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Grounds for Murder: A Jeannie Wolfert-Lang Mystery
Jeannie is in trouble. After the loss of her husband, everyone around her is pressuring her to leave her precious farm, including an incredibly persistent realtor who won’t name her client. But when that realtor ends up dead, killed by mistake when she borrows Jeannie’s car, it becomes clear that her client won’t take no for an answer. Who wants Jeannie’s land so badly that they are willing to kill her for it? And why her farm when there are plenty around her for sale? To find the answer, Jeannie joins forces with off-duty cop Derek and finds refuge with the young back-to-the-land tenants who rent a section of her farm. Set in her ways at 60, Jeannie must learn to open her mind — and her heart — in her quest to find the killer, all while grappling with ghosts from her past and wrestling with the question of land transfer and ownership. Will the next generation love her farm as intensely as she does? And will she survive long enough to find out?
280 pages, Paperback
Published September 24, 2024
11 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Betty Ternier Daniels
1 book12 followersBetty Ternier Daniels lives with her husband, Doug, and their cat, Diesel, on her family farm in Cochin, northwest Saskatchewan. Like her protagonist, she has two adult children and is a member of the National Farmers Union. She previously taught English as a sessional instructor for the University of Saskatchewan. She is working on a sequel to Grounds for Murder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 24, 2024
Grounds For Murder is the first book in the Jeannie Wolfert-Lang Mystery series by Canadian author, Betty Ternier Daniels. Six months widowed, Jeannie Wolfert-Lang misses her husband Frank and his contribution to their farm on Crystal Lake in the small prairieland community of Bunchgrass, north of Saskatoon. But despite encouragement from her son and daughter, who live and work in Saskatoon, there’s no way she will consider selling, wanting to protect the flora and fauna of the lakeshore from unsympathetic development.
But Monica Ashton, of Ashton Realty, is persistent, unscrupulous, and even resorts to blackmail, to try to get her to sell. When she turns up uninvited at Jeannie’s, just as a summer storm renders her car undriveable, Jeannie has to either welcome a guest for the night or allow Monica to borrow her car. It’s Monica, dead in Jeannie’s car at the bottom of the ravine the next morning, and when it turns out the car was sabotaged, it’s quickly assumed that Jeannie was the target.
But who would want to kill Jeannie, and why? Could it be the disgruntled anonymous buyer for whom Monica was acting? Surely there are plenty of other available properties on the market? Or is it the young man hanging around her property who seems to think he’s entitled to a few lakeshore acres of her land for his healing centre?
And then there’s the attractive older man who claims to be a freelance reporter writing about transfer of farmland. Even when he reveals he’s an off-duty cop, she’s not entirely sure she can trust him. But then the intimidation ramps up, and she’s glad to have him around. The RCMP corporals advise her not to stay in her home alone, so she’s soon, unintentionally, making herself unwelcome with her tenant farmers and ends up staying with her sister.
Before the culprit is finally revealed, several people come under suspicion, and there are threatening emails, messages, vandalised possessions, and a deadfall trap. Two canines are wounded, a young man is mistakenly shot, and there’s a kidnap during a nail-biting climax. There’s also a bit of romance with the cop that Jeannie’s not sure she’s quite ready for.
Daniels easily evokes her setting with some lovely descriptive prose and her quirky protagonist manages to endear herself to the reader despite her occasional tendency to be direct to the point of rudeness. Her friends good-naturedly put up with her abrasiveness and condescension, so there must be more to her that will be revealed. The cop tells her “You’re prickly and opinionated, but I love being with you.” This is very enjoyable Canadian cosy crime and it will be interesting to see what Daniels has in store for Jeannie in the next instalment.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and ECW Press.
But Monica Ashton, of Ashton Realty, is persistent, unscrupulous, and even resorts to blackmail, to try to get her to sell. When she turns up uninvited at Jeannie’s, just as a summer storm renders her car undriveable, Jeannie has to either welcome a guest for the night or allow Monica to borrow her car. It’s Monica, dead in Jeannie’s car at the bottom of the ravine the next morning, and when it turns out the car was sabotaged, it’s quickly assumed that Jeannie was the target.
But who would want to kill Jeannie, and why? Could it be the disgruntled anonymous buyer for whom Monica was acting? Surely there are plenty of other available properties on the market? Or is it the young man hanging around her property who seems to think he’s entitled to a few lakeshore acres of her land for his healing centre?
And then there’s the attractive older man who claims to be a freelance reporter writing about transfer of farmland. Even when he reveals he’s an off-duty cop, she’s not entirely sure she can trust him. But then the intimidation ramps up, and she’s glad to have him around. The RCMP corporals advise her not to stay in her home alone, so she’s soon, unintentionally, making herself unwelcome with her tenant farmers and ends up staying with her sister.
Before the culprit is finally revealed, several people come under suspicion, and there are threatening emails, messages, vandalised possessions, and a deadfall trap. Two canines are wounded, a young man is mistakenly shot, and there’s a kidnap during a nail-biting climax. There’s also a bit of romance with the cop that Jeannie’s not sure she’s quite ready for.
Daniels easily evokes her setting with some lovely descriptive prose and her quirky protagonist manages to endear herself to the reader despite her occasional tendency to be direct to the point of rudeness. Her friends good-naturedly put up with her abrasiveness and condescension, so there must be more to her that will be revealed. The cop tells her “You’re prickly and opinionated, but I love being with you.” This is very enjoyable Canadian cosy crime and it will be interesting to see what Daniels has in store for Jeannie in the next instalment.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and ECW Press.
September 1, 2024
Jeannie Wolfert-Lang, a Saskatchewan native, recently lost her husband. She is happy to bide her grieving period by painting and gardening on her Canadian farm land.
But everyone in Jeannie's life- including a very pesky, persistent realtor- will not shut up about her selling her property.
When the realtor borrows Jeannie's car and is killed, it becomes clear that whoever wants this property is willing to kill for it!
We get some fun whodunit from here and while there were no major twists, I enjoyed Jeannie and the retired detective as amateur-ish sleuths.
I've read quite a few reviews that found Jeannie "prickly and unlikeable"
Well, that is exactly what I LIKED about Jeannie. I find her stubborn resolve to be totally realistic. After all, she is a woman in her 60s with a dead husband and someone out to kill her, I'd be prickly too!
While not specifically marketed as book one in a series, I assume we will have more of Jeannie and hope some of the gang makes it to the next books- especially Diesel the kitty.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this audiobook ARC and the chance to read for an honest review.
But everyone in Jeannie's life- including a very pesky, persistent realtor- will not shut up about her selling her property.
When the realtor borrows Jeannie's car and is killed, it becomes clear that whoever wants this property is willing to kill for it!
We get some fun whodunit from here and while there were no major twists, I enjoyed Jeannie and the retired detective as amateur-ish sleuths.
I've read quite a few reviews that found Jeannie "prickly and unlikeable"
Well, that is exactly what I LIKED about Jeannie. I find her stubborn resolve to be totally realistic. After all, she is a woman in her 60s with a dead husband and someone out to kill her, I'd be prickly too!
While not specifically marketed as book one in a series, I assume we will have more of Jeannie and hope some of the gang makes it to the next books- especially Diesel the kitty.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this audiobook ARC and the chance to read for an honest review.
November 19, 2024
Sixty-year-old artist and gardener Jeannie lives alone, grieving the loss of her husband six months earlier. Jeannie lives on a large property, part of which is portioned off for her tenants, a small group of young, inexperienced organic farmers.
