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Eugenia Potter #5
The Blue Corn Murders
Kernels of Truth....
When Eugenia Potter stumbles upon some ancient pottery shards on her ranch, she feels a profound connection with the past. And a deep desire to learn more about the relics. Now, she's heeding the call of her soul--by visiting an archaeological camp amid the magnificent cliff dwellings of Colorado's Mesa Verde.
But strange things are happening at Mesa Verde, from the director's increasing mental confusion to a visitor's grisly death. Even a Talking Circle--a traditional ritual facilitated by the passing around of an ear of blue corn--doesn't reveal the source of the trouble. And when a busload of teenagers on a hiking trip disappears without a trace, Mrs. Potter begins some digging... to unearth a cruel scheme, a long-buried secret, and the deadly fruits of a killer's dark hungers.
When Eugenia Potter stumbles upon some ancient pottery shards on her ranch, she feels a profound connection with the past. And a deep desire to learn more about the relics. Now, she's heeding the call of her soul--by visiting an archaeological camp amid the magnificent cliff dwellings of Colorado's Mesa Verde.
But strange things are happening at Mesa Verde, from the director's increasing mental confusion to a visitor's grisly death. Even a Talking Circle--a traditional ritual facilitated by the passing around of an ear of blue corn--doesn't reveal the source of the trouble. And when a busload of teenagers on a hiking trip disappears without a trace, Mrs. Potter begins some digging... to unearth a cruel scheme, a long-buried secret, and the deadly fruits of a killer's dark hungers.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
32 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Pickard
102 books349 followersNancy Pickard is an American crime novelist. She received a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and began writing at age 35.
She has won five Macavity Awards, four Agatha Awards, an Anthony Award, and a Shamus Award. She is the only author to win all four awards. Her novel The Virgin of Small Plains, published in 2007, won an Agatha Award. She also served on the board of directors of the Mystery Writers of America.
She has won five Macavity Awards, four Agatha Awards, an Anthony Award, and a Shamus Award. She is the only author to win all four awards. Her novel The Virgin of Small Plains, published in 2007, won an Agatha Award. She also served on the board of directors of the Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 25, 2023
This warm and enjoyable book is a tad more adventure than mystery, but has much to recommend it. This was the first solo outing of Nancy Pickard's continuation of Virginia Rich's series featuring Eugenia Potter. The two had written letters to each other, having in common husbands who were cattle ranchers. It felt like fate to Nancy Pickard when Mrs. Rich's husband asked his wife's editor if another author could continue the mystery series after her sad passing. Virginia Rich's creation is carried on quite nicely by her admirer, Nancy Pickard, whose own Jenny Cain mystery series is very successful.
Some pottery shards found on Eugenia's ranch inspire her to attend the Medicine Wheel Archaeological Camp in Colorado. It is there the older but lively Eugenia will bond with a group of friends and have more adventure than she'd bargained for. There are many secrets at Medicine Wheel, and at least one of them will lead to the murder of a young misguided girl who was an Indian wannabe. A missing group of young tourists disappear and a second murder occurs before the mystery is solved.
Though the setting and story may sound dark, The Blue Corn Murders very much has a "cozy" feel and style and it is a very light read. The reader is well into the book, in fact, before anything which might constitute a murder mystery takes place. But the atmosphere created by Nancy Pickard is both warm and enjoyable, making it a nice read if you are a cozy fan. Eugenia is likable and the other characters become real as the book progresses. Interesting tidbits concerning the Anasazi are sprinkled in for seasoning.
Those who enjoy the atmosphere of cozies even more than the mystery portion will enjoy this more than others, and find a very likable female character in The Blue Corn Murders. It is an easy read, long on atmosphere and light on mystery. As long as you are aware going in that it is firmly rooted on the cozy side, however, and you aren't the type of reader searching for plot holes, or expecting bodies to start piling up from the git-go, then you'll probably find The Blue Corn Murders very enjoyable.
Archaeologists Corn Bread and Bingo's Chocolate Cornies are just two of the five recipes included in this light mystery with a lot of flavor. Perhaps too cozy for some, but still highly recommended for the right reader looking to relax.
Some pottery shards found on Eugenia's ranch inspire her to attend the Medicine Wheel Archaeological Camp in Colorado. It is there the older but lively Eugenia will bond with a group of friends and have more adventure than she'd bargained for. There are many secrets at Medicine Wheel, and at least one of them will lead to the murder of a young misguided girl who was an Indian wannabe. A missing group of young tourists disappear and a second murder occurs before the mystery is solved.
