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Farmer's Daughter Mystery #2
Sowed to Death
In the second Farmer’s Daughter Mystery from the national bestselling author of No Farm, No Foul, farm owner and blogger Shelby McDonald must field another murder mystery....The county fair is the highlight of the year for the small town of Lovett, Michigan—especially for food-and-lifestyle blogger Shelby McDonald, who writes as the Farmer’s Daughter. She’s submitting jams and jellies she’s created from the produce she grows at Love Blossom Farm in hopes of harvesting a blue ribbon. But the townspeople get more than just the excitement of hayrides, tractor pulls, and cotton candy when Shelby’s neighbor and volunteer fireman, Jake Taylor, extricates the body of Zeke Barnstable instead of a dummy during a demonstration of the Jaws of Life. The fact that Jake and Zeke were known to be at odds plants suspicion in the minds of the police. As evidence against Jake grows, Shelby knows she has to plow through the clues to weed out the true killer and save her friend.INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2017
34 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Peg Cochran
31 books394 followersMystery writing lets Peg indulge her curiosity under the guise of “work” (aka research). She put pen to paper at age seven when she wrote plays and forced her cousins to perform them at Christmas dinner. She switched to mysteries when she discovered the perfect hiding place for a body down the street from her house.
When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading, cooking, spoiling her granddaughter and checking her books' stats on Amazon.
A former Jersey girl, Peg now resides in Michigan. She is the author of the Open Book Series (written as Margaret Loudon), the Murder, She Reported series, the Cranberry Cove Series, the Farmer’s Daughter series, the Gourmet De-Lite series, the Lucille series, and the Sweet Nothings Lingerie series (written as Meg London.)
When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading, cooking, spoiling her granddaughter and checking her books' stats on Amazon.
A former Jersey girl, Peg now resides in Michigan. She is the author of the Open Book Series (written as Margaret Loudon), the Murder, She Reported series, the Cranberry Cove Series, the Farmer’s Daughter series, the Gourmet De-Lite series, the Lucille series, and the Sweet Nothings Lingerie series (written as Meg London.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 15, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
You just can’t go wrong with a book by Peg Cochran. I have read almost all of them and doing my best to catch up on those I have missed.
In Sowed to Death farmer/blogger Shelby McDonald is getting ready for the county fair. She is entering her jams and jellies and her son is participating in the an horse riding event. Both are hoping to come home with blue ribbons. The firemen are also demonstrating the Jaws of Life, something I am very familiar with as it was that device the extracted me from my van after my accident. Their demonstration takes a foul turn when it is discovered that there is a real body in the car, not the dummy the firefighters had placed there. The body turns out to be Zeke Barnstable. Because Shelby’s neighbor, Jake, is a fireman and he and Zeke had a disagreement the police decide he is the prime suspect. Shelby knows she is going to dig up every suspect she can to prove her friend’s innocence even if that puts her in the line of fire.
This was a delightful read. These characters are people I would be friends with in real life. Shelby is a single mom raising 2 children but she has help from her deceased husband’s brother and several other friends, including fireman Jake. Two men that what to be as close to Shelby as possible but understand she is still getting over her husband’s death. I also love that she is a blogger and the way the author includes her posts right along with the story allowing Shelby to communicate directly with us, her “readers”.
The story really flows well and Shelby’s children, Billy and Amelia, play crucial roles in the mystery. One makes a dreadful discovery and one is danger as the story climaxes. As a mom, I would have totally freaked out and Shelby does but she turns into one hell of a fighter.
I enjoy the way Ms. Cochran writes. She is very descriptive making the story easy to visualize without going to far. She lets her characters continue to evolve naturally and realistically. The mystery is filled plenty of twists and has not only drama/action but humor and a bit of romance too. Everything I love about cozy mysteries is found within these pages. A Must Read!!
You just can’t go wrong with a book by Peg Cochran. I have read almost all of them and doing my best to catch up on those I have missed.
In Sowed to Death farmer/blogger Shelby McDonald is getting ready for the county fair. She is entering her jams and jellies and her son is participating in the an horse riding event. Both are hoping to come home with blue ribbons. The firemen are also demonstrating the Jaws of Life, something I am very familiar with as it was that device the extracted me from my van after my accident. Their demonstration takes a foul turn when it is discovered that there is a real body in the car, not the dummy the firefighters had placed there. The body turns out to be Zeke Barnstable. Because Shelby’s neighbor, Jake, is a fireman and he and Zeke had a disagreement the police decide he is the prime suspect. Shelby knows she is going to dig up every suspect she can to prove her friend’s innocence even if that puts her in the line of fire.
This was a delightful read. These characters are people I would be friends with in real life. Shelby is a single mom raising 2 children but she has help from her deceased husband’s brother and several other friends, including fireman Jake. Two men that what to be as close to Shelby as possible but understand she is still getting over her husband’s death. I also love that she is a blogger and the way the author includes her posts right along with the story allowing Shelby to communicate directly with us, her “readers”.
The story really flows well and Shelby’s children, Billy and Amelia, play crucial roles in the mystery. One makes a dreadful discovery and one is danger as the story climaxes. As a mom, I would have totally freaked out and Shelby does but she turns into one hell of a fighter.
I enjoy the way Ms. Cochran writes. She is very descriptive making the story easy to visualize without going to far. She lets her characters continue to evolve naturally and realistically. The mystery is filled plenty of twists and has not only drama/action but humor and a bit of romance too. Everything I love about cozy mysteries is found within these pages. A Must Read!!
July 19, 2017
If there were more authors of Peg Cochran’s caliber, Amazon’s site would crash from people ordering books, and bookstores would be restocking their shelves every day!
As you can tell by my above statement, I am a mega fan of author Peg Cochran. I literally cried when I found out her Sweet Nothings mystery series written under the pen name of Meg London had been cancelled. It honestly felt like I had lost good friends. However, in life we do lose friends, and we make new ones. And I adore the friends I am making in the Farmer’s Daughter Mysteries!
