A Killer Crop

Orchard Mystery #4

by Sheila Connolly

After an English professor-and old friend of her mother-is found dead in a cider house, orchard owner Meg Corey starts to Could her own mother have committed murder?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Halloween

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2010

About the author

Sheila Connolly taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns, and served as a fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company providing genealogical research services.

She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.

Reviews

[Lisa Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

...“Autumn Apples” – watercolor by Lisa Kay… done with Marvy Markers...Made into an handmade card.

★★★★✩ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I enjoyed Robyn Miles’s narration here. (I haven’t heard her before, as I read the first three books in the series.) She does a nice, but subtle differentiation between the characters. I’m no expert, but it seems her accents for the region are spot-on, as is her pacing and inflection.

In another life I could see myself inheriting an old apple orchard and working it. I like the main character in this series, Meg. I like the “fish-out-of-water” theme, going back to basics, and challenging yourself with something outside your wheelhouse.

Meg, like me, loves a good mystery, but she really isn’t a nosy person; she’s just always stumbling across bodies or clues. This time her mom gets involved…as a suspect! I like that Meg is not exactly close to her mom, and therefore, they end up awkwardly working on their relationship in this installment. While I was shaking my head at Meg not telling her mother about Seth, her plumber boyfriend, I could totally believe someone who wasn’t buddy-buddy with their mother actually doing this. Mother and daughter’s lack of closeness adds to the possibility that maybe mom might have done “it” – the murder, that is.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I continue to read this series when I find them just mediocre? I'll tell you why...I'm fascinated by the whole idea of inheriting an old house with an apple orchard. Every time I look at the book cover I think of fall. I give this only and "ok" rating because Meg is just so damn serious and boring all the time. Does she ever crack a smile? Would it hurt her to laugh once in awhile? She has zero sense of humor. This series has the potential to be outstanding, but there needs to be some major character development. One last thing, other than the fact she needs an orchard manager Meg is still learning the process, I find Bree to be an absolute waste of character. Their conversations will put you to sleep.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really 4.5 stars, but I rounded up.

It's been quite a while since I read the first three in this series; almost two years to be exact. I'd started this book soon after reading the third one and I just never really got passed page 40. However, after pushing through Grace Among Thieves and loving it I decided to pick this one back up and see if I could get anywhere with it. I did and I'm happy to say that this was a wonderful book!

Meg Corey is an awesome main character. She works hard, isn't nosy, and cares about the people around her. We meet her mother in this book, and I have to admit she may have been what turned me off at first, but she did a complete turnaround later in the book and I loved reading about her. I sincerely hope she reappears in the next book!

The setting was beautiful. Fall is my favorite of the seasons, so any book set in autumn automatically makes me want to read it. The mystery was also solid, if a bit abnormal at the ending.

Overall a solid, very good book. I will read the next one soon! Highly recommend.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are fun but don't really require much of a commitment. This is book 4 in the series and it just does enough to make me want to read book 5, but honestly I've pretty much forgotten the first three books.

Sheila Connolly doesn't do anything new but she doesn't do anything bad either. If you want to kill some time with a cosy mystery, these are pretty good.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful cozy mystery. I enjoyed that it takes place in the fall during the apple harvest and I loved all the genealogy and history. The best part about this particular story was how much Emily Dickinson was involved :)

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg in the midst of her first apple harvest season when she comes home to find her mother unexpectedly sitting on her doorstep. Then the greater surprise is that her mother was visiting an old friend who has since turned up murdered in an usual location.

What I liked most about this book in the series was Meg's interactions with her mother. Their relationship evolves as a result of what is happening. And they have some really interesting conversations and moments.

I also enjoyed Meg's adaptation to physical work and her changing perspectives on her life.

My only frustration with the book was that I felt the mystery portion didnt do enough for me. There really weren't enough viable suspects or red herrings as I normally enjoy. But a strong story nonetheless and worth the read.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything is happening at once for Meg, her Mother has arrived to visit, the harvest has started and Detective Marcus is on the scene! Apparently Meg's mother's phone number is in the phone of a dead professor and questions need answering, especially when it turns out he didn't die a natural death.  Elizabeth Corey seems to be hiding something (and Meg is sure that something isn't murder!), so Meg needs to figure out what is going on, she needs to up her game with the harvesting (Bree is injured) oh and find the right time to tell her Mum about Seth - no pressure then!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wrote 2 paragraphs that got erased. Ugh, computers are our friends!

I love this series. The information about small town politics, small town over worked historians, apple orchard managing, Harvest Festivals and food co-ops; it is all spot on and Sheila Connolly has really done her research! I love Meg and her questioning her relationship with Seth. Bree is a handful and the Jamaican pickers are great. Meg's mom unexpectedly shows up on the door step of "Red Delicious Death" and "A Killer Crop" starts the very next morning. We have dinner a few times in the restaurant that was the focal point of the last book and that is great for continuity.

Emily Dickinson and the academics were okay. The story is well written and yes I do know Emily Dickinson's work, but I have never been one who just "had" to learn about 'Emily'. Maybe because I didn't grow up in Massachusetts, I just can't be on a first name basis with her. Don't get me wrong -- I think it is a good book in a great series. Unfortunately, in a series of 4 books not all of them can be number 1.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Meg's first harvest, and things are going well, if frantically. In the midst of the furor of getting apples off of the trees and to the markets, Meg's mom shows up out of nowhere. Seems she's in the area to visit an "old friend." A male "old friend." And Dad is off yachting with the guys. Is there trouble in their marriage? Megs wants to know, but...she and Mom aren't the closest. No, no "real" issues, but not as close as they might be. SO...how to amuse Mom and get the apples picked? Well...having the "old friend," a well-respected professor and Emily Dickenson expert murdered, with Mom as one of the suspects will certainly do it! And HERE COMES DETECTIVE MARCUS YET AGAIN. This time, though, he's a bit more reasonable, having gotten to know Meg in the past (and better than either of them might have wanted). But there's a killer on the loose, and with Mom in the middle, Meg is on the hunt again!

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, by far, was the best in the series yet. And, that is truly saying something. I've enjoyed learning about apple growing and restaurant openings, but, when the added dimension of genealogy was introduced the book picked up and ran with it.

I could not help but be involved with the plot and eagerly reading to see how the generations of Ms. Emily was relative to the case. I enjoyed learning more about Ms. Dickinson and the fact that the Author, Ms. Connolly is of the family in real life was an added layer that made the book even more attractive to me.

I wish Meg and Seth's relationship wasn't quite so stilted but in a way, I guess it fits with the stern stereotype of the New Englander.

The recipes were a treat also. I can barely wait for the next episode. What treats will be in store for us readers?

[Tricia Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheila Connolly was the cozy mystery group's author for October. First time I've read one of her books and did enjoy the story. I liked the tie-in with Emily Dickinson, learning about how hard it is to grow a crop like apples, and the town of Amherst, MA. Good story for a lazy day!

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

No bad, but not as good as the previous ones. Plus it got very repetitive.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this a month ago and forgot to write a review!

Another delightful entry in the Orchard series. Meg strikes me as a believable character: self-doubts but is attempting to make a go at being a farmer with the Warren Orchard. This book takes place during the first autumn harvest since Meg took on the orchard. She's learning all sorts about the business, including how to pick apples. I enjoyed her interaction with the picking crew, many who have picked at the Warren Orchard for years.

The subplots regarding the historical society, local politics, and food co-ops were weaved together nicely. The historical society and the need to catalog and archive all those boxes spoke to me, as I am a history buff. Meg's relationship with her parents, particularly with her mother, seemed so real and was well-written in particular. I admit to not knowing as much about Emily Dickinson as I should, and I appreciated the inclusion of Emily and her background/history in the book.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stelle e mezza
Bella storia: all'inizio ero spiazzata anch'io come i personaggi principali, poi ho virato verso la soluzione e ho capito chi fosse il colpevole un pochino prima di loro. Al centro della storia c'è un mistero che riguarda Emily Dickinson: alcuni brani delle sue poesie appaiono sul mio calendario di quest'anno e dopo questa storia inizio a credere che devo leggerle, anche se la poesia non mi ha mai attirato molto.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy with a few tasty recipes at the end! I love that A Killer Crop has some historical elements, including genealogy and Emily Dickinson. We get to meet Meg's mom in this book, and see a little more of Seth - though still not enough, in my opinion. The mystery is great, with several suspects but no obvious leads for the police or amateur sleuth Meg.

[Nicholas George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connolly's series is a good choice for those who like there cozies heavy on the cozy and light on the mystery. In this one, apple farm-owner Meg contends with a surprise visit by her mother, who shows up in Granford right after one of her old friends is found dead. Nicely written and definitely cozy.

[Krista Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loves this series and the time to Emily Dickinson was so cool. I loved seeing relationships grow and characters returning! A great book to end the month?”!

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery in this one. I really like this series. Interesting true to life characters, solid mysteries and I learn a little more about apple farming in each book. Not that I plan to work in one, but it's still interesting.

[Marlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

t's Meg's first harvest in the apple orchard. Having decided she's going to learn about the business from the bottom up, she's working as a picker. And because she's understaffed, she's working hard.

When her mother appears, unannounced, on her doorstep, Meg isn't terribly pleased, but decides to try to make the best of it. Then, they find out that the old friend Elizabeth Corey has been visiting was found dead on the floor of a cider house. When Meg tries to find out why she was visiting this man, and why her mother didn't notify her of her visit, Elizabeth clams up. Meg is worried that her mother might have been having an affair, and becomes even more worried when Elizabeth is interrogated by the police.

Meg is determined to find out what happened and prove her mother's innocence, even if Elizabeth won't cooperate.

This series is very different from Connolly's Museum Mystery series, but the author's love of history us evident in both. The joy of learning the history of a place and a family is conveyed skilfully.

An engaging and engrossing mystery, even if you haven't read the previous books in the series.

*FTC Full disclosure - Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love culinary cozies, you'll enjoy this one from the Orchard Mysteries. When I've read Killer Crop, it's a good cozy. We're enveloped into a rustic world of living in Massachusetts, when a murder takes place. We're introduced to Meg Corey, who's now learning the ropes of apple picking for her orchard. There's so much goes into the process, whether by hand or by machine, even to make cider, for harvest season. It's a lot of hard work to learn about apple picking. It's educational and informative all at once, highlighting Meg's life in the story. When she's tired from a hard day at work, so am I. I We can see her struggle, when her mom visits her, on telling her about her boyfriend, Seth. I'm so glad that later on, she introduced him to her. He's some kinda of handy eye candy In my opinion. But we can see a growing relationship between Seth and Meg, even before and after she tells her parents about him. We also learn more about Emily Dickinson's life and Meg's fictional relationship to it. It's a good balance for a culinary cozy with a hint of historical fiction and tons of intrigue, when Meg solves her mother. This is an enjoyable read.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A local professor is killed and somehow Meg's mother becomes the prime suspect. Just what Meg doesn't need while she is in the middle of her first apple harvest.

There is a lot going one here, hints about apple harvest, tips on how to conduct genealogical research and a potential for finding new letters written by Emily Dickinson. Meg is torn in several directions, apple harvest, mystery of dead professor, parents visiting, Bree with a broken arm, and trying to find the time(courage) to tell her parents about Seth.

Some great history on this one, especially around the life and times of Emily Dickinson.

Looking forward to the next in this fun series.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the 4th in the Orchard series and I am still not loving it. I can't stand the main character, Meg and if it weren't for the other characters charm, I'd suspect I'd of put this in the abandoned pile a while ago. Meg's parents had a large part in this, especially her mom, Elizabeth, and I really liked them. I didn't like how Seth was treated at all by Meg, nor did I like how little it focuses on the orchard when it is supposed to be an orchard series! Sort of boring if I am being honest and the dialogue was like cardboard at times. At this point I don't know if I will continue with the series but if I do, it will be a while.

2/5

[Molly Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg Corey is right in the middle of harvesting her first apple crop when her mother arrives for an unannounced visit. By the time Meg has shaken off her initial surprise she gets another: Detective William Marcus knocks on the front door asking to talk with Elizabeth about a murder. Although Meg and Elizabeth aren't close, she knows her mother couldn't have anything to do with murder. Could she? And why on earth would an Emily Dickinson scholar be the victim?

If you're looking for a high-end traditional mystery, look no further.

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really haven't cared much for this series, in fact I gave the 3rd one only 2 stars. But this one was much better, actually the best of the series, so far. I hadn't intended to read anymore in the series after the 3rd book, but this cover was so pretty I couldn't resist it. Meg's mother, with whom she doesn't have that great a relationsship, shows up on her doorstep unannounced. Then Mom becomes a suspect in a murder investigation. Not bad at all!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th in Sheila Connolly's Orchard Mystery series. It's my favorite so far. Meg's mother Elizabeth comes to visit an old friend, a college professor whose specialty is the poetry of Emily Dickinson. When the professor turns up dead in a nearby cider mill Elizabeth is suspected of killing him. The solution to finding his murderer lies in looking at Emily Dickinson's life and an exchange of letters she had with an unknown farm girl.

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say this series gets better with each book and I enjoyed this one more so than previous instalments. It was a bit slow-going through the first half of the book - lots of repetitive conversation between mother and daughter, but it picked up nicely the second half with an interesting story line about Emily Dickinson. I'll most likely check out the next book in the series.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book about apples, the process, and picking. Each book is another step is how an apple orchard works. Only one thing, it said that each Honey Crisp tree bought has to have a license to sell the apples. That's not exactly true. Only certain types of Honey Crisp have that requirement, mostly the newer strains.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid new addition to this series. I enjoy getting to know Meg and her family/friends. MINOR SPOILER AHEAD.......I really liked that Meg or her mom didn't have to be in mortal danger to solve the mystery. I honestly can't think of another cozy I've read where that's the case.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this one as it has some history incorporated into the story. I love that she had hidden items in her house. That is always something looming in the back of my mind when I go into the older homes.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series and the story line just keeps getting better and better. I love watching the relationships grow between the characters and in this book we met Megs parents. I hope we see more of them soon, they are to come for Thanksgiving......