A local real estate agent is nosing around, urging Jeannie to sell her land, saying she can't take care of it much longer, and even her children would like her to sell. Jeannie refuses and sends the woman on her way, though in Jeannie's borrowed car as the real estate agent's is out of commission.
The next day, Jeannie is shocked to learn that the agent crashed and died, and what makes it even sadder is that the crash occurred in the same location as her husband's fatal accident.
An off-duty, experienced cop soon arrives at Jeannie’s, and Derek tells her that he's looking into matters, and is concerned for Jeannie's safety, as it turns out the brakes on her car were tampered with and failed while the other woman was driving Jeannie's car.
Pretty soon she and Derek are investigating, as it’s clear someone wants Jeannie’s land bad enough to kill for it. There are suspects amongst her tenants and those the real estate agent dealt with, and links emerging to Jeannie’s and her husband’s pasts also.
Jeannie is annoyed and a little prickly with people, understandably, with everyone she knows claiming they know best what she should do with her home, and life now that she’s alone. She’s also got definite ideas about how her tenants should farm and care for the house they’re in, leading to some friction. Thankfully, these are minor concerns compared to the more upsetting things she learns about events in the past amongst the circle of people she grew up with.
The sleuthing was entertaining, with a surprising perpetrator revealed. What I liked most about this mystery was how Jeannie became more open and relaxed about things over the course of the investigation. I liked her and Diesel in the garden together. And though I don’t know if there will be more opportunities for Jeannie to detect, I’d read more about this tough and determined woman.
Thank you to Netgalley and to ECW Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
A local real estate agent is nosing around, urging Jeannie to sell her land, saying she can't take care of it much longer, and even her children would like her to sell. Jeannie refuses and sends the woman on her way, though in Jeannie's borrowed car as the real estate agent's is out of commission.
The next day, Jeannie is shocked to learn that the agent crashed and died, and what makes it even sadder is that the crash occurred in the same location as her husband's fatal accident.
An off-duty, experienced cop soon arrives at Jeannie’s, and Derek tells her that he's looking into matters, and is concerned for Jeannie's safety, as it turns out the brakes on her car were tampered with and failed while the other woman was driving Jeannie's car.
Pretty soon she and Derek are investigating, as it’s clear someone wants Jeannie’s land bad enough to kill for it. There are suspects amongst her tenants and those the real estate agent dealt with, and links emerging to Jeannie’s and her husband’s pasts also.
Jeannie is annoyed and a little prickly with people, understandably, with everyone she knows claiming they know best what she should do with her home, and life now that she’s alone. She’s also got definite ideas about how her tenants should farm and care for the house they’re in, leading to some friction. Thankfully, these are minor concerns compared to the more upsetting things she learns about events in the past amongst the circle of people she grew up with.
The sleuthing was entertaining, with a surprising perpetrator revealed. What I liked most about this mystery was how Jeannie became more open and relaxed about things over the course of the investigation. I liked her and Diesel in the garden together. And though I don’t know if there will be more opportunities for Jeannie to detect, I’d read more about this tough and determined woman.
Thank you to Netgalley and to ECW Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
October 4, 2024
Mixed feelings about this one — I liked the … themes? Gardening, cooking, farming, love for the Saskatchewan landscape, art. I also appreciated the tensions between growing up in rural poverty and finding ways to provide opportunities for the young hardworking farmers of the future in a capitalist framework.
The murder mystery took a while to play out and I think it was relatively well done.
The main things I disliked were the writing style (very straightforward, relentless) and the characters. Which are pretty big things to dislike, so that’s unfortunate. Jeannie was pretty cool, but the young farmers are a bunch of spoiled dysfunctional children and their coop doesn’t seem likely to be a success. Derek is a weasel, so I really don’t get her attraction to the guy, and I found it pretty disturbing that her community is like, ok, so, yeah this person is trying to kill you, but a bunch of us are related to them, so I’m just going to ignore the recent murder spree and help them instead.
To clarify my feelings about Derek’s weaselly characteristics— nah, you don’t have to be exclusive or monogamous. You do have to communicate your expectations and thoughts about relationships before starting a relationship. Every time Jeannie asks him a question he doesn’t want to answer, he basically calls her a nosy bitch and tells her to back off of his private life. Lady, run, that guy is a jerk.
Eh. Just not my cup of tea.
The murder mystery took a while to play out and I think it was relatively well done.
The main things I disliked were the writing style (very straightforward, relentless) and the characters. Which are pretty big things to dislike, so that’s unfortunate. Jeannie was pretty cool, but the young farmers are a bunch of spoiled dysfunctional children and their coop doesn’t seem likely to be a success. Derek is a weasel, so I really don’t get her attraction to the guy, and I found it pretty disturbing that her community is like, ok, so, yeah this person is trying to kill you, but a bunch of us are related to them, so I’m just going to ignore the recent murder spree and help them instead.
To clarify my feelings about Derek’s weaselly characteristics— nah, you don’t have to be exclusive or monogamous. You do have to communicate your expectations and thoughts about relationships before starting a relationship. Every time Jeannie asks him a question he doesn’t want to answer, he basically calls her a nosy bitch and tells her to back off of his private life. Lady, run, that guy is a jerk.
Eh. Just not my cup of tea.
September 24, 2024
Grounds For Murder is the first book in the Jeannie Wolfert-Lang Mystery series by Canadian author, Betty Ternier Daniels. The audio version is narrated by Dawn Harvey. Six months widowed, Jeannie Wolfert-Lang misses her husband Frank and his contribution to their farm on Crystal Lake in the small prairieland community of Bunchgrass, north of Saskatoon. But despite encouragement from her son and daughter, who live and work in Saskatoon, there’s no way she will consider selling, wanting to protect the flora and fauna of the lakeshore from unsympathetic development.
But Monica Ashton, of Ashton Realty, is persistent, unscrupulous, and even resorts to blackmail, to try to get her to sell. When she turns up uninvited at Jeannie’s, just as a summer storm renders her car undriveable, Jeannie has to either welcome a guest for the night or allow Monica to borrow her car. It’s Monica, dead in Jeannie’s car at the bottom of the ravine the next morning, and when it turns out the car was sabotaged, it’s quickly assumed that Jeannie was the target.
But who would want to kill Jeannie, and why? Could it be the disgruntled anonymous buyer for whom Monica was acting? Surely there are plenty of other available properties on the market? Or is it the young man hanging around her property who seems to think he’s entitled to a few lakeshore acres of her land for his healing centre?
And then there’s the attractive older man who claims to be a freelance reporter writing about transfer of farmland. Even when he reveals he’s an off-duty cop, she’s not entirely sure she can trust him. But then the intimidation ramps up, and she’s glad to have him around. The RCMP corporals advise her not to stay in her home alone, so she’s soon, unintentionally, making herself unwelcome with her tenant farmers and ends up staying with her sister.
Before the culprit is finally revealed, several people come under suspicion, and there are threatening emails, messages, vandalised possessions, and a deadfall trap. Two canines are wounded, a young man is mistakenly shot, and there’s a kidnap during a nail-biting climax. There’s also a bit of romance with the cop that Jeannie’s not sure she’s quite ready for.
Daniels easily evokes her setting with some lovely descriptive prose and her quirky protagonist manages to endear herself to the reader despite her occasional tendency to be direct to the point of rudeness. Her friends good-naturedly put up with her abrasiveness and condescension, so there must be more to her that will be revealed. The cop tells her “You’re prickly and opinionated, but I love being with you.” This is very enjoyable Canadian cosy crime and it will be interesting to see what Daniels has in store for Jeannie in the next instalment.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and ECW Press.
But Monica Ashton, of Ashton Realty, is persistent, unscrupulous, and even resorts to blackmail, to try to get her to sell. When she turns up uninvited at Jeannie’s, just as a summer storm renders her car undriveable, Jeannie has to either welcome a guest for the night or allow Monica to borrow her car. It’s Monica, dead in Jeannie’s car at the bottom of the ravine the next morning, and when it turns out the car was sabotaged, it’s quickly assumed that Jeannie was the target.
But who would want to kill Jeannie, and why? Could it be the disgruntled anonymous buyer for whom Monica was acting? Surely there are plenty of other available properties on the market? Or is it the young man hanging around her property who seems to think he’s entitled to a few lakeshore acres of her land for his healing centre?
And then there’s the attractive older man who claims to be a freelance reporter writing about transfer of farmland. Even when he reveals he’s an off-duty cop, she’s not entirely sure she can trust him. But then the intimidation ramps up, and she’s glad to have him around. The RCMP corporals advise her not to stay in her home alone, so she’s soon, unintentionally, making herself unwelcome with her tenant farmers and ends up staying with her sister.
Before the culprit is finally revealed, several people come under suspicion, and there are threatening emails, messages, vandalised possessions, and a deadfall trap. Two canines are wounded, a young man is mistakenly shot, and there’s a kidnap during a nail-biting climax. There’s also a bit of romance with the cop that Jeannie’s not sure she’s quite ready for.
Daniels easily evokes her setting with some lovely descriptive prose and her quirky protagonist manages to endear herself to the reader despite her occasional tendency to be direct to the point of rudeness. Her friends good-naturedly put up with her abrasiveness and condescension, so there must be more to her that will be revealed. The cop tells her “You’re prickly and opinionated, but I love being with you.” This is very enjoyable Canadian cosy crime and it will be interesting to see what Daniels has in store for Jeannie in the next instalment.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and ECW Press.
September 12, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Betty Ternier Daniels, ECW Press Audio, and NetGalley.
The narrator of this audiobook is Dawn Harvey. Dawn did a good job with using dedicated different voices for the various characters. I thought she did a really good job with the voices, which made this much more interesting.
This is a bit of a standard cozy mystery story, set in a small farming village in Saskatchewan, Canada. Jeannie is newly widowed and mourning her late husband, Frank. She's 60, her kids are adults who live on their own, and her farm has quite a few chores. Jeannie has chosen to stay in her village and on her farm for a variety of reasons. Her kids wish she would move to town, Saskatoon, and have been working with a realtor who is murdered by someone trying to kill Jeannie. Jeannie has the help of a friend familiar with police procedure, as well as the support of her sister, tenants, and friends, with which to solve this crime before anyone else gets hurt.
This was decent. Jeannie is a crabby Boomer, and I found her to be charmingly abrasive. She's not obnoxious, just believable for her age and small town. Also, she's opinionated but not karenlike. I liked her friends and family quite a bit. They seemed to give Jeannie grace, so I assume some of her pricklines was due to grief. I will say the romance storyline felt awkward more than organic.
I think this suffers from the author telling too many details or clumsily written background scenes. This has a slight first book awkwardness, but the mystery is decent. I'd check out the next book in this series. I'm sure the skill gained in crafting this book will result in an even better cozy next. All in all, this is average to slightly above average🤷🏾♀️ a solid 3.25.
Thank you to Betty Ternier Daniels, ECW Press Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
The narrator of this audiobook is Dawn Harvey. Dawn did a good job with using dedicated different voices for the various characters. I thought she did a really good job with the voices, which made this much more interesting.
This is a bit of a standard cozy mystery story, set in a small farming village in Saskatchewan, Canada. Jeannie is newly widowed and mourning her late husband, Frank. She's 60, her kids are adults who live on their own, and her farm has quite a few chores. Jeannie has chosen to stay in her village and on her farm for a variety of reasons. Her kids wish she would move to town, Saskatoon, and have been working with a realtor who is murdered by someone trying to kill Jeannie. Jeannie has the help of a friend familiar with police procedure, as well as the support of her sister, tenants, and friends, with which to solve this crime before anyone else gets hurt.
This was decent. Jeannie is a crabby Boomer, and I found her to be charmingly abrasive. She's not obnoxious, just believable for her age and small town. Also, she's opinionated but not karenlike. I liked her friends and family quite a bit. They seemed to give Jeannie grace, so I assume some of her pricklines was due to grief. I will say the romance storyline felt awkward more than organic.
I think this suffers from the author telling too many details or clumsily written background scenes. This has a slight first book awkwardness, but the mystery is decent. I'd check out the next book in this series. I'm sure the skill gained in crafting this book will result in an even better cozy next. All in all, this is average to slightly above average🤷🏾♀️ a solid 3.25.
Thank you to Betty Ternier Daniels, ECW Press Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
September 15, 2024
This high quality audio is the first in a series of cozy mysterys. The narrator did a good job. However the mystery was overshadowed by the constant references to the background and scenery . It was a predictable mystery with a variety of side characters. I found the mystery entertaining and the main character likeable. This would suit anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery as long as you are not put off by over descriptive background.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author.
November 4, 2024
Jeannie is being hounded by an incredibly persistent realtor to sell her precious farm following the death of her husband a few months ago. When that realtor ends up dead after borrowing Jeanie’s car, it becomes clear that this mystery client who wants to buy her farm won’t take no for an answer. There’s plenty of land for sale in the surrounding area, so why does this client want Jeannie’s land so badly? Jeannie joins forces with Derek, an off-duty cop posing as a journalist, in a quest to get to the bottom of this situation.
GROUNDS FOR MURDER is the first book written by Canadian author, Betty Ternier Daniels. It is set in rural Saskatchewan, approximately a two-hour drive from Saskatoon. The setting is well written and easily visualized.
Jeannie is a sixty-year-old widowed woman, living on her own following her husband’s death, and continuing to work on her farmland. I enjoyed Jeannie’s narration as the MC of this book – it was so refreshing to have an older main character compared to other books I’ve read lately and I can’t say that it is very common. Jeannie is a stubborn woman who is set in her ways, but she’s strong and written realistically. She comes off a bit overbearing towards her friends, family, and tenants, believing her way is the right way, so this obviously causes tensions amongst her and the other characters. It never seems that Jeannie is doing anything maliciously, simply performing ‘good deeds’ that don’t always translate well.
I found the plot to be very intriguing and was invested in seeing the characters’ investigation to find the culprit of this whodunnit as well as the reason why this was all happening. The writing style feels a bit scattered and clumsy but not terribly so. I am excited to see how this author’s style will progress and grow with future books!
The romance angle felt forced and awkward, and to me, wasn’t wholly necessary to the story, nor did it really add anything.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, ECW Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
GROUNDS FOR MURDER is the first book written by Canadian author, Betty Ternier Daniels. It is set in rural Saskatchewan, approximately a two-hour drive from Saskatoon. The setting is well written and easily visualized.
Jeannie is a sixty-year-old widowed woman, living on her own following her husband’s death, and continuing to work on her farmland. I enjoyed Jeannie’s narration as the MC of this book – it was so refreshing to have an older main character compared to other books I’ve read lately and I can’t say that it is very common. Jeannie is a stubborn woman who is set in her ways, but she’s strong and written realistically. She comes off a bit overbearing towards her friends, family, and tenants, believing her way is the right way, so this obviously causes tensions amongst her and the other characters. It never seems that Jeannie is doing anything maliciously, simply performing ‘good deeds’ that don’t always translate well.
I found the plot to be very intriguing and was invested in seeing the characters’ investigation to find the culprit of this whodunnit as well as the reason why this was all happening. The writing style feels a bit scattered and clumsy but not terribly so. I am excited to see how this author’s style will progress and grow with future books!
The romance angle felt forced and awkward, and to me, wasn’t wholly necessary to the story, nor did it really add anything.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, ECW Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
June 30, 2024
#GroundsforMurder #NetGalley is the first in a new series by a new to me author.
Jeannie owns her own farm land but after the death of her husband, everyone is pressuring her to sell.
Monica, a persistent realtor is determined to convince Jeannie to sell, but an accident claims Monica's life before she made the sale.
Now it seems someone is after Jeannie, desperate for the land, even if it means killing her to do so.
I liked the story, but I had a hard time liking Jeannie.
She's arrogant, bossy and condescending, and her attitude was very unpleasant.
I'm hoping if there's a next book, the author tones down the MC's personality.
My review is 3.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Jeannie owns her own farm land but after the death of her husband, everyone is pressuring her to sell.
Monica, a persistent realtor is determined to convince Jeannie to sell, but an accident claims Monica's life before she made the sale.
Now it seems someone is after Jeannie, desperate for the land, even if it means killing her to do so.
I liked the story, but I had a hard time liking Jeannie.
She's arrogant, bossy and condescending, and her attitude was very unpleasant.
I'm hoping if there's a next book, the author tones down the MC's personality.
My review is 3.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
June 8, 2025
I have two rules for a DNF. If I can tell I don’t like a book right away I will DNF it and not rate it, not count it as read. The only other time I will DNF is if I am at least 80% done and cannot take another second of the book. This book was the latter.
Probably the most annoying audiobook I’ve ever listened to. I should have DNF’d it in the first few pages when the narrator’s pronunciation of the word “been” cause me to grit my teeth. The protagonist “Jeanie” was so unlikable I found I wouldn’t even mind if she got bumped off. The other characters weren’t any better. I have never in my life stopped reading a mystery with less than 20% to go…this is a first but I honestly didn’t even care how it ended.
Probably the most annoying audiobook I’ve ever listened to. I should have DNF’d it in the first few pages when the narrator’s pronunciation of the word “been” cause me to grit my teeth. The protagonist “Jeanie” was so unlikable I found I wouldn’t even mind if she got bumped off. The other characters weren’t any better. I have never in my life stopped reading a mystery with less than 20% to go…this is a first but I honestly didn’t even care how it ended.
May 15, 2025
3.25 rounded down to 3
May 25, 2025
A really interesting, complex murder mystery. I liked the unlikable heroine and the romance between older people. The canadian prairie was a great backdrop. Do recommend!
August 31, 2025
If I could give this book negative stars, I would. It was extremely poorly written with one of the worst plots I have ever had the displeasure of reading. The characters were one dimensional and there was absolutely no character development. Terrible, terrible book!
September 22, 2024
I listened to the audiobook. Jeannie has a sought after farm that everyone is trying to get her to sell after the death of her husband. But she is content with her peace and quiet on the farm. The realtor her children are working with was found dead in Jeannie’s car after a bad crash, breadline cut. Was it meant for Jeannie? She is determined to find out who is behind everything. It’s an easy and enjoyable listen.
October 27, 2024
Hello book bugs,
I was very kindly given the opportunity to listen to this audiobook by @netgalley. 🤩 And oh my goodness I really enjoyed this cosy murder mystery. To me, it was a Canadian style Agatha Christie. I actually got excited when I had to clean, because it was an opportunity to keep listening to this book. It had small town romance, mystery, humour and suspense.
I am unsure whether I would just make a rubbish detective (probably) or whether it was just a book that kept me guessing. Though I had my suspicions, I really didn’t know what was going on, and who the murderer was - this, of course, kept me listening! I would say I was expecting a bit more than what was revealed, so that was a teeny let down.
Another downside for me, was that I like it when audiobooks state the chapter number or title at the start of a chapter, so I know where I am at. This audiobook did not do this so I found myself lost and disoriented some of the time.
Although I liked the narrator, Dawn Harvey, and thought that she was the perfect fit for Jeannie (the main character), I did find the child/ young people’s voices slightly grating. 🫠 But to me it was only a minor flaw, as I could just turn the volume down a bit for them. 😁
One thing I will say is that I LOVE that the writer Betty Ternier Daniels in her acknowledgments stated that the lands (Treaty 6 territory) she was writing about, and also where she lives, was formerly and is presently home to indigenous people. I have rarely seen that in acknowledgments and I thought needed to be recognised and appreciated.
Overall, I had FUN! 🤩. I think it’s easy to be swept away by the technicalities of writing and plots, that the actual reading experience is disregarded. I had a blast and for me that is all that matters!
I was very kindly given the opportunity to listen to this audiobook by @netgalley. 🤩 And oh my goodness I really enjoyed this cosy murder mystery. To me, it was a Canadian style Agatha Christie. I actually got excited when I had to clean, because it was an opportunity to keep listening to this book. It had small town romance, mystery, humour and suspense.
I am unsure whether I would just make a rubbish detective (probably) or whether it was just a book that kept me guessing. Though I had my suspicions, I really didn’t know what was going on, and who the murderer was - this, of course, kept me listening! I would say I was expecting a bit more than what was revealed, so that was a teeny let down.
Another downside for me, was that I like it when audiobooks state the chapter number or title at the start of a chapter, so I know where I am at. This audiobook did not do this so I found myself lost and disoriented some of the time.
Although I liked the narrator, Dawn Harvey, and thought that she was the perfect fit for Jeannie (the main character), I did find the child/ young people’s voices slightly grating. 🫠 But to me it was only a minor flaw, as I could just turn the volume down a bit for them. 😁
One thing I will say is that I LOVE that the writer Betty Ternier Daniels in her acknowledgments stated that the lands (Treaty 6 territory) she was writing about, and also where she lives, was formerly and is presently home to indigenous people. I have rarely seen that in acknowledgments and I thought needed to be recognised and appreciated.
Overall, I had FUN! 🤩. I think it’s easy to be swept away by the technicalities of writing and plots, that the actual reading experience is disregarded. I had a blast and for me that is all that matters!
November 26, 2024
Ah yes, another cozy mystery series for me to enjoy – and this time it features a feisty female farmer doing the sleuthing! Grounds for Murder by Betty Ternier Daniels is part of the “Jeannie Wolfert-Lang Mystery” series, and according to the author bio, Daniels is currently working on the second in the series, so hopefully that will come sooner rather than later. This is an obvious debut novel, with a few of the common pitfalls one falls into when it’s the first book, but I enjoyed getting to know Jeannie and the farm life she revels in. It’s definitely a unique setting for a mystery, and offered lots of drama outside of the typical whodunit.
Plot Summary
Jeannie is a widower, her husband having passed away in a car accident 6 months before. She remains on their farm, over a thousand acres in Northern Saskatchewan. At 60 years old she’s still in good shape and active, reveling in her gardens, painting, and baking, happy to keep busy with all the tasks required on their beautiful property. However, a pesky real estate agent, Monica continues to hound her into selling the property, refusing to name the eager buyer, even going so far as to suggest that Jeannie’s son is in desperate need of the money. When Jeannie lends Monica her car and it ends up smashed in a gully with its brake lines cut, Jeannie realizes she was the intended victim – but why would anyone want her property badly enough to kill her, especially considering there are so many other farms surrounding hers for sale? Enter an off-duty cop named Derek with some strange history, but an interest in Jeannie. Knowing her life is in danger, Derek offers to stick around the farm, help out where needed, and keep an eye out for suspicious characters, but considering he’s entered the story at such an odd time, it’s difficult to completely trust him. And then there’s the young, farming hopefuls who are leasing a chunk of Jeannie’s land but struggling with the realities of property maintenance, as those who never grew up on a farm themselves. There’s lots of people around to help and hinder, but possible suspects are few and far between.
My Thoughts
Monica’s murder is one typical in cozy mysteries – she wasn’t all that nice to begin with, and although the death of anyone is a tragedy, no one spends a significant time mourning her, as it’s later revealed she had no problem with lying and cheating others. And another hallmark of a cozy mystery is the person putting together the clues is a citizen-turned-detective, in this case, Jeannie is an (admittedly grumpy) older woman who resents a messy house, bad food, and general laziness of any kind. Her life is in danger, but she’s still going to break for tea and cook a hearty meal for guests, so her priorities aren’t really shifting despite the new threat. The author of this book sounds like she leads a very similar life to Jeannie, in fact, they both have an orange cat named Diesel, so it’s not surprising that the characterization itself, as well as the small rural community around her, seems exceptionally believable and well-drawn. This was my favourite part of the book; those around Jeannie, and how they interact with her occasional acidity; it felt very realistic.
What I did have trouble believing was some of Jeannie’s action and those around her, in relation to the murder directly. For example Derek’s entry into the story is very strange; he was previously married to Monica and checking up on her, but also a cop working on other cases who begins to fall in love with Jeannie. He seemingly puts his life on hold for two weeks to spend time with her, and protect her from this potential murderer. As the mystery deepens and we discover familial connections between others, the plot threatens to become completely unbelievable, but I read on, still eager to follow Jeannie around even as she complained about misbehaving children and burnt food. It became easier to ignore these stretches of the imagination when I became absorbed in Jeannie’s life, and reminding myself this was a first time author.
This seems like a strange thing to mention in a review, but something else I appreciated about this book was the nod to another small-press Canadian mystery writer. Jeannie at one point mentions she’s excited to rest and read for a bit, and join “Lacey McCrae in Jayne Barnard’s latest mystery novel”. A few years ago I read a Barnard novel and really enjoyed it, you can find my review here. Although someone caught in a real-life mystery is unlikely to want to dive into a fictional one, I still appreciated this shout-out, supporting other Canadian authors is so important in such a crowded genre as this.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Plot Summary
Jeannie is a widower, her husband having passed away in a car accident 6 months before. She remains on their farm, over a thousand acres in Northern Saskatchewan. At 60 years old she’s still in good shape and active, reveling in her gardens, painting, and baking, happy to keep busy with all the tasks required on their beautiful property. However, a pesky real estate agent, Monica continues to hound her into selling the property, refusing to name the eager buyer, even going so far as to suggest that Jeannie’s son is in desperate need of the money. When Jeannie lends Monica her car and it ends up smashed in a gully with its brake lines cut, Jeannie realizes she was the intended victim – but why would anyone want her property badly enough to kill her, especially considering there are so many other farms surrounding hers for sale? Enter an off-duty cop named Derek with some strange history, but an interest in Jeannie. Knowing her life is in danger, Derek offers to stick around the farm, help out where needed, and keep an eye out for suspicious characters, but considering he’s entered the story at such an odd time, it’s difficult to completely trust him. And then there’s the young, farming hopefuls who are leasing a chunk of Jeannie’s land but struggling with the realities of property maintenance, as those who never grew up on a farm themselves. There’s lots of people around to help and hinder, but possible suspects are few and far between.
My Thoughts
Monica’s murder is one typical in cozy mysteries – she wasn’t all that nice to begin with, and although the death of anyone is a tragedy, no one spends a significant time mourning her, as it’s later revealed she had no problem with lying and cheating others. And another hallmark of a cozy mystery is the person putting together the clues is a citizen-turned-detective, in this case, Jeannie is an (admittedly grumpy) older woman who resents a messy house, bad food, and general laziness of any kind. Her life is in danger, but she’s still going to break for tea and cook a hearty meal for guests, so her priorities aren’t really shifting despite the new threat. The author of this book sounds like she leads a very similar life to Jeannie, in fact, they both have an orange cat named Diesel, so it’s not surprising that the characterization itself, as well as the small rural community around her, seems exceptionally believable and well-drawn. This was my favourite part of the book; those around Jeannie, and how they interact with her occasional acidity; it felt very realistic.
What I did have trouble believing was some of Jeannie’s action and those around her, in relation to the murder directly. For example Derek’s entry into the story is very strange; he was previously married to Monica and checking up on her, but also a cop working on other cases who begins to fall in love with Jeannie. He seemingly puts his life on hold for two weeks to spend time with her, and protect her from this potential murderer. As the mystery deepens and we discover familial connections between others, the plot threatens to become completely unbelievable, but I read on, still eager to follow Jeannie around even as she complained about misbehaving children and burnt food. It became easier to ignore these stretches of the imagination when I became absorbed in Jeannie’s life, and reminding myself this was a first time author.
This seems like a strange thing to mention in a review, but something else I appreciated about this book was the nod to another small-press Canadian mystery writer. Jeannie at one point mentions she’s excited to rest and read for a bit, and join “Lacey McCrae in Jayne Barnard’s latest mystery novel”. A few years ago I read a Barnard novel and really enjoyed it, you can find my review here. Although someone caught in a real-life mystery is unlikely to want to dive into a fictional one, I still appreciated this shout-out, supporting other Canadian authors is so important in such a crowded genre as this.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
October 2, 2024
3.5 Stars raised to 4. I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this pleasant, enjoyable, and easy-to-read cozy mystery by Betty Ternier Daniels. I apologize for my delay in posting a review. After moving, I was without a Kindle connection for nearly two weeks.
This is the first in a series featuring a woman named Jeannie and some of her acquaintances in a small prairie community north of the city of Saskatoon. Jeannie is in her 60s and very set in her ways. The prairies and nature in Saskatchewan are vividly described and so atmospheric I felt I had been there. The characters were well-developed, but their behaviour was not always plausible.
Jeannie struggled with grief after her husband died in a car accident six months earlier. Her days are spent working in her garden. Her son and daughter in Saskatoon are urging her to sell her land. A very persistent realtor, Monica, keeps pressuring her to sell and refuses to take 'NO' for an answer. Jeannie wants to protect the farmland and lakeside from unscrupulous developers. Monica shows up unexpectedly at her door during the start of a raging storm. Monica's car is damaged and rendered undrivable. Jeannie does not want her in the house overnight, so the only other option is to lend Monica her car so she can leave. Monica dies in a crash with Jeannie's car.
Jeannie tends to be bossy, judgmental, rude, and obsessive-compulsive about cleaning and keeping things in order. Many readers enjoyed the strong, interesting character she brought to the story, but I found some of her behaviour annoying. Derek, an attractive older man, appears, claiming to be a reporter on land transfers, but later, he confesses he is a police officer. He had a secret strong connection with the dead Monica. He is quickly smitten with Jeannie and helps around her home and garden, becoming her protector. His instant romantic attachment was scarcely believable. It becomes apparent that the brake line on Jeannie's car had been cut, and the car crash was meant to kill her.
Did someone want her land enough to kill for it? Could it be Monica's anonymous prospective buyer? There were other farmlands for sale, so why were Jeannie's acres the most sought-after? A young man had been seen trespassing on her land. He was under the impression that he was promised lakeside land for a wellness retreat, so he comes under suspicion. Jeannie is frightened by threatening emails from an unknown sender; there is vandalism and increasing danger.