NO FARM, NO FOUL, the first book in this wonderful series was so good, I not only read it in one setting, I went back and read my favorite parts! To say I had very high hopes for book two, SOWED TO DEATH would be an understatement. Well, Ms. Cochran, I just have to say . . . you did not let me down!!!
From the opening page, which starts off with an entry in protagonist, Shelby McDonald’s blog (each chapter starts off with a blog post. Love it!), until the last word on page 298 (which was part of a recipe), I never put this book down. Seriously. Not even once. Each and every chapter had my attention so focused, everything around me disappeared.
When you read, SOWED TO DEATH, you will find yourself engrossed in a fascinating tale presented with the same skill and precision that made Agatha Christie a household name. Now, I’m not saying this book reminded me of a Christie novel. The two are very different. With that being said, SOWED TO DEATH was written with the same dedication to exceptional story telling. A first class murder mystery that had me stumped and biting my nails until author Cochran was ready for all to be revealed, this was also a story with a fabulous cast of characters, a cozy town that has me ready to pack my bags and move there, fun and helpful tips, and recipes that made my mouth water!
You have got to add SOWED TO DEATH to your reading list. And if you haven’t read book one, NO FARM, NO FOUL, treat yourself to both!
As you can tell by my above statement, I am a mega fan of author Peg Cochran. I literally cried when I found out her Sweet Nothings mystery series written under the pen name of Meg London had been cancelled. It honestly felt like I had lost good friends. However, in life we do lose friends, and we make new ones. And I adore the friends I am making in the Farmer’s Daughter Mysteries!
NO FARM, NO FOUL, the first book in this wonderful series was so good, I not only read it in one setting, I went back and read my favorite parts! To say I had very high hopes for book two, SOWED TO DEATH would be an understatement. Well, Ms. Cochran, I just have to say . . . you did not let me down!!!
From the opening page, which starts off with an entry in protagonist, Shelby McDonald’s blog (each chapter starts off with a blog post. Love it!), until the last word on page 298 (which was part of a recipe), I never put this book down. Seriously. Not even once. Each and every chapter had my attention so focused, everything around me disappeared.
When you read, SOWED TO DEATH, you will find yourself engrossed in a fascinating tale presented with the same skill and precision that made Agatha Christie a household name. Now, I’m not saying this book reminded me of a Christie novel. The two are very different. With that being said, SOWED TO DEATH was written with the same dedication to exceptional story telling. A first class murder mystery that had me stumped and biting my nails until author Cochran was ready for all to be revealed, this was also a story with a fabulous cast of characters, a cozy town that has me ready to pack my bags and move there, fun and helpful tips, and recipes that made my mouth water!
You have got to add SOWED TO DEATH to your reading list. And if you haven’t read book one, NO FARM, NO FOUL, treat yourself to both!
July 1, 2017
Sowed To Death is the second book in A Farmer’s Daughter Mystery series.
This was another informative, interesting and exciting visit to Love Blossom Farm with Shelby McDoanld and her children Amelia and Billy.
The residents of Lovett are looking forward to the county fair and Shelby has prepared some of her jams and jellies to enter in the annual contest hoping to garner a blue ribbon. After watching Billy win second place in a horse riding contest they head over to the grandstands to watch an automobile accident rescue put on by the local volunteer fire department. Shelby’s friend ad neighbor, Jake, will be demonstrating the “jaws of life” and how much it helps rescuers free trapped people. Jake soon sees that he is not rescuing a dummy, but the dead body of Zeke Barnstable.
Since Jake was the one to “rescue” the lifeless body of Zeke and having a past history of being at odds with him, Jake quite naturally becomes a person of interest. As Shelby begins to look into how Zeke came to be in the car and who might have wanted him dead, she soon finds he was not well thought of in the community. Then when Amelia and some friends, while having a bonfire, discover the body in a shallow grave, the investigation takes a different direction. Shelby begins to wonder if this body is Zeke’s missing wife, who killed her and how is it tied to Zeke’s death.
Another well-plotted and told story. I particularly like how Cochran weaves Shelby’s blog post into each chapter. In addition, many of these blog posts have helpful household or garden hints.
I will definitely be watching for the next book in this very entertaining series to see where Shelby might turn for a little romance in her life, see what Billy and Amelia are up to, and more antics of Jenkins and Bitsy.
Delicious recipes are also included with the book.
This was another informative, interesting and exciting visit to Love Blossom Farm with Shelby McDoanld and her children Amelia and Billy.
The residents of Lovett are looking forward to the county fair and Shelby has prepared some of her jams and jellies to enter in the annual contest hoping to garner a blue ribbon. After watching Billy win second place in a horse riding contest they head over to the grandstands to watch an automobile accident rescue put on by the local volunteer fire department. Shelby’s friend ad neighbor, Jake, will be demonstrating the “jaws of life” and how much it helps rescuers free trapped people. Jake soon sees that he is not rescuing a dummy, but the dead body of Zeke Barnstable.
Since Jake was the one to “rescue” the lifeless body of Zeke and having a past history of being at odds with him, Jake quite naturally becomes a person of interest. As Shelby begins to look into how Zeke came to be in the car and who might have wanted him dead, she soon finds he was not well thought of in the community. Then when Amelia and some friends, while having a bonfire, discover the body in a shallow grave, the investigation takes a different direction. Shelby begins to wonder if this body is Zeke’s missing wife, who killed her and how is it tied to Zeke’s death.
Another well-plotted and told story. I particularly like how Cochran weaves Shelby’s blog post into each chapter. In addition, many of these blog posts have helpful household or garden hints.
I will definitely be watching for the next book in this very entertaining series to see where Shelby might turn for a little romance in her life, see what Billy and Amelia are up to, and more antics of Jenkins and Bitsy.
Delicious recipes are also included with the book.
September 5, 2018
Another wonderful adventure with The Farmer's Daughter and her family, Shelby is planning on entering some of her preserves at the County Fair, her son Billy is going to be riding and Amelia, well she is being a typical teen and NOT wanting to do anything much other than be on her phone with her friends. Things seem to be going well until during the judging of the pies it appears that sabotage has happened and then the day gets worse with the dummy in the firefighter's demonstration NOT being a dummy at all but a dead body, the dead body of a farmer that Jake (Shelby's neighbour) had strong words with not too long ago, and Jake was the volunteer firefighter that cut the body of the the car demonstration.
Now with people hiding information from the Police, and Frank her brother in law as the lead detective in particular, Shelby needs to dig deep and discover the truth before someone else gets hurt, oh and at the same decide if she is going to be able to put the death of her husband a couple of years ago behind her and risk her heart dating again.
Now with people hiding information from the Police, and Frank her brother in law as the lead detective in particular, Shelby needs to dig deep and discover the truth before someone else gets hurt, oh and at the same decide if she is going to be able to put the death of her husband a couple of years ago behind her and risk her heart dating again.
July 25, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/so...
Sowed to Death
Farmer’s Daughter Mystery, Book #2
By Peg Cochran
ISBN# 9780425282038
Author’s website: www.Pegcochran.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
The county fair is the highlight of the year for the small town of Lovett, Michigan especially for food-and-lifestyle blogger Shelby McDonald, who writes as the Farmer s Daughter. She s submitting jams and jellies she s created from the produce she grows at Love Blossom Farm in hopes of harvesting a blue ribbon.
But the townspeople get more than just the excitement of hayrides, tractor pulls, and cotton candy when Shelby s neighbor and volunteer fireman, Jake Taylor, extricates the body of Zeke Barnstable instead of a dummy during a demonstration of the Jaws of Life. The fact that Jake and Zeke were known to be at odds plants suspicion in the minds of the police. As evidence against Jake grows, Shelby knows she has to plow through the clues to weed out the true killer and save her friend.
Review:
Sowed to Death is sure to please cozy mystery fans as they follow along with farmer/blogger Shelby McDonald as she weeds through the clues to unmask an unlikely murderer.
Shelby works hard. As a farmer, blogger, and single mother to two busy children, she has plenty to keep her busy and too little time and money to spare. She and the kids are excited to spend the day at the annual county fair, and nine year old Billy is particularly excited to see the fire department’s Jaws of Life demonstration. Things go awry when the body of local farmer Zeke Barnstable is pulled from the car instead of the expected dummy. Zeke was a bit of a loner after the disappearance of his wife Brenda, but Jake Taylor, who rents the pasture that abuts Zeke’s land from Shelby, quickly becomes the police’s prime suspect when it comes to light that he and Zeke fought and that he has no strong alibi. Shelby does not believe that Jake committed any crime and takes it upon herself to investigate. Little does she know the danger that lies ahead for her and one she cares about.
Sowed to Death is a well written, expertly plotted mystery. Cochran’s descriptive style makes me want to take up gardening, which is saying a lot since I do not like being hot, getting dirty, or bugs. Shelby’s blog posts, which speak directly to the reader, are engaging and informative. I enjoy the laid back, country feel, yet the pace remains quick. It quickly becomes apparent that Zeke has made some enemies, and Shelby uses keen observational skills, gently probing questions, and a hefty dose of small town gossip to move her inquiries along. There are several suspects with good motives, but I did not identify the killer until right before Shelby did, and their identity came as somewhat of a surprise.
The characters are well drawn, but we still do not know much about Jake or general store owner Matt. I mention these since, along with Shelby’s brother-in-law Frank, they have all shown romantic interest in Shelby. Three suitors. Why? I find Shelby to be relatable and think we could be friends in real life. I appreciate that she is not too young or naïve. I also particularly like Shelby’s friend Bert who acts as something of a parental figure. I know she and I would definitely be friends. It is fairly unusual for a cozy protagonist to have children, but Billy and Amelia play integral roles in the story, and both add depth and realism. I admit, though, that throughout the book I wanted to swat Amelia’s smart phone right out of her thirteen year old hand. Ah, teenagers and their angst.
I enjoy Shelby’s world and the Farmer’s Daughter Mystery series and look forward to more mysteries to be solved. I recommend Sowed to Death to any reader of the cozy genre.
*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*
Sowed to Death
Farmer’s Daughter Mystery, Book #2
By Peg Cochran
ISBN# 9780425282038
Author’s website: www.Pegcochran.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
The county fair is the highlight of the year for the small town of Lovett, Michigan especially for food-and-lifestyle blogger Shelby McDonald, who writes as the Farmer s Daughter. She s submitting jams and jellies she s created from the produce she grows at Love Blossom Farm in hopes of harvesting a blue ribbon.
But the townspeople get more than just the excitement of hayrides, tractor pulls, and cotton candy when Shelby s neighbor and volunteer fireman, Jake Taylor, extricates the body of Zeke Barnstable instead of a dummy during a demonstration of the Jaws of Life. The fact that Jake and Zeke were known to be at odds plants suspicion in the minds of the police. As evidence against Jake grows, Shelby knows she has to plow through the clues to weed out the true killer and save her friend.
Review:
Sowed to Death is sure to please cozy mystery fans as they follow along with farmer/blogger Shelby McDonald as she weeds through the clues to unmask an unlikely murderer.
Shelby works hard. As a farmer, blogger, and single mother to two busy children, she has plenty to keep her busy and too little time and money to spare. She and the kids are excited to spend the day at the annual county fair, and nine year old Billy is particularly excited to see the fire department’s Jaws of Life demonstration. Things go awry when the body of local farmer Zeke Barnstable is pulled from the car instead of the expected dummy. Zeke was a bit of a loner after the disappearance of his wife Brenda, but Jake Taylor, who rents the pasture that abuts Zeke’s land from Shelby, quickly becomes the police’s prime suspect when it comes to light that he and Zeke fought and that he has no strong alibi. Shelby does not believe that Jake committed any crime and takes it upon herself to investigate. Little does she know the danger that lies ahead for her and one she cares about.
Sowed to Death is a well written, expertly plotted mystery. Cochran’s descriptive style makes me want to take up gardening, which is saying a lot since I do not like being hot, getting dirty, or bugs. Shelby’s blog posts, which speak directly to the reader, are engaging and informative. I enjoy the laid back, country feel, yet the pace remains quick. It quickly becomes apparent that Zeke has made some enemies, and Shelby uses keen observational skills, gently probing questions, and a hefty dose of small town gossip to move her inquiries along. There are several suspects with good motives, but I did not identify the killer until right before Shelby did, and their identity came as somewhat of a surprise.
The characters are well drawn, but we still do not know much about Jake or general store owner Matt. I mention these since, along with Shelby’s brother-in-law Frank, they have all shown romantic interest in Shelby. Three suitors. Why? I find Shelby to be relatable and think we could be friends in real life. I appreciate that she is not too young or naïve. I also particularly like Shelby’s friend Bert who acts as something of a parental figure. I know she and I would definitely be friends. It is fairly unusual for a cozy protagonist to have children, but Billy and Amelia play integral roles in the story, and both add depth and realism. I admit, though, that throughout the book I wanted to swat Amelia’s smart phone right out of her thirteen year old hand. Ah, teenagers and their angst.
I enjoy Shelby’s world and the Farmer’s Daughter Mystery series and look forward to more mysteries to be solved. I recommend Sowed to Death to any reader of the cozy genre.
*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*
August 19, 2017
Somehow I missed out on the first book in Peg Cochran’s Farmer’s Daughter mystery series, but am thankful that her second book, SOWED TO DEATH, found its way onto my Kindle! This delightful cozy features protagonist, Shelby McDonald, a blog writing farmer who is also a widow, trying to raise her two children. I enjoyed that Shelby is a bit older with a unique family situation different than the typical heroine. She has a lot of stressful responsibilities that the author weaves in to the murder mystery surrounding a neighboring farmer. Shelby’s blog, The Farmer’s Daughter, effectively gives the reader an entertaining peek into what it takes to run a farm along with growing and preserving their own food. Shelby also struggles to raise her children, one of whom is a young teenage girl. Peg’s description of the drama involving the mother and her daughter struck home, and left me chuckling at times, as my family is entering that stage with my own granddaughter.
The character development in SOWED TO DEATH draws the reader in and made me want to spend time with Shelby, her family, and friends. But it is the carefully crafted mysteries that kept me turning pages wanting to see what happens next and how the various threads of plot were going to weave together. There are several believable suspects and I found it a unique twist with Shelby’s brother-in-law being both the investigating detective and a potential suitor. Now having missed the first book (and I’ll be remedying that) I found book two easy to jump in to and didn’t feel like I was missing out on too much information. The story flows with a good pace and kept me entertained!
Peg Cochran includes a few delicious recipes at the back of the book along with mentions of several things that Shelby prepares that I’d love recipes for as well. I tried the recipe for Apple Crisp. Sometimes simplicity is best and in this case it holds true. The fresh flavors of apples are allowed to shine with a simple light crust topping of flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter. With a dollop of vanilla ice cream along side the warm crisp, dessert doesn’t get any better!
I received a copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The character development in SOWED TO DEATH draws the reader in and made me want to spend time with Shelby, her family, and friends. But it is the carefully crafted mysteries that kept me turning pages wanting to see what happens next and how the various threads of plot were going to weave together. There are several believable suspects and I found it a unique twist with Shelby’s brother-in-law being both the investigating detective and a potential suitor. Now having missed the first book (and I’ll be remedying that) I found book two easy to jump in to and didn’t feel like I was missing out on too much information. The story flows with a good pace and kept me entertained!
Peg Cochran includes a few delicious recipes at the back of the book along with mentions of several things that Shelby prepares that I’d love recipes for as well. I tried the recipe for Apple Crisp. Sometimes simplicity is best and in this case it holds true. The fresh flavors of apples are allowed to shine with a simple light crust topping of flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter. With a dollop of vanilla ice cream along side the warm crisp, dessert doesn’t get any better!
I received a copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 12, 2019
Another unfortunate towns person meets an unfortunate end. I figured this one out fairly early, but was happy to learn more about this new cast of characters. There is some movement in the love story line. Small, baby-step kind of movements....until the end. Oh, where will it go in the next installment?!? Several of the side characters get a bit more focus, and other's stories continue. Easy, fun, and a nice relaxing read.
July 6, 2017
Sowed to Death by Peg Cochran is the second book in A Farmer’s Daughter Mystery series. Shelby McDonald lives in Lovett, Michigan where she manages Love Blossom Farm, the family farm. Shelby and the kids (Billy and Amelia) are heading to Lovett County Fair for the day. There is some excitement when one of the judges has a reaction to Jenny Hubbard’s award-winning lemon meringue pie. For the first time in five years, Jenny does not win. Billy and Shelby are watching the Jaws of Life demonstration. Jake Taylor gets the car open and extricates the dummy from the driver’s seat. Shelby notices that there is blood on the head of the dummy and realizes that it is a real person. The body belongs to Zeke Barnstable. Unfortunately, Jake had a contentious relationship with Zeke which puts him at the top of the suspect list. In between taking care of the kids, canning and doing farm chores, Shelby digs into Zeke’s life. One night Amelia goes to a bonfire and ends up finding a skeleton in Zeke’s yard (Amelia lied about a few particulars regarding the bonfire). Could the skeleton be Zeke’s missing wife? Shelby is happy to have suspicion removed from Jake (since she is attracted to him and he is their neighbor). Shelby wonders if Zeke’s murder had anything to do with his wife’s death. Shelby weeds through the clues to find the killer. What happens, though, when the murderer finds Shelby first?
Sowed to Death is well-written, has relatable characters, a lovely setting, light humor and a good pace. I like the writer’s descriptive writing style and the way she draws the reader into the story. The book has a good flow (for a smooth reading experience). I would get involved in the book and not realize how much time had passed. The characters in Sowed to Death are nicely developed and feel real (they could easily be my neighbors). I appreciate that the author has given us a mature main character (instead of a woman in her 20s or early 30s). It will be entertaining to watch Shelby as she begins dating (she has three men interested in her). I like how Peg Cochran mixed the mystery in with Shelby’s life. In Sowed to Death there is two women are fighting over the widowed Reverend Mather, Shelby has her first date since her husband’s death, Amelia with her teenage angst and antics, Billy and his riding lessons, Bert helping Shelby with canning, the county fair and so much more. I especially delighted in Shelby’s blog posts. They contain some interesting information and are fun to read. I give Sowed to Death 5 out of 5 stars. The mystery is complex and most readers will be surprised by the killer’s identity. Shelby’s style of investigating is pleasant and very welcome. She asks subtle questions, listens to conversation, catches up on local gossip, and, sometimes, Shelby happens to be in the right place at the right time. Sowed to Death is the second book in the series, but it is easily a stand-alone novel (No Farm, No Foul is just as delightful as Sowed to Death). There are a couple of recipes at the end of the book. My only negative is I now must wait months for another A Farmer’s Daughter Mystery.
Sowed to Death is well-written, has relatable characters, a lovely setting, light humor and a good pace. I like the writer’s descriptive writing style and the way she draws the reader into the story. The book has a good flow (for a smooth reading experience). I would get involved in the book and not realize how much time had passed. The characters in Sowed to Death are nicely developed and feel real (they could easily be my neighbors). I appreciate that the author has given us a mature main character (instead of a woman in her 20s or early 30s). It will be entertaining to watch Shelby as she begins dating (she has three men interested in her). I like how Peg Cochran mixed the mystery in with Shelby’s life. In Sowed to Death there is two women are fighting over the widowed Reverend Mather, Shelby has her first date since her husband’s death, Amelia with her teenage angst and antics, Billy and his riding lessons, Bert helping Shelby with canning, the county fair and so much more. I especially delighted in Shelby’s blog posts. They contain some interesting information and are fun to read. I give Sowed to Death 5 out of 5 stars. The mystery is complex and most readers will be surprised by the killer’s identity. Shelby’s style of investigating is pleasant and very welcome. She asks subtle questions, listens to conversation, catches up on local gossip, and, sometimes, Shelby happens to be in the right place at the right time. Sowed to Death is the second book in the series, but it is easily a stand-alone novel (No Farm, No Foul is just as delightful as Sowed to Death). There are a couple of recipes at the end of the book. My only negative is I now must wait months for another A Farmer’s Daughter Mystery.
June 23, 2017
Sowed To Death
Farmer’s Daughter Mystery, Book #2
Peg Cochran
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In the latest Farmer s Daughter Mystery from the national bestselling author of No Farm, No Foul, farm owner and blogger Shelby McDonald must field another murder mystery....
The county fair is the highlight of the year for the small town of Lovett, Michigan especially for food-and-lifestyle blogger Shelby McDonald, who writes as the Farmer s Daughter. She s submitting jams and jellies she s created from the produce she grows at Love Blossom Farm in hopes of harvesting a blue ribbon.
But the townspeople get more than just the excitement of hayrides, tractor pulls, and cotton candy when Shelby s neighbor and volunteer fireman, Jake Taylor, extricates the body of Zeke Barnstable instead of a dummy during a demonstration of the Jaws of Life. The fact that Jake and Zeke were known to be at odds plants suspicion in the minds of the police. As evidence against Jake grows, Shelby knows she has to plow through the clues to weed out the true killer and save her friend." (Goodreads)
Review:
Sometimes when you read a book, something just clicks. I do not know why it happens, I just know that it does. That is what happened when I read this book. I enjoyed it a lot.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Shelby is a hardworking smart woman. She runs a farm, writes a blog and is raising two children by herself, since her husband died. I really like the fact that Shelby is an older woman with two children (who are not perfect) to raise, I think it made the book more believable. So many cozies have a protagonist who is young and has friends that help her solve the mysteries. With her being a mom and older, I felt like she was easy to relate to. She has three possible love interests and it will be interesting which one she chooses.
The mystery is carried on well throughout the book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it was difficult to figure out the culprit. Throw in a couple of red herrings and even the most experienced armchair detective will be stumped.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place. I enjoyed the blog entries that appeared every so often in the book. Not only did the blog offer some useful advice, it also allowed the reader to know some of Shelby’s thoughts and feelings. I thought this a good way to help everyone connect with her even more.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. With the characters, the story line, the mystery and the setting, this is a near perfect cozy read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Farmer’s Daughter Mystery, Book #2
Peg Cochran
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In the latest Farmer s Daughter Mystery from the national bestselling author of No Farm, No Foul, farm owner and blogger Shelby McDonald must field another murder mystery....
The county fair is the highlight of the year for the small town of Lovett, Michigan especially for food-and-lifestyle blogger Shelby McDonald, who writes as the Farmer s Daughter. She s submitting jams and jellies she s created from the produce she grows at Love Blossom Farm in hopes of harvesting a blue ribbon.
But the townspeople get more than just the excitement of hayrides, tractor pulls, and cotton candy when Shelby s neighbor and volunteer fireman, Jake Taylor, extricates the body of Zeke Barnstable instead of a dummy during a demonstration of the Jaws of Life. The fact that Jake and Zeke were known to be at odds plants suspicion in the minds of the police. As evidence against Jake grows, Shelby knows she has to plow through the clues to weed out the true killer and save her friend." (Goodreads)
Review:
Sometimes when you read a book, something just clicks. I do not know why it happens, I just know that it does. That is what happened when I read this book. I enjoyed it a lot.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Shelby is a hardworking smart woman. She runs a farm, writes a blog and is raising two children by herself, since her husband died. I really like the fact that Shelby is an older woman with two children (who are not perfect) to raise, I think it made the book more believable. So many cozies have a protagonist who is young and has friends that help her solve the mysteries. With her being a mom and older, I felt like she was easy to relate to. She has three possible love interests and it will be interesting which one she chooses.
The mystery is carried on well throughout the book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it was difficult to figure out the culprit. Throw in a couple of red herrings and even the most experienced armchair detective will be stumped.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place. I enjoyed the blog entries that appeared every so often in the book. Not only did the blog offer some useful advice, it also allowed the reader to know some of Shelby’s thoughts and feelings. I thought this a good way to help everyone connect with her even more.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. With the characters, the story line, the mystery and the setting, this is a near perfect cozy read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 5, 2017
A delightful addition to the Farmer's Daughter Mysteries. The protagonist is kind, helpful, inquisitive, and knows her veggies! I love the way she interacts with the other characters, especially her kids. I'll be anxious to read book three in this charming series.
May 22, 2017
4 1/2 stars TOP PICK
October 30, 2022
I think I am hooked on Peg Cochran and her story telling. I a not ready to give up on A Farmers Daughters Mystery series. Still too many unanswered questions.
October 5, 2018
Although the first book was better this one held its weight. Another cozy mystery at the farm.
March 22, 2018
When Shelby attends the county fair with her kids, she's watching the firemen give a demonstration of how the Jaws of Life work. But when Jake Taylor is pulling the dummy from the car, it turns out to be a real body - and someone that Jake wasn't fond of. So of course he's suspected of killing the man, and Shelby does what any good friend would do - she resolves to find the real killer before Jake can be set up for the crime...
This is the second book in the Farmer's Daughter mysteries, and I was really hoping it would get better; but unfortunately, Shelby still isn't a good example of a parent. She allows her daughter to run roughshod over her, even though she's still a kid herself. Why are we being treated to the trials and tribulations of being a pre-teen in love? At what point is Shelby going to act the adult and tell her daughter to straighten up? So this little girl sees her 'boyfriend' holding hands with another girl and tells her mom that no one loves her. And this is supposed to endear her to us? To show us just how immature she really is? Um, no. So then her daughter is accused of cheating by a teacher, and Shelby finds out it was the "popular girl" instead. Amelia (the daughter) won't tell because she'll have to 'sit with the nerds'. Hmmm...there's a whole lot wrong here. 1) Shelby allows her daughter to think being popular is more important than having integrity or telling the truth; and 2) letting her believe that 'nerds' are the worst thing ever. (In the first book, she let someone steal from her son, and now she's okay with someone lying to save their own skin. What kind of person is Shelby? Spineless, that's what).
Plus, Shelby has three men who want to date her and she's agonizing over it because she doesn't know if she's ready to date. Yes, folks, a love quadrangle. And one of those men is her brother-in-law. While this may not be creepy to some, I can't even imagine sleeping with either of my brothers-in-law (shudder). Too close to home, if you get my drift. Uncle goes to Daddy real fast in that case. Maybe she should think about things and allow the kids to spend time with the other two men (since they already know Uncle Frank). She might come up with a few surprises, anyway.
All in all, not much improvement over the first in the series. Shelby has no idea how to deal with a daughter, and when her son Billy gets older who knows what will happen then. She'd better get married fast so at least there'll be one parent in the family.
This is the second book in the Farmer's Daughter mysteries, and I was really hoping it would get better; but unfortunately, Shelby still isn't a good example of a parent. She allows her daughter to run roughshod over her, even though she's still a kid herself. Why are we being treated to the trials and tribulations of being a pre-teen in love? At what point is Shelby going to act the adult and tell her daughter to straighten up? So this little girl sees her 'boyfriend' holding hands with another girl and tells her mom that no one loves her. And this is supposed to endear her to us? To show us just how immature she really is? Um, no. So then her daughter is accused of cheating by a teacher, and Shelby finds out it was the "popular girl" instead. Amelia (the daughter) won't tell because she'll have to 'sit with the nerds'. Hmmm...there's a whole lot wrong here. 1) Shelby allows her daughter to think being popular is more important than having integrity or telling the truth; and 2) letting her believe that 'nerds' are the worst thing ever. (In the first book, she let someone steal from her son, and now she's okay with someone lying to save their own skin. What kind of person is Shelby? Spineless, that's what).
Plus, Shelby has three men who want to date her and she's agonizing over it because she doesn't know if she's ready to date. Yes, folks, a love quadrangle. And one of those men is her brother-in-law. While this may not be creepy to some, I can't even imagine sleeping with either of my brothers-in-law (shudder). Too close to home, if you get my drift. Uncle goes to Daddy real fast in that case. Maybe she should think about things and allow the kids to spend time with the other two men (since they already know Uncle Frank). She might come up with a few surprises, anyway.
All in all, not much improvement over the first in the series. Shelby has no idea how to deal with a daughter, and when her son Billy gets older who knows what will happen then. She'd better get married fast so at least there'll be one parent in the family.
May 8, 2018
Any author that puts themselves out there with an effort to entertain with a book gets at lest the 3 star mark. Ms. Cochran's second farmers daughter mystery is just fine. I believe my disappointment in the story lays within me. Just before I found this title I had been wondering about a cozy mystery built around farming life and so finding this title seemed like fate. The bad part was when I saw Sowed, I went to a sow pig thought and for a while I had a hard time unwrapping my thoughts and getting into sowed ...as in planting the seeds. There was plenty of farming/gardening talk and tips to get me there, I just had to get over my own prethought story.
This books takes us on a farming journey from the county fair to life in small towns. Pie contests where winning is everything, even if you have to cheat and add 'extra' spice, to the love of three men involving your dead husbands brother. There is lots of talk in other reviews on the parenting style of single mom Shelby, I took it all with a grain of salt, like in real life she was doing the best she could and no one knows what is best for someone else's child ...sometimes we over think. This is what it is meant to be - a cozy mystery.
A nice read to take you away from any busy life events and settle you down for some reading on farming/country life with a side of murder.
This books takes us on a farming journey from the county fair to life in small towns. Pie contests where winning is everything, even if you have to cheat and add 'extra' spice, to the love of three men involving your dead husbands brother. There is lots of talk in other reviews on the parenting style of single mom Shelby, I took it all with a grain of salt, like in real life she was doing the best she could and no one knows what is best for someone else's child ...sometimes we over think. This is what it is meant to be - a cozy mystery.
A nice read to take you away from any busy life events and settle you down for some reading on farming/country life with a side of murder.
February 17, 2021
#2 in the series.
In this installment, it's time for the county fair. Shelby is making jams and jellies to enter for a ribbon (and to sell later at the farmers market). Son Billy is entered in a riding competition. Someone puts pepper in one of the pies that is entered in the pie contest, but that's not the worst that happens....a dead body is found in a car. Was the pepper in the pie a diversion for a murder? Shelby's neighbor is a suspect, and Shelby vows to investigate.
This was an interesting mystery. We had a lot of character development in the prior book (as it was #1) but some development continues in this one. Shelby is a widow, but is very attracted to her brother in law, who looks a lot like her deceased husband. There seems to be as much around the fact that Shelby is having a hard time moving on from her husbands death and date again as there is around who killed Zeke. And a lot around how farm life is hard.
There were 3 recipes in the book, but I wished that there had been a recipe for things that were actually made in the book, like the watermelon pickles that Shelby makes for the farm market, or the carrot cake she made for Bert's birthday.
I figured out who the murderer was because there could not be anyone else. The mystery was interesting and not totally straightforward. I'll probably continue the series.
In this installment, it's time for the county fair. Shelby is making jams and jellies to enter for a ribbon (and to sell later at the farmers market). Son Billy is entered in a riding competition. Someone puts pepper in one of the pies that is entered in the pie contest, but that's not the worst that happens....a dead body is found in a car. Was the pepper in the pie a diversion for a murder? Shelby's neighbor is a suspect, and Shelby vows to investigate.
This was an interesting mystery. We had a lot of character development in the prior book (as it was #1) but some development continues in this one. Shelby is a widow, but is very attracted to her brother in law, who looks a lot like her deceased husband. There seems to be as much around the fact that Shelby is having a hard time moving on from her husbands death and date again as there is around who killed Zeke. And a lot around how farm life is hard.
There were 3 recipes in the book, but I wished that there had been a recipe for things that were actually made in the book, like the watermelon pickles that Shelby makes for the farm market, or the carrot cake she made for Bert's birthday.
I figured out who the murderer was because there could not be anyone else. The mystery was interesting and not totally straightforward. I'll probably continue the series.
June 23, 2017
"Sowed to Death" is a cozy mystery. It's the second book in the series. You can understand this book without reading the previous one, and this novel didn't spoil the mystery in the previous book.
The mystery was a clue-based, puzzle mystery. The heroine asked questions, listened to gossip, and watched what was going on. She's generally a nice person, and no one was harmed by her methods of questioning. I strongly suspected whodunit by about halfway through and was certain by two-thirds of the way through. I found it a little curious that the heroine didn't pick up on it sooner. (The Murder She Wrote heroine sure would have.)
Minor annoyances: No one in their right mind would use a stallion when teaching a young child how to ride. Also, few farriers "make" horseshoes anymore (though they do use a hammer to shape the horseshoe and nail it on). These points weren't critical to the mystery.
There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
The mystery was a clue-based, puzzle mystery. The heroine asked questions, listened to gossip, and watched what was going on. She's generally a nice person, and no one was harmed by her methods of questioning. I strongly suspected whodunit by about halfway through and was certain by two-thirds of the way through. I found it a little curious that the heroine didn't pick up on it sooner. (The Murder She Wrote heroine sure would have.)
Minor annoyances: No one in their right mind would use a stallion when teaching a young child how to ride. Also, few farriers "make" horseshoes anymore (though they do use a hammer to shape the horseshoe and nail it on). These points weren't critical to the mystery.
There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
June 23, 2017
The second book in this cozy series features a local fair gone deadly. Curmudgeonly Zeke Barnstable's body was switched out with a dummy's in a car for a demonstration, and once again Shelby, the blogger and farmer protagonist, starts investigating. It turns out that Zeke has made his share of enemies, and they all have secrets they'd rather not be made public, leaving Shelby with a long list of suspects and the knowledge that someone in her small community is a killer.
In the saturated field of cozy mysteries (especially those with a food theme), it takes talent to stand out, and this series continues to prove that Peg Cochran has that special skill. Shelby is creative and resourceful. An overall well plotted and crafty mystery with good characters and setting. Looking forward to watching this series grow!
Advance e-galley provided by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest opinion.
In the saturated field of cozy mysteries (especially those with a food theme), it takes talent to stand out, and this series continues to prove that Peg Cochran has that special skill. Shelby is creative and resourceful. An overall well plotted and crafty mystery with good characters and setting. Looking forward to watching this series grow!
Advance e-galley provided by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest opinion.
June 24, 2017
I really enjoyed this wonderful cozy mystery. It is #2 in the Farmer's Daughter Mystery series and is easily read without book 1. This book brought back many happy memories of attending the county 4H fairs with the food and quilt contests with the rides and hot summer temperatures. Shelby is a widow running her family farm with the help of her two children. Hoping for blue ribbons in the jams and produce from the Love Blossom Farm she and the children are shocked when a dead body is found by the firemen giving a jaws of life demonstration. Her friend Jake becomes the prime suspect and Shelby works hard to prove he's not the killer almost getting herself killed in the process. This book is interspersed with Shelby's blog entries on farm living and they are all fun to read. Looking forward to more books in this series. Peg Cochran has several cozy series available , her Lucille series is one of my favorites.
September 29, 2017
This is a cozy that's too cozy. So cozy that it was terribly boring and difficult to finish. A farmer going about her chores and social obligations, dealing with her friends and children, with no convincing motivation decides to find out whodunnit. I wanted to like this book but just felt impatient at its molasses pace.
I found her italicized asides to Dear Reader annoying (as opposed to the blog posts to Dear Reader that were often interesting and informative) as they interrupted the flow of the story. The book was well-written and, what is rare these days, mostly without typos/incorrect spellings/poor grammar--good job author and/or editor!
Although I couldn't recommend this book, I felt the author has probably written others that are more interesting and will try one.
I found her italicized asides to Dear Reader annoying (as opposed to the blog posts to Dear Reader that were often interesting and informative) as they interrupted the flow of the story. The book was well-written and, what is rare these days, mostly without typos/incorrect spellings/poor grammar--good job author and/or editor!
Although I couldn't recommend this book, I felt the author has probably written others that are more interesting and will try one.
July 7, 2017
I loved Sowed to Death, it was a perfect read for this time of year. I fell in love with Love Blossom Farm in the first book and fell more in love in this book. I love all the details about farm life and Shelby is such an endearing character. The mystery was weaved so nicely and the killer was kept a mystery until the very end. I liked how the relationship between Shelby and Jake is forming and this series has such a relaxed and inviting feel that draws the reader in. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or dreams of living on a farm and wants to live vicariously through an amazing book.
July 15, 2017
Shelby writes a food and lifestyle blog Farmer's daughter and lives on a farm selling produce, jellies and home canned goods at a farmer's market. She is a widow busy raising a teen daughter and a 9 year old son. The county fair is going on and at a demonstration of the jaws of life instead of a dummy in the car it is a dead body. Shelby's friend and neighbor is the top suspect and Shelby is sure he didn't do it. This book makes it seem like Shelby is a friend of yours with lots of interesting side lines going on.
July 19, 2017
I like the premise and farm setting of this series, and main character Shelby is likable. It is somewhat unusual for cozy mystery protagonists to have children, and Shelby's add depth to the story (although I would really like to smack the smart phone right out of 13 year old Amelia's hand). The mystery surrounding Zeke's death is sufficiently twisty, and I only knew whodunit shortly before Shelby did. My main quibble is that Shelby has three, yes three, potential suitors. Really? Recommended to cozy fans.
July 11, 2019
!Hmmmm. I have several issues with this story.
First of all , things don't make sense. Red pepper on a lemon meringue pie? I would think noticeable. And a widow with 2 kids who admits to no makeup, hair a mess and ratty clothes has 3 men chasing her? And the lack of detail - how did her husband die? Where do they live? (A fake town in Michigan near grand rapids I gather but not sure). What did she do for a living? and 2 dogs with a giant size disparity but that is never mentioned. Etc etc. But otherwise a good story and interesting plot.
First of all , things don't make sense. Red pepper on a lemon meringue pie? I would think noticeable. And a widow with 2 kids who admits to no makeup, hair a mess and ratty clothes has 3 men chasing her? And the lack of detail - how did her husband die? Where do they live? (A fake town in Michigan near grand rapids I gather but not sure). What did she do for a living? and 2 dogs with a giant size disparity but that is never mentioned. Etc etc. But otherwise a good story and interesting plot.
July 27, 2017
Zeke Barnstable is found dead in a car at the county fair. He was hit over the head. Shelby gets involved asking questions, but all her suspects have alibis. Part way through another body turns up.
Shelby's mental blog posts throughout the book are at times random and not always related to the situation. This is one of the main ideas for the mystery series, so I hope future books have more relevant content.
Shelby's mental blog posts throughout the book are at times random and not always related to the situation. This is one of the main ideas for the mystery series, so I hope future books have more relevant content.
August 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. I haven't read the first in this series yet but will remedy that. Our heroine is a widow with two children, a farm, and some male admirers she hasn't been ready to deal with yet.
I am hoping the first book fills in some background on how her husband died. A body turns up in a car the volunteer fire department is preparing to demonstrate the jaws of life on at the county fair. Other incidents happen at the fair. Are they related or not?
I am hoping the first book fills in some background on how her husband died. A body turns up in a car the volunteer fire department is preparing to demonstrate the jaws of life on at the county fair. Other incidents happen at the fair. Are they related or not?
July 17, 2017
Killer Mystery!!
Sowed to Death has everything I look for in a cozy mystery- memorable characters, country setting, murder & suspense! An additional bonus are some great recipes at the end.
Sowed to Death has everything I look for in a cozy mystery- memorable characters, country setting, murder & suspense! An additional bonus are some great recipes at the end.
July 15, 2020
Overall story was pretty good, but the numerous inconsistencies were extremely irritating (especially when they were on the same page!) and the MC was a bit TSTL at times, especially in the last quarter of the book.
December 17, 2017
Three love interests are a bit much. And she seems like a really poor parent. Plus the mystery wasn't that mysterious, and the cozy setting not compelling enough to make up for it.
August 13, 2017
love this series
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