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Sugar Grove Mystery #1
Drizzled with Death
Meet Dani Greene—a fourth-generation maple syrup maker dealing with a first-class troublemaker…
The annual pre-Thanksgiving pancake-eating contest is a big event in Sugar Grove, New Hampshire. It’s sponsored by the Sap Bucket Brigade, aka the firefighters auxiliary, and the Greene family farm provides the syrup. But when obnoxious outsider Alanza Speedwell flops face first into a stack of flapjacks during the contest, Greener Pastures’ syrup falls under suspicion.
Dani knows the police—including her ex-boyfriend—are barking up the wrong tree, and she’s determined to pull her loved ones out of a very sticky situation. The odds may be stacked against her, but she’s got to tap the real killer before some poor sap in her own family ends up trading the sugar house for the Big House…
The annual pre-Thanksgiving pancake-eating contest is a big event in Sugar Grove, New Hampshire. It’s sponsored by the Sap Bucket Brigade, aka the firefighters auxiliary, and the Greene family farm provides the syrup. But when obnoxious outsider Alanza Speedwell flops face first into a stack of flapjacks during the contest, Greener Pastures’ syrup falls under suspicion.
Dani knows the police—including her ex-boyfriend—are barking up the wrong tree, and she’s determined to pull her loved ones out of a very sticky situation. The odds may be stacked against her, but she’s got to tap the real killer before some poor sap in her own family ends up trading the sugar house for the Big House…
298 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
21 people are currently reading
1608 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Crockett
7 books134 followersA nearly life-long resident of the Granite State, Jessie naturally adores black flies, 98% humidity, killing frosts in August and snow banks taller than the average grandmother. When not working on her next murderous adventure she enthusiastically combs the beach, designs bento lunches and throws parties. She delights in mentoring young writers at local schools.
Her debut mystery, Live Free or Die, was the 2011 winner of the Daphne DuMaurier Award for Mainstream Mystery. Jessie lives with her dark and mysterious husband and exuberant children in a village so small most other New Hampshire residents have never heard of it. Hearing from readers makes the winter seem shorter so please drop her a line.
Her debut mystery, Live Free or Die, was the 2011 winner of the Daphne DuMaurier Award for Mainstream Mystery. Jessie lives with her dark and mysterious husband and exuberant children in a village so small most other New Hampshire residents have never heard of it. Hearing from readers makes the winter seem shorter so please drop her a line.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
December 30, 2020
This was the first book in a series and the first time I’ve read this author. I enjoyed the theme of maple syrup, maple trees, and sugar bushes. The descriptions were wonderful! I could not get into the characters. None of them really appealed to me. I’m going to read book two, as I’ve collected the whole three book series. Maybe the characters will grow on me. Delicious recipes are waiting after the story. Yummy waffle recipe!
November 18, 2015
Dani Greene is a fourth-generation maple syrup maker. She is 27, the unmarried baby of the family, and lives with them in Sugar Grove, New Hampshire. There is an annual pre-Thanksgiving pancake-eating contest (a big draw), which her grandfather, Emerald, always wins. However, this year there is something new added: an outsider, Alanza Speedwell, joins the contest, and when it is down to just Grandpa and her, she drops dead while still eating.
Okay, I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately, I don't think it's very good. In fact, I struggled to keep reading it. I found it boring. We meet Dani when she is sneaking outside to get away from her family, claiming a migraine. She heads out to the sugarhouse to have a glass of wine; she sees what she believes to be a mountain lion outside, and calls animal control. The officer who shows up, Graham, proceeds to call her (not precisely, but you get the drift), a liar, a drunk, and a woman who made up the story to get a Friday night date. Not a great first impression for either of them. But the next day, when certain facts come to light, he proceeds to apologize to her even though she's having none of it. That's when things start to happen. It seems a number of exotic animals were set loose in the area, and now the town is on the lookout to catch them.
Alanza drops dead in her food and Dani's ex-boyfriend Mitch accuses her (or one of her relatives) of committing murder to make sure her grandpa wins the pancake eating contest. Really? I didn't know pancakes trophies were that prestigious in New Hampshire. He's also quite nasty. He lies about her to Graham, is as mean to her as he can get away with, and we never do find out why he and Dani broke up.
And everyone in her family has names like Celadon, Loden and her grandfather's, Emerald. Dani hints her name is a nickname for her "terrible" real name, but doesn't tell us what it is. Is this the author's way of insuring we buy the next book in the series? It doesn't work with me.
And I understand that her family makes maple syrup, but how much can you eat without becoming diabetic? I get that it's their business, but did they ever think of eating anything else? Everything - or nearly everything - has maple in it. You'd think at 27 she'd be tired of the stuff; but no, she keeps eating it. All I know is if I ate the same food, day in and day out, I'd be sick of it before I was her age. But the people in this town love it, and the restaurant even has maple heart-attack recipes.
The kicker, in my opinion, is that Dani herself isn't very likeable. She tells us she's small, under 5 feet, and shops in the childrens' department at stores (which is kind of odd, since I know people who are under 5 feet who have no problem finding adult clothes. She must be just adorable in her Hello Kitty t-shirts). She also makes a rather snide and shallow remark about her brother eventually going bald. Plus, she's immature. When her mother begins dating again, she has problems with it because her father has only been gone "five years." How long does she expect her mother to wait? She avoids her family rather than discuss things with them, (which isn't healthy mentally or emotionally). Maybe if Dani were actually not so sullen, judgmental or snide - but someone else might actually enjoy the book with the information on the sugaring operation in New Hampshire. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to keep me interested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
Pancakes and maple syrup, the author had me right there, I adore pancakes just about any kind of pancake and an all you can eat pancake eating contest sounds like heaven.
The story was well fleshed out and has a large detailed cast of characters. The main character Dani was great, she was determined to help while at the same time vulnerable with her feelings, she's funny and a real force to reckon with. I loved the The exotic animals was a clever device that the author
I'll be reading the 2nd book in this series and I hope it's just as good.
The story was well fleshed out and has a large detailed cast of characters. The main character Dani was great, she was determined to help while at the same time vulnerable with her feelings, she's funny and a real force to reckon with. I loved the The exotic animals was a clever device that the author
I'll be reading the 2nd book in this series and I hope it's just as good.
January 16, 2016
Welcome to Sugar Grove, New Hampshire. You are just in time for the annual pre-Thanksgiving pancake-eating contest sponsored by the Sap Bucket Brigade, aka the firefighters auxiliary. The Greene family always provides the syrup and Dani Greene—a fourth-generation maple syrup maker in helping her family carry on the tradition. She is even trying to expand the family business, Greener Pastures, by getting their syrup an organic certification and adding to their product line. All her work screeches to a halt when one of the pancake eating contestants, Alanza Speedwell, drops face first into her stack of flapjacks. Of course the syrup is immediately questioned.
Dani knows the police—including her ex-boyfriend—are barking up the wrong tree, and she’s determined to pull her loved ones out of a very sticky situation. The odds may be stacked against her, but she’s got to tap the real killer before some poor sap in her own family ends up trading the sugar house for the Big House…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is terrific zany debut. It was so much fun to read because in addition to the syrup problems there were a bunch of crazy exotic animals on the loose. It all starts when Dani sees a mountain lion and the wild ride doesn’t end until the final page.
Dani (there is some secret about her name) is a fantastic protagonist and she sure has that animal magnetism when it comes to tracking down the animals running around, drawing in Graham, the Fish and Game Warden and a killer. She is a what some would call a petite woman but her height or lack thereof doesn’t hold her back. She is a strong woman and she is ready to take on anyone to clear her family’s name. Her family’s main concern is to get her married off. I wanted to jump into the pages and slap her sister! She drove me nuts with they way she treats Dani!!
Crockett has really impressed with the mystery she has stacked for us to enjoy. There were plenty of suspects and sticky situations. I love the humor in this story. The dialogue between Graham and Dani was so well written and enjoyable to read. They are quite a pair. Of course, the New Hampshire setting was beautiful. I wish I had read this book when it came out in October, the story matches that season perfectly. I could almost smell the burning leaves and the ton of food on the Greene Thanksgiving Day table.
The next Sugar Grove Mystery, Maple Mayhem, comes out July 1. It will be one of the first books I grab as soon as it arrives!!
Dani knows the police—including her ex-boyfriend—are barking up the wrong tree, and she’s determined to pull her loved ones out of a very sticky situation. The odds may be stacked against her, but she’s got to tap the real killer before some poor sap in her own family ends up trading the sugar house for the Big House…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is terrific zany debut. It was so much fun to read because in addition to the syrup problems there were a bunch of crazy exotic animals on the loose. It all starts when Dani sees a mountain lion and the wild ride doesn’t end until the final page.
Dani (there is some secret about her name) is a fantastic protagonist and she sure has that animal magnetism when it comes to tracking down the animals running around, drawing in Graham, the Fish and Game Warden and a killer. She is a what some would call a petite woman but her height or lack thereof doesn’t hold her back. She is a strong woman and she is ready to take on anyone to clear her family’s name. Her family’s main concern is to get her married off. I wanted to jump into the pages and slap her sister! She drove me nuts with they way she treats Dani!!
Crockett has really impressed with the mystery she has stacked for us to enjoy. There were plenty of suspects and sticky situations. I love the humor in this story. The dialogue between Graham and Dani was so well written and enjoyable to read. They are quite a pair. Of course, the New Hampshire setting was beautiful. I wish I had read this book when it came out in October, the story matches that season perfectly. I could almost smell the burning leaves and the ton of food on the Greene Thanksgiving Day table.
The next Sugar Grove Mystery, Maple Mayhem, comes out July 1. It will be one of the first books I grab as soon as it arrives!!
December 13, 2017
This book kept me laughing and giggling throughout! It had a lot of great twists and red herrings that I definitely didn't guess who the killer was until the author chose to reveal it.
The whole wild animal escape thing may seem a little far-fetched to some but I thought it was such a fun comic relief to the mystery. The scene with the camel and then later the kangaroo were just priceless.
Sugar Grove seemed to me like an amazing place I would want to visit at Christmas. I loved Dani's determination to keep the business going for her dad who had passed away. The slightly growing friendship with ranger Graham is interesting as well so I plan to continue reading this series.
The whole wild animal escape thing may seem a little far-fetched to some but I thought it was such a fun comic relief to the mystery. The scene with the camel and then later the kangaroo were just priceless.
Sugar Grove seemed to me like an amazing place I would want to visit at Christmas. I loved Dani's determination to keep the business going for her dad who had passed away. The slightly growing friendship with ranger Graham is interesting as well so I plan to continue reading this series.
November 6, 2023
I enjoyed this start to the series. Overall the characters were enjoyable and I like the maple syrup farm setting. The mystery was good and I enjoyed the escaped animals sub plot. I wish there were more recipes included at the end, non of my top choices were included.
December 22, 2015
Dani Greene is a fourth-generation maple syrup maker and the family business, Greener Pastures, donates the syrup for the annual Sugar Grove pancake eating contest.
The trouble starts when the obnoxious newcomer, Alanza Speedwell, drops dead face first into a stack of pancakes during the contest. The woman who half the town wants to kill has been poisoned - by Greener Pastures’ syrup.
Dani decides to find who the killer is and starts to investigate against the background of a very quirky family who want to marry her off, a town stuffed full of even quirkier residents one of whom like to stuff road kill, an eclectic mix of wild exotic animals on the loose and a hunky Fishing and Game officer showing up at the most opportune moments. I really enjoyed the story and laughed nearly all the way through it.
The trouble starts when the obnoxious newcomer, Alanza Speedwell, drops dead face first into a stack of pancakes during the contest. The woman who half the town wants to kill has been poisoned - by Greener Pastures’ syrup.
Dani decides to find who the killer is and starts to investigate against the background of a very quirky family who want to marry her off, a town stuffed full of even quirkier residents one of whom like to stuff road kill, an eclectic mix of wild exotic animals on the loose and a hunky Fishing and Game officer showing up at the most opportune moments. I really enjoyed the story and laughed nearly all the way through it.
December 24, 2015
This was a fun read and it got me chuckling quite a few times. I did like the characters and the mystery plus the animals on the lose were very entertaining. Another series I will continue to read and recommend to friends.
February 10, 2022
I first stumbled across this book back in 2014 shortly after it came out and happily read it’s two sequels as they arrived. The setting is charming—a small New England town where not too much happens. The heroine is a member of a clearly wealthy family who—except for the fact that she’s the only one who works—doesn’t actually appear to live that high on the hog. Instead, the family seems to spend most of its time worrying that our heroine, Dani, a very diminutive 27-year-old, hasn’t gotten married yet. The rest of the time they spend worrying about whether grandpa can win the next pancake eating contest. In other words, it’s a very quiet little town which is about to be upset by the murder—at the pancake eating contest—of the town’s most hated citizen. The reason this affects our heroine is that the killer’s chosen murder weapon was a poisoned bottle of Dani’s maple syrup—her new business.
That maple syrup, by the way, is the reason I chose to read the book. I’ve been fascinated by the industry since reading John Ringo’s Live Free or Die (which is also the title of one of Jessie Crockett’s novels and how I accidentally discovered her) and I was happy to read a book that told me a bit about how the business works. So to clear her company of any suspicion that bad production methods led to the poisoning, Dani starts investigating the murder and learns that even more people hated the dead woman than she had first suspected.
Now, as mysteries go, this is a pretty good one. First the suspects are all identified and slowly we learn enough about them to figure out who did it. There are a couple of red herrings along the way, one of whom caught my interest, before everything is exposed in a very exciting ending. But that’s not all this book has to offer. There’s also a lot of family issues that seemed very realistic to me (including a miserably nasty sister). But the plot element that really makes this book stand out is an occurrence that releases a lot of exotic animals into the New England woods and gives Crockett a chance to show her sense of humor.
So this is a good novel which I enjoyed rereading, but there is one element that jars me throughout the story and that’s Crockett’s dialogue. It never quite feels natural and it’s just awkward enough to pull me out of the story occasionally and make me wonder if anyone (much less a whole town) could really speak this way. Now if this is actually an accurate rendition of speech in a small New England town, I offer my apologies. But it doesn’t feel authentic to me.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
That maple syrup, by the way, is the reason I chose to read the book. I’ve been fascinated by the industry since reading John Ringo’s Live Free or Die (which is also the title of one of Jessie Crockett’s novels and how I accidentally discovered her) and I was happy to read a book that told me a bit about how the business works. So to clear her company of any suspicion that bad production methods led to the poisoning, Dani starts investigating the murder and learns that even more people hated the dead woman than she had first suspected.
Now, as mysteries go, this is a pretty good one. First the suspects are all identified and slowly we learn enough about them to figure out who did it. There are a couple of red herrings along the way, one of whom caught my interest, before everything is exposed in a very exciting ending. But that’s not all this book has to offer. There’s also a lot of family issues that seemed very realistic to me (including a miserably nasty sister). But the plot element that really makes this book stand out is an occurrence that releases a lot of exotic animals into the New England woods and gives Crockett a chance to show her sense of humor.
So this is a good novel which I enjoyed rereading, but there is one element that jars me throughout the story and that’s Crockett’s dialogue. It never quite feels natural and it’s just awkward enough to pull me out of the story occasionally and make me wonder if anyone (much less a whole town) could really speak this way. Now if this is actually an accurate rendition of speech in a small New England town, I offer my apologies. But it doesn’t feel authentic to me.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
November 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this first edition to the Sugar Grove Mystery series. Dani Greene and her family are in the maple syrup business. They produce, sell and even provide syrup for the annual pancake eating contest, in which Danni's grandpa holds the undefeated title. The Greene family comes under investigation when another local, known for causing trouble, turns up poisoned during the contest.
This book is full of fun, quirky characters that I absolutely loved. I like Danni's strong, spunky personality and can't wait to learn more about her. Danni's best friend, Piper, is the perfect sidekick. There's is also a budding romance with the local Fish and Game officer and quite a few funny scenes including some close encountered with a few exotic animals. It was a light, quick read that left me adding book 2 to my to-read list immediately.
This book is full of fun, quirky characters that I absolutely loved. I like Danni's strong, spunky personality and can't wait to learn more about her. Danni's best friend, Piper, is the perfect sidekick. There's is also a budding romance with the local Fish and Game officer and quite a few funny scenes including some close encountered with a few exotic animals. It was a light, quick read that left me adding book 2 to my to-read list immediately.
May 3, 2014
It took me weeks to get through this book, where I normally read a book in 2-3 nights. It felt very bandwagon cozy, put out for the sake of putting a cozy out, and it followed all the contrived cliches. It was predictable, boring, and the characters had no personality or anything to make you feel interested in their story. I don't think I will follow up on this new series.
November 28, 2017
What a lovely sweet cozy ! Not as funny as other reviews implied but still a good book. I liked all the different elements such as loose exotic animals. I enjoyed the NH setting too
November 21, 2018
I really wanted to like this one, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. Let's start with what I liked. The language and content were clean. I also liked some of the funny similes and overstatement. However, I felt like this tried to be a little too funny. I'm not into humour at the expense of a compelling plot. Ultimately, that's what this book boiled down to: a story that was a bit boring, a police department that seemingly does nothing to solve a murder, and an h who does it all. I might continue on with this series. If the mystery in the next one is a bit more interesting, I'll give it a go. It's already on my desk from the library, so it might be a foregone conclusion.
November 20, 2017
Enjoyable and fun read
I founds this book filled with humor and a wealth of suspects as Dani tries to figure out who killed the town "witch." When all signs point to the family business, Dani begins her investigation along with the possibility of romance.
I founds this book filled with humor and a wealth of suspects as Dani tries to figure out who killed the town "witch." When all signs point to the family business, Dani begins her investigation along with the possibility of romance.
November 11, 2024
It’s gonna be a DNF for me folks lol
dnf
November 11, 2024DNF for me
July 11, 2014
Despite the fact the story was disjointed, full of flowery language not realistic of actual conversations, or thoughts, I sort of enjoyed it.
to begin with a mountain lion to set up the meeting of Dani and Graham, progress to murder, then have a bunch of exotic animals escape sends the reader in too many directions.
Dani's smart ass mouth is unbecoming and not funny.
All the maple in every food item would send a normal person over the edge.
I am hopeful the next book has the author seeing the faults and improves.
to begin with a mountain lion to set up the meeting of Dani and Graham, progress to murder, then have a bunch of exotic animals escape sends the reader in too many directions.
Dani's smart ass mouth is unbecoming and not funny.
All the maple in every food item would send a normal person over the edge.
I am hopeful the next book has the author seeing the faults and improves.
May 22, 2015
loved the first book in this new series. the dialogue is witty and there are just enough clues to potentially figure out who the murderer is...of course I didn't figure it out right until the person was revealed. There are a lot of possibilities with so many unanswered questions.
I do wish more recipes had been included, some of the food described sounded divine!
I think this will be a winner of a series!
I do wish more recipes had been included, some of the food described sounded divine!
I think this will be a winner of a series!
November 7, 2013
3.5 stars. This series has potential. I liked Dani and Graham. The setting was interesting and I liked the syrup talk. Some funny scenes throughout. The mystery itself just seemed a little...flat? I didn't have an 'ah ha' moment when the killer is revealed; it was more just a 'hmpf.'
I'll definitely check out the next in the series.
I'll definitely check out the next in the series.
June 18, 2015
Not a bad start to a new series I stumbled across. I think it is one of the first books were the sleuthing was not really out there. I kinda like it. This book was a very pleasant read. I enjoyed all the characters for the most part. I really enjoyed this book. I will continue on in this series.
3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 stars.
3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 stars.
August 9, 2015
Blarg it should not have taken me this long to finish this book. Just could not get into it. It was boring. But it's over now. Felt like there was too much going on but nothing happening all at the same time if that makes any sense.
November 27, 2017
3.5 stars
Dani Greene has always been considered the baby of her family. Her small stature and super fast metabolism don't help that image much. She's determined to prove herself to her family and make their maple syrup business a roaring success. While avoiding her family's pre-Christmas cheer at her sugar shack office, Dani swears she sees a mountain lion out the door. As there are no mountain lions in New Hampshire, the game warden, Graham Paterson, thinks she's crazy. Dani tries to put the incident out of her mind in order to cheer on her Grampa at the pancake-eating contest. His stiffest competition seems to be newcomer Alanza Speedwell but then Alanza falls face first into a sticky stack of pancakes-dead. Dani's Grampa is the #1 suspect. If Grampa is a suspect, the whole family must be too. This could be bad for business. The situation goes from bad to worse and Dani is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. She's also eager to prove she's not crazy re: wild animal sightings and not interested in marriage and children right now.
I really liked this book. The author does a great job of creating small town charm in the New Hampshire countryside. I'm from New England and have visited a maple barn and seen the process of making syrup so I knew I would at least like that angle of the book. I found some of the small town charm a bit too staid for me. I don't know of any churches like that around here or anyone quite as Victorian as Dani's sister. The mystery was not easy to figure out. The clues had to be uncovered first. Dani does a great job of following the clues and does the right thing when she uncovers the truth. I could have done without the exotic animal subplot. That seemed way too far fetched. (Hence the 3.5 stars and not 4)
I liked Dani a lot. She's spunky and determined. Dani seems sensible and is a good businesswoman despite what her family may think. I liked how close she was to her family, despite their annoying tendencies to treat her like a child and an object of matrimony. I would not be so fond of my family if I were here. She's also patient with the annoying locals, some of whom I would have lost my temper with and/or ignored forever. I didn't really buy her feelings for Graham and vice versa. I found him rather arrogant and condescending. He doesn't behave very professional at their first meeting and continues to tease and taunt Danny. Graham does have good qualities but his personality needs work. He is a FAR better choice than Knowlton, a taxidermist, who creeped me out big time.
Dani's family is very quirky. Her oldest sister is prim and proper like a Victorian woman (this is a contemporary 21st century novel). I would be upset by the Sunday School incident too but she goes overboard to try to marry off Dani before her "expiration date." Caledon doesn't get why Dani needs to sell their syrup or run the business herself. Caledon thinks women are for marriage and family and pretty much bullies Dani about it. I did not like her very much, despite being the oldest myself. Her brother hardly says two words. I kept getting him confused with the other men in the story because he didn't have a distinct personality. Dani's grandmother rules the roost with an iron fist in a velvet glove while her grandfather is kind but competitive. I liked him but not his competitiveness. Dani's mother is my favorite family member. She's a New Age spiritualist type who claims she can see the future. She provides some comic relief in this already light story.
The other locals consist of Lowell, Dani's father's best friend and a policeman. Lowell is kind and caring. He's the best man in the whole book. Then there's Tansey, Knowlton's mother, who refuses to see just how icky her son is. She's just awful. Myra is another local gossip, like Tansey, who always knows what is going on. I didn't much like her either. Jill, a contemporary of the Greene siblings, is not very appealing. Her choice of men is atrocious. Hanley may be good at agricultural work but he is a horrible person and I suspected him of a whole host of crimes. I felt sorry for his wife Connie, who seems oblivious to her husband's goings-on. There's a nice couple who own an inn but they have reason to be angry and the husband's anger management issues bothered me.
Finally, Alanza Speedwell, the victim. It's hard to know if she was a bad person. To everyone in Sugar Grove she was. There were many many people who had reason to hate her. However, I think she was used to city ways and not country ways and didn't understand how to operate in such a small town. She had her reasons for doing what she did and while I don't agree with what she did, I can't fault her for some of the things she did.
This book really made me crave pancakes and fresh maple syrup. I can't wait for spring when I can go back to small town New Hampshire and get more. I was very disappointed in the recipes. There were only 2 and neither was the maple bundt cake Dani's grandmother makes. I NEED that recipe! I will be reading the rest of this series.
Dani Greene has always been considered the baby of her family. Her small stature and super fast metabolism don't help that image much. She's determined to prove herself to her family and make their maple syrup business a roaring success. While avoiding her family's pre-Christmas cheer at her sugar shack office, Dani swears she sees a mountain lion out the door. As there are no mountain lions in New Hampshire, the game warden, Graham Paterson, thinks she's crazy. Dani tries to put the incident out of her mind in order to cheer on her Grampa at the pancake-eating contest. His stiffest competition seems to be newcomer Alanza Speedwell but then Alanza falls face first into a sticky stack of pancakes-dead. Dani's Grampa is the #1 suspect. If Grampa is a suspect, the whole family must be too. This could be bad for business. The situation goes from bad to worse and Dani is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. She's also eager to prove she's not crazy re: wild animal sightings and not interested in marriage and children right now.
I really liked this book. The author does a great job of creating small town charm in the New Hampshire countryside. I'm from New England and have visited a maple barn and seen the process of making syrup so I knew I would at least like that angle of the book. I found some of the small town charm a bit too staid for me. I don't know of any churches like that around here or anyone quite as Victorian as Dani's sister. The mystery was not easy to figure out. The clues had to be uncovered first. Dani does a great job of following the clues and does the right thing when she uncovers the truth. I could have done without the exotic animal subplot. That seemed way too far fetched. (Hence the 3.5 stars and not 4)
I liked Dani a lot. She's spunky and determined. Dani seems sensible and is a good businesswoman despite what her family may think. I liked how close she was to her family, despite their annoying tendencies to treat her like a child and an object of matrimony. I would not be so fond of my family if I were here. She's also patient with the annoying locals, some of whom I would have lost my temper with and/or ignored forever. I didn't really buy her feelings for Graham and vice versa. I found him rather arrogant and condescending. He doesn't behave very professional at their first meeting and continues to tease and taunt Danny. Graham does have good qualities but his personality needs work. He is a FAR better choice than Knowlton, a taxidermist, who creeped me out big time.
Dani's family is very quirky. Her oldest sister is prim and proper like a Victorian woman (this is a contemporary 21st century novel). I would be upset by the Sunday School incident too but she goes overboard to try to marry off Dani before her "expiration date." Caledon doesn't get why Dani needs to sell their syrup or run the business herself. Caledon thinks women are for marriage and family and pretty much bullies Dani about it. I did not like her very much, despite being the oldest myself. Her brother hardly says two words. I kept getting him confused with the other men in the story because he didn't have a distinct personality. Dani's grandmother rules the roost with an iron fist in a velvet glove while her grandfather is kind but competitive. I liked him but not his competitiveness. Dani's mother is my favorite family member. She's a New Age spiritualist type who claims she can see the future. She provides some comic relief in this already light story.
The other locals consist of Lowell, Dani's father's best friend and a policeman. Lowell is kind and caring. He's the best man in the whole book. Then there's Tansey, Knowlton's mother, who refuses to see just how icky her son is. She's just awful. Myra is another local gossip, like Tansey, who always knows what is going on. I didn't much like her either. Jill, a contemporary of the Greene siblings, is not very appealing. Her choice of men is atrocious. Hanley may be good at agricultural work but he is a horrible person and I suspected him of a whole host of crimes. I felt sorry for his wife Connie, who seems oblivious to her husband's goings-on. There's a nice couple who own an inn but they have reason to be angry and the husband's anger management issues bothered me.
Finally, Alanza Speedwell, the victim. It's hard to know if she was a bad person. To everyone in Sugar Grove she was. There were many many people who had reason to hate her. However, I think she was used to city ways and not country ways and didn't understand how to operate in such a small town. She had her reasons for doing what she did and while I don't agree with what she did, I can't fault her for some of the things she did.
This book really made me crave pancakes and fresh maple syrup. I can't wait for spring when I can go back to small town New Hampshire and get more. I was very disappointed in the recipes. There were only 2 and neither was the maple bundt cake Dani's grandmother makes. I NEED that recipe! I will be reading the rest of this series.
November 9, 2024
Where was the mystery?? There’s barely any sleuthing going on. Everyone is really callus about someone having died too. It’s like the MC doesn’t even care to find out, she just cares about how it affects her maple syrup business and approval of organic licensing.
This whole book to the very last chapter was about the animals on the loose and the budding romance with the Fish and Game officer.
And the MC weight shames herself, which seems to be coming up in alot of cozy mysteries I read lately. But in this book she also shames her height.
Dani is always lying to her family. I thought it was really childish that she was mad at her mom and wouldn’t talk to her because she started dating again after her dad passed away. It’s been 5 years.
I enjoyed the parts about Maple Syrup making and all the syrupy foods mentioned.
This book otherwise was just boring.
We never get to learn what “terrible” (according to the MC) name Dani is short for, so I went and looked it up because I don’t plan to read more in the series just to find out.
This whole book to the very last chapter was about the animals on the loose and the budding romance with the Fish and Game officer.
And the MC weight shames herself, which seems to be coming up in alot of cozy mysteries I read lately. But in this book she also shames her height.
Dani is always lying to her family. I thought it was really childish that she was mad at her mom and wouldn’t talk to her because she started dating again after her dad passed away. It’s been 5 years.
I enjoyed the parts about Maple Syrup making and all the syrupy foods mentioned.
This book otherwise was just boring.
We never get to learn what “terrible” (according to the MC) name Dani is short for, so I went and looked it up because I don’t plan to read more in the series just to find out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2017
It was OK!
This story was different! The main character, Dani Green, is a 27 year old unmarried young woman whose family is trying to get her married to just about anyone!
She has her own thoughts about who she wants to marry. It is almost Thanksgiving and her family has a big gathering for all holidays. The family all gets together with some neighbors and friends for the big meal.
It is also time for the pancake eating contest, that Dani's Grandpa wins every year! This year though they have a death at the contest that puts a damper on the festivities, but Grandpa does win again!
But you do have to read the book to the end to find out who the murderer is. It was a good book. It did keep me interested, but just not as interesting as some that I have been reading lately!
This story was different! The main character, Dani Green, is a 27 year old unmarried young woman whose family is trying to get her married to just about anyone!
She has her own thoughts about who she wants to marry. It is almost Thanksgiving and her family has a big gathering for all holidays. The family all gets together with some neighbors and friends for the big meal.
It is also time for the pancake eating contest, that Dani's Grandpa wins every year! This year though they have a death at the contest that puts a damper on the festivities, but Grandpa does win again!
But you do have to read the book to the end to find out who the murderer is. It was a good book. It did keep me interested, but just not as interesting as some that I have been reading lately!
Read
November 16, 2024Dnfed this. I tried I tried to get into this as love cozy mysteries for holidays but the FMC is just so..meh.
Read
November 19, 2024Made it to page 150 and it’s just not keeping me interested so I’m going to DNF so not rating it.
October 21, 2013
Dani Greene is feeling overwhelmed by her family’s holiday preparations, but she is looking forward to the annual pre-Thanksgiving pancake-eating contest. Her family is proud to supply the homemade “Greener pastures” maple syrup for the event in which her grandfather has been the champion for many years. Unfortunately, the fun event soon turns deadly when Alanza Speedwell, a newcomer to the small town of Sugar Grove, New Hampshire, collapses and dies during the event. It appears the Greene family syrup could be the cause of Alanza’s death and Dani will do whatever it takes to clear her family’s name.
“Drizzled with Death” has a unique premise and the town of Sugar Grove is full of quirky characters. The book definitely falls within the cozy mystery category, but it also deals with some serious subjects and often has a strong sense of foreboding with some sinister and scary characters. Balancing out the seriousness is a sub-plot in which exotic animals from a zoo have escaped into the wilds of Sugar Grove and Dani always seems to be the one to stumble across these animals and helps Fish and Game Officer Graham Paterson round up all but an elusive mountain lion that nobody believes really exists. Dani and Graham are at once attracted to each other and irritated by the other. The dialogue between the two characters is often hilarious and is the best thing about the book.
I also enjoyed the information Dani shares about the family farm and making maple syrup. It’s really an interesting subject that I didn’t know a lot about before and provided a unique backdrop to the mystery. Dani is an appealing main character and excellent amateur sleuth. She asks hard questions of the suspects and won’t give up until she learns the truth.
This is a debut book in a new series and I think this series has a lot of potential. On the downside, although this the first book in the series, I sometimes felt I had come in during the middle of a series. I seemed to be missing some of characters’ backstories and didn’t quite understand the relationship between Dani and her family. I also would have also loved some insight in to why Dani’s parents picked such unusual names for her and her siblings. Dani doesn’t even disclose her real name and her sister and brother are named “Celadon” and “Loden”. Unique names are fine, but I kept wondering about the story behind them. Perhaps some more details about the supporting characters will be shared in future books to make them seem more real. Only Dani, Graham, Dani’s grandfather, and Dani’s mother seem fully fleshed out. Sometimes the lack of details made it hard to connect with these characters, but overall I enjoyed this book. I think readers of Paige Shelton or Hannah Reed will also enjoy this new series.
I received this book from the publisher as part of the Goodreads First Reads program. I have provided an honest review of this book.
“Drizzled with Death” has a unique premise and the town of Sugar Grove is full of quirky characters. The book definitely falls within the cozy mystery category, but it also deals with some serious subjects and often has a strong sense of foreboding with some sinister and scary characters. Balancing out the seriousness is a sub-plot in which exotic animals from a zoo have escaped into the wilds of Sugar Grove and Dani always seems to be the one to stumble across these animals and helps Fish and Game Officer Graham Paterson round up all but an elusive mountain lion that nobody believes really exists. Dani and Graham are at once attracted to each other and irritated by the other. The dialogue between the two characters is often hilarious and is the best thing about the book.
I also enjoyed the information Dani shares about the family farm and making maple syrup. It’s really an interesting subject that I didn’t know a lot about before and provided a unique backdrop to the mystery. Dani is an appealing main character and excellent amateur sleuth. She asks hard questions of the suspects and won’t give up until she learns the truth.
This is a debut book in a new series and I think this series has a lot of potential. On the downside, although this the first book in the series, I sometimes felt I had come in during the middle of a series. I seemed to be missing some of characters’ backstories and didn’t quite understand the relationship between Dani and her family. I also would have also loved some insight in to why Dani’s parents picked such unusual names for her and her siblings. Dani doesn’t even disclose her real name and her sister and brother are named “Celadon” and “Loden”. Unique names are fine, but I kept wondering about the story behind them. Perhaps some more details about the supporting characters will be shared in future books to make them seem more real. Only Dani, Graham, Dani’s grandfather, and Dani’s mother seem fully fleshed out. Sometimes the lack of details made it hard to connect with these characters, but overall I enjoyed this book. I think readers of Paige Shelton or Hannah Reed will also enjoy this new series.
I received this book from the publisher as part of the Goodreads First Reads program. I have provided an honest review of this book.
October 18, 2013
Drizzled With Death is the first book in the A Sugar Grove Mystery.
I think this will be a fun series. One thing that I would like to see is more information on the making of maple syrup. With these "specialty" mysteries, I enjoy learning something about that area and would like to see what the process is like.
Dani Greene's family has growing maple syrup business, which is one of the few suggestions that the family has listened to from the "baby" she's in her late 20's, of the family. But that could very well change as at the annual Sap Bucket Brigade annual pancake eating contest, Alanza Speedwell ends up dead, face down in her stack of pancakes. The Greene family has been providing the maple syrup and it determined that there was poison added to the syrup. Since the wheels of justice are turning slower than Dani likes, she starts to do some investigation of her own. She soon finds that there is an extensive list of people would like to see her gone for good.
Dani's family are likeable. The grandparents are ones you would love, her sister borders on one you would love to hate, but at the same time provides a little fun. Her best friend, Piper Wynwood, who owns a diner called The Stack, is another fun character with her anything but normal life.
Of course there is a potential love interest for Dani, in the form of Graham Paterson, from the State Fish and Game. The book starts with Dani reporting the sighting of a mountain lion and Graham responds to her call. It's enjoyable to watch the bantering between these two. I hope to read more, before they decide that just maybe they might be attracted to each other.
A very enjoyable read, even though reference to maple syrup was a little much. Maybe the next book will be set during sap collection time and we can learn a little more about that.
Looking forward to book #2.
I think this will be a fun series. One thing that I would like to see is more information on the making of maple syrup. With these "specialty" mysteries, I enjoy learning something about that area and would like to see what the process is like.
Dani Greene's family has growing maple syrup business, which is one of the few suggestions that the family has listened to from the "baby" she's in her late 20's, of the family. But that could very well change as at the annual Sap Bucket Brigade annual pancake eating contest, Alanza Speedwell ends up dead, face down in her stack of pancakes. The Greene family has been providing the maple syrup and it determined that there was poison added to the syrup. Since the wheels of justice are turning slower than Dani likes, she starts to do some investigation of her own. She soon finds that there is an extensive list of people would like to see her gone for good.
Dani's family are likeable. The grandparents are ones you would love, her sister borders on one you would love to hate, but at the same time provides a little fun. Her best friend, Piper Wynwood, who owns a diner called The Stack, is another fun character with her anything but normal life.
Of course there is a potential love interest for Dani, in the form of Graham Paterson, from the State Fish and Game. The book starts with Dani reporting the sighting of a mountain lion and Graham responds to her call. It's enjoyable to watch the bantering between these two. I hope to read more, before they decide that just maybe they might be attracted to each other.
