After solving a murder and getting her organic farm ready to overwinter, Shiloh Bellamy still expects the next few months to be busy with repairs, spring planning, and networking with local businesses. She might even be able to broker a new partnership with Fields Brewery and its organic brewer's association. Well, she could if the owner wasn't found murdered at the county Ice Fishing Derby.
Once again, Shiloh gets tangled up in the investigation when the police ignore an entire crop of suspects to blame one of her friends. She'll have to dig deep to find the truth, reel in a killer, and convince her city-slicker pug to wear his winter boots. But with Bellamy Farm still struggling, can Shiloh spare the time to look into the town's fishy characters? Or will her dream farm be the next thing floating belly up?
USA Today bestselling Amanda Flower returns to the Farm to Table cozy mystery series with another exciting sleuthing adventure!
Amanda 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.
This is the third book in the Farm to Table mysteries, featuring Shiloh Bellamy who has returned to her family home to care for her father and try to restore their farm to its former glory.
As someone who lives in Sydney, Australia, where it never snows, I enjoyed reading about living in a place where the snow and the cold is seriously bad (reading about it - I do not want to experience it). There was a lot of information too about ice fishing which was interesting but again not tempting.
Shiloh and her little dog find the murder victim floating under the ice and, when one of her friends is suspected of being the killer, she goes to work to solve the mystery. Suspects are plentiful and the eventual culprit was a surprise.
This was a fun read and I will be looking out for more by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In Farm’s Way is book 3 of Amanda Flower’s Farm to Table Cozy Mystery series. It’s winter time but that doesn’t mean that Organic Farm owner Shiloh Bellomy is any less busy. She’s working on repairs to her run down farm and making plans for her summer time organic crops. When Shiloh’s best friend Kristy Garcia invites her to a beer tasting party and voting contest for a new cherry flavored beer she reluctantly attends but she’d rather be home in her cozy cabin reading by the fire place. The party is held at the Fields Brewing Company in downtown Cherry Glen. When Kristy’s husband's brew doesn’t take first place and the award goes to Brewery owner Wallace Field’s right hand man voters question the results of the vote. Then the very next day Wallace Fields is found frozen under the ice in Lake Skegemog. When Kent Garcia becomes a prime suspect Kristy goes to her friend Shiloh for help in rounding up suspects in hopes of getting her husband removed from that list. Since Wallace Fields wasn’t well liked by the community there seems to be no end to finding suspects but only one person killed this man. Find out who and why when you read In Farm's Way.
I think what I enjoyed the most about this mystery was the relationship between Shiloh Bellomy and her little pug dog Huckleberry. I always appreciate this authors mysteries because of her writing style. Amanda Flower has long been one of my favorite Cozy Mystery writers. This one kept me guessing to almost the end of the book and I was surprised by Whodunnit. It was entertaining and unpredictable. The characters fit well with the story. I’m looking forward to reading book four because of the way this book ended. Readers are left hanging when Shiloh must make an important decision in her life.
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mysteries and fans of the Author. I have read the first three books but I feel that a reader could keep up with this story if they have not read book one or book two. This book is scheduled to be released on 2/24/23
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
Great installment to the series! I love Winter themed cozies, and this hit the spot w/ an ice fishing derby included! Fun setting, great theme, and interesting cast of characters. I do hope that Shiloh and her father get closer throughout the series. I would recommend this book to cozy mystery fans! I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Amanda Flower, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!
IN FARM’S WAY is the third story in Amanda Flowers ‘Farm to Table’ cozy series. It features protagonist Shiloh Bellamy, a former TV producer, who’s moved to Michigan to care for her grumpy dad, and take care of his farm. Shiloh has the cutest pug named Huckleberry who goes everywhere with her, but can’t stand his snow boots! As the story begins, Sully (Dad) has entered an Ice Fishing Derby with his friend, Quinn and his 12-year old daughter, Hazel. They’re set up on the ice in their shanty with hooks in the water when Huck spies a strange sight under the frozen water—a dead body! Unfortunately, once the body is identified, Shiloh’s best friend’s husband may be in hot water as he’s a top suspect.
Craftily plotted around a trending topic—cherry flavored beer—this story is cute, funny, informative, home-to-hearth, and an ideal cozy mystery because of all those features, and more. Author Flowers does an excellent job of setting up suspicious acting suspects who could be the culprit, yet lead to false trails. I was completely fooled until right before the author reveal she dropped a clue that made me realize who the killer was. The killer confession and capture is great! I highly recommend this story, and the two previous stories in the series. Enjoy!