Though the setting and story may sound dark, The Blue Corn Murders very much has a "cozy" feel and style and it is a very light read. The reader is well into the book, in fact, before anything which might constitute a murder mystery takes place. But the atmosphere created by Nancy Pickard is both warm and enjoyable, making it a nice read if you are a cozy fan. Eugenia is likable and the other characters become real as the book progresses. Interesting tidbits concerning the Anasazi are sprinkled in for seasoning.
Those who enjoy the atmosphere of cozies even more than the mystery portion will enjoy this more than others, and find a very likable female character in The Blue Corn Murders. It is an easy read, long on atmosphere and light on mystery. As long as you are aware going in that it is firmly rooted on the cozy side, however, and you aren't the type of reader searching for plot holes, or expecting bodies to start piling up from the git-go, then you'll probably find The Blue Corn Murders very enjoyable.
Archaeologists Corn Bread and Bingo's Chocolate Cornies are just two of the five recipes included in this light mystery with a lot of flavor. Perhaps too cozy for some, but still highly recommended for the right reader looking to relax.
May 4, 2021
I enjoyed the first four Eugenia Potter mysteries, the first three written by the late Virginia Rich and the fourth, written in collaboration with Nancy Pickard. I was excited to read The Blue Corn Murders, the first one of the series written entirely by Nancy Pickard but was very disappointed.
The first 165 pages are mainly backstory, which I enjoy, but it's supposed to be a mystery.
The first murder does not happen until page 165, of a 257-page book. The plotting after the murder is awkward, several of the characters are not believable, and there's a subplot of Eugenia's friendship with a teen-age boy that doesn't fit anywhere. So disappointing.
The first 165 pages are mainly backstory, which I enjoy, but it's supposed to be a mystery.
The first murder does not happen until page 165, of a 257-page book. The plotting after the murder is awkward, several of the characters are not believable, and there's a subplot of Eugenia's friendship with a teen-age boy that doesn't fit anywhere. So disappointing.
March 7, 2022
Smooth Read
This was a fascinating read on a topic of much interest. The buildup of the mystery was well-designed, and the ending was satisfactory, if a little faster than I might have liked. This charming author does not forget to tie up any loose ends!
This was a fascinating read on a topic of much interest. The buildup of the mystery was well-designed, and the ending was satisfactory, if a little faster than I might have liked. This charming author does not forget to tie up any loose ends!
July 5, 2018
Genia Potter helps solve 2 murders while on a archeology tour.
June 9, 2017
It was different than so many other mysteries where the "crime/body" is found early on. In this book, the "crime" is not introduced until about halfway through the book. The main character Eugenia "Genia" Potter doesn't do too much snooping around, but that doesn't mean she doesn't do a bit. Sh is just involved in finding the body and possibly witnessing part of the crime. In this book, there is more than one major crime all happening simultaneously, as well as secondary incidents, and it makes you wonder it=f they are all connected or separate. Along with some of the secondary characters, she is strong-armed into trying to figure out what has happened. But then she and a few others make the choice to come together to try and figure it all out and is so often the case sort of stumble upon the thing that blows the whole case open.
Overall I was impressed at the many levels of this book while it was still an easy read as a cozy mystery should be.
Overall I was impressed at the many levels of this book while it was still an easy read as a cozy mystery should be.
November 18, 2013
This time Genia to travel to Co to discover just what she has found on her ranch. She has pottery shards that she found on her ranch and needs to know of their provenance. So she signs up for a hiking week at Grand Mesa and meets, among other characters, an archeologist. But she learns of many problems and meets some very quirky individuals. There is much info about the Anasazi and the cliff dwellings they built, only to abandon them mysteriously. The events turn deadly and Genia is put to the test.
Not the best of the series but I liked it well enough.
Not the best of the series but I liked it well enough.
June 8, 2012
I've had this book for decades and, for whatever reason, didn't expect enough of it to ever pick it up. Now I feel like I deprived myself of quite a treat! I'm hoping Pickard wrote more Potter mysteries after this, because I would very much like to read more about this character.
October 7, 2017
The Blue Corn Murders by Nancy Pickard is book #5 of the Eugenia Potter mystery series set in the contemporary Southwest. Widow Eugenia Potter keeps herself happy, physically fit and mentally challenged by running her cattle ranch in southern Arizona. She's not interested in agreeing to her male chauvinist neighbor's plan to annex her land. While discussing the ranch with him, she discovers pottery artifacts in one of her pastures. Eager to learn about prehistoric Indians, she signs up for an educational vacation at Medicine Wheel Archaeological Camp in Colorado.
Eugenia learns the 3 main groups of prehistoric Indians in the Southwest circa 200 AD: Mogollon, Hohokam and Anasazi; the Pueblo descendants of the Anasazi prefer the name Hisatsenom.
She listens carefully and evaluates what the people around her say, as well as what they choose not to say. She is able to understand some of the emotional undercurrents in the group, but not all.
Naomi, Medicine Wheel's Executive Director and head of vacation groups, seems to be forgetful and/or confused. Martina, a haughty member of the board of directors, joins the tour group to collect evidence against Naomi to oust her from her job.
Gabby, one of Eugenia's hogan roommates, disappears under suspicious circumstances; later her body is found in a ruin. Another woman dies; pushed over a cliff. A busload of teenagers go missing.
Eugenia works with cook Bingo, Naomi and a few women in her tour group to pool knowledge and unmask the killer behind all the disruption at the camp.
Eugenia learns the 3 main groups of prehistoric Indians in the Southwest circa 200 AD: Mogollon, Hohokam and Anasazi; the Pueblo descendants of the Anasazi prefer the name Hisatsenom.
She listens carefully and evaluates what the people around her say, as well as what they choose not to say. She is able to understand some of the emotional undercurrents in the group, but not all.
Naomi, Medicine Wheel's Executive Director and head of vacation groups, seems to be forgetful and/or confused. Martina, a haughty member of the board of directors, joins the tour group to collect evidence against Naomi to oust her from her job.
Gabby, one of Eugenia's hogan roommates, disappears under suspicious circumstances; later her body is found in a ruin. Another woman dies; pushed over a cliff. A busload of teenagers go missing.
Eugenia works with cook Bingo, Naomi and a few women in her tour group to pool knowledge and unmask the killer behind all the disruption at the camp.
October 31, 2021
"KERNELS OF TRUTH
"When Eugenia Potter stumbles upon some ancient pottery shards on her ranch, she feels a profound connection with the past. And a deep0 desire to learn more about the relics. Now, with sweet dream cookies in her purse to nourish the body, she's heeding the call of her soul -- by visiting an archaeological camp amid the magnificent cliff dwelling of Colorado's Mesa Verde.
"But strange things are happening at Mesa Verde, from the director's increasing mental confusion to a visitor's grisly death. Even a Talking Circle -- a traditional ritual facilitated by the passing around of an ear of blue corn -- doesn't reveal the source of the trouble. And when a busload of youngsters out on a dig disappears without a trace, Mrs. Potter begins some digging herself ... to unearth a cruel scheme, a long-buried secret, and the deadly fruits of a killer's dark hungers."
I'm always fascinated by an archaeological mystery, and this one -- set in the Mesa Verde area -- really felt like home. I've been to Mesa Verde and other sites in the area and they are truly mystifying. The plot was excellent ... not a clue (or at least not any that I could see) until the bitter end. Nice characterization. All in all, a very satisfying read.
"When Eugenia Potter stumbles upon some ancient pottery shards on her ranch, she feels a profound connection with the past. And a deep0 desire to learn more about the relics. Now, with sweet dream cookies in her purse to nourish the body, she's heeding the call of her soul -- by visiting an archaeological camp amid the magnificent cliff dwelling of Colorado's Mesa Verde.
"But strange things are happening at Mesa Verde, from the director's increasing mental confusion to a visitor's grisly death. Even a Talking Circle -- a traditional ritual facilitated by the passing around of an ear of blue corn -- doesn't reveal the source of the trouble. And when a busload of youngsters out on a dig disappears without a trace, Mrs. Potter begins some digging herself ... to unearth a cruel scheme, a long-buried secret, and the deadly fruits of a killer's dark hungers."
I'm always fascinated by an archaeological mystery, and this one -- set in the Mesa Verde area -- really felt like home. I've been to Mesa Verde and other sites in the area and they are truly mystifying. The plot was excellent ... not a clue (or at least not any that I could see) until the bitter end. Nice characterization. All in all, a very satisfying read.
May 26, 2021
When rancher Genia Potter discovers some potsherds and sea shells on her property, she immediately wants to know more. So she signs up for an archeological camp in Colorado's Mesa Verde. She's on the hiking side of things. She and 6 other women will be hiking around the area and listening to talks by an archeologist. But the camp is somewhat in disarray. The Executive Director is being challenged at every turn by one of the Board of Trustee's who is on this hiking trip with Genia. What's worse is that a young woman in Genia's party is killed, apparently by a mountain lion, one night. Until it becomes more apparent that she was murdered by a human agent. Then a dozen teenage honor students don't show up when they are supposed to and the whole mountain gets involved. Everyone is on edge. But Genia knows there must be more to the eye than they are seeing and when she starts investigating it becomes very clear exactly who is doing the gaslighting and why. It was a solid story with a couple of good recipes to boot. If I have the opportunity to read more of these or more of Pickard's work in general, I will.
June 5, 2024
This particular book, The Blue Corn Murders, by Nancy Pickard, was a choice forced by my library. See the chart below. I'm participating in the Franklin Public Library 2024 Reading Challenge. This month's selection, June, is a book with a color in the title. I looked over my bookcases and found this old book. It really isn't all that all, copyright 1998, but the pages had yellowed, and the cover was torn, so it wasn't attractive. I know; I know. Don't judge a book by it's cover.
Definitely, don't judge a book by its cover, because this book is a good read. The author was inspired by the character created by author, Virginia Rich. The character is Eugenia Potter, or Genia Potter. Genia found some old pottery on her ranch and decided to take a vacation at an archeological dig. She hoped to get a chance to ask about her pottery find.
There were others on the dig. The staff, a cook, an archeologist, and the customers. First one dies suspiciously. Then another. Surprise, all the teens disappear. An uproar ensues. Whodunit?
Evidently, Genia Potter is quite the detective. There are other mysteries that she's part of. Guess what I'm reading next.
Definitely, don't judge a book by its cover, because this book is a good read. The author was inspired by the character created by author, Virginia Rich. The character is Eugenia Potter, or Genia Potter. Genia found some old pottery on her ranch and decided to take a vacation at an archeological dig. She hoped to get a chance to ask about her pottery find.
There were others on the dig. The staff, a cook, an archeologist, and the customers. First one dies suspiciously. Then another. Surprise, all the teens disappear. An uproar ensues. Whodunit?
Evidently, Genia Potter is quite the detective. There are other mysteries that she's part of. Guess what I'm reading next.
July 29, 2019
Found in a thrift store. It took over half the book for he murder to happen. Then a secondary mystery was quickly introduced, followed by another mysterious death. All wrapped up tidily by the end. A cozy mystery. Not horrible but gives me no reason to go find any other books by this author or from the series.
August 8, 2022
For over half the book nothing really bad happens. There are several candidates who might be likely victims. I had no clue as to the victim or the perpetrator, but was not really surprised at the end.
November 27, 2025
I thought the ending was unrealistic and forced. Truly, there were parts I did not understand. Oh well, I also thought the Native American parts and the archaeology were not believable. I did finish it because I wanted to see how the mystery ended, but I was disappointed.
August 30, 2018
I don't gravitate to mysteries but I enjoyed this read. :)
October 11, 2019
Story revolves around an archeological camp near Ortez, CO.
Well done story that kept my interest. Surprise ending.
Well done story that kept my interest. Surprise ending.
February 10, 2022
These are fun, light reads.
May 31, 2022
Recipes are missing!
The story is excellent. But part of my joy in these books is the recipes. I am disappointed that the digital version of this story has no recipes.
The story is excellent. But part of my joy in these books is the recipes. I am disappointed that the digital version of this story has no recipes.
June 5, 2022
Well written and interesting to the end. Some good plot twists to keep interest keen.
November 10, 2022
A bit too transparent for me.
May 21, 2023
Loved it. ממש מוצלח . אהבתי מאד. כתוב בקלילות עם הומור ושונה מספרים אחרים. אמנם חשדתי בנאשם והבנתי חלק מהומטיבציה שלו , אבל כל העלילה זרמה והיתה מעניינת.
September 2, 2024
This was my first Eugenia Potter mystery and I will definitely read more!
November 3, 2024
good mystery story! i could not figure out who the murderer was until the last few pages.
January 20, 2025
A little dated, some of the references to cultures and appearances are a little cringey. The first murder happened more than halfway through the book and then was solved very quickly at the end.
September 7, 2014
I enjoyed the writing up until the end when the solutions to the crimes were convoluted and didn't make total sense to me.
A woman, Eugenia Potter, finds pottery shards and an etched shell on her ranch in Arizona. Curious to know what she has found, she signs up for a hiking and archeological program in Colorado near the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi which they will be exploring with trained guides.
But there are problems galore at Medicine Wheel, the site of both serious archeological digs and the educational hiking tours for tourists. Is the Director losing her mind? She is giving out contradictory orders causing chaos. The Board of Trustees is concerned that Medicine Wheel is losing money. A lot of the Indians are against the archeology, a lot of the archeologists are against the tourists, and everyone seems to be against the director. Among the tourists who are the focus of the story we have a beautiful blonde young wanna-be Indian. We have two friends who are in their second teenage-hood, a bereaved mother, and a real bitch who mocks everything Indian, archeological and tourist. One of these tourists dies in a rather gruesome way, then one of the staff die and three busloads of teenagers disappear. Our amateur sleuth, Eugenia Potter has to figure out what is going on.
I like the way Nancy Pickard writes but I think this book could have benefited from tighter editing.
A woman, Eugenia Potter, finds pottery shards and an etched shell on her ranch in Arizona. Curious to know what she has found, she signs up for a hiking and archeological program in Colorado near the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi which they will be exploring with trained guides.
But there are problems galore at Medicine Wheel, the site of both serious archeological digs and the educational hiking tours for tourists. Is the Director losing her mind? She is giving out contradictory orders causing chaos. The Board of Trustees is concerned that Medicine Wheel is losing money. A lot of the Indians are against the archeology, a lot of the archeologists are against the tourists, and everyone seems to be against the director. Among the tourists who are the focus of the story we have a beautiful blonde young wanna-be Indian. We have two friends who are in their second teenage-hood, a bereaved mother, and a real bitch who mocks everything Indian, archeological and tourist. One of these tourists dies in a rather gruesome way, then one of the staff die and three busloads of teenagers disappear. Our amateur sleuth, Eugenia Potter has to figure out what is going on.
I like the way Nancy Pickard writes but I think this book could have benefited from tighter editing.
July 11, 2015
Didn't enjoy this book or the style it was written in. The author was jumping all over the place at the beginning, trying to building interest and fill in the back stories for all these characters. It didn't feel cohesive to me, and even the ending was disappointing.
I'm glad I didn't buy this book, or any others in the series.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
I'm glad I didn't buy this book, or any others in the series.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
July 22, 2014
Enjoyable quick summery read; light and humorous, Pickard's collaborative ventures with the late Virginia Rich have a mystery (one of four) with some recipes added in for fun. This sort of delicacy reminds one of the Corinna Chapman series by Kerry Greenwood. Here, Nancy Pickard has placed her protagonist Eugenia Potter in the southwest, surrounding her with intriguing archaeological sites. Lovely read for a trip or holiday or as a gift.
December 27, 2014
I enjoyed the "27ingredient Chile Con Carne Murders" so much I couldn't wait to start the sequel. "The Blue Corn Murders" was every bit as enjoyable and did not disappoint.
The storyline was quite intriguing and captivating -- I had a hard time putting down this book as well. This mystery seemed to be more difficult and complicated, and I was quite surprised by the ending.
The next book in the series is "The Secret Ingredient Murders". I am eager to read it just as soon as I find it.
The storyline was quite intriguing and captivating -- I had a hard time putting down this book as well. This mystery seemed to be more difficult and complicated, and I was quite surprised by the ending.
The next book in the series is "The Secret Ingredient Murders". I am eager to read it just as soon as I find it.
April 2, 2009
A lightweight mystery set in the southwest, the main character is Eugenia Potter, a rancher from the Tucson area who seeks to learn more about Native American culture and finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. My Mom would probably like this, especially since there are a few recipes printed inside the front and back covers ;)
November 25, 2012
It was just an ok sort of read. Being a mystery, this book shouldvhabe been page turning. Unfortunately its not. Toward the middle of the book thing were still sort of "flat".
Only 3/4 through the book did things start to pick up.
Am not satisfied with the ending as the explanation is too simple.
Only 3/4 through the book did things start to pick up.
Am not satisfied with the ending as the explanation is too simple.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews