idaho for a quick adventure with Angie Turner and her staff. It is getting close to Halloween and it's time for the quarterly team-building exercise. So, what better way to spend it than in an old haunted former Idaho penitentiary. Ms. Cahoon has created some terrific characters and I love to see them grow with each new installment. Of course, as one would expect, not everything goes as planned and soon there is a dead body and a mystery to solve. There is a touch of the otherworldly, but it wouldn't be a Halloween novella without some nod to the spooky.
The author also does a great job with the mystery, which kept me engaged and guessing until the end. Because Angie, her staff, a few other guests, and the employees of the prison are locked in for the night, there is a finite pool of suspects to choose from. However, that doesn't mean it made it easy to figure out the killer.
This was a quick fun read in a series that I really enjoy. It left me satisfied until we can get the next full-length book in this series from the author.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced review copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
The author also does a great job with the mystery, which kept me engaged and guessing until the end. Because Angie, her staff, a few other guests, and the employees of the prison are locked in for the night, there is a finite pool of suspects to choose from. However, that doesn't mean it made it easy to figure out the killer.
This was a quick fun read in a series that I really enjoy. It left me satisfied until we can get the next full-length book in this series from the author.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced review copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
August 14, 2020
Penned In by Lynn Cahoon is a quick, easy to read novella from the Farm to Fork mystery series.
Angie and her crew are on another team building exercise. This time they are going to be locked in an old, haunted prison. They will be in cells and treated as prisoners with actual guards making rounds. When one of the guards is found murdered with his keys and phone missing, everyone is on alert. They have no way to contact anyone on the outside until morning and a lot can happen during the night.
This is a perfect read for Halloween! You are kept guessing until the end. There are plenty of plot twists, great characters, and a ghost.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley for an honest review.
Angie and her crew are on another team building exercise. This time they are going to be locked in an old, haunted prison. They will be in cells and treated as prisoners with actual guards making rounds. When one of the guards is found murdered with his keys and phone missing, everyone is on alert. They have no way to contact anyone on the outside until morning and a lot can happen during the night.
This is a perfect read for Halloween! You are kept guessing until the end. There are plenty of plot twists, great characters, and a ghost.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley for an honest review.
August 5, 2020
In this fun short the gang from the County Seat is off on their quarterly out of the office meeting. This outing takes them to the old Idaho Penitentiary, a prison that is suppose to be haunted by ghosts. The gang will be staying overnight in cells as if they themselves were actual prisoners. Everyone is excited by the tour and learn quite a bit about the old prison. Soon everyone is locked into their cells and get settled in for the night. When a noise awakens Angie she decides to figure out where it came from and who made it. She soon comes across the body of one of the guards and realizes there is a mystery to be solved. Follow along as Angie and her gang look for clues in hopes of figuring out who the killer is before someone else ends up dead. This was a fun short read that was filled with a wonderful mystery to be solved!
September 1, 2020
I was looking for a short, fallish read between books, and this was perfect! I’ve read Lynn Cahoon’s other series, but this was the first in the Farm-to-Fork collection. It certainly won’t be the last. I really enjoyed the spooky setting and lively cast of characters, not to mention the hint of a ghost, and had no problem picking the book up mid-series. Lots of fun and a quick read!
August 6, 2020
I love these little novella's that are sandwiched in between the full-size books.
In this outing, Angie, Ian and company are spending the night in a local "haunted" prison as part of their quarterly team building exercise [WHAT this has to do with that is beyond me]. They are barely there and locked in when disaster strikes and they have just a short period of time to try and figure it out while also staying alive. Several red herrings make this a fun little romp and the reveal is believable and kind of sad.
A fun read that just sets you up for the full length book - which I cannot wait for; I have ended up really liking this crew and their mysteries. Such a fun series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In this outing, Angie, Ian and company are spending the night in a local "haunted" prison as part of their quarterly team building exercise [WHAT this has to do with that is beyond me]. They are barely there and locked in when disaster strikes and they have just a short period of time to try and figure it out while also staying alive. Several red herrings make this a fun little romp and the reveal is believable and kind of sad.
A fun read that just sets you up for the full length book - which I cannot wait for; I have ended up really liking this crew and their mysteries. Such a fun series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2021
These mini stories are so fun! It is nice sometimes to have a quick read
May 1, 2020
I enjoyed this story. It's a ghost story with an everyday murder. I'm not sure why the murder happened, that was kind of confusing in the book but the ghost part was great. #PennedIn #NetGalley
August 25, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/p...
Penned In
Farm-to-Fork Mystery #5
By Lynn Cahoon
ASIN: B07ZPKM799
lynncahoon.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Angie Turner, chef at Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant, has organized a team-building event at a haunted prison, only to find a real-life murderer in their midst. . . .
Contented employees make for a successful restaurant, which is why the County Seat’s crew goes on a quarterly out-of-office meeting. This time, the location is the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills, a prison brimming with ghostly lore. The lock-in features actors role-playing as guards, fascinating prison stories . . . and an unscripted murder.
Who sentenced one of the faux guards to a very authentic death? Angie, her boyfriend, and the County Seat gang are locked in with a killer—excellent motivation for a little sleuthing. Between ghostly apparitions and flesh-and-blood suspects, Angie’s plate is full, but will her luck, and her life, hold out until the gates reopen at dawn?
Review:
It takes a unique talent to pack an entire novel-length cozy mystery into a novella, and Lynn Cahoon is up to the challenge in this night before Halloween tale. I have enjoyed full-length novels in The Farm-to-Fork Mystery series and like the restaurant, characters, overall setting. While I am familiar with the characters, the author includes a sufficient overview of Angie, her staff, her boyfriend Ian, and lovable Saint Bernard, Dom. I did miss seeing the restaurant this time, but the setting more than makes up for it. I did not figure out who the bad guy was in this fast-paced tale but did enjoy each step of the way!
It is time for the quarterly staff team-building event, and Matt has chosen the location and made reservations. The County Seat, Angie and Felicia’s upscale restaurant, pays for the costs and the wages of the staff while “inside”. And indeed, they are inside this time! They will be locked “inside” the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise, where people can be “sentenced” for a night. The County Seat team and Ian will spend the night in lockup with seven other “residents” and four folks playing guard duty. It is the night before Halloween, a night when ghosts of the past are reputed to be the most active. The most notable former resident who might be wandering is Lyda Southard, and this is the night she typically makes her presence known.
The “residents” are trying to relax in their respective cells and hear a scream. When the group tracks down the source, they find one of the guards outside the library in a pool of blood. Pat, one of the two guards that were arguing earlier in the evening, was dead, murdered. They attempted to find the other guards and located two. Unfortunately, only one cell phone and key was allotted per shift. Both had been on the dead guard earlier but could not be found. Worst case, they would have to wait until the gates automatically open at 6 AM, leaving them still locked in the old west prison for the rest of the night with a killer.
The characters are defined perfectly. Favorites are Angie, in part due to love of her pets and care for people in her employ, and Estebe, because of his desire to protect the staff, including Hope, the newest prep cook and their former dishwasher. The guards and other guests, including two couples who were just married that day, are among the mysteries.
Plot twists and turns keep the suspect list a moving target! On one hand, our County Seat friends simply want to finish the night and leave; on the other hand, at least one killer is locked in with them. When it seems like Nancy, another chef, has been taken over by the ghost of Lyda, is there an unseen something involved? I did not figure out the real bad guy, or even have an adequate suspect list, and had quite the surprise at the end, in more ways than one! I highly recommend this exciting Halloween tale!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Penned In
Farm-to-Fork Mystery #5
By Lynn Cahoon
ASIN: B07ZPKM799
lynncahoon.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Angie Turner, chef at Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant, has organized a team-building event at a haunted prison, only to find a real-life murderer in their midst. . . .
Contented employees make for a successful restaurant, which is why the County Seat’s crew goes on a quarterly out-of-office meeting. This time, the location is the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills, a prison brimming with ghostly lore. The lock-in features actors role-playing as guards, fascinating prison stories . . . and an unscripted murder.
Who sentenced one of the faux guards to a very authentic death? Angie, her boyfriend, and the County Seat gang are locked in with a killer—excellent motivation for a little sleuthing. Between ghostly apparitions and flesh-and-blood suspects, Angie’s plate is full, but will her luck, and her life, hold out until the gates reopen at dawn?
Review:
It takes a unique talent to pack an entire novel-length cozy mystery into a novella, and Lynn Cahoon is up to the challenge in this night before Halloween tale. I have enjoyed full-length novels in The Farm-to-Fork Mystery series and like the restaurant, characters, overall setting. While I am familiar with the characters, the author includes a sufficient overview of Angie, her staff, her boyfriend Ian, and lovable Saint Bernard, Dom. I did miss seeing the restaurant this time, but the setting more than makes up for it. I did not figure out who the bad guy was in this fast-paced tale but did enjoy each step of the way!
It is time for the quarterly staff team-building event, and Matt has chosen the location and made reservations. The County Seat, Angie and Felicia’s upscale restaurant, pays for the costs and the wages of the staff while “inside”. And indeed, they are inside this time! They will be locked “inside” the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise, where people can be “sentenced” for a night. The County Seat team and Ian will spend the night in lockup with seven other “residents” and four folks playing guard duty. It is the night before Halloween, a night when ghosts of the past are reputed to be the most active. The most notable former resident who might be wandering is Lyda Southard, and this is the night she typically makes her presence known.
The “residents” are trying to relax in their respective cells and hear a scream. When the group tracks down the source, they find one of the guards outside the library in a pool of blood. Pat, one of the two guards that were arguing earlier in the evening, was dead, murdered. They attempted to find the other guards and located two. Unfortunately, only one cell phone and key was allotted per shift. Both had been on the dead guard earlier but could not be found. Worst case, they would have to wait until the gates automatically open at 6 AM, leaving them still locked in the old west prison for the rest of the night with a killer.
The characters are defined perfectly. Favorites are Angie, in part due to love of her pets and care for people in her employ, and Estebe, because of his desire to protect the staff, including Hope, the newest prep cook and their former dishwasher. The guards and other guests, including two couples who were just married that day, are among the mysteries.
Plot twists and turns keep the suspect list a moving target! On one hand, our County Seat friends simply want to finish the night and leave; on the other hand, at least one killer is locked in with them. When it seems like Nancy, another chef, has been taken over by the ghost of Lyda, is there an unseen something involved? I did not figure out the real bad guy, or even have an adequate suspect list, and had quite the surprise at the end, in more ways than one! I highly recommend this exciting Halloween tale!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
August 8, 2020
What a way to spend the night before Halloween, penned in the pen! The historic Old Idaho Penitentiary has not held sentenced “residents” for years, but they do take in groups of people who want to experience a night of what it would be like to stay at the old west prison. Owners and staff at The County Seat, the highly successful farm-to-fork restaurant, are having their quarterly employee “event” there as chosen by one of the staff. I enjoyed reading the history of the prison, but don’t know if I would want to spend a night there.
This novella is written with excellence, with a full novel of goodies stuffed in! It is not necessary to be familiar with the characters from earlier novels as the author efficiently defines all the regulars. I enjoyed visiting Angie and the gang, her boyfriend, Ian, and Dom, her year-old Saint Bernard. The story is enhanced with great descriptors of the area around the pen as well as the interior. While in some ways, it sounds like a fun outing, I think I would have to pass after seeing the events unfolding!
The County Seat crew and the other “guests” for the evening have to leave cell phones and almost everything else in the lockers, located outside the locked doors of the stone building. Too late, they learned that the guards locked in with them had only one cell phone and one copy of the entry/ exit key. After the visitors have a tour, including the gallows room and the gun collection, and eat the picnic they brought with them, they are set up in cells throughout to spend the night.
All seemed to be going according to plan when a scream was heard. Angie and her crew attempted to find the source when they located one of the four guards, dead. The cell phone he had on his belt earlier is gone. They were able to locate only two of the missing guards and did a search. There was a killer locked in with them for the rest of the night. While one of the other visitors was a frequent flyer of jails, he wasn’t a violent man. There are comments made about one of the most notorious former inmates of the prison, a woman, whose ghost was rumored to be seen on this night almost every year. Angie typically never lets go of an investigation, but this time she just wants to get through the night and get out when the door automatically opens.
I did not come anywhere near guessing whodunit! I enjoyed watching the action; the story keeps a steady pace throughout. All too soon it was over, and I had some surprises that I had not even considered! I highly recommend this to fans of the author and series, as well as those who enjoy cozy mysteries set around Halloween with a slight paranormal flavor and interesting, historical places to visit.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
This novella is written with excellence, with a full novel of goodies stuffed in! It is not necessary to be familiar with the characters from earlier novels as the author efficiently defines all the regulars. I enjoyed visiting Angie and the gang, her boyfriend, Ian, and Dom, her year-old Saint Bernard. The story is enhanced with great descriptors of the area around the pen as well as the interior. While in some ways, it sounds like a fun outing, I think I would have to pass after seeing the events unfolding!
The County Seat crew and the other “guests” for the evening have to leave cell phones and almost everything else in the lockers, located outside the locked doors of the stone building. Too late, they learned that the guards locked in with them had only one cell phone and one copy of the entry/ exit key. After the visitors have a tour, including the gallows room and the gun collection, and eat the picnic they brought with them, they are set up in cells throughout to spend the night.
All seemed to be going according to plan when a scream was heard. Angie and her crew attempted to find the source when they located one of the four guards, dead. The cell phone he had on his belt earlier is gone. They were able to locate only two of the missing guards and did a search. There was a killer locked in with them for the rest of the night. While one of the other visitors was a frequent flyer of jails, he wasn’t a violent man. There are comments made about one of the most notorious former inmates of the prison, a woman, whose ghost was rumored to be seen on this night almost every year. Angie typically never lets go of an investigation, but this time she just wants to get through the night and get out when the door automatically opens.
I did not come anywhere near guessing whodunit! I enjoyed watching the action; the story keeps a steady pace throughout. All too soon it was over, and I had some surprises that I had not even considered! I highly recommend this to fans of the author and series, as well as those who enjoy cozy mysteries set around Halloween with a slight paranormal flavor and interesting, historical places to visit.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
November 20, 2020
Who doesn't love a good locked-room mystery? Add in Halloween and a potentially haunted Old Idaho Penitentiary and it's a recipe for success.
Chef Angie Turner takes her restaurant staff to a team-building retreat. They rotate turns selecting the activity, and for Halloween it's a night spent exploring and sleeping in an old prison. The prison "guards" (who are essentially tour guides/actors/historians) seem weird and distracted. There might be a love triangle among them that's causing bad feelings. Angie notices the odd behavior right away, and to make things even stranger, some of the other people touring the prison that night are a bit weird themselves. Between the two newlywed couples spending their honeymoons in the jail and the old guy who seems to disappear periodically, Angie thinks her coworkers are the only "normal" ones there. When a dead body turns up, the guests need to figure out whodunnit before they end up victims themselves.
The prison itself is a great setting and the backstory of a female prisoner who became pregnant by a guard and was forced to give up the baby sets the tone for a spooky and possibly haunted location. Some of the guests are believers in the paranormal and others are definite skeptics. The secondary characters are all the right amount of weird so they all seem capable of murder, but nobody seems like an over-the-top psychopath. I was guessing until the end.
FTC disclosure: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Chef Angie Turner takes her restaurant staff to a team-building retreat. They rotate turns selecting the activity, and for Halloween it's a night spent exploring and sleeping in an old prison. The prison "guards" (who are essentially tour guides/actors/historians) seem weird and distracted. There might be a love triangle among them that's causing bad feelings. Angie notices the odd behavior right away, and to make things even stranger, some of the other people touring the prison that night are a bit weird themselves. Between the two newlywed couples spending their honeymoons in the jail and the old guy who seems to disappear periodically, Angie thinks her coworkers are the only "normal" ones there. When a dead body turns up, the guests need to figure out whodunnit before they end up victims themselves.
The prison itself is a great setting and the backstory of a female prisoner who became pregnant by a guard and was forced to give up the baby sets the tone for a spooky and possibly haunted location. Some of the guests are believers in the paranormal and others are definite skeptics. The secondary characters are all the right amount of weird so they all seem capable of murder, but nobody seems like an over-the-top psychopath. I was guessing until the end.
FTC disclosure: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
August 10, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the 4.5 novella in the Farm-to-Fork mystery series by Lynn Cahoon.
This novella goes by really fast. I wish it were longer. Even though it was a quick read, it was exciting. I couldn’t quite figure out what was team building about going to a prison, but who am I to judge?
The people at the County Seat are going on a team building exercise that is being held in an old haunted prison. Something just feels a bit off to the crew, then one of the guards turns up dead and they are all stuck inside with no keys, no flashlights and no way out until morning.
All the characters were interesting and well defined. There were a lot of suspects and that makes for a compelling mystery. I am digging this series and the smaller novellas really do make it easy to ease into a new series you aren’t as familiar with. Definitely a good offering for the reader.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the 4.5 novella in the Farm-to-Fork mystery series by Lynn Cahoon.
This novella goes by really fast. I wish it were longer. Even though it was a quick read, it was exciting. I couldn’t quite figure out what was team building about going to a prison, but who am I to judge?
The people at the County Seat are going on a team building exercise that is being held in an old haunted prison. Something just feels a bit off to the crew, then one of the guards turns up dead and they are all stuck inside with no keys, no flashlights and no way out until morning.
All the characters were interesting and well defined. There were a lot of suspects and that makes for a compelling mystery. I am digging this series and the smaller novellas really do make it easy to ease into a new series you aren’t as familiar with. Definitely a good offering for the reader.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
August 14, 2020
I received a copy Penned In through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Penned In is the latest installment of the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series and a Halloween themed novella. I’m Penned In the employees of the County Seat go on an employee bonding trip to a haunted old jail where you can be locked in for the night. The lock in ends in murder and Angie finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation.
I have really enjoyed the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series and I have to say I think Penned In is my favorite installation to date. I really enjoy Halloween themed mysteries and this novella definitely gives you that. I love the characters in this series and I enjoyed seeing how they worked together to solve this case. Penned In is a well written, fast paced mystery that I found hard to put down. It is definitely worth the time and so is the rest of the series if you haven’t tried it yet.
Penned In is the latest installment of the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series and a Halloween themed novella. I’m Penned In the employees of the County Seat go on an employee bonding trip to a haunted old jail where you can be locked in for the night. The lock in ends in murder and Angie finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation.
I have really enjoyed the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series and I have to say I think Penned In is my favorite installation to date. I really enjoy Halloween themed mysteries and this novella definitely gives you that. I love the characters in this series and I enjoyed seeing how they worked together to solve this case. Penned In is a well written, fast paced mystery that I found hard to put down. It is definitely worth the time and so is the rest of the series if you haven’t tried it yet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews