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Death in the Orchard
412 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2024
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
M.K. Graff
9 books122 followersMarni Graff is the author of The Nora Tierney English Mysteries, and The Trudy Genova Manhattan Mysteries, both published by Bridle Path Press (http://www.bridlepathpress.com). She writes the crime review blog Auntie M Writes Crime Review (www.auntiemwrites.com). blogs for Miss Demeanors (www.missdemeanors.com) and is a member of Sisters in Crime, the International Association of Crime Writers, and the NC Writers Network.
A former registered nurse who wrote "on the side," Graff has published articles, interviews, poetry and creative nonfiction. She wrote for seven years for "Mystery Review" magazine and is also the Managing Editor of Bridle Path Press.
Reviewing crime books, and participating in writing workshops fill out her days. She lives in rural coastal NC on a river and shares her home with her AussieDoodles, Fiona.
A former registered nurse who wrote "on the side," Graff has published articles, interviews, poetry and creative nonfiction. She wrote for seven years for "Mystery Review" magazine and is also the Managing Editor of Bridle Path Press.
Reviewing crime books, and participating in writing workshops fill out her days. She lives in rural coastal NC on a river and shares her home with her AussieDoodles, Fiona.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 2, 2024
This is the book I have been waiting for. Trudy and Ned are searching for information on her father’s unsolved murder. When another murder occurs at the orchard and her brother and his partner are considered suspects, Trudy is determined to see them cleared but she won’t be derailed from her true mission, to find her father’s killer.
Sometimes going home isn’t the reunion you hoped for, sometimes it’s just what you needed.
Sometimes going home isn’t the reunion you hoped for, sometimes it’s just what you needed.
May 18, 2024
Trudy Genova is looking forward to a holiday from her job as the nurse at a film company in Manhattan and plans to travel to Scoharie in the Catskills to stay at the apple orchard owned and run by her family. She has invited her boyfriend, Ned O’Malley, who is an NYPD detective, to go with her. Trudy has several reasons for her visit: Ned has already met her mother, Hildy, but Trudy wishes to introduce him to her two older brothers, Ben and Rick, and Ben’s wife, Gail, and Rick’s husband, Aiden. Also, she wants to attend Gail’s baby shower. As well as being her sister-in-law, Gail has been Trudy’s friend since early schooldays. However, Trudy has another reason to ask Ned to accompany her, one that she has no intention of admitting to her family unless she is successful. Trudy wants to discover the truth about her father’s death.
Eleven years ago Mario Genova had gone out to collect supplies for Trudy’s sixteenth birthday celebration but he did not return. Eventually he was discovered dead. He was lying in the railway depot and his skull had been fractured in two places. The shock to Mario’s family was terrible and it was compounded by the discovery that Mario had withdrawn all the money from two of their bank accounts and nobody had any idea what he had done with it. The family had been devastated by Mario’s death and it had taken a long hard struggle for Trudy’s mother and brothers to put the orchard back into a safe financial position. Although her family tried to shield Trudy as much as possible, she found it hard to recover from the death of her adored father.
She won a scholarship for nursing school and left home as soon as it was possible and, after she qualified, she moved to New York. Despite the distance between her and the place where her father died, Trudy has never been able to shake off her conviction that her father’s death had not been an accident and she still believes that he was murdered. She is desperate to find out the truth, but she is afraid that she and Ned will uncover evidence that the motive for Mario’s death and his reason for removing the family money is something that soils her father’s memory.
The visit to the family starts off very happily. Trudy’s family all get on with Ned and Trudy finds it possible to accept her mother’s new relationship with Trudy’s old High School English teacher, Bob, and when she sees how good they are together she feels glad that Hildy is no longer alone. The local police are co-operative and willing to tell Trudy and Ned anything they can about the investigation eleven years ago. Trudy realises that the earlier investigators had shared her doubts that Mario’s death was an accident. Their failure to solve the crime was not through negligence but through absence of evidence. They could discover no witnesses and also no motive for the murder of a man who, despite his hot temper when confronted by injustice, was liked and respected by everybody who knew him and loved by his friends and family.
The baby shower starts off joyfully and everyone is enjoying themselves until Rick goes back to the house he shares with Aidan, which is also in the grounds of the apple orchard, to collect some ice cream that Aiden had forgotten. On the veranda steps of the house Rick discovers a dead body and the victim has been shot. Now Trudy and Ned have two murders to investigate, one that happened eleven years ago and another that is a threat to the Genova family here and now, and they cannot escape the fear that Rick might be suspected of involvement in the crime. Ned is determined to keep Trudy safe, but she is equally determined not to be sidelined, even though the things that they discover may prove to be painful and, with a murderer at large, her persistence could also be extremely dangerous.
Death in the Orchard is the third novel featuring Trudy Genova. It is a superb series, and this is a delightful addition, taking Trudy and Ned out of New York to Trudy’s family home in the country and introducing her warm and loving family. This is a beautifully crafted, multi-viewpoint novel, with an intriguing plot and a cast of likeable, engaging characters, especially the two central protagonists. This is such a compelling book that I could not put it down and read it in two days. Death in the Orchard is a page turner that I wholeheartedly recommend.
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Reviewer: Carol Westron
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
Eleven years ago Mario Genova had gone out to collect supplies for Trudy’s sixteenth birthday celebration but he did not return. Eventually he was discovered dead. He was lying in the railway depot and his skull had been fractured in two places. The shock to Mario’s family was terrible and it was compounded by the discovery that Mario had withdrawn all the money from two of their bank accounts and nobody had any idea what he had done with it. The family had been devastated by Mario’s death and it had taken a long hard struggle for Trudy’s mother and brothers to put the orchard back into a safe financial position. Although her family tried to shield Trudy as much as possible, she found it hard to recover from the death of her adored father.
She won a scholarship for nursing school and left home as soon as it was possible and, after she qualified, she moved to New York. Despite the distance between her and the place where her father died, Trudy has never been able to shake off her conviction that her father’s death had not been an accident and she still believes that he was murdered. She is desperate to find out the truth, but she is afraid that she and Ned will uncover evidence that the motive for Mario’s death and his reason for removing the family money is something that soils her father’s memory.
The visit to the family starts off very happily. Trudy’s family all get on with Ned and Trudy finds it possible to accept her mother’s new relationship with Trudy’s old High School English teacher, Bob, and when she sees how good they are together she feels glad that Hildy is no longer alone. The local police are co-operative and willing to tell Trudy and Ned anything they can about the investigation eleven years ago. Trudy realises that the earlier investigators had shared her doubts that Mario’s death was an accident. Their failure to solve the crime was not through negligence but through absence of evidence. They could discover no witnesses and also no motive for the murder of a man who, despite his hot temper when confronted by injustice, was liked and respected by everybody who knew him and loved by his friends and family.
The baby shower starts off joyfully and everyone is enjoying themselves until Rick goes back to the house he shares with Aidan, which is also in the grounds of the apple orchard, to collect some ice cream that Aiden had forgotten. On the veranda steps of the house Rick discovers a dead body and the victim has been shot. Now Trudy and Ned have two murders to investigate, one that happened eleven years ago and another that is a threat to the Genova family here and now, and they cannot escape the fear that Rick might be suspected of involvement in the crime. Ned is determined to keep Trudy safe, but she is equally determined not to be sidelined, even though the things that they discover may prove to be painful and, with a murderer at large, her persistence could also be extremely dangerous.
Death in the Orchard is the third novel featuring Trudy Genova. It is a superb series, and this is a delightful addition, taking Trudy and Ned out of New York to Trudy’s family home in the country and introducing her warm and loving family. This is a beautifully crafted, multi-viewpoint novel, with an intriguing plot and a cast of likeable, engaging characters, especially the two central protagonists. This is such a compelling book that I could not put it down and read it in two days. Death in the Orchard is a page turner that I wholeheartedly recommend.
-----
Reviewer: Carol Westron
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
June 13, 2024
I would like to say thank you to M.K.Graff for asking me to read and review the latest instalment in the Trudy Genova series. I have read the first two books so was delighted to see what Trudy is up to in book 3. All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.
This book can be read as a stand alone novel, but I always love starting at the beginning of a series and seeing the characters grow. I love Trudy Genova, she is one determined lady who once she has made her mind up on doing something nothing and no one will stop her. She is a qualified Nurse RN, and has worked in hospital environments, but she now works on television programmes as a consultant.
This time Trudy has time off work and her and boyfriend Detective Ned O’Malley are off to Schoharie, it will be the first time Ned has met Trudy’s whole family, he has met her mother, but now he is to meet her big brothers, they are also going as Trudy’s sister in law Gail is having a baby and Trudy wants to be there for the baby shower. But the biggest reason they are going is to look into the death of Trudy’s father 11 years earlier. Trudy was just coming up to 16, her father had withdrawn all of their savings from the bank and had then been found dead. None of it had ever added up to Trudy. She felt the time was right to try and find what had actually happened. Will Ned and Trudy be able to solve Mario Genova’s death? Where does the dead body on Rick and Aaron’s porch fit in? Rick is worried that he will be implicated as he was the person to first find the body.
I love this series, it’s great reading about characters you know, like they are old friends. Trudy and Ned’s relationship is becoming more serious. It was great to read about the rest of Trudy’s family as well, Rick and Ben her brothers and their partners Aaron and Gail. Trudy had grown up with Gail as her best friend so she loves that she is now married to her brother and they are expecting their first child. It was interesting how they have run the family business after Mario’s death, Ben had had to really step up. But the orchard is doing well, not only do they self the apples, but they also make cider, as well as having a cafe, Trudy’s mum makes a selection of cinnamon buns, and Apple pastries just to name two items to be sold daily. In fact some of the baking she did had my mouth watering wishing I could taste what she was baking. Initially Trudy isn’t sure how she feels about her mum’s relationship with Bob an old schoolteacher of her’s. But gradually as she see’s them together she realises he makes her mum happy.
This is a well plotted mystery, with some great character’s that are all believable and relatable. I read this in one sitting, wanting to know who had done what and why. There are a few twists and turns which the author manages to bring all ends together at the end. If you like what I would call a cozy mystery then look no further. Once you meet Trudy you will want to read the first two books in the series. A truly engrossing read keeping you guessing until the end who was responsible for Mario’s death, with a few red herrings thrown in. I look forward to seeing what Trudy gets up to in book 4.
This book can be read as a stand alone novel, but I always love starting at the beginning of a series and seeing the characters grow. I love Trudy Genova, she is one determined lady who once she has made her mind up on doing something nothing and no one will stop her. She is a qualified Nurse RN, and has worked in hospital environments, but she now works on television programmes as a consultant.
This time Trudy has time off work and her and boyfriend Detective Ned O’Malley are off to Schoharie, it will be the first time Ned has met Trudy’s whole family, he has met her mother, but now he is to meet her big brothers, they are also going as Trudy’s sister in law Gail is having a baby and Trudy wants to be there for the baby shower. But the biggest reason they are going is to look into the death of Trudy’s father 11 years earlier. Trudy was just coming up to 16, her father had withdrawn all of their savings from the bank and had then been found dead. None of it had ever added up to Trudy. She felt the time was right to try and find what had actually happened. Will Ned and Trudy be able to solve Mario Genova’s death? Where does the dead body on Rick and Aaron’s porch fit in? Rick is worried that he will be implicated as he was the person to first find the body.
I love this series, it’s great reading about characters you know, like they are old friends. Trudy and Ned’s relationship is becoming more serious. It was great to read about the rest of Trudy’s family as well, Rick and Ben her brothers and their partners Aaron and Gail. Trudy had grown up with Gail as her best friend so she loves that she is now married to her brother and they are expecting their first child. It was interesting how they have run the family business after Mario’s death, Ben had had to really step up. But the orchard is doing well, not only do they self the apples, but they also make cider, as well as having a cafe, Trudy’s mum makes a selection of cinnamon buns, and Apple pastries just to name two items to be sold daily. In fact some of the baking she did had my mouth watering wishing I could taste what she was baking. Initially Trudy isn’t sure how she feels about her mum’s relationship with Bob an old schoolteacher of her’s. But gradually as she see’s them together she realises he makes her mum happy.
This is a well plotted mystery, with some great character’s that are all believable and relatable. I read this in one sitting, wanting to know who had done what and why. There are a few twists and turns which the author manages to bring all ends together at the end. If you like what I would call a cozy mystery then look no further. Once you meet Trudy you will want to read the first two books in the series. A truly engrossing read keeping you guessing until the end who was responsible for Mario’s death, with a few red herrings thrown in. I look forward to seeing what Trudy gets up to in book 4.
September 14, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Death in the Orchard is the third Trudy Genova cozy mystery by M.K. Graff. Released 18th May 2024, it's a substantial 412 pages and is available (according to the author's bio information) in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format provided for review has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a continuing series featuring an amateur sleuth who's anRN. Generally based in New York city, this time it's set in the Catskills, where Trudy and her detective boyfriend are investigating the cold case murder of her father many years previously. A second, current, murder seems to be tied to the events of the past.
The language is moderately clean (the secondary characters include Trudy's extended Italian American New York family, so there -are- a couple "f-bombs") and it's a cozy, so the violence is mostly off-page and not graphic.
Despite being the third book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone. There are a myriad of characters, but the author/publisher have provided a dramatis personae at the beginning, so it's easy enough to flip back and forth a bit to keep them straight.
The plot is well engineered and the mystery is mostly "fair play" with followable clues scattered throughout. The author excels at descriptive prose, and the settings are well rendered and believable. There are some slight issues with continuity, and the book would've undoubtedly benefited from a moderately ruthless editing process, but it's definitely readable and entertaining.
Four stars. It's unclear from the publishers website info if it's still available (or how to acquire) the audiobook and ebook formats, but the paperback is still available.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Death in the Orchard is the third Trudy Genova cozy mystery by M.K. Graff. Released 18th May 2024, it's a substantial 412 pages and is available (according to the author's bio information) in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format provided for review has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a continuing series featuring an amateur sleuth who's anRN. Generally based in New York city, this time it's set in the Catskills, where Trudy and her detective boyfriend are investigating the cold case murder of her father many years previously. A second, current, murder seems to be tied to the events of the past.
The language is moderately clean (the secondary characters include Trudy's extended Italian American New York family, so there -are- a couple "f-bombs") and it's a cozy, so the violence is mostly off-page and not graphic.
Despite being the third book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone. There are a myriad of characters, but the author/publisher have provided a dramatis personae at the beginning, so it's easy enough to flip back and forth a bit to keep them straight.
The plot is well engineered and the mystery is mostly "fair play" with followable clues scattered throughout. The author excels at descriptive prose, and the settings are well rendered and believable. There are some slight issues with continuity, and the book would've undoubtedly benefited from a moderately ruthless editing process, but it's definitely readable and entertaining.
Four stars. It's unclear from the publishers website info if it's still available (or how to acquire) the audiobook and ebook formats, but the paperback is still available.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 20, 2024
The third volume of the Trudy Genova Manhattan Mysteries doesn't take place in Manhattan. Instead, it's set in Schoharie, NY, in the Catskills, Trudy's ancestral home. She and her beau Ned O'Malley, an NYPD detective, travel there so Trudy can introduce him to her family. And incidentally look into her father's suspicious death that occurred 11 years earlier.
This is a murder mystery, but it's also a story about love, family and the ties that bind. That story is so well done that solving the mystery becomes secondary as you come to like and admire the characters and the Genova family as a whole. Mystery or no, these people are interesting and their story is important as an archetype of the American family we all long to be a part of. The mystery is superbly crafted, but I would read more about these people even if there was no mystery. As a mystery writer myself, that's the highest praise I can give.
This is a murder mystery, but it's also a story about love, family and the ties that bind. That story is so well done that solving the mystery becomes secondary as you come to like and admire the characters and the Genova family as a whole. Mystery or no, these people are interesting and their story is important as an archetype of the American family we all long to be a part of. The mystery is superbly crafted, but I would read more about these people even if there was no mystery. As a mystery writer myself, that's the highest praise I can give.
January 3, 2025
Graff delivers yet another gripping read with *Death at the Orchard*, the third installment in the Trudy Genova Mystery series. This book is a real page-turner, skillfully blending suspense with heartfelt character development. Graff's ability to make readers care deeply about her characters is unmatched, and Trudy shines as a relatable and determined protagonist.
The mystery is expertly crafted, keeping you guessing until the very end, and the pacing is perfect, building tension while allowing moments of emotional depth. The lush descriptions and nuanced relationships bring the story to life, making it impossible to put down.
If you're a fan of clever mysteries and strong, engaging characters, *Death at the Orchard* is an absolute must-read. M.K. Graff has outdone herself with this one!
The mystery is expertly crafted, keeping you guessing until the very end, and the pacing is perfect, building tension while allowing moments of emotional depth. The lush descriptions and nuanced relationships bring the story to life, making it impossible to put down.
If you're a fan of clever mysteries and strong, engaging characters, *Death at the Orchard* is an absolute must-read. M.K. Graff has outdone herself with this one!
June 24, 2024
Death in the Orchard is a mystery which will have you turning the pages. Trudy Genova a nurse is concerned with finding the truth about her father’s death. An ice cold case, the reader follows what , at first, seems to be a typical mystery quickly becomes anything but typical. Not only is Trudy’s father’s death suspicious, but, it’s still red hot!
Join Trudy and her boyfriend in their quest to find out the truth as you, the reader, finds out a simple baby shower is anything but simple!
I found this novel compelling and it left me hoping the next book in the Trudy Genova Series has already been written by M.K. Graff!
Join Trudy and her boyfriend in their quest to find out the truth as you, the reader, finds out a simple baby shower is anything but simple!
I found this novel compelling and it left me hoping the next book in the Trudy Genova Series has already been written by M.K. Graff!
May 24, 2024
Terrific installment to the Trudy series! I enjoyed seeing her hometown through her adult eyes, reuniting with her family and introducing upstate New York to Ned. Graff threads together the past and present as Trudy investigates the mystery of her father's death. On one hand, you don't want ANY of the charming characters to be culpable, on the other, someone MUST have done her family dirty and it isn't until the final pages that the reader learns who, how, and why. Great suspense!
December 21, 2024
I loved reading this book. M.K.Graff’s narrative voice had humour and also empathy for some of the characters. I could imagine the scene in the small town as Trudy is determined to find out who killed her father.
The book was engaging and I highly recommend it.
The book was engaging and I highly recommend it.
August 18, 2025
Following the death of her beloved father, a daughter returns to the home where she grew up. There she finds more questions than answers as to how her father spent his final days. As a nurse who consults for a TV crime series, Trudy brings a different perspective to the family's concerns. Add to the mix is her bringing her intended, an NYC detective, to meet the family. How the two unravel the mystery of her father's last days will keep the reader eager for answers to all those questions.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews