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Farm to Table Mysteries #1
Farm to Trouble
Coming home to a run-down farm, gossipy neighbors, and a shady investor is a lot to handle... but a murderer on the loose is the final straw!
Shiloh Bellamy cashed in her big city job and 401K to return home to Michigan to save the family farm, but turning Bellamy Farms into a sustainable, organic operation - complete with a farm-to-table café - is no small feat. Especially when her new investor is found dead among the flowers just hours after the contract is signed. Everyone knows her father had a grudge against the investor, and word travels fast in a small town...
Now, Shiloh must clear her family's name and track down the real killer before her organic farm dreams wilt before her very eyes. But with her father trying to stop any progress on his land, her cousin belittling her every effort, the farmhouse falling down around her, and the whole town believing her family at fault, Shiloh's small town troubles are growing much faster than her crops. She'll have to trust her own investigation or risk all her dreams drying up before they begin.
Shiloh Bellamy cashed in her big city job and 401K to return home to Michigan to save the family farm, but turning Bellamy Farms into a sustainable, organic operation - complete with a farm-to-table café - is no small feat. Especially when her new investor is found dead among the flowers just hours after the contract is signed. Everyone knows her father had a grudge against the investor, and word travels fast in a small town...
Now, Shiloh must clear her family's name and track down the real killer before her organic farm dreams wilt before her very eyes. But with her father trying to stop any progress on his land, her cousin belittling her every effort, the farmhouse falling down around her, and the whole town believing her family at fault, Shiloh's small town troubles are growing much faster than her crops. She'll have to trust her own investigation or risk all her dreams drying up before they begin.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 23, 2021
401 people are currently reading
2390 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Flower
61 books2,884 followersAmanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 490 reviews
January 15, 2023
This is a cozy mystery, and this is the first book in the Farm to Table Mystery. I have to say I really loved the mystery in this book. The characters where developed, and I loved getting to know them. I did not want to put this book down. I also love the farm parts of this book, but I live in the country and gardening a lot. There was twists and turns, and I did not see all of them coming. I cannot wait for book 2 in this series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Poisoned Pen Press) or author (Amanda Flower) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
February 22, 2021
What happens when an LA television producer returns home to save the family farm in Michigan? Well, for Shiloh, a lot of not great things, every one of them unexpected and I was impressed that she didn’t pack it in!
Shiloh hasn’t been home in 15 years, not once, but has cashed in all of her savings and quit her job to return to her childhood home and turn the farm around. One thing I noticed quickly was that everyone is mean to her, even her Dad, and like unreasonably mean. I know that the townspeople were supposed to be gossipy and singularly minded but I felt like this cozy was missing some coziness! The relationship with her Dad was not what I’m used to in a cozy either, they barely had any connection and I just felt kind of lousy for her. The plot took a long time to develop and there was a lot of her mowing the lawn, I think I was getting more stressed about her fixing up the farm then I was about the murder mystery. This mystery is a bit slow going but picks up midway through and I was more engaged.
I would have like more resolution at the end, we were left with a big chunk of the plot left as a cliffhanger and I am still stressed about the farm chores lol!
The shining star of the story was her pug Huckleberry, he was adorable!
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC, this book publishes on Feb 23rd!
Shiloh hasn’t been home in 15 years, not once, but has cashed in all of her savings and quit her job to return to her childhood home and turn the farm around. One thing I noticed quickly was that everyone is mean to her, even her Dad, and like unreasonably mean. I know that the townspeople were supposed to be gossipy and singularly minded but I felt like this cozy was missing some coziness! The relationship with her Dad was not what I’m used to in a cozy either, they barely had any connection and I just felt kind of lousy for her. The plot took a long time to develop and there was a lot of her mowing the lawn, I think I was getting more stressed about her fixing up the farm then I was about the murder mystery. This mystery is a bit slow going but picks up midway through and I was more engaged.
I would have like more resolution at the end, we were left with a big chunk of the plot left as a cliffhanger and I am still stressed about the farm chores lol!
The shining star of the story was her pug Huckleberry, he was adorable!
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC, this book publishes on Feb 23rd!
June 11, 2021
3.5⭐
A fun start with a new series by Amanda Flower. I enjoy her other series so I'm excited to check out a new farm-to-table cozy.
Shiloh Bellamy and her pug, Huckleberry move home from Los Angeles to save the family's farm. The town is facing threat from a man with money and power who wants to buy up lands for wind farms. However, some locals are against this idea due to the migration pattern for birds from Lake of Michigan. Set in Cherry Glen, Michigan, Shiloh's deal with the sleazeball moneyman had gone bad when he turns up dead.
I wouldn't say I'm loving this series (yet), but it's a good start. The neighbor (fireman) did pique my interest for the next one. 😁
A fun start with a new series by Amanda Flower. I enjoy her other series so I'm excited to check out a new farm-to-table cozy.
Shiloh Bellamy and her pug, Huckleberry move home from Los Angeles to save the family's farm. The town is facing threat from a man with money and power who wants to buy up lands for wind farms. However, some locals are against this idea due to the migration pattern for birds from Lake of Michigan. Set in Cherry Glen, Michigan, Shiloh's deal with the sleazeball moneyman had gone bad when he turns up dead.
I wouldn't say I'm loving this series (yet), but it's a good start. The neighbor (fireman) did pique my interest for the next one. 😁
April 19, 2022
Shiloh comes back home to the farm after being in LA for 15 years to help out her dad. She had no idea that the family farm was in such bad shape. She sold her condo and investments to pay the back taxes and got involved with an investor to help her update the farm to make it organic, farm to table. He is a scammer who says he wants to help the farmers but he really just wants their land to put up wind turbines so he can make lots of money from wind farming.
He ends up dead and there is no shortage of suspects. Shiloh and her dad are on top of the list.
I was completely surprised by who did it. There is also a cliffhanger of sorts that make you have to read the next book in the series and I plan to do that soon.
He ends up dead and there is no shortage of suspects. Shiloh and her dad are on top of the list.
I was completely surprised by who did it. There is also a cliffhanger of sorts that make you have to read the next book in the series and I plan to do that soon.
March 7, 2021
I love usually love cozy mysteries, but I think the author forgot the "cozy" in this one. Christ on a cracker, why was every single character so damn mean to the heroine? Like, over the top mean. Even her own damn father. Who frankly deserved to lose his damn farm for not being a responsible adult and paying his f-ing taxes! And to rip her a new one for finding an investor who turns out is shady. How was she supposed to know that living in Los Angeles when her father wouldn't even talk to her about any of it??!!
Seriously people, this book pissed me off SO much! 😂
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Seriously people, this book pissed me off SO much! 😂
**ARC Via NetGalley**
January 23, 2021
Being a country girl at heart, I embraced the opportunity to read this new farm-to-table cozy series from Amanda Flower.
I appreciated several key ideas in FARM TO TROUBLE. I enjoy the idea of organic farm living and the laid back surroundings a country setting provides. Protagonist, Shiloh Bellamy has her hands full with her dad ailing and acting like a sourpuss, and dealing with the headaches of his severely neglected 200 acre farm. But, Shiloh’s not a quitter, and I admired her for that quality. I adored her little pug, Huckleberry, who’s her constant companion and took to the country life like he was born into it!
Once the murder takes place, the townspeople are quick to judge Shiloh’s dad, Sully, and he becomes Suspect #1. Shiloh follows in second place because she had a deal with the deceased to help save the farm. The town is clannish, which is typical of small farming communities, and no one is very friendly to Shiloh. I felt like the author wrote those characters that way—it made the people more authentic to the fact that they didn’t like change, or people who advocated for change.
I didn’t solve who the killer was until Shiloh did, but I knew something was ‘off’ with this one person. The book ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger regarding a secret from Shiloh’s Grandma Bellamy. Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to my next visit to Bellamy Farm. Farm tips included.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
I appreciated several key ideas in FARM TO TROUBLE. I enjoy the idea of organic farm living and the laid back surroundings a country setting provides. Protagonist, Shiloh Bellamy has her hands full with her dad ailing and acting like a sourpuss, and dealing with the headaches of his severely neglected 200 acre farm. But, Shiloh’s not a quitter, and I admired her for that quality. I adored her little pug, Huckleberry, who’s her constant companion and took to the country life like he was born into it!
Once the murder takes place, the townspeople are quick to judge Shiloh’s dad, Sully, and he becomes Suspect #1. Shiloh follows in second place because she had a deal with the deceased to help save the farm. The town is clannish, which is typical of small farming communities, and no one is very friendly to Shiloh. I felt like the author wrote those characters that way—it made the people more authentic to the fact that they didn’t like change, or people who advocated for change.
I didn’t solve who the killer was until Shiloh did, but I knew something was ‘off’ with this one person. The book ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger regarding a secret from Shiloh’s Grandma Bellamy. Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to my next visit to Bellamy Farm. Farm tips included.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
February 18, 2021
Farm to Trouble is a nice start to the new Farm to Table series set in Cherry Glen, Michigan near Traverse City. Shiloh Bellamy's father requested she return home to help him with the family farm after she had been gone for fifteen years working as a successful television producer in Los Angeles.
So sold her home, packed up and moved back along with her pug. She has ideas to make the farm a success again and even has an investor, one her father and cousin Stacey are not happy about. Her return really started off wrong when she finds Jefferson Crocker, her investor, at the farmers' market where she is to meet him but he has been shot and killed. Now, she and her father are suspects in the murder. Things are also a little depressing with the huge job of the rebuilding the farm and how to do it now, not to mention the issue of the murder of the investor, who practically owned the town and was not liked. I wanted to tell her to leave them all but she threw herself into solving the murder mystery. Since Crocker was not liked, there are many people to investigate and a twisted mystery to unravel with a solution that I didn't see coming. We are left with a couple of issues to look forward to in the next story.
I received a complimentary ARC from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
So sold her home, packed up and moved back along with her pug. She has ideas to make the farm a success again and even has an investor, one her father and cousin Stacey are not happy about. Her return really started off wrong when she finds Jefferson Crocker, her investor, at the farmers' market where she is to meet him but he has been shot and killed. Now, she and her father are suspects in the murder. Things are also a little depressing with the huge job of the rebuilding the farm and how to do it now, not to mention the issue of the murder of the investor, who practically owned the town and was not liked. I wanted to tell her to leave them all but she threw herself into solving the murder mystery. Since Crocker was not liked, there are many people to investigate and a twisted mystery to unravel with a solution that I didn't see coming. We are left with a couple of issues to look forward to in the next story.
I received a complimentary ARC from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
January 11, 2023
Three and a half stars
When Shiloh’s father Sully is in trouble healthwise and with the farm, Shiloh cashes in her big city job and $401,000, sells her home and returns with her canine friend Huckleberry to Michigan and save the family property. She had left Bellamy fifteen years earlier after the death of her grandmother. When the love of her life Logan was killed, she was never in a hurry to come back. But her father needed her and she had plans to turn Bellamy Farm into an organic farm. But not every one is pleased to see Shiloh return, especially when a murder is committed at the farmers market. When the person she was supposed to be going into business ends up dead, Shiloh finds herself a suspect in the murder. Quinn, Logan’s best friend, accused her at his friends funeral of being responsible for Logan’s death.
This was an engaging read. Shiloh is likeable and there are other interesting characters. A number of the townsfolk, including Shiloh’s father are involved in the play being put on in the newly reopened theatre by her cousin Stacy.
I enjoyed this book. The pace moves along and the small community is well portrayed in its rush to snap judgements. Shiloh is determined to solve the mystery and find the real killer.
This is an engaging, easy to read, cosy mystery. I enjoyed it and would happily read others by this author.
When Shiloh’s father Sully is in trouble healthwise and with the farm, Shiloh cashes in her big city job and $401,000, sells her home and returns with her canine friend Huckleberry to Michigan and save the family property. She had left Bellamy fifteen years earlier after the death of her grandmother. When the love of her life Logan was killed, she was never in a hurry to come back. But her father needed her and she had plans to turn Bellamy Farm into an organic farm. But not every one is pleased to see Shiloh return, especially when a murder is committed at the farmers market. When the person she was supposed to be going into business ends up dead, Shiloh finds herself a suspect in the murder. Quinn, Logan’s best friend, accused her at his friends funeral of being responsible for Logan’s death.
This was an engaging read. Shiloh is likeable and there are other interesting characters. A number of the townsfolk, including Shiloh’s father are involved in the play being put on in the newly reopened theatre by her cousin Stacy.
I enjoyed this book. The pace moves along and the small community is well portrayed in its rush to snap judgements. Shiloh is determined to solve the mystery and find the real killer.
This is an engaging, easy to read, cosy mystery. I enjoyed it and would happily read others by this author.
February 17, 2021
I loved the theme of farm to table, a organic farm and cafe in Farm to Trouble. It started out slow but soon picked up the pace. Shiloh was a delightful protagonist. Her family on the other hand were very mean towards Shiloh but it worked out in the end. Shiloh's relationship with her grandmother had me missing my own. The mystery kept me guessing. Hope there will be more foodie themes in future books.
January 3, 2022
Shiloh Bellamy left her career as a successful Hollywood Producer when her 80 year old Father needed her to come home and take over Bellamy Farms. She was already paying the mortgage payments and all back taxes on the estate. Shiloh had signed an agreement with an investor for money to go towards turning Bellamy Farm into an organic farm. She had high hopes to make big changes and turn the farm into a profitable business. Arriving at her home in Michigan Shiloh wasn't prepared to find Bellamy Farm in such a run down state of neglect. She would have her work cut out for her. Her Father fought her ideas and didn't like the investor she had chosen . Then as if things weren't already bad enough her investor is found dead at the farmers market and the Sheriff rules it as murder. His number one suspects are Shiloh and her aging Father. Can things get any worse for the Bellamys?
This is the first book in The Farm to Table Mysteries. I thought it was entertaining, baffling and unpredictable. The ending had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the narrator and thought she did a great job with changing her voice for each character. This was a hard book to put down. I will be wanting to read all the other books in this series as they are released.
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mysteries and fans of Amanda Flower.
I borrowed an audio copy of this book from the Hoopla library. A review was not requested. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
This is the first book in The Farm to Table Mysteries. I thought it was entertaining, baffling and unpredictable. The ending had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the narrator and thought she did a great job with changing her voice for each character. This was a hard book to put down. I will be wanting to read all the other books in this series as they are released.
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mysteries and fans of Amanda Flower.
I borrowed an audio copy of this book from the Hoopla library. A review was not requested. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
March 13, 2021
A fantastic brand new cozy mystery series to absolutely delight and entertain you! Coming home can be hard for anyone, but coming home to find the farm in shambles, distrustful town folk who now view you as an outsider and a dead body at your feet is more than most people can endure! Shiloh, a strong young women who is a main character that you can really connect with, must hurry to figure out the mystery before she or someone she loves goes to jail for a crime they didn't commit...or did they??? A pug named Huckleberry is Shiloh's main side kick so the pet lovers can rejoice as he's a snorting delight! I am absolutely looking forward to the next book in this new series and can't wait to see what happens in the future!
February 27, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
After a traumatic event, Shiloh Bellamy hit the road for California landing herself a dream job. A job that enabled her to send money home to keep the family farm afloat. But her father’s health is failing and so is the farm so she heads home to Michigan with high hopes of making Bellamy Farms a totally organic operation. She also plans to add a farm-to-table café to increase the farm’s bottom line. She knows to enact her plans she is going to need an influx of cash so she makes a contract with an investor right there in her hometown. When she arrives home she sees the farm is in much worse shape than she thought and her father is outraged to find out his daughter has agreed to take money from Jefferson Crocker.
The next day Shiloh arrives at the local farmer’s market to meet with her new investor but when she finds him she knows there will be no meeting. The man has been murdered and thanks to a loudmouth vendor almost everyone believes Shiloh is a cold-blooded killer. Others believe her father committed the crime. So now Shiloh has her work cut out for her. Her investor is dead, the farm still needs to be revived and now she has to find a killer to clear her dad and herself of murder.
Amanda Flower is a prolific cozy author who never disappoints. As soon as I heard about this series I booked a date on my calendar for Farm to Trouble. In this new series, we meet Shiloh Bellamy, her father, Sully, her cousin Stacey, her lovable pug, Huckleberry, along with assorted neighbors, friends, and other residents of Cherry Glen. While she has passed we also hear plenty about Shiloh’s grandmother. She was a hard-working woman who kept her family on track. She left behind quite a legacy as Shiloh recalls several times things her grandmother said and did. The author took her time and allowed her characters to develop over the course of the story while leaving plenty of room to grow as the series continues.
Ms. Flower captured the attitudes of small-town life perfectly. The cliques, the mean girls, the gossips, the hoity-toity, but a couple of good souls as well. Cherry Glen is a typical midwest town striving to find its footing in the progressing world. Change isn’t easy and many Cherry Glen residents are doing their best to avoid it.
The mystery was very well done featuring a victim who had plenty of enemies. The man liked flexing his financial muscles without a care about the people he left in his wake. Shiloh and Sully just happened to be his current mark. Being gone for so many years made it hard for Shiloh to know who to trust and she didn’t receive a hardy welcome home from many people but she still delves into an investigation to catch a killer. I was totally spinning my wheels until the actual guilty party was revealed. I at least had the person on my list but they were nowhere near the top. Ms. Flower penned a story with excellent twists. I did question some of Shiloh’s behavior with so much on the line but every person has their own way of processing actions and information.
Farm to Trouble has set this series off to a marvelous start. All the mysteries exposed within the book are not wrapped up by the final page. I am really looking forward to Shiloh solving the puzzle her grandmother left behind. I also feel there are some other things Shiloh needs to deal with from her past so she can truly move forward.
Ms. Flower has planted some wonderful seeds that I project will bloom into a very entertaining series. The story has a real true-to-life feel. There is some real family drama and there is a lot of hard work ahead for Shiloh to get close to realizing her dream plans. I think it is going to be very interesting to see the paths the author sets for these characters.
After a traumatic event, Shiloh Bellamy hit the road for California landing herself a dream job. A job that enabled her to send money home to keep the family farm afloat. But her father’s health is failing and so is the farm so she heads home to Michigan with high hopes of making Bellamy Farms a totally organic operation. She also plans to add a farm-to-table café to increase the farm’s bottom line. She knows to enact her plans she is going to need an influx of cash so she makes a contract with an investor right there in her hometown. When she arrives home she sees the farm is in much worse shape than she thought and her father is outraged to find out his daughter has agreed to take money from Jefferson Crocker.
The next day Shiloh arrives at the local farmer’s market to meet with her new investor but when she finds him she knows there will be no meeting. The man has been murdered and thanks to a loudmouth vendor almost everyone believes Shiloh is a cold-blooded killer. Others believe her father committed the crime. So now Shiloh has her work cut out for her. Her investor is dead, the farm still needs to be revived and now she has to find a killer to clear her dad and herself of murder.
Amanda Flower is a prolific cozy author who never disappoints. As soon as I heard about this series I booked a date on my calendar for Farm to Trouble. In this new series, we meet Shiloh Bellamy, her father, Sully, her cousin Stacey, her lovable pug, Huckleberry, along with assorted neighbors, friends, and other residents of Cherry Glen. While she has passed we also hear plenty about Shiloh’s grandmother. She was a hard-working woman who kept her family on track. She left behind quite a legacy as Shiloh recalls several times things her grandmother said and did. The author took her time and allowed her characters to develop over the course of the story while leaving plenty of room to grow as the series continues.
Ms. Flower captured the attitudes of small-town life perfectly. The cliques, the mean girls, the gossips, the hoity-toity, but a couple of good souls as well. Cherry Glen is a typical midwest town striving to find its footing in the progressing world. Change isn’t easy and many Cherry Glen residents are doing their best to avoid it.
The mystery was very well done featuring a victim who had plenty of enemies. The man liked flexing his financial muscles without a care about the people he left in his wake. Shiloh and Sully just happened to be his current mark. Being gone for so many years made it hard for Shiloh to know who to trust and she didn’t receive a hardy welcome home from many people but she still delves into an investigation to catch a killer. I was totally spinning my wheels until the actual guilty party was revealed. I at least had the person on my list but they were nowhere near the top. Ms. Flower penned a story with excellent twists. I did question some of Shiloh’s behavior with so much on the line but every person has their own way of processing actions and information.
Farm to Trouble has set this series off to a marvelous start. All the mysteries exposed within the book are not wrapped up by the final page. I am really looking forward to Shiloh solving the puzzle her grandmother left behind. I also feel there are some other things Shiloh needs to deal with from her past so she can truly move forward.
Ms. Flower has planted some wonderful seeds that I project will bloom into a very entertaining series. The story has a real true-to-life feel. There is some real family drama and there is a lot of hard work ahead for Shiloh to get close to realizing her dream plans. I think it is going to be very interesting to see the paths the author sets for these characters.
February 20, 2021
Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower is the first book in A Farm to Table Mystery series. It contains Amanda Flower’s engaging writing style that makes the story easy to read. The author took the time to develop the characters and establish the setting. Shiloh Bellamy left Cherry Glen, Michigan fifteen years ago after the death of her fiancé, Logan. Her father, Sully injured his back and has asked Shiloh to return to help with the family farm. She quits her job, sells her home, and cashes in her 401K. Unfortunately, her father had sizeable debts which took all of Shiloh’s funds. She now needs an investor if she is to restore the farm and make it a success as an organic farm. Unfortunately, Shiloh is not privy to the local gossip and picks the wrong man to invest in the venture. When the investor ends up dead, Shiloh along with her father are prime suspects. Shiloh talks to various people in the town trying to get information to help her solve the murder. I hope we see more active investigating in future books along with action. There were little things that pointed at the killers’ identity. There is a secondary mystery involving money that Grandma Bellamy saved and hid away for Shiloh. She needs to figure out the clues if she wants to find it and save the farm. I like that we get to know Shiloh, her father, her cousin, various friends of Shiloh’s, and some of the townspeople. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Cherry Glen and the farm. Huckleberry, Shiloh’s pug dog, is a show stealer. He is such a cutie. Other scene stealers are Esmerelda the cat and Hazel, Quinn Killian’s eleven-year-old daughter. I have a feeling there will be a romance blooming between Quinn and Shiloh in the future. I thought the author captured the small town feel especially with the people’s attitudes. This was a cute story that I enjoyed reading. I look forward to the next A Farm to Table Mystery. Farm to Trouble is a charming cozy mystery with gossip galore, an insatiable investor, a high-strung hound named Huckleberry, tasty cherry treats, a cute convertible, and a mystifying treasure quest.
April 20, 2024
This was a fun cozy mystery. The characters are entertaining. It is interesting seeing how Shiloh returns home to a small town from a job in a big town and entertainment. The four legged characters as just as entertaining as the two legged ones. The mystery is well-plotted with well-placed red herrings. I am enjoying seeing how the setting of the run down farm is changing and improving though out the book. I look forward to reading more of the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.
March 4, 2021
2 Stars
I don’t like “cozies” like this and I don’t understand them. The main character is treated like crap by everyone, including her Dad, after she gave up everything to come save the farm bc his loser ass didn’t pay taxes. I find it hard to believe that someone wouldn’t eventually snap and say something in their own defense after being treated so rudely. Especially since she left her entire life behind and put all her savings in to their family farm.
I don’t get the point in beating on the MC so much either. I call it “whipping boy” syndrome and I guess it could be to try to make you sympathetic, but I find it insanely annoying. And quite frankly, lazy writing. Like all side characters have the same attitude so it doesn’t have to be changed to be more dimensional.
I like Amanda Flowers Amish series, but this was a dud.
I don’t like “cozies” like this and I don’t understand them. The main character is treated like crap by everyone, including her Dad, after she gave up everything to come save the farm bc his loser ass didn’t pay taxes. I find it hard to believe that someone wouldn’t eventually snap and say something in their own defense after being treated so rudely. Especially since she left her entire life behind and put all her savings in to their family farm.
I don’t get the point in beating on the MC so much either. I call it “whipping boy” syndrome and I guess it could be to try to make you sympathetic, but I find it insanely annoying. And quite frankly, lazy writing. Like all side characters have the same attitude so it doesn’t have to be changed to be more dimensional.
I like Amanda Flowers Amish series, but this was a dud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2022
Another great series. This was a great start and I can’t wait to see how things develop. I liked Shiloh and her determination and Huckleberry was great (and what a great name). I’m still trying to figure out how all the characters are going to fit together. The mystery definitely kept me guessing.
September 27, 2022
I did like the story however I read or should I say listened to this book and the narrator sounded too stiff and robotic. It was hard to enjoy it fully.
I will read the next in series as I have the book as well as audio.
I will read the next in series as I have the book as well as audio.
April 4, 2022
This is less a cozy mystery and more of a 'give yourself high blood pressure' mystery. This book is populated by some of literally the most mean and hateful people that could exist. Everyone is just inexplicably awful to the main character, for genuinely no reason. Including her own cousin and father, who both spend more than half the book treating her like dirt. The guy who's set up to be the love interest is unforgiveably cruel to her. Every single scene he was in made my blood boil because the narrative kept trying to make him nice, except every other word out of his mouth was abjectly heartless.
There was also this weird through line where people kept insisting the main character should let the police do whatever they want, and if she asks for a warrant before letting her house be searched then she 'looks suspicious' and 'should just do what they ask' like GIRL NO?
The writing was fine, but I couldn't care less about the mystery because every character involved was just cruel and miserable. The pacing also felt out of balance, because Shiloh spent the entire book wandering around thinking "I have to find the real killer!" while having random interactions with people who suck. Then the entire story gets wrapped up in about half a paragraph, and the book ends. Nothing in this was cozy, particularly mysterious, or generally interesting.
There was also this weird through line where people kept insisting the main character should let the police do whatever they want, and if she asks for a warrant before letting her house be searched then she 'looks suspicious' and 'should just do what they ask' like GIRL NO?
The writing was fine, but I couldn't care less about the mystery because every character involved was just cruel and miserable. The pacing also felt out of balance, because Shiloh spent the entire book wandering around thinking "I have to find the real killer!" while having random interactions with people who suck. Then the entire story gets wrapped up in about half a paragraph, and the book ends. Nothing in this was cozy, particularly mysterious, or generally interesting.
March 2, 2021
Shiloh leaves her Hollywood career and comes home after her father asks her to help him with their failing farm. Shiloh left home because of a traumatic event, and coming back home also was not pleasant. For starters, her family was so rude to her. And when Shiloh stumbles upon the dead body, she is pegged as the murder suspect. And everyone in the book kept referring to her as the killer or murderess. There was not a lot going on in the first half of the book, mystery wise. I suppose, this book was a setting for the next one. The last few chapters were when it got interesting. We get to know Shiloh's late grandmother through her memories and letters. I wish her grandmother could have been a real character in the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this book.
March 9, 2021
Amanda Flower does it again with the debut of another excellent series. Moving from the Amish setting to the Michigan heartland, the story focuses on Shiloh Bellamy who has returned home after 15 years as a producer in Hollywood. Although her father's illness is cited as the main reason, she came home to save the family farm and hopefully to turn it to an organic farm. Unfortunately her sole investor turns out to be money hungry, corrupt...and dead. Since she was the one to find him, she goes to the top of the suspect list. I will be looking forward to Shiloh's next story and visiting again with the strong set of characters as she works to get the farm back on its feet. The book was really 4 and a hslf stars. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2022
3.5/4 stars
I really enjoy Amanda Flower's writing and like the premise of the book about a young woman returning home to Michigan to try to save her family's failing farm. Shiloh is a likable main character, but there are so many mean, petty people in this book, it made the first few chapters hard for me to get through. A couple of villains in a mystery are to be expected, but nobody seemed to be on Shiloh's side. Things got much better toward the end and after an unexpected conclusion to the murder mystery, the book ended on a positive note. The upbeat ending makes me more interested in Shiloh and the plans she has for the farm. A couple things came up during the story that I assume will play out in future books and I am interested in finding out what happens.
I really enjoy Amanda Flower's writing and like the premise of the book about a young woman returning home to Michigan to try to save her family's failing farm. Shiloh is a likable main character, but there are so many mean, petty people in this book, it made the first few chapters hard for me to get through. A couple of villains in a mystery are to be expected, but nobody seemed to be on Shiloh's side. Things got much better toward the end and after an unexpected conclusion to the murder mystery, the book ended on a positive note. The upbeat ending makes me more interested in Shiloh and the plans she has for the farm. A couple things came up during the story that I assume will play out in future books and I am interested in finding out what happens.
May 9, 2021
With her age, her experience, and her loss (a fiancé), Shiloh reminds me of Merry Wynter of the Merry Muffin series by Victoria Hamilton. The only difference between the two is that Merry has had more time to come to terms with with twists and turns of her life and has put together a support team in the form of a found family. Shiloh in a book or two will get there too.
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Able Baker Charlie
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Able Baker Charlie
February 24, 2021
FARM TO TROUBLE is the endearing debut in the Farm to Table Mystery series by the ever prolific and entertaining Amanda Flower. Full of small town color and gossip, and a compelling mystery to solve, it is a fun read.
Shiloh Bellamy essentially ran away from home after her fiancé’s death fifteen years ago to become a successful Hollywood producer. She cashes in her savings and quits her job to literally save the family farm, but she arrives to find her father’s health failing and the farm in even worse shape than she imagined. Knowing she needs even more money to turn the farm into a thriving organic farm and cafe, she signed a contract with local investor Jefferson Crocker only to realize too late that Crocker owns a good portion of the town of Cherry Glen, Michigan, and has plans of his own for Bellamy Farm. When Shiloh finds Crocker murdered at the farmers market, she and her father quickly become the prime suspects. Realizing that her years away from her hometown have now made her an outsider, she does all she can to clear the Bellamy family name and find the real killer.
Shiloh makes a promising amateur sleuth. She is intelligent and loyal with just enough city-girl cynicism to stand out from the other residents of her hometown. Her strained relationship with her cousin and father, as well as with her fiancé’s best friend Quin, makes the atmosphere tense for much of the book, but I enjoy watching them all work through their issues. The town residents, some quirky, some unpleasant, all add lots of variety and small country town flavor. Huckleberry, Shiloh’s pug, steals just about every scene in which he appears. I really like Quin’s eleven-year-old daughter Hazel, too. The story takes a bit to get going, but the time is well spent introducing characters and the town. It is always enjoyable. I do wish Shiloh had spent more time actively investigating; it mostly felt like she stumbled across most of the clues. I definitely did not figure out the mystery before Shiloh, and this kept me engaged from the first to last page.
I enjoyed my time spent in Cherry Glen with Shiloh and look forward to reading many more adventures featuring the Bellamy Farm. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this book from the Author and Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
Shiloh Bellamy essentially ran away from home after her fiancé’s death fifteen years ago to become a successful Hollywood producer. She cashes in her savings and quits her job to literally save the family farm, but she arrives to find her father’s health failing and the farm in even worse shape than she imagined. Knowing she needs even more money to turn the farm into a thriving organic farm and cafe, she signed a contract with local investor Jefferson Crocker only to realize too late that Crocker owns a good portion of the town of Cherry Glen, Michigan, and has plans of his own for Bellamy Farm. When Shiloh finds Crocker murdered at the farmers market, she and her father quickly become the prime suspects. Realizing that her years away from her hometown have now made her an outsider, she does all she can to clear the Bellamy family name and find the real killer.
Shiloh makes a promising amateur sleuth. She is intelligent and loyal with just enough city-girl cynicism to stand out from the other residents of her hometown. Her strained relationship with her cousin and father, as well as with her fiancé’s best friend Quin, makes the atmosphere tense for much of the book, but I enjoy watching them all work through their issues. The town residents, some quirky, some unpleasant, all add lots of variety and small country town flavor. Huckleberry, Shiloh’s pug, steals just about every scene in which he appears. I really like Quin’s eleven-year-old daughter Hazel, too. The story takes a bit to get going, but the time is well spent introducing characters and the town. It is always enjoyable. I do wish Shiloh had spent more time actively investigating; it mostly felt like she stumbled across most of the clues. I definitely did not figure out the mystery before Shiloh, and this kept me engaged from the first to last page.
I enjoyed my time spent in Cherry Glen with Shiloh and look forward to reading many more adventures featuring the Bellamy Farm. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this book from the Author and Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
March 28, 2021
Hooray! A new cozy mystery series by Amanda Flower and I love the family farm setting -- cue the clever title because this author has some of the funnest tongue-in-cheek punny titles ever!
This wouldn't be a classic Flower without a critter or two -- like a citified pampered pug named Huckleberry who is having a hard time adjusting to country life. :-) Shiloh, on the other hand, is glad to be home...until murder and mayhem mar her return.
Who knew that moving away for fifteen years would make her public enemy #1 in town, not to mention a suspect in a murder investigation?! If that's not enough to stress over, the rundown family farm piles on more angst. A great community of secondary characters (some to love and others of the love-to-hate variety) add to the overall cozy ambiance. All in all, a fantastic start to the Farm to Table series.
This wouldn't be a classic Flower without a critter or two -- like a citified pampered pug named Huckleberry who is having a hard time adjusting to country life. :-) Shiloh, on the other hand, is glad to be home...until murder and mayhem mar her return.
Who knew that moving away for fifteen years would make her public enemy #1 in town, not to mention a suspect in a murder investigation?! If that's not enough to stress over, the rundown family farm piles on more angst. A great community of secondary characters (some to love and others of the love-to-hate variety) add to the overall cozy ambiance. All in all, a fantastic start to the Farm to Table series.
February 28, 2021
This was an interesting start to a new series. There is a lot going on in this first book, we have tons of backstory, which is necessary, and I think will set up a wonderful series. I did find it a little lacking in details of now. We get the mystery and some good red herrings but sometimes I could not figure out where our heroine was going, what was she going to actually do to save the farm, why not try to figure out what the actual situation was. We did some conclusions in the end but there were several things left up in the air so I really hope we get book two soon!!!
July 3, 2022
I enjoyed this new cozy mystery and loved getting to know the characters. I liked Shiloh she was smart and was able to stay focused despite the gossip in the town. I found a few unexpected twists which made for a good story. I am excited to see what Shiloh does for the farm in the next book and of course loved Huckleberry, her adorable pug.
January 25, 2021
I've read many cozy mysteries by this author, and I always find them enjoyable.
This is the start of a new series. The pace started out a bit slow, but it evened out as the story unfolded. The heroine seemed to spend a lot of time mowing the grass and doing other mundane tasks, which created a bit of a lull to the storyline. Things weren't quite as cheery and cozy as I have come to expect (especially the first part of the book), but it's still an enjoyable mystery overall. I do prefer the author's Amish Candy Shop series better, however. The characters in Flower's' latest aren't quite as likeable and relatable. Perhaps that will change as the series continues. I appreciated the details on organic farming, as well as the included farming tips.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
This is the start of a new series. The pace started out a bit slow, but it evened out as the story unfolded. The heroine seemed to spend a lot of time mowing the grass and doing other mundane tasks, which created a bit of a lull to the storyline. Things weren't quite as cheery and cozy as I have come to expect (especially the first part of the book), but it's still an enjoyable mystery overall. I do prefer the author's Amish Candy Shop series better, however. The characters in Flower's' latest aren't quite as likeable and relatable. Perhaps that will change as the series continues. I appreciated the details on organic farming, as well as the included farming tips.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
March 2, 2021
Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower is the first book in the Farm to Table Mystery series. Shiloh Bellamy leaves her job as a television producer to help save her family farm,only to have her new investor murdered and her father suspected. I enjoyed this new cozy mystery and loved getting to know the characters. Shiloh seems quite capable and smart and adept at getting what she needs despite the unfriendly reception to her return. I can see a few future murder candidates there. A nice start and I look foward to seeing her progress with the farm with all her interesting plans.
February 17, 2022
It smelled like home before I even saw it.
Shiloh Bellamy left Cherry Glen, Michigan fifteen years ago following the death of her fiancé. She has been living in LA working as a television producer, but is now coming home to help with the family farm. She has great ideas to make the farm organic and create a farm to table café. Shiloh is shocked to see the condition of the farm when she arrives. A deal with a shady investor has her father up in arms. Shiloh and her dad become the prime suspects when the investor is found murdered.
This is a really good start to the series. The characters are well thought out and presented. I love the small town feel of Cherry Glen. The only problem is that all the townspeople know your business.
It was interesting to meet people Shiloh grew up with. I'm looking forward to where her relationship with Quinn may go. Shiloh's pug, Huckleberry, is a hoot. His reactions are so pug like that he made me smile.
I had pretty much figured out who was behind the murder although there was a bit of a twist. I enjoyed the mystery within the mystery that was presented to Shiloh as well.
This was a most enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book soon.
Shiloh Bellamy left Cherry Glen, Michigan fifteen years ago following the death of her fiancé. She has been living in LA working as a television producer, but is now coming home to help with the family farm. She has great ideas to make the farm organic and create a farm to table café. Shiloh is shocked to see the condition of the farm when she arrives. A deal with a shady investor has her father up in arms. Shiloh and her dad become the prime suspects when the investor is found murdered.
This is a really good start to the series. The characters are well thought out and presented. I love the small town feel of Cherry Glen. The only problem is that all the townspeople know your business.
It was interesting to meet people Shiloh grew up with. I'm looking forward to where her relationship with Quinn may go. Shiloh's pug, Huckleberry, is a hoot. His reactions are so pug like that he made me smile.
I had pretty much figured out who was behind the murder although there was a bit of a twist. I enjoyed the mystery within the mystery that was presented to Shiloh as well.
This was a most enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book soon.
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August 2, 2021Farm to Trouble was The Cozy Mystery Book Club's June read.
The YouTube livestream is archived over on my YouTube channel, Books Are My Hart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj2vh...
The YouTube livestream is archived over on my YouTube channel, Books Are My Hart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj2vh...
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