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Pickled & Preserved Mystery #3
Scene of the Brine
The national bestselling author of License to Dill returns with a dilly of a pickle.
Piper Lamb has to take a break from jarring her delicious pickles and preserves to blow the lid off a poisoner....
Business is booming at Piper’s Picklings in Cloverdale, New York. But not all is sweet in the life of Piper’s number one customer and friend, local caterer Sugar Heywood. Sugar is dating wealthy realtor Jeremy Porter, but his family doesn’t approve. After their unscrupulous accountant finds some dirt on Sugar, the family quickly urges Jeremy to throw her out like rotten fruit.
Things are further spoiled after the accountant is found poisoned, and all evidence points to Sugar’s son, Zach. With the Porter family determined to avoid scandal, it won’t be easy for Piper to preserve Zach’s innocence. And after someone falls victim to a poisoned jar of some of her brandied cherries, Piper’s got a peck of trouble to deal with herself…
Piper Lamb has to take a break from jarring her delicious pickles and preserves to blow the lid off a poisoner....
Business is booming at Piper’s Picklings in Cloverdale, New York. But not all is sweet in the life of Piper’s number one customer and friend, local caterer Sugar Heywood. Sugar is dating wealthy realtor Jeremy Porter, but his family doesn’t approve. After their unscrupulous accountant finds some dirt on Sugar, the family quickly urges Jeremy to throw her out like rotten fruit.
Things are further spoiled after the accountant is found poisoned, and all evidence points to Sugar’s son, Zach. With the Porter family determined to avoid scandal, it won’t be easy for Piper to preserve Zach’s innocence. And after someone falls victim to a poisoned jar of some of her brandied cherries, Piper’s got a peck of trouble to deal with herself…
293 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published February 2, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 19, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Check out that cover and the new door to Piper’s Picklings! Handcrafted and a true work of art. Piper has a party to celebrate her new entrance and it seems almost everyone from Cloverdale attends. Thankfully new resident, Jeremy Porter and his right hand man, Dirk Unger skipped the festivities. Unger has been making life difficult for some people in town, like Piper’s friend, Sugar Heywood. Dirk, the jerk, dug up some dirt and Sugar was terribly hurt. She lost her boyfriend and a huge catering gig. When “the jerk” is murdered, Sugar’s son becomes the prime suspect but before the murder is solved, others are hurt and Piper finds herself in hot water.
Trips to Cloverdale are never dull, that is for sure. Hughes introduces us to the Porter family. I hated the whole snobby bunch and that was just awesome. These characters like all my favorites were wonderfully written and totally believable. I wasn’t surprised when Dirk Unger was killed. He was a nasty man. What surprised me was the twists and turns we took to find the murderer. Just when I thought “I know who it is!”, something happened to prove me wrong. It sure was a fun as I kept trying.
There is a bit of romance as Will remains patient while Scott still tries to worm his way back into Piper’s life. The man has been trouble since he showed up in Cloverdale. I think Piper may be on the verge of making a decision.
Mary Ellen Hughes has written a really smart mystery delightfully flavored with some of the best cozy characters. I have liked each of these stories more than the last. The characters continue to evolve and even the mysteries get better and better and each were great already.
For someone that doesn’t like pickles I sure do love these pickled and preserved mysteries.
Check out that cover and the new door to Piper’s Picklings! Handcrafted and a true work of art. Piper has a party to celebrate her new entrance and it seems almost everyone from Cloverdale attends. Thankfully new resident, Jeremy Porter and his right hand man, Dirk Unger skipped the festivities. Unger has been making life difficult for some people in town, like Piper’s friend, Sugar Heywood. Dirk, the jerk, dug up some dirt and Sugar was terribly hurt. She lost her boyfriend and a huge catering gig. When “the jerk” is murdered, Sugar’s son becomes the prime suspect but before the murder is solved, others are hurt and Piper finds herself in hot water.
Trips to Cloverdale are never dull, that is for sure. Hughes introduces us to the Porter family. I hated the whole snobby bunch and that was just awesome. These characters like all my favorites were wonderfully written and totally believable. I wasn’t surprised when Dirk Unger was killed. He was a nasty man. What surprised me was the twists and turns we took to find the murderer. Just when I thought “I know who it is!”, something happened to prove me wrong. It sure was a fun as I kept trying.
There is a bit of romance as Will remains patient while Scott still tries to worm his way back into Piper’s life. The man has been trouble since he showed up in Cloverdale. I think Piper may be on the verge of making a decision.
Mary Ellen Hughes has written a really smart mystery delightfully flavored with some of the best cozy characters. I have liked each of these stories more than the last. The characters continue to evolve and even the mysteries get better and better and each were great already.
For someone that doesn’t like pickles I sure do love these pickled and preserved mysteries.
December 30, 2015
SCENE OF THE BRINE is the best thing since sliced bread and butter pickles!
Author Mary Ellen Hughes is such an amazing writer, and SCENE OF THE BRINE is proof to back up that statement. She knows exactly what cozy fans are looking for, and she delivers it time and time again. I wouldn’t have thought possible, but this installment is even better than the first two!
Stellar writing combined with a killer plot made this book impossible for me to put down. Once I started reading I was propelled into the storyline right alongside Piper Lamb, and the other fantastic characters that make up the wonderful town of Cloverdale, NY. It was an amazing ride straight through the exciting reveal!
When I read the first book in the Pickled and Preserved mysteries, THE PICKLED PIPER, I declared it one of my three most favorite mysteries of that year. Here I am a few years later, having just finished book three, and I have to say this series is still on my top favorites list!
Thank you, Ms. Hughes. SCENE OF THE BRINE left me pickled pink. ;-)
Make sure to check out the back of the book for some tasting canning recipes!
Author Mary Ellen Hughes is such an amazing writer, and SCENE OF THE BRINE is proof to back up that statement. She knows exactly what cozy fans are looking for, and she delivers it time and time again. I wouldn’t have thought possible, but this installment is even better than the first two!
Stellar writing combined with a killer plot made this book impossible for me to put down. Once I started reading I was propelled into the storyline right alongside Piper Lamb, and the other fantastic characters that make up the wonderful town of Cloverdale, NY. It was an amazing ride straight through the exciting reveal!
When I read the first book in the Pickled and Preserved mysteries, THE PICKLED PIPER, I declared it one of my three most favorite mysteries of that year. Here I am a few years later, having just finished book three, and I have to say this series is still on my top favorites list!
Thank you, Ms. Hughes. SCENE OF THE BRINE left me pickled pink. ;-)
Make sure to check out the back of the book for some tasting canning recipes!
February 2, 2016
Scene of the Brine is the third book in the A Pickled Preserved Mystery series.
Piper Lamb is all excited as she has commissioned expert woodworker, Ralph Strawbridge, to create a new door for her shop. But the joy of the new door is somewhat dampened when Piper's good friend and one of her best customers, Sugar Heywood, is suspected of killing a business associate, Dirk Unger, of the man she is dating, Jeremy Porter. Also suspected is Sugar's son, Zach, a botany student, and one who is seemly aware of the properties of bloodroot, the use of which killed Unger. Then when Mrs. Tilley, an elderly lady and good customer of Piper's Picklings, becomes extremely sick from bloodroot that was in a jar of Brandied Cherries that she had purchased from Piper.
Business has been severely effected at Piper's and she needs to get herself out of this pickle, so that she can enjoy her beautiful new door. So with the help of her Aunt Judy and Ralph, she sets off to learn the identity of the murderer.
This is a delightful series, with very enjoyable and believable characters. Ralph Strawbridge is a new character and would like to see more of him in future books.
Delicious sounding recipes are also included with the book.
Will definitely be looking for the next book.
Piper Lamb is all excited as she has commissioned expert woodworker, Ralph Strawbridge, to create a new door for her shop. But the joy of the new door is somewhat dampened when Piper's good friend and one of her best customers, Sugar Heywood, is suspected of killing a business associate, Dirk Unger, of the man she is dating, Jeremy Porter. Also suspected is Sugar's son, Zach, a botany student, and one who is seemly aware of the properties of bloodroot, the use of which killed Unger. Then when Mrs. Tilley, an elderly lady and good customer of Piper's Picklings, becomes extremely sick from bloodroot that was in a jar of Brandied Cherries that she had purchased from Piper.
Business has been severely effected at Piper's and she needs to get herself out of this pickle, so that she can enjoy her beautiful new door. So with the help of her Aunt Judy and Ralph, she sets off to learn the identity of the murderer.
This is a delightful series, with very enjoyable and believable characters. Ralph Strawbridge is a new character and would like to see more of him in future books.
Delicious sounding recipes are also included with the book.
Will definitely be looking for the next book.
February 4, 2016
Coverdale is all talking about the Porter family who has just moved into town. Unfortunately, they arrive with the family accountant in tow, and Dirk Unger is not a nice man at all. When he is poisoned and the son of a friend becomes the prime suspect, Piper must jump in and figure out what really happened.
The book took a bit to get going, but once it did I was fully on board. I do like these characters, and it was great to see them again. The plot took some unexpected twists on the way to a creative climax, and I read the second half in one day so I could find out what was happening.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book took a bit to get going, but once it did I was fully on board. I do like these characters, and it was great to see them again. The plot took some unexpected twists on the way to a creative climax, and I read the second half in one day so I could find out what was happening.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 9, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. Piper's friend Sugar is crushed when the man she is dating drops her because his family doesn't approve. When his co-worker ends up dead fingers are pointed at Sugar's son. Piper and friends jump in to help to try and figure out who did it. I love the characters and especially the addition of Tammy and Ralph, I hope that we see more of them in future books. The further you get into this book the more you are going to have a hard time putting it down. There are twists that popped up that I didn't see coming. I had an idea who did it but kept thinking I was wrong, I could not figure the why. It all came to a satisfying conclusion which had me flipping pages quickly. I don't think that you would have any trouble reading this as a stand alone, but I recommend the other books in this series. I will definitely continue on with this series.
There is the added bonus of some pickling recipes that sound really yummy.
I won a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
There is the added bonus of some pickling recipes that sound really yummy.
I won a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
February 9, 2016
Scene of the Brine is the 3rd book in the Pickled and Preserved series which features Piper Lamb. Piper has a business that sells pickled products and jams. She also sells spices and pickling/ canning supplies. An accountant for a wealthy newcomer in town dies by bloodroot poisoning in a salad. Suspicion falls on a young man who has an interest and knowledge of plants. The murder victim also angered the suspect by embarrassing and insulting his mother. Piper becomes involved to clear suspicion from her friend's son.
This series has become one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I have liked every book due to the characters and the creative story line or mystery. Even though I have enjoyed each book in the series, this book is perhaps my favorite. This series is a auto -order for me when a new book comes out. I read this book fast as it held my interest and I didn't want to put it down. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
This series has become one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I have liked every book due to the characters and the creative story line or mystery. Even though I have enjoyed each book in the series, this book is perhaps my favorite. This series is a auto -order for me when a new book comes out. I read this book fast as it held my interest and I didn't want to put it down. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 15, 2016
Piper Lamb, the proprietress of Piper's Picklings, once again finds herself solving a murder in the small town of Cloverdale, NY. In this case, the murdered man is none too likeable. Suspects and motives abound. Suspicion is even cast on Piper, herself. Several inhabitants of the town disappear.
Piper solves the murder and resolves another dilemma she had faced. The characters in this mystery are so well developed by Ms. Hughes that they are as recognizable as one's family members, neighbors or co-workers. Recipes for pickles and preserved items from Piper's Picklings are always included in these Pickled and Preserved Mysteries.
Piper solves the murder and resolves another dilemma she had faced. The characters in this mystery are so well developed by Ms. Hughes that they are as recognizable as one's family members, neighbors or co-workers. Recipes for pickles and preserved items from Piper's Picklings are always included in these Pickled and Preserved Mysteries.
February 11, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sc...
Scene of the Brine
Pickled and Preserved, Book #3
By Mary Ellen Hughes
ISBN: 9780425262474
Author website: http://www.maryellenhughes.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
The national bestselling author of License to Dill returns with a dilly of a pickle.
Piper Lamb has to take a break from jarring her delicious pickles and preserves to blow the lid off a poisoner….
Business is booming at Piper’s Picklings in Cloverdale, New York. But not all is sweet in the life of Piper’s number one customer and friend, local caterer Sugar Heywood. Sugar is dating wealthy realtor Jeremy Porter, but his family doesn’t approve. After their unscrupulous accountant finds some dirt on Sugar, the family quickly urges Jeremy to throw her out like rotten fruit.
Things are further spoiled after the accountant is found poisoned, and all evidence points to Sugar’s son, Zach. With the Porter family determined to avoid scandal, it won’t be easy for Piper to preserve Zach’s innocence. And after someone falls victim to a poisoned jar of some of her brandied cherries, Piper’s got a peck of trouble to deal with herself…
Review:
Scene of the Brine is the 3rd installment in author Mary Ellen Hughes’ “Pickled and Preserved Mystery” series. And each one has been better than the last. I would not have thought a cozy about a shop specializing in pickling would be so interesting and fun to read. Somehow the author makes it work. Piper Lamb is a wonderful lead in a great ensemble. I have to say her romantic indecision was not a bright spot for me though. This is however a seriously great cozy read. I was sure I knew who the killer was about halfway thru, but was completely wrong. Even after I thought I had it figured out, I was still captivated thoroughly and enjoyed reading it. Then to see the turn of events point to someone else, well I loved it.
In this installment a horrible worm of a man ends up dead and he has ties to one of Piper’s friends. Her friend Sugar Heywood has been dating popular and wealthy realtor Jeremy Porter. Sugar has never seemed so happy. Not only is her love life good, but her catering business is looking up too. That is until Jeremy’s mother (snob Lydia Porter) and timid sister Mallory move in with him. As Sugar caters an event for her sweetie, things get heated and not in a good way. His mother does not approve of Sugar and his seedy accountant Dirk Unger is fueling the fire with dirt he has dug up on her. No one is really sad when he ends up dead.
Dirk dies after being poisoned and Sugar’s son Zach becomes the main suspect. Not only did he argue with the dead man, but he also had a knowledge of plants as a botany major. Things do not look good for him as other things come to light to cast him in a bad way. Piper’s ex Scott takes him on as a client and that brings the two in closer contact, more than Piper or her boyfriend Will would really like. Piper and her friends, including Ralph (who just installed a handcrafted wood carved front door at Piper’s Pickling shop), decide to do some searching for the real killer. And as another person falls ill to poisoning, things get a bit too personal for Piper. Luckily this one lives, but they were poisoned with the same plant found in Piper’s own brandied cherries.
Even though Scene of the Brine is the 3rd in this series, readers will be able to easily follow if this is the first they read. The characters are fun and well developed. The storyline is fraught with mystery. The writing is entertaining and intelligent. I enjoyed that even though Piper and her friends suspect the wrong person at times, they did not outright accuse them. They did not anger them. I also enjoyed how even when Piper had figured out who the real killer was, the reader was kept in the dark. The scene played out at a heart racing pace, culminating in a spectacular reveal. All cozy readers will enjoy this great read.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Scene of the Brine
Pickled and Preserved, Book #3
By Mary Ellen Hughes
ISBN: 9780425262474
Author website: http://www.maryellenhughes.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
The national bestselling author of License to Dill returns with a dilly of a pickle.
Piper Lamb has to take a break from jarring her delicious pickles and preserves to blow the lid off a poisoner….
Business is booming at Piper’s Picklings in Cloverdale, New York. But not all is sweet in the life of Piper’s number one customer and friend, local caterer Sugar Heywood. Sugar is dating wealthy realtor Jeremy Porter, but his family doesn’t approve. After their unscrupulous accountant finds some dirt on Sugar, the family quickly urges Jeremy to throw her out like rotten fruit.
Things are further spoiled after the accountant is found poisoned, and all evidence points to Sugar’s son, Zach. With the Porter family determined to avoid scandal, it won’t be easy for Piper to preserve Zach’s innocence. And after someone falls victim to a poisoned jar of some of her brandied cherries, Piper’s got a peck of trouble to deal with herself…
Review:
Scene of the Brine is the 3rd installment in author Mary Ellen Hughes’ “Pickled and Preserved Mystery” series. And each one has been better than the last. I would not have thought a cozy about a shop specializing in pickling would be so interesting and fun to read. Somehow the author makes it work. Piper Lamb is a wonderful lead in a great ensemble. I have to say her romantic indecision was not a bright spot for me though. This is however a seriously great cozy read. I was sure I knew who the killer was about halfway thru, but was completely wrong. Even after I thought I had it figured out, I was still captivated thoroughly and enjoyed reading it. Then to see the turn of events point to someone else, well I loved it.
In this installment a horrible worm of a man ends up dead and he has ties to one of Piper’s friends. Her friend Sugar Heywood has been dating popular and wealthy realtor Jeremy Porter. Sugar has never seemed so happy. Not only is her love life good, but her catering business is looking up too. That is until Jeremy’s mother (snob Lydia Porter) and timid sister Mallory move in with him. As Sugar caters an event for her sweetie, things get heated and not in a good way. His mother does not approve of Sugar and his seedy accountant Dirk Unger is fueling the fire with dirt he has dug up on her. No one is really sad when he ends up dead.
Dirk dies after being poisoned and Sugar’s son Zach becomes the main suspect. Not only did he argue with the dead man, but he also had a knowledge of plants as a botany major. Things do not look good for him as other things come to light to cast him in a bad way. Piper’s ex Scott takes him on as a client and that brings the two in closer contact, more than Piper or her boyfriend Will would really like. Piper and her friends, including Ralph (who just installed a handcrafted wood carved front door at Piper’s Pickling shop), decide to do some searching for the real killer. And as another person falls ill to poisoning, things get a bit too personal for Piper. Luckily this one lives, but they were poisoned with the same plant found in Piper’s own brandied cherries.
Even though Scene of the Brine is the 3rd in this series, readers will be able to easily follow if this is the first they read. The characters are fun and well developed. The storyline is fraught with mystery. The writing is entertaining and intelligent. I enjoyed that even though Piper and her friends suspect the wrong person at times, they did not outright accuse them. They did not anger them. I also enjoyed how even when Piper had figured out who the real killer was, the reader was kept in the dark. The scene played out at a heart racing pace, culminating in a spectacular reveal. All cozy readers will enjoy this great read.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
February 20, 2016
Scene of the Brine by Mary Ellen Hughes
Piper Lamb #3, Berkley Prime Crime, 2016
When the assistant to a successful local businessman dies of beetroot poisoning a local college kid home for a break is the main suspect. But when a well loved community elder nearly dies of the same, uneasy eyes fall on Piper and her store. No one really believes Piper wanted to harm Mrs. Tilley, but everything points back to Piper's Brandied Cherries as the likely source of the poison. But was Mrs. Tilley's poisoning an accident or was it an effort to warn Piper off her investigation? This is the best book of the series yet.
Piper Lamb #3, Berkley Prime Crime, 2016
When the assistant to a successful local businessman dies of beetroot poisoning a local college kid home for a break is the main suspect. But when a well loved community elder nearly dies of the same, uneasy eyes fall on Piper and her store. No one really believes Piper wanted to harm Mrs. Tilley, but everything points back to Piper's Brandied Cherries as the likely source of the poison. But was Mrs. Tilley's poisoning an accident or was it an effort to warn Piper off her investigation? This is the best book of the series yet.
November 21, 2016
It passed the time, but nothing exciting here.
March 2, 2020
Sadly, this is the 3rd and final book of this series. According to the author, her publisher decided to pull the plug on the series, and have her concentrate on others. So, that being said, this #3 is actually a good ending as it clears up some questions from the first 2 novels; and definite decisions, in Piper Lamb's life, are more easily made.
Again, there's been a murder; a friend's son might be accused, and Piper isn't going to sit by and let the young man be railroaded. Later on, someone else is poisoned, and one of Piper's products is the source; now the poisoner/murderer is targeting her business, and that's a huge, "Oh hell no!"
So many suspects could have killed the first victim, but none of them have anything against Piper, or does one of them have a hidden agenda?
Again, there's been a murder; a friend's son might be accused, and Piper isn't going to sit by and let the young man be railroaded. Later on, someone else is poisoned, and one of Piper's products is the source; now the poisoner/murderer is targeting her business, and that's a huge, "Oh hell no!"
So many suspects could have killed the first victim, but none of them have anything against Piper, or does one of them have a hidden agenda?
January 18, 2020
Things are picking up for Piper at her Piper Pickling Shop in Colverdale. She has a beautiful new door custom made by a local artist. She is selling and has a thriving business until someone is killed by bloodroot. First it is an accountant who no one really like, then one of her best customers gets ill by someone putting bloodroot in one of Piper's brandied cherries but luckily they were able to rush her to the hospital in time. First they think that Zach, Sugar's son who is home from collage, is the person who did it because he studies in biology and then another person is a realtor. So a lot going on but the truth comes at the end.
July 27, 2018
This pickling mystery was a bit more exciting than the other two, culminating with a car chase that had my heart racing a bit despite the impetuousness of the main character's decision to go on it. it also tied up the alternate romance thread that hopefully no one was rooting for but that is my own bias. This series could use a bit more characterization to go with the lovely pickling details, but it is fun and makes me hunger for kimchi.
August 27, 2018
Cute and quirky cosy with your obligatory amateur sleuth, mandatory hottie (or two), necessary kind-hearted middle-aged relative/neighbour/friend and that all important grotesquely awful snob.
Plus the bit too difficult to work out baddie.
All in all a decent little cosy.
Just what I needed in the middle of a truly hideous police procedural.
Plus the bit too difficult to work out baddie.
All in all a decent little cosy.
Just what I needed in the middle of a truly hideous police procedural.
September 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! I wish the author would stop making people in their 40s and 50s sound ancient and always give them grey hair. But the pace of this book was excellent, and pickling is a pretty interesting backdrop for these mysteries.
March 27, 2018
3.5 stars
October 19, 2023
I think part of what I like about cozy mysteries are the punny titles
February 27, 2016
It's always a joy reading about Piper and her Picklings
I relished the idea of reading the latest book in the A Pickled and Preserved mysteries, Scene of the Brine and it did not leave me with a sour taste in my mouth. Piper owns and runs "Piper's Picklings" a shop where she brine's and pickles fresh fruits and vegetables. Sugar Heywood is a friend of Pipers and a caterer set to cater Realtor and whom just happens to be dating Sugar, Jeremy Porter who with his mother and sister just moved in to the town of Cloverdale's business dinner.
The dinner does not exactly go off without a hitch when Dirk an accountant and asscociate of Jeremy happens to humiliate Sugar at the dinner. He is not well liked around town and wants to influence everyone around him including Jeremy , his mother and sister and and warning everyone away from Piper's friend Stan who also happens to be a realtor and sold Piper's Picklings to her and Stan turned down Jeremy's buy out offer and derailing of a landscaping prospect for Marguerite who runs a greenhouse in Cloverdale.
As a party is going on at Piper's Picklings for the installing of a custom made door for Piper's door, sirens are heard and soon the town knows of Dirk's poisoning and murder. There's a laundry list of suspects and soon Caterer Sugar's son,Zack becomes the number one suspect but Piper believes he is innocent and when some one tampers with Pipers "brandied cherries" by adding the poison to one of the jars putting one of her friends life in danger by eating them. With Pipers business now suffering she now can focus on helping the police find a killer before another person dies and and Piper's business hits a sour note.
I questioned some of the characters true actions like Zack who was not truthful with his mother on certain things, having a teenager I can relate to that and that bothered me it aroused my suspicions if he could really be the killer because of it. Kind of hitting home for me. It's always a joy reading about Piper and her Picklings. Very endearing characters. Piper is a very likable and someone I would like to call friend. The killer turned out to sort of being a surprise but considering this persons attitude throughout the book it was the right choice from writer Mary Ellen Hughes even though it left me wondering why I couldn't really understand it. I eager to read and review the next book in this series.
FTC Disclosure Thank you to the publisher and/or author for providing us with a copy of this book for review.This did not influence our thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book and review
are honest and our own.
I relished the idea of reading the latest book in the A Pickled and Preserved mysteries, Scene of the Brine and it did not leave me with a sour taste in my mouth. Piper owns and runs "Piper's Picklings" a shop where she brine's and pickles fresh fruits and vegetables. Sugar Heywood is a friend of Pipers and a caterer set to cater Realtor and whom just happens to be dating Sugar, Jeremy Porter who with his mother and sister just moved in to the town of Cloverdale's business dinner.
The dinner does not exactly go off without a hitch when Dirk an accountant and asscociate of Jeremy happens to humiliate Sugar at the dinner. He is not well liked around town and wants to influence everyone around him including Jeremy , his mother and sister and and warning everyone away from Piper's friend Stan who also happens to be a realtor and sold Piper's Picklings to her and Stan turned down Jeremy's buy out offer and derailing of a landscaping prospect for Marguerite who runs a greenhouse in Cloverdale.
As a party is going on at Piper's Picklings for the installing of a custom made door for Piper's door, sirens are heard and soon the town knows of Dirk's poisoning and murder. There's a laundry list of suspects and soon Caterer Sugar's son,Zack becomes the number one suspect but Piper believes he is innocent and when some one tampers with Pipers "brandied cherries" by adding the poison to one of the jars putting one of her friends life in danger by eating them. With Pipers business now suffering she now can focus on helping the police find a killer before another person dies and and Piper's business hits a sour note.
I questioned some of the characters true actions like Zack who was not truthful with his mother on certain things, having a teenager I can relate to that and that bothered me it aroused my suspicions if he could really be the killer because of it. Kind of hitting home for me. It's always a joy reading about Piper and her Picklings. Very endearing characters. Piper is a very likable and someone I would like to call friend. The killer turned out to sort of being a surprise but considering this persons attitude throughout the book it was the right choice from writer Mary Ellen Hughes even though it left me wondering why I couldn't really understand it. I eager to read and review the next book in this series.
FTC Disclosure Thank you to the publisher and/or author for providing us with a copy of this book for review.This did not influence our thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book and review
are honest and our own.
March 4, 2016
It's time to return to Cloverdale for the third installment of the Pickled Preserved Mystery series by Mary Ellen Hughes. With this series, Ms. Hughes provides readers with a well written mystery, wonderful characters, a charming small town and a unique food themed series that proves to be a winning combination. And it is certainly a combination that I am enjoying. In my opinion, this series just keeps getting better with each installment and has filled a space for me in the cozy genre left by the ending of Paige Shelton's Farmer's Market Mystery Series.
As for the story and plot itself, as with the previous two books this is well written with a solid mystery that keeps the reader turning the pages to the end. I've come to expect nothing different from Ms. Hughes in the short time I have read her writing. She has the ability to weave a wonderful mystery leaving you just enough clues so you think you have figured out the culprit only to surprise you with a twist at the end.
I love Piper and all of the residents of Cloverdale. These are great characters and they all have depth and dimension while each providing their own contribution to helping Piper solve the mystery.
This series is charming and well written with great mysteries. I have enjoyed is so much that the next installments will automatically be added to my buy/to be read list when they are released.
As for the story and plot itself, as with the previous two books this is well written with a solid mystery that keeps the reader turning the pages to the end. I've come to expect nothing different from Ms. Hughes in the short time I have read her writing. She has the ability to weave a wonderful mystery leaving you just enough clues so you think you have figured out the culprit only to surprise you with a twist at the end.
I love Piper and all of the residents of Cloverdale. These are great characters and they all have depth and dimension while each providing their own contribution to helping Piper solve the mystery.
This series is charming and well written with great mysteries. I have enjoyed is so much that the next installments will automatically be added to my buy/to be read list when they are released.
February 24, 2016
Another great installment in the author's Pickled and Preserved cozy mystery series. It is fun to see the characters' continued development, as Piper Lamb again uses her network of friends and pickling shop customers to investigate a murder. Particularly engaging was Piper's interest in the case even though the victim is an unlikable person--other people in town and Piper's relationships with them come into play in thoughtful and intriguing ways as the author shows, in a very natural and understated way, how much emotional resonance is created by a crisis like a murder and its effect on others. In many ways, this series has developed to the point that it reminds me of Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series--we see much of Piper Lamb's thought process as she puts together the clues and motivations found in relationships on her way to solving the crime.
February 11, 2016
A thoroughly obnoxious resident of Cloverdale is poisoned and everyone in the community is concerned. But when another highly beloved resident is struck down as well with something extra added to brandied cherries purchased from Piper's shop, she kicks into high gear to catch the killer before her business expires as well! I love the references to canning vegetables and fruits throughout the story - it brings such a homey feeling to the story and adds to the small-town feeling of Cloverdale. I also love the cast of characters and although I did guess the killer fairly early on, it wasn't a blatant fact that you could pick out of the story - I enjoyed following the sleuthing until the end when my guess was confirmed. Great read for the cozy mystery fan.
February 7, 2016
Piper Lamb commissions a new door for her pickling shop, one that's carved with all the things she pickles. This starts a train of things happening - good and bad - with new characters introduced but with the regulars, who I always look forward to seeing again, just as active.
The murder involves poison, and besides killing one unsavory character and almost killing another innocent person, it puts Piper's shop in jeopardy when it's linked to one of her preserves. The tension builds until the final exciting scenes, so that I could barely set it down. If you enjoy cozies, amateur sleuths and small town action, you'll definitely enjoy this book.
The murder involves poison, and besides killing one unsavory character and almost killing another innocent person, it puts Piper's shop in jeopardy when it's linked to one of her preserves. The tension builds until the final exciting scenes, so that I could barely set it down. If you enjoy cozies, amateur sleuths and small town action, you'll definitely enjoy this book.
March 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. I read most of the book before I figured out who did it and that was great. I also was amazed what occupation the main character had as I had not read a book with that occupation. I was a little disappointed as the front of the book said " recipes included" and I was hoping that certain things that were mentioned the recipe wasn't included. Although this was a page turner so I give it a hit to right field!
April 9, 2016
Piper runs a pickle shop, in this book her best friend is dating a wealthy realtor, when his accountant finds something bad on her and dumps her. The accountant is found dead after eating a jar of Piper's pickled food. Every thinks it is her friends son and Piper has to find out who really did it and save her business. Interesting side stories about people in Piper's life.
August 15, 2016
Scene of the Brine was an amazing read. It was definitely a great page turner, with a mouth watering storyline. Piper Lamb sure gets herself into some extremely interesting predicaments in this book, but with the help of her friends and family, she is once again the saviour of the day. I highly recommend this entire series (A Pickled and Preserved Mystery) by Mary Ellen Hughes.
March 16, 2016
It was my first book of this series and I'm anxious to read more. Piper's shop gets in a pickle in a big way. The latest murder puts her store (and more) in jeopardy. I was kept in suspense until the end.
March 27, 2016
Great read
As usual the mystery is very good. I love this series. When will the next one be out?? Never suspected the killer.
As usual the mystery is very good. I love this series. When will the next one be out?? Never suspected the killer.
August 25, 2016
Always a fun read. Looking forward to the next saga by this author.
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July 20, 2016This is the third in the series. Very good. Now I have to go back to read the first two.
May 9, 2017
Love all of the pickle books!
I feel like I am part of the town rooting for the good guys!
I feel like I am part of the town rooting for the good guys!
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