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions are my own.
I always enjoy Amanda Flower's books, and this is another good one. Shiloh Bellamy left a successful producer career in LA to return home to help save her dad save her family farm and is in the process of making it a certified organic farm. She has great plans, but they are going slowly. Since her return, she has been in places to find dead bodies. This time, her pug Huckleberry discovers a body under the ice at the annual ice fishing derby. Wallace Fields was not a liked person, and the suspect pool is not small. But Kent, her best friend's husband is the last known person to see him alive and the prime suspect, so she finds herself doing some sleuthing. This is another fun mystery to unravel as Shiloh sticks her nose in places that make her unwelcome. She also may have a new love interest along with Quinn (maybe) and a new neighbor and competitor for organic farming seems very interested. For those who have been reading this series, there is another little surprise find sure to be great news. But with a little cliffhanger. I recommend for those who enjoy cozy mysteries. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review from the Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are mine.
It was good ! I think they could’ve described people more….. a few things were confusing I think because I didn’t read the first two books, but I look forward to another !!!
This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the third book in the Farm to Table Mysteries series. I have read and reviewed the first two books in this series before picking up this book. I think that this series is better if you do read this series in order. I really enjoy the characters in this book, and I love the farm talk and stuff in this book. The mystery in this book was fun to follow along with, and that is what I love in a cozy mystery series. There was a lot of suspense and build up, and the ending was really good to me. 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 an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
I enjoyed In Farm's Way by Amanda Flower very much. Shiloh is working hard, trying to improve the family farm, and finding inventive ways to make the farm profitable. Her pug Huckleberry is my favorite character. I have a pug, and she captured the pug mind perfectly. This was an interesting story, I enjoyed the ice fishing parts, it's always fun to read about something different. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series by one of my favorite authors.
Amanda Flower's In Farm's Way is book three in her Farm to Table Mysteries series. It features Shiloh Bellamy who has saved her family's farm from financial ruin. Now she must build on her success but the farm is barely afloat despite branching out into organic produce and she has plans for a café to showcase her baking skills. When Shiloh’s best friend, Kristy Garcia Brown invites her to a beer tasting party and voting contest for a new cherry flavoured beer she reluctantly attends but the results of the vote are questioned and the brewery owner is found dead.
Set in Cherry Glen, Michigan, this is a great cozy mystery you shouldn't miss that will keep you guessing. A joy to read, I will be backtracking to book #1, Farm to Trouble as well as looking forward to the next.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
I will be eagerly waiting for the next book in February. Amanda Flower has a way with words! Shiloh is tangled in another murder, and with her friend's husband as a suspect she has to investigate! Farming is not my thing at all, but this book makes me want to try. She investigates and works on keeping her farm moving. I can just see the atmosphere of this winter wonderland. More please!!!
This mystery definitely has a mix of different quirky topics going on including ice fishing, birding, organic brewing including a cherry beer contest, and further plot about the Bellamy farm.
I really liked this cozy mystery, even with the finding a murder victim under the ice part. I definitely bounced around on who I thought was responsible, because there were so many good choices to throw me off. Maybe some cherry beer would have been a good addition to have along with reading this book.
This book also pulled me into wanting to read the next book. I want to find out what Shiloh does with her grandma's hidden secret and if her relationship with Quinn changes.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
Shiloh Bellamy is looking forward to a quiet winter on her family farm in Cherry Glen, Michigan. She's solved several murders since returning home from LA and winter is a quiet time for hibernation with a little ice fishing competition thrown in to keep things from getting too boring... right? Wrong.
When local brewery owner, Wallace Fields, pops up under the ice on a local lake, Shi's BFF Kristy's husband Kent is suspect #1. Kent worked part-time as a bartender for Fields and when he was passed over for a job as brewmaster it would seem he had a great motive for bumping off his boss. But Shi knows Kent could never kill another person and when Kristy asks Shi to look into the murder she can't say no.
I love the setting of this series. It's got everything I like, fun main character with quirky friends and an interesting past, rural community, interesting sites like a brew pub in an old granary and an old theater that's in the process of being renovated and revitalized. There's also a handsome love interest in Quinn, who was best friends with Shi's former beau Logan, whose death sent Shiloh to California 15 years earlier. In this book we see Quinn once again failing to commit and a handsome sheriff stepping in to take his place.
Great new entry in a fun series. Definitely something to add to your TBR list.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
I didn't realise that this was book three in a series but I must say it didn't affect to reading of this book which I really enjoyed.
I love that it is a series called Farm to Table and love the foodie aspect of the book. A great cosy read with a bit of murder, a bit of intrigue and a little pug dog. It is the perfect length for a book and it was a story that was entertaining but also kept me wondering, 'Who Dunnit!?'. I like that in a book as if it is predictable you really loose the story and get a bit bored.
Shiloh is a great character and I loved reading about her and her relationships with friends and family (and her dog of course). A great pace for a mystery with a few clues but they didn't give anything away. Was a fun, entertaining and enjoyable read.
I enjoy many of this author's works. This is a fairly new series. Overall, the book is a fun read that is typical of cozy mysteries. I did feel that the character of Shiloh could be developed a bit more, I find her a bit bland. And I would like to see more of a supporting cast of regulars from the town. I kept wondering for someone who kept saying how much work it was to run a farm why she was never doing any farm work. The main part of the mystery revolved around a brewery in town and a murder that was connected to it. Some of the story involving the brewery and facts about it were hard to believe. The resolution of the book was tangential and reaching at best.
Winter in Cherry Glen means plenty of ice, snow, and slippery roads. It also means the annual Lake Skegemon Ice Fishing Derby. Shi’s dad Sully will be out on the ice with Quinn and Hazel. This year it also means a contest at Fields’ Brewing Company to name a new brewmaster. Each contestant had to enter a cherry beer. Shiloh has plenty to keep her busy trying to come up with ways to save the family farm but her best friend Kristy’s husband Kent is one of the finalists in the contest so she had to go to the party. Kristy thought for sure his cherry stout would win but when owner Wallace Fields announced the winner it wasn’t Kent.
The next day Shiloh arrives at the derby to drop her father off and work in the Cherry Glen booth with Kristy. She gets waylaid on her way to the booth when her pug Huckleberry drags her over to see something under the ice. It’s Wallace Fields and he won’t be catching any fish or brewing any more beer. The police quickly place Kent at the top of the suspect list which means Shiloh is going to have to break a lot of ice to get them to take a look at a bunch of other suspects. She has to be careful too or she could be the next one swimming with the fishes.
My heart was just breaking for Shiloh several times during this story. She is working so hard to keep the family farm and make the repairs it needs. Going organic may be the answer but it’s a long process. That is a lot of weight on her shoulders. Then her relationship with her father has not improved much at all. Seeing him have a great relationship with Hazel makes things even harder. She is happy they are friends and have fun together, she just wishes for a similar relationship with him herself. Then there is Quinn, who put Shi firmly in the friend zone when they would be great as a couple raising Hazel together. He is going to be sorry if she moves on with someone else. All of Ms. Flowers’s characters are interesting with great real-life connections. I do love Shiloh’s pug, Huckleberry. He and my dog have a lot in common when it comes to proper attire for canines in the winter months. Too Funny. Three stories in and I am very invested in these characters.
There were several viable suspects when it comes to the brewery owner’s death. I really enjoyed the way Shiloh threw herself into her investigation, even if it did put her into some tricky situations. The police warned her several times to butt out of their case. As they predicted her pursuit of the truth took an ugly turn that set up a scary reveal. It gave me chills. The guilty party was not on my radar at all. Readers were introduced to several new characters in this book and my focus was cleverly diverted to a different one by the author.
Winter in Michigan is pretty darn similar to that in Wisconsin. So the weather outside my window was the same as it was at the derby and the Bellamy farm. A nice furry blanket, a Christmas present from my daughter-in-law, and a couple of cups of hot chocolate kept me warm and toasty as I read about the frigid weather in Cherry Glen and the surrounding area.
In Farm’s Way was full of cherry beer and winter fun, a captivating mystery, and true-to-life characters. I really enjoyed the entire story.
There are some more interesting times ahead for Shiloh so I am counting the days until I can return to Cherry Glen and the Bellamy Farm next year.