The RCMP advised Jeannie that her life was under threat and that she must move out of her house. She takes refuge in a home on a section of her farm rented to three young tenant farmers. She soon makes herself unwelcome by cleaning and rearranging their possessions; although Derek warns her that it is a bad idea and tries to calm her down, she works frantically while the tenants are away.
Will any connection be found in the deaths by the car crash between Monica and Jeannie's husband, occurring in nearly the same place? Who is targeting Jeannie for murder, and why? Can Derek be trusted? Anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries should find this entertaining. I was glad to see this is the first of a series, and I am looking forward to the next book. The publication date was September 24th.
This is the first in a series featuring a woman named Jeannie and some of her acquaintances in a small prairie community north of the city of Saskatoon. Jeannie is in her 60s and very set in her ways. The prairies and nature in Saskatchewan are vividly described and so atmospheric I felt I had been there. The characters were well-developed, but their behaviour was not always plausible.
Jeannie struggled with grief after her husband died in a car accident six months earlier. Her days are spent working in her garden. Her son and daughter in Saskatoon are urging her to sell her land. A very persistent realtor, Monica, keeps pressuring her to sell and refuses to take 'NO' for an answer. Jeannie wants to protect the farmland and lakeside from unscrupulous developers. Monica shows up unexpectedly at her door during the start of a raging storm. Monica's car is damaged and rendered undrivable. Jeannie does not want her in the house overnight, so the only other option is to lend Monica her car so she can leave. Monica dies in a crash with Jeannie's car.
Jeannie tends to be bossy, judgmental, rude, and obsessive-compulsive about cleaning and keeping things in order. Many readers enjoyed the strong, interesting character she brought to the story, but I found some of her behaviour annoying. Derek, an attractive older man, appears, claiming to be a reporter on land transfers, but later, he confesses he is a police officer. He had a secret strong connection with the dead Monica. He is quickly smitten with Jeannie and helps around her home and garden, becoming her protector. His instant romantic attachment was scarcely believable. It becomes apparent that the brake line on Jeannie's car had been cut, and the car crash was meant to kill her.
Did someone want her land enough to kill for it? Could it be Monica's anonymous prospective buyer? There were other farmlands for sale, so why were Jeannie's acres the most sought-after? A young man had been seen trespassing on her land. He was under the impression that he was promised lakeside land for a wellness retreat, so he comes under suspicion. Jeannie is frightened by threatening emails from an unknown sender; there is vandalism and increasing danger.
The RCMP advised Jeannie that her life was under threat and that she must move out of her house. She takes refuge in a home on a section of her farm rented to three young tenant farmers. She soon makes herself unwelcome by cleaning and rearranging their possessions; although Derek warns her that it is a bad idea and tries to calm her down, she works frantically while the tenants are away.
Will any connection be found in the deaths by the car crash between Monica and Jeannie's husband, occurring in nearly the same place? Who is targeting Jeannie for murder, and why? Can Derek be trusted? Anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries should find this entertaining. I was glad to see this is the first of a series, and I am looking forward to the next book. The publication date was September 24th.
September 24, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Betty Ternier Daniels for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Grounds for Murder coming out September 24, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Jeannie is in trouble. After the loss of her husband, everyone around her is pressuring her to leave her precious farm, including an incredibly persistent realtor who won’t name her client. But when that realtor ends up dead, killed by mistake when she borrows Jeannie’s car, it becomes clear that her client won’t take no for an answer. Who wants Jeannie’s land so badly that they are willing to kill her for it? And why her farm when there are plenty around her for sale? To find the answer, Jeannie joins forces with off-duty cop Derek and finds refuge with the young back-to-the-land tenants who rent a section of her farm. Set in her ways at 60, Jeannie must learn to open her mind — and her heart — in her quest to find the killer, all while grappling with ghosts from her past and wrestling with the question of land transfer and ownership. Will the next generation love her farm as intensely as she does? And will she survive long enough to find out?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was intrigued by the setting. I haven’t read any Canadian cozy mysteries yet. I’m familiar with some of the places mentioned. I thought it was pretty good. The beginning really worked for me. I loved that it got into the mystery straight away. I think it was slightly longer than most of the cozies I read. I would’ve loved it more if it had been a little tighter. There were some other things like the arguing with roommates that wasn’t as interesting to me. I loved Derek’s character and his friendship with Jeannie. Jeannie was a little tough, but overall I really enjoyed it!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
Jeannie is in trouble. After the loss of her husband, everyone around her is pressuring her to leave her precious farm, including an incredibly persistent realtor who won’t name her client. But when that realtor ends up dead, killed by mistake when she borrows Jeannie’s car, it becomes clear that her client won’t take no for an answer. Who wants Jeannie’s land so badly that they are willing to kill her for it? And why her farm when there are plenty around her for sale? To find the answer, Jeannie joins forces with off-duty cop Derek and finds refuge with the young back-to-the-land tenants who rent a section of her farm. Set in her ways at 60, Jeannie must learn to open her mind — and her heart — in her quest to find the killer, all while grappling with ghosts from her past and wrestling with the question of land transfer and ownership. Will the next generation love her farm as intensely as she does? And will she survive long enough to find out?
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was intrigued by the setting. I haven’t read any Canadian cozy mysteries yet. I’m familiar with some of the places mentioned. I thought it was pretty good. The beginning really worked for me. I loved that it got into the mystery straight away. I think it was slightly longer than most of the cozies I read. I would’ve loved it more if it had been a little tighter. There were some other things like the arguing with roommates that wasn’t as interesting to me. I loved Derek’s character and his friendship with Jeannie. Jeannie was a little tough, but overall I really enjoyed it!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
September 19, 2024
(rounded up from 3.5 stars)
A good start to a new cozy mystery series set in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. The main character is Jeannie, a 60-year-old farmer whose husband died in a car accident six months before the start of the story. She’s kind of crabby and rude sometimes, but seems to be working on letting her softer side show more often.
An unscrupulous real estate agent wants to buy her land and Jeannie has no intention of selling - to her or to anyone else. Without giving too much away, the woman winds up dead while driving Jeannie’s car so it seems that Jeannie was the real target. An off-duty cop from Saskatoon (2 hours away by car), Derek, teams up with Jeannie and the local police to figure things out. I was a little surprised that Jeannie jumped into a relationship with Derek, given her being recently widowed, and they had had a good marriage.
I enjoyed the local atmosphere, including the descriptions of the land and Jeannie’s lush gardens, her pride and joy. The mystery was a good one, with a number of potential suspects. Friends and neighbors abound, so it will be interesting to see where this series goes next.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was well narrated by Dawn Harvey. She excelled when voicing Jeannie.
Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
A good start to a new cozy mystery series set in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. The main character is Jeannie, a 60-year-old farmer whose husband died in a car accident six months before the start of the story. She’s kind of crabby and rude sometimes, but seems to be working on letting her softer side show more often.
An unscrupulous real estate agent wants to buy her land and Jeannie has no intention of selling - to her or to anyone else. Without giving too much away, the woman winds up dead while driving Jeannie’s car so it seems that Jeannie was the real target. An off-duty cop from Saskatoon (2 hours away by car), Derek, teams up with Jeannie and the local police to figure things out. I was a little surprised that Jeannie jumped into a relationship with Derek, given her being recently widowed, and they had had a good marriage.
I enjoyed the local atmosphere, including the descriptions of the land and Jeannie’s lush gardens, her pride and joy. The mystery was a good one, with a number of potential suspects. Friends and neighbors abound, so it will be interesting to see where this series goes next.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was well narrated by Dawn Harvey. She excelled when voicing Jeannie.
Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
May 18, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Grounds for Murder is the first book in an amateur sleuth cozy mystery series by Betty Ternier Daniels. Released 24th Sept 2024 by ECW Press, it's 280 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The author does a good job with the setting, and seems to be intimately familiar with rural Canada and smallhold farming. The book is full of quirky small town characters, charlatans, criminals, friends, and the occasional homicidal maniac.
Dialogue and pacing are notoriously difficult to write and the author struggles in places with naturally flowing back and forth dialogue which feels organic. Some of the characters are obnoxious (her tenants, Monica the realtor, her kids, etc) and the dialogue as written is inconceivable. Readers should bring a strong suspicion of disbelief.
The book is perhaps a trifle graphic in places for a generally light cozy mystery. Nothing egregious, but more sensitive (squeamish) readers should be aware. The language is also a bit heavier than the usual cozy fare (one f-bomb and a handful of lesser curse words).
Three stars. Worth a look for fans of light smallholding/rural farm cozies, or possibly a buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Grounds for Murder is the first book in an amateur sleuth cozy mystery series by Betty Ternier Daniels. Released 24th Sept 2024 by ECW Press, it's 280 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The author does a good job with the setting, and seems to be intimately familiar with rural Canada and smallhold farming. The book is full of quirky small town characters, charlatans, criminals, friends, and the occasional homicidal maniac.
Dialogue and pacing are notoriously difficult to write and the author struggles in places with naturally flowing back and forth dialogue which feels organic. Some of the characters are obnoxious (her tenants, Monica the realtor, her kids, etc) and the dialogue as written is inconceivable. Readers should bring a strong suspicion of disbelief.
The book is perhaps a trifle graphic in places for a generally light cozy mystery. Nothing egregious, but more sensitive (squeamish) readers should be aware. The language is also a bit heavier than the usual cozy fare (one f-bomb and a handful of lesser curse words).
Three stars. Worth a look for fans of light smallholding/rural farm cozies, or possibly a buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 15, 2024
When I tell you that I wanted to love this book, I mean it with my whole heart. From the second that the author started to reference Saskatchewan, and introduced Jeannie Wolfert-Lang as a Saskatchewan native living north of Saskatoon, I was absolutely invested in the story. As a fellow native Saskatchewanian, it was fun to have my home province as the setting of this mystery novel.
The first book in what is to be the Jeannie-Wolfert Lang Mystery series written by Canadian author Betty Ternier Daniels, this novel follows our FMC Jeannie who is recently widowed and as such is receiving pressure/encouragement from family and realtors alike to sell her farm. When Jeannie refuses to sell and then the body of a local realtor is found in Jeannie's car at the bottom of a ravine, the story becomes a classic whodunnit.
I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and to be completely honest I did not care for the narration. I found the narrator's voices for numerous characters to be distracting and at times downright annoying and it pulled me out of the story. As such, I found myself unable to get into the plot and uninvested in the characters and general happenings going on in the story. If I decide to read the second novel in this series, it will absolutely be a physical copy so I can give Jeannie a fair chance.
I gave this book 3 stars, but if Goodreads would allow it, this audiobook would fall into a 2.75 star read for me.
Many thanks to ECW Press Audio via @Netgalley for the ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The first book in what is to be the Jeannie-Wolfert Lang Mystery series written by Canadian author Betty Ternier Daniels, this novel follows our FMC Jeannie who is recently widowed and as such is receiving pressure/encouragement from family and realtors alike to sell her farm. When Jeannie refuses to sell and then the body of a local realtor is found in Jeannie's car at the bottom of a ravine, the story becomes a classic whodunnit.
I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and to be completely honest I did not care for the narration. I found the narrator's voices for numerous characters to be distracting and at times downright annoying and it pulled me out of the story. As such, I found myself unable to get into the plot and uninvested in the characters and general happenings going on in the story. If I decide to read the second novel in this series, it will absolutely be a physical copy so I can give Jeannie a fair chance.
I gave this book 3 stars, but if Goodreads would allow it, this audiobook would fall into a 2.75 star read for me.
Many thanks to ECW Press Audio via @Netgalley for the ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2024
Who wants Jeannie’s land so badly that they are willing to kill her for it? And why her farm when there are plenty around her for sale? To find the answer, Jeannie joins forces with off-duty cop Derek and finds refuge with the young back-to-the-land tenants who rent a section of her farm. Set in her ways at 60, Jeannie must learn to open her mind — and her heart — in her quest to find the killer, all while grappling with ghosts from her past and wrestling with the question of land transfer and ownership.
Set in Canada, there was some unfamiliar references to how the law enforcement are named and referred to as well as some things about the land that was a learning experience. Over all, I'd say (it's even referenced within the novel) that it has an Agatha Christie vibe. Cozy mystery with a "who-done-it" feel.
Jeannie is a tough nut to crack and I think her personality is not for everyone. She seems to speak her mind a bit openly and can be a bit judgmental. With that said, it's not a bad story and it had enough twists and turns. I will say that the narrator's voice doesn't do male voices or the voice of Jade in a pleasing way. I thought it was perfect for Jeannie but it really was a bit of a distraction when it came to the voice of her son and Derrick.
Good book but I would skip the audiobook.
Set in Canada, there was some unfamiliar references to how the law enforcement are named and referred to as well as some things about the land that was a learning experience. Over all, I'd say (it's even referenced within the novel) that it has an Agatha Christie vibe. Cozy mystery with a "who-done-it" feel.
Jeannie is a tough nut to crack and I think her personality is not for everyone. She seems to speak her mind a bit openly and can be a bit judgmental. With that said, it's not a bad story and it had enough twists and turns. I will say that the narrator's voice doesn't do male voices or the voice of Jade in a pleasing way. I thought it was perfect for Jeannie but it really was a bit of a distraction when it came to the voice of her son and Derrick.
Good book but I would skip the audiobook.
May 8, 2025
Grounds for Murder by Betty Ternier Daniels is the first book of the Jeanie Wolfert-Lang mystery series set in contemporary farm country in Saskatchewan, Canada. What a treat to find this offered in Hoopla Bonus Borrows!
Jeanie is a recent widow. Her beloved husband died in a car accident 6 months ago. Jeanie loves her farm dearly, and does not want to sell it. An extremely pushy, manipulative realtor tries to force Jeanie to sell her farm by blackmail.
When the realtor's car is disabled by a sudden storm, she's frantic to meet someone. Jeanie agrees to lend her own truck. So begins the story of "accidental" deaths, a stranger on Jeanie's farm, budding romance, friction with Jeanie's tenants and her grown children, and personal attacks on Jeanie.
Fantastic descriptions of the landscape and climate! A truly enjoyable mystery with believable character development and personality clashes. Jeanie is 60 years old. She totally understands that the young people around her don't have life experience to temper their impulsive reactions. Jeanie resolves crises with compassion. I look forward to a sequel.
Jeanie is a recent widow. Her beloved husband died in a car accident 6 months ago. Jeanie loves her farm dearly, and does not want to sell it. An extremely pushy, manipulative realtor tries to force Jeanie to sell her farm by blackmail.
When the realtor's car is disabled by a sudden storm, she's frantic to meet someone. Jeanie agrees to lend her own truck. So begins the story of "accidental" deaths, a stranger on Jeanie's farm, budding romance, friction with Jeanie's tenants and her grown children, and personal attacks on Jeanie.
Fantastic descriptions of the landscape and climate! A truly enjoyable mystery with believable character development and personality clashes. Jeanie is 60 years old. She totally understands that the young people around her don't have life experience to temper their impulsive reactions. Jeanie resolves crises with compassion. I look forward to a sequel.
August 26, 2024
I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you.
I have to agree with the others who have reviewed this book, that Jeannie, is priggish and narrow minded. As I was reading this book, I kept waiting for her to have a Eureeka moment, where she realized the err of her ways and changed to be a more compassionate person, but alas, she didn't. When reading the book, her shallowness made me feel there was a lack of depth to the book. All the other characters are great. Of course, Jeannie's personality could have been the author's intention to portray, because after all, not everyone is kind, compassionate, or likeable. If this was the case, then Betty Ternier Daniels hit a home run, creating an unlikeable character.
The Story was a good one, there was suspense, mystery, bad guys, love interest, beautiful scenery etc.
If you can get over the main character's personality, you'll find this is a good book.
I have to agree with the others who have reviewed this book, that Jeannie, is priggish and narrow minded. As I was reading this book, I kept waiting for her to have a Eureeka moment, where she realized the err of her ways and changed to be a more compassionate person, but alas, she didn't. When reading the book, her shallowness made me feel there was a lack of depth to the book. All the other characters are great. Of course, Jeannie's personality could have been the author's intention to portray, because after all, not everyone is kind, compassionate, or likeable. If this was the case, then Betty Ternier Daniels hit a home run, creating an unlikeable character.
The Story was a good one, there was suspense, mystery, bad guys, love interest, beautiful scenery etc.
If you can get over the main character's personality, you'll find this is a good book.
October 1, 2024
I liked this cozy mystery a lot. It was a sweet story of a lady figuring out widowhood and starting to rediscover herself without her partner, mixed with an interesting mystery plot.
I enjoyed that romance wasn't super heavy in the book, though it definitely is there, and I like that things are left open ended as far as if she even wants another relationship again. The main character is flawed but kind and has good intentions. I liked that the book also shows her questioning herself for the first time about her intentions with her flaws, kind of seeing them for the first time from another perspective after gaining so many new perspectives in her life. That was really well done.
The mystery itself is a fun one to follow and guess at, and I thought the whole thing was well plotted.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy mystery, and anyone that skews more Donna Andrews than Agatha Christie (though I'd argue there's elements of both here).
I enjoyed that romance wasn't super heavy in the book, though it definitely is there, and I like that things are left open ended as far as if she even wants another relationship again. The main character is flawed but kind and has good intentions. I liked that the book also shows her questioning herself for the first time about her intentions with her flaws, kind of seeing them for the first time from another perspective after gaining so many new perspectives in her life. That was really well done.
The mystery itself is a fun one to follow and guess at, and I thought the whole thing was well plotted.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy mystery, and anyone that skews more Donna Andrews than Agatha Christie (though I'd argue there's elements of both here).
March 19, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Overall, this is a cozy, Canadian crime mystery. It’s a bit different having a murder mystery where the main character isn’t determined to play the detective and solve the whole case on their own, instead Jeannie informs and involves the cops anytime she sees or hears something. I can understand why some others say Jeannie is prickly but as someone from a family of strong, (rural) women, even as they age, I liked the strong and tough character and preferred it to having a frail and vulnerable old lady like the stereotypes. It also allowed for us to see her open up a little over the time and see a more understanding and generally relatable character. There were a few scenes based on scenery or baking/cooking which I know can be seen as unnecessary to a story but it makes sense as the book is a first person book and the character telling it all is older with a fierce love for her garden and kitchen.
July 21, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. I enjoyed the mystery in this book although I wasn't a huge fan of Jeannie. I found her a bit too prickly and sometimes judgemental although, to be fair, she recognises those aspects in herself and does try to correct them. The mystery was good. A realtor is determined to buy her farm and is willing to go to great lengths to convince her to sell. Then the realtor borrows Jeannie's car and dies in an accident that wasn't an accident. Trying to figure out who was behind sabotaging Jeannie's car and who's trying to kill her was a challenge. The most irritating character was Jade - she was just so naive and such an air head! But overall a good light read with an enjoyable mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley, ECW Press and Betty Ternier Daniels for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley, ECW Press and Betty Ternier Daniels for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2024
Cozy-ish Mystery that follows a Canadian widow and farmer who teams up with an off-duty cop after an unscrupulous realtor's killed after borrowing her car.
1/5 stars: This is the first entry in Ternier Daniels's Jeannie Wolfert-Lang Mystery series that's set in Canada and features a widowed farmer and painter who joins forces with off-duty cop and finds refuge with the young back-to-the-land tenants who rent a section of her farm after an unscrupulous realtor's killed after borrowing her car. Ternier Daniels's writing and character work are nicely done. Ternier Daniels tackles some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 22%.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
1/5 stars: This is the first entry in Ternier Daniels's Jeannie Wolfert-Lang Mystery series that's set in Canada and features a widowed farmer and painter who joins forces with off-duty cop and finds refuge with the young back-to-the-land tenants who rent a section of her farm after an unscrupulous realtor's killed after borrowing her car. Ternier Daniels's writing and character work are nicely done. Ternier Daniels tackles some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 22%.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
September 23, 2024
This cozy Canadian mystery was an enjoyable listen. We meet Jeannie who finds herself right in the middle of a whodunnit...in more ways than she (or the reader) could imagine. The townspeople and other characters she encounters are charming, and sometimes annoying--just as expected in the first of what I assume will be more mysteries to come in this series.
I thought the plot was a little slow at times, but it is cozy and not action-packed terror on purpose, I assume. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and felt that captured my imagination in visualizing the community. There were some unexpected elements, so I appreciated that it wasn't so predictable throughout.
The narrator did a superb job at capturing all characters, and definitely added to the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
I thought the plot was a little slow at times, but it is cozy and not action-packed terror on purpose, I assume. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery and felt that captured my imagination in visualizing the community. There were some unexpected elements, so I appreciated that it wasn't so predictable throughout.
The narrator did a superb job at capturing all characters, and definitely added to the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
September 24, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 - A cozy and very scenic murder mystery! 🌿🌺🪵
It’s pub day for Grounds for Murder! In this story, we follow Jeannie, who owns her own farmland, but after the death of her husband everyone is pressuring her to sell . . . even if it means killing her to do so.
The best thing about this book are the scenic descriptions of the beautiful farmland and gardens and all of the delicious food. This woman can cook! The setting in rural Saskatchewan was unique and vivid. I could perfectly envision the grounds and practically taste each meal.
Jeannie’s personality is without a doubt prickly and it took some time before I warmed up to her. I come from a family of farmers, so I appreciated her stubbornness and refusal to sell to big developers and learned about different kinds of farming and the pros and cons of a farming co-op. The twist/murderer reveal was one I didn’t predict and was even a bit melancholy. There is definitely a theme of what it means to age well and a reminder of things worth fighting for.
This story will be turned into a series and I look forward to the next book!
Thank you @ecwpress for my gifted copy 💚
It’s pub day for Grounds for Murder! In this story, we follow Jeannie, who owns her own farmland, but after the death of her husband everyone is pressuring her to sell . . . even if it means killing her to do so.
The best thing about this book are the scenic descriptions of the beautiful farmland and gardens and all of the delicious food. This woman can cook! The setting in rural Saskatchewan was unique and vivid. I could perfectly envision the grounds and practically taste each meal.
Jeannie’s personality is without a doubt prickly and it took some time before I warmed up to her. I come from a family of farmers, so I appreciated her stubbornness and refusal to sell to big developers and learned about different kinds of farming and the pros and cons of a farming co-op. The twist/murderer reveal was one I didn’t predict and was even a bit melancholy. There is definitely a theme of what it means to age well and a reminder of things worth fighting for.
This story will be turned into a series and I look forward to the next book!
Thank you @ecwpress for my gifted copy 💚
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