A very enjoyable read, even though reference to maple syrup was a little much. Maybe the next book will be set during sap collection time and we can learn a little more about that.
Looking forward to book #2.
October 6, 2013
DRIZZLED WITH DEATH
Jessie Crockett
October 4, 2013
4 stars
Move over Janet Evanovich, her comes Jessie Crockett. A murder with more suspects than you shake a stick at, all with different motives, a van filled with exotic animals who are set free and a charming little town in New England all adds up to one of the funniest cozy mysteries that I have read in a long time.
We start out getting to know Dani (although we never find out her mysterious full first name) Greene who has lied to her family so she can stay home and enjoy some quiet from her family’s full throttle holiday plans. She heads to her sugar shack, the headquarters for her growing maple syrup business. But she is startled by spotting a mountain lion on the porch. The trouble is the police and the game and fish warden believe she had an hallucination.
Graham Paterson, the game and fish warden, answers the call but finds no evidence of the mountain lion and is convinced Dani has been drinking or hallucinating. The next morning finds him, however, at the Sap Bucket Brigade Pancake-Eating Contest where he intends to inform the town of the exotic animals on the loose but never gets the chance when the most hated woman in town, Alanza Speedwell lands face first in her stack of pancakes.
In between interviewing suspects to clear her own name, Graham teasingly calls Dani the exotic whisperer when the animals run amok and she ends up finding them each and every time.
Ms. Crockett has deftly woven a hysterical tale with twists and turns but is character driven rather than plot driven. The Greene family is fascinating and deals with the everyday strife that every family faces. The reader can feel Dani’s frustration and worry that someone she has known all of her life is a cold-blooded murderer.
I purchased this book for enjoyment.
Jessie Crockett
October 4, 2013
4 stars
Move over Janet Evanovich, her comes Jessie Crockett. A murder with more suspects than you shake a stick at, all with different motives, a van filled with exotic animals who are set free and a charming little town in New England all adds up to one of the funniest cozy mysteries that I have read in a long time.
We start out getting to know Dani (although we never find out her mysterious full first name) Greene who has lied to her family so she can stay home and enjoy some quiet from her family’s full throttle holiday plans. She heads to her sugar shack, the headquarters for her growing maple syrup business. But she is startled by spotting a mountain lion on the porch. The trouble is the police and the game and fish warden believe she had an hallucination.
Graham Paterson, the game and fish warden, answers the call but finds no evidence of the mountain lion and is convinced Dani has been drinking or hallucinating. The next morning finds him, however, at the Sap Bucket Brigade Pancake-Eating Contest where he intends to inform the town of the exotic animals on the loose but never gets the chance when the most hated woman in town, Alanza Speedwell lands face first in her stack of pancakes.
In between interviewing suspects to clear her own name, Graham teasingly calls Dani the exotic whisperer when the animals run amok and she ends up finding them each and every time.
Ms. Crockett has deftly woven a hysterical tale with twists and turns but is character driven rather than plot driven. The Greene family is fascinating and deals with the everyday strife that every family faces. The reader can feel Dani’s frustration and worry that someone she has known all of her life is a cold-blooded murderer.
I purchased this book for enjoyment.
July 22, 2014
This is the first book in a new mystery series published by Berkley Prime Crime and it promises to be a good one.
Dani Greene and her family are fourth generation maple syrup producers and Dani is developing an online business to further fund the family. Dani has the uncanny ability to see unusual animals as she treks through local forests and as such, begins an acquaintance with the local state Conservation Officer after reporting those she has spotted.
At the annual pancake eating contest, a woman who has moved into town and has made plenty of enemies, falls dead into her plate of flapjacks. Immediately, suspicion falls on Dani’s grandpa who usually wins. Dani’s outrage at her grandparent’s arrest causes her to comb the county for other possible suspects.
As Dani searches for the real culprit, she finds that someone thinks she’s WAY too nosy, and will try to eliminate Dani before their secret is revealed.
This is a fresh new series that promises fun, quirky characters, and good recipes for all types of maple based goodies. You’ll find yourself craving maple sweets before you’re at the end of the first three chapters!
Bravo, Jessie Crockett, for a delectable new opportunity to eat, drink, and figure out whodunit!
Reviewed by Holly Price author of “At Death’s Door” for Suspense Magazine
Dani Greene and her family are fourth generation maple syrup producers and Dani is developing an online business to further fund the family. Dani has the uncanny ability to see unusual animals as she treks through local forests and as such, begins an acquaintance with the local state Conservation Officer after reporting those she has spotted.
At the annual pancake eating contest, a woman who has moved into town and has made plenty of enemies, falls dead into her plate of flapjacks. Immediately, suspicion falls on Dani’s grandpa who usually wins. Dani’s outrage at her grandparent’s arrest causes her to comb the county for other possible suspects.
As Dani searches for the real culprit, she finds that someone thinks she’s WAY too nosy, and will try to eliminate Dani before their secret is revealed.
This is a fresh new series that promises fun, quirky characters, and good recipes for all types of maple based goodies. You’ll find yourself craving maple sweets before you’re at the end of the first three chapters!
Bravo, Jessie Crockett, for a delectable new opportunity to eat, drink, and figure out whodunit!
Reviewed by Holly Price author of “At Death’s Door” for Suspense Magazine
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