In Farm’s Way by Amanda Flower is a cute cozy mystery. We return to Cherry Glen, Michigan where the town is getting ready for the Lake Skegemog Ice Fishing Derby. Shiloh Bellamy’s father, Sully is participating. Sully will be fishing with Quinn Killian, a friend of Shiloh’s, and his twelve-year-old daughter, Hazel. After dropping off Sully, Shiloh and Huckleberry, her cute pug in his orange winter coat and boots, are heading off the ice when they stumble upon someone under the ice. Wallace Fields, a local brewery owner, has served his last brew. Shiloh gets a distraught call from her bestie, Kristy. Unfortunately, Kristy’s husband, Kent is in hot water. Kristy wants Shiloh to investigate and get her husband off the hook. Shiloh dons her deerstalker cap and begins asking questions. Shiloh will have her work cut out for her if she is to reel in the worm who turned Wallace into fish food. In Farm’s Way is the third book in the Farm to Table Mysteries. While it can be read as a standalone, I think it is best to read the series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and the town. I like Amanda Flower’s writing style. It is lighthearted and friendly. The characters are relatable and quirky. Shiloh Bellamy is a former television producer who is working to turn Bellamy Farm organic. She takes her cute pug, Huckleberry with her everywhere. Huckleberry is not a fan of his new winter boots. I had to laugh at the descriptions of Huckleberry shaking his various limbs trying to rid himself of the boots. I like the balance between the lighthearted moments and those that are more somber or reflective. An example is when Shiloh sees her father with Hazel and wishes he had been like that with her when she was a child. The mystery kept Shiloh on her toes. As she asks questions, Shiloh’s suspect list grows longer. She needs to be discreet because law enforcement has warned her (multiple times) to keep her nose out of the case (like that is going to happen). The reveal was suspenseful and entertaining. We get to learn about cherry beer (how it is created) and organic farming. The author weaved all the elements together to provide a delightful tale. In Farm’s Way had me laughing often. I am eager to read the next Farm to Table Mystery to learn how Shiloh fares on her first date with an unexpected fellow. There is a recipe for suet (winter food for the birds) at the end of the book. In Farm’s Way is delightful tale with ice fishing fun, a pooch’s uncomfortable boots, a cherry craft beer competition, a bumped off brewer, and a sleuthing Shiloh.
Outstanding characters that draw you and keep you invested in the plot, town and relationships between the characters! I really loved this particular installment in the series as it brought more depth to the characters and the mystery was really well written to keep you guessing and invested in the outcome! I absolutely can't wait for our next visit with these characters and hope the next book comes out soon! Added bonus it is out on audiobook now and the narration is outstanding as well!
These cozy little mysteries are always food for my bookreader's soul. This is a newer series and I'm finding it lots of fun. I'm trying to think of all the funny and witty things to say and I'm just out of words (I hate when that happens), regardless, this is worth picking up!
Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. This is my first book in the series but not my first book by the author. I'm a big fan of her other series. I enjoyed the mystery and following Shiloh as she stuck her nose where it didn't belong just like a cozy sleuth should do. I enjoyed the love interests and I'm really excited to see what happens next. Overall, a fantastic series and a good cozy mystery.
Setting the Scene: Shiloh Bellamy is working several angles to resurrect her family farm, beginning with getting an organic certification and then looking to partner a deal with an organic brewers association. The work is hard and the competition considerable. Add to that the death of the president of the association and Shiloh certainly has her work cut out for her. When her best friend's husband becomes the number one suspect in the murder, Shiloh finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation and at odds with firefighter Quinn Killian
What I thought: I love Amanda Flower's books, but this series has me struggling. The highlights are Huckleberry, Shiloh's "city-slicker" pug, and his struggle with doggie snow boots, Hazel's precociousness, and the introduction of an interesting sheriff. Other than that, the continuing angst between the characters is tiring, at best. I can see no reason for Shiloh to even stay at the farm given the attitudes of her father, her cousin, and Quinn's mother, to name a few, and her own inability/refusal to stand up for herself is disappointing. By the third book in the series, I would expect there to be some improvement in relationships, but not so. Even Shiloh's relationship, or lack thereof, with Quinn is so mired in their respective pasts it is stagnant. All of this overshadows the actual mystery and provides none of the congenial camaraderie I look for in my cozy series. However, the book closes with what may be a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel - a renewed hope for the farm and the interesting Sheriff Milan Penbrook. I will read the next book in this series because of my respect for Ms. Flowers, but I will need to see some great strides to continue further.
I received a free copy of, In Farm's Way, by Amanda Flower, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Shiloh has a murder to investigate. This was a nice mystery, not too heavy or dull.
Shiloh is back working on her struggling farm, planning for repairs and planting. The local ice fishing tournament takes up time, but she is happy that her father has something to do. A foul murder puts a spanner in the works. In Farm’s Way, Shiloh has to work on the farm and find a killer that is determined to prevent her from catching them by any means.
When brewmaster Wallace is found floating under the ice by Shiloh and her adorable pug Huckleberry, she is instantly plunged into the investigation. Even though the farm takes up all of her time, she feels the need to find the killer. Following the clues, at least those that aren’t under ice, she slowly finds the truth. Shiloh is nosey and sticks her schnoz everywhere it doesn’t belong. If she isn’t careful, she might become the next victim to plunge into the icy depth to never surface again.
The evidence is there to be found and followed, and it only leads to one conclusion and the killer. The uncovering of the killer has enough action to keep readers glued to their seats. The characters in this series, such as Quinn, his 12-year-old daughter, Hazel, and Shiloh’s best friend, Kristy, keep this series fresh. Bellamy Farm isn’t just Shiloh’s home; it’s her passion. The love she has for her father, Sully, is clear to see, but so is their strained relationship. This makes the series fun and entertaining. In Farm’s Way is a delightful read that gives readers many reasons to continue the series and reread every book.
3.5 stars Shiloh Bellamy has been back in her hometown of Cherry Glen, Michigan for six months now. She's adjusting to living away from Los Angeles and is still working on getting her family farm certified as organic. She sees a new opportunity to work with an organic beer association by supplying them with organic grains. This organization, along with an ice fishing derby, play an important role in this book and in the murder investigation that Shiloh gets involved with.
This is the third book in the Farm to Table mystery series. I like the premise of the main character, Shiloh Bellamy, returning home to save the family farm and adjusting to a new life there. This book is good and the murder mystery intriguing. I am rooting for Shiloh to solve the case and to make her farm a success, but I wish the supporting characters in this series were more likable. It's one thing for her business rival Tanner to seem untrustworthy, but the people who seem to work against her the most are the ones closest to her, like her father and cousin. It really takes away from my enjoyment of this series. This book ends in a couple different cliffhangers. I am interested to see what happens next for Shiloh, but don't like that there is so much family drama to deal with in order to find out.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press at no cost. However, my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Shiloh is trying to get organized and figure out just what she can accomplish during these last months of winter and what she needs to start doing in the spring. She's even hoping to make a deal with a local brewery called Fields thinking that including other businesses will help build her own. Fields is having a party to announce their new Brewmaster and the ale they have created, her best friends husband is one of the finalists. After the winner is announced not everyone is happy but Shiloh heads home, she has an early morning because the Ice Fishing Derby starts the next day. Shiloh's dad is entered in the derby and she takes him and gets him set up. She decides to walk around and check things out but it all goes wrong when her pug drags her to a piece of ice that is holding a dead body. The derby is in a different county so she doesn't have to deal with the sheriff but isn't sure how the investigator will feel about her butting in. She dives into the.mystery because it looks.like her best friends husband is the main suspect. Follow along to.see if she clears his name and figures out who the killer is!
This was the third and Amanda flowers farms trees. I absolutely love this addition, and I can’t wait to read more.
Shiloh Bellamy is taking the winter to clean up the farm and further her interest in making it organic. She is excited when her friend Kristy’s husband Kent is considered as a contestant in a local brew competition. One of the local breweries has challenge two of their brewmasters to come up with the new and best cherry beer.
There is also a fishing derby going on in which Shiloh‘s dad is determined to take first place in his age group. When the owner of the local brewery ends up dead, at the fishing derby, and Kent is pegged as the killer, Shiloh knows she needs to do something to help keep Kent out of prison.
There are so many great subplots in this book, including a budding romance, a new hobby, in birdwatching and growth around the farm, and at Shiloh‘s cousins theater. I can’t wait to read the next one!
I am a big fan of Amanda Flower’s books but this series just doesn’t do it for me. There’s something almost formulaic about everything in it – the quirky characters, the quaint setting, saving the farm, dealing with the past – it almost feels like there’s a cozy mystery checklist, and not in a good way. I love the dog and Hazel but the other characters are not loveable, right down to Shiloh. The mystery felt rushed and I wasn’t even really invested in the investigation. I think this series is just not for me.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
Shiloh decides to help solve the murder of a brewery owner so her best friend's husband doesn't take the fall. Good character development from the first book in the series, but since this is only book two, a newcomer to the series should be able to follow along. The plot moved along briskly enough with clues pointing to the killer. A quick cozy read. I received an ARC via #netgalley.