Murder Under the Tree

A Kay Driscoll Mystery #2

by Susan Bernhardt

While Kay attends a Christmas tea at Hawthorne Hills Retirement Home, a beloved caretaker dies from an allergic reaction to peanuts. When the official coroner's report rules the cause of death to be accidental, a small group of residents suspect foul play and call upon Kay to investigate. Kay uncovers sinister plots of fraud, revenge, and corruption at the Home. During this season of peace on earth, good will to men, additional murders occur. Despite multiple attempts on her life, and with the support once again of her best friends, Elizabeth and Deirdre, Kay continues her quest for bringing justice for the victims. Kay's first Christmas in Sudbury Falls is an unforgettable one, with equal amounts of celebration and danger. Tis the season to be sleuthing!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Holiday, Cozy

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2014

About the author

Author of The Ginseng Conspiracy

I'm an author living in northern Wisconsin. Like Kay Driscoll, in my cozy mystery series, I'm a retired public health nurse who volunteers at her local free clinic. An avid reader of mysteries, I'm a member of Sisters in Crime, Inc. and the Wisconsin Writers Association.

My published works include: The Ginseng Conspiracy (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 1), Murder Under the Tree (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 2), Murder by Fireworks (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 3), Paradise Can Be Murder (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 4), Murder Misunderstood (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 5), The Neighborhood (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 6), Repercussions (A Kay Driscoll Mystery Book 7), A Manhattan Murder Mystery (An Irina Curtius Mystery), Dress to Kill (An Irina Curtius Mystery Book 2) "October 31st", "Midsummer", and "John and Madeline."

My town in northern Wisconsin was an inspiration for the quaint setting of my novels. Ninety-five percent of American ginseng is grown in Wisconsin. I live with my husband, William, and have two sons who are both married and also live in Wisconsin.

When not writing, I love to travel, bicycle, kayak, and create culinary magic in my kitchen. I work in stained glass, daydream in my organic garden, stay up late reading mysteries, and eat lots of chocolate.

Reviews

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book and loved the main character, Kay Driscoll. Kay is a very relatable woman who is married, has grown children and lives a comfortable life. She meets two charming older ladies at a retirement home and Kay is drawn into a mysterious death.

The mystery kept me guessing and while solving a mystery, there were still cozy elements and great character development of Kay and her family and friends.

I also enjoyed a cozy mystery, like this, from the viewpoint of an older female character - not Miss Marples age , but a baby boomers on a mission. Can't wait for the third book!!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another fun re-read for me. Kay goes to a Christmas tea and while there one of the handymen dies. After promising she's not going to investigate after being approached by a few of the residents Kay goes into full snoop mode while dealing with Christmas, Elizabeth's love life and Deidre's work on her new store.
This is her second book and again Susan Bernhardt has brought her book to life with incorporating family anyone can relate to especially the cook who takes over the meal but can't boil water to save her life.
For everyone who is a cozy fan this series is a must.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful holiday cozy

This is the second book in the series written by the talented Susan Bernhardt. When I chose this book for a Facebook group discussion, I had no idea how enamored I would become with all the lovable characters in this story. As I curled up with this book on a dreary Sunday morning, I found myself tagging along with Kay, Deidre and Elizabeth as they embarked on another adventure in the quaint town of Sudbury Falls.
It's Christmas time and Kay is looking forward to having her friends and family gathered together for the holidays. When Kay attends the Christmas Tea at Hawthorne Hills Retirement Home, she has no clue that this holiday gathering will lead to murder.
As Kay becomes involved in creating a wonderful holiday for her family, her mind is racing with ideas about the murder. Not wanting to be left out of the loop, Deidre and Elizabeth agree to do some holiday sleuthing, possibly putting one of them in harm's way.
As Kay and Phil are busy preparing for the holidays, celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary and doing some last minute Christmas shopping, they are also attending holiday parties. When their new neighbor Robert moves in, his eyes are focused on Elizabeth and she sure is enjoying all his attention. While Elizabeth is enjoying Robert's attention, her beau, John is seeing red and this doesn't bode well for their relationship.
It may be the holidays, but that won't stop Kay from finding justice and trying to unravel all the knots in this wonderful mystery.
The author vividly describes Sudbury Falls and all the characters so clearly that it is easy to find yourself looking for clues and trying to solve the murder.
I hope you will enjoy this story as much as I did. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Mikki Sadil · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read The Ginseng Conspiracy, which was the first of the Kay Driscoll Mysteries, I was new to cozy mysteries. I'd always read and loved the more complex mysteries of James Patterson, Sandra Brown, and their ilk. But I loved this book, and could hardly wait until the second one came out.

Murder Under The Tree did not disappoint. If anything, it was more intriguing than the first of the series.I just knew I had the killer pegged from the start...then I decided it was another character...then it HAD to be still a third. It is just that kind of suspensful book, where you know who the perpertrator is...after all, the clues point to that one!...only to find that you are wrong.

Kay Driscoll and her buddies, Deidre and Elizabeth,are again in control. Almost. Kay's husband Phil doesn't want her snooping into the death of a beloved caretaker that occurred while she was visiting Hawthorne Hills Retirement Home, but when the death is ruled accidental, Kay and her cohorts just can't leave things alone. Twists and turns find corruption, violence, revenge, and even fraud going on in the seemingly benign retirement home, and Kay is in the big middle of everything. She is determined to find the killer...or killers...even at the risk, twice, of her own life.

This is the second of a great series by Susan Bernhardt, and once again, I am looking forward to the third and last book. Although I can't imagine not ever again reading about the exploits of Kay Driscoll and her sometimes whacky friends.

[Matthew Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Bernhardt’s latest cozy mystery, Murder Under the Tree, tells the story of a suspicious death at a retirement community and the efforts of Kay Driscoll and company to determine whether foul play was involved.

I have to say I didn’t realize I even liked cozy mysteries until I read Bernhardt’s first book in this series, The Ginseng Conspiracy. Now, I can’t get enough of Kay Driscoll and her friends.

As soon as I started this book I felt I was once again among friends. Bernhardt has a talent for drawing likeable characters, ones you want to sit down with and have a cup of coffee/tea and a pastry (no doubt from Marissa’s). The dialogue is smart, the descriptions often lyrical, and there are few words wasted. The overall effect is an economy of writing that garners respect from other writers and a keen hankering to turn pages on the part of readers.

But perhaps what Bernhardt excels most at is pacing. Once you start one of her books, you really can’t stop until you’ve found out whodunit. I usually find myself putting all other work and books aside once I start reading one of her mysteries, as I furiously turn the pages. These books are as addicting as caffeine and pastries!

I eagerly await the third book in this series. Treat yourself to a great read and try a Kay Driscoll mystery today!

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

MURDER UNDER THE TREE is a great second story in the Kay Driscoll Mystery series.

I saw much growth in the writing from the first book (which I loved). Author Susan Bernhardt has really developed the characters and has a great way with descriptions. My favorite parts were in Sweet Marissa’s Patisserie. Oh my goodness, I could smell all the goodies as I was reading.

As with THE GINSENG CONSPIRACY, Book 1 in the series, the mystery starts just a few pages into the book. The story takes off quickly and keeps an invigorating pace right up to its dramatic conclusion. I was kept guessing through the whole book.

I look forward to my next visit to Sudbury Falls, Wisconsin. I can’t wait to see what Kay Driscoll gets herself into next!

Note: MURDER UNDER THE TREE does take place during the Christmas season and goes through into January. Please, don’t let that stop you from reading it right away! This is a wonderful mystery for ANY time of the year!

[Heather Brainerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amateur sleuth Kay Driscoll is back! Having read the first cozy mystery in this series, I was excited to get my hands on this new release. Susan Bernhardt brought back not only main character Kay, but also her cast of enjoyable supporting characters - Kay's family, friends, and neighbors in Sudbury Falls.
Danger and intrigue once again follow Kay around town as she attempts to unravel the truth behind an "accidental" death at a nursing home. Just like the first book, this one has a great blend of action and emotion, with a good share of humorous moments to break up the tension. Set during the Christmas season, this is the perfect gift for mystery readers - or a nice holiday treat for yourself!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! Great to see the sleuths back together again. A superb followup to The Ginseng Conspiracy.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Under the Tree is a well-crafted, suspenseful cozy, with an interesting cast of characters, and a plot that twists and turns. A real page-turner, perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect Christmas mystery! Good-hearted Kay couldn't help herself when the death of a maintenance worker at the retirement home was ruled an accident. She made three good friends there, eventually figured out the killer, but the person was so elusive that I was wondering how many bodies would pile up before the police and DA came up with the evidence to arrest that person.

Elizabeth had a side story that turned out to be very bittersweet, but her overall ending was happy. I really enjoyed the retirement center residents that Kay sleuthed with. I don't think the killer was supposed to be that much of a secret, since Kay did figure it out but she always suspected that someone else could have been working with that person, and that one was a total surprise to me.

I love the family moments (with their sons or each other) that are always present throughout these books (I read out of order and read the third book before this, so I've read three total). Kay and Phil sometimes had their rough spots, but they loved one another like crazy, and he always managed to understand why she needed to sleuth, even though she would usually keep it from him until the case was over. Somehow, Phil always knew. I'll be eventually moving along to the fourth book, but I want to savor Christmas with the Driscoll family a little longer.

[Robbi Perna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Bernhardt's second cozy mystery set in the same small town as her previous book, The Ginseng Conspiracy, a month later is another skillful take that uses a common food allergy as the premise for the mysterious death that Kay Driscoll and her band of golden ladies set out to solve. Kay's husband is still involved with his guitars and band, activities that leave little time for him to do more than carp at Kay. The reader still wants to choke the living lights out of him. The story sparkles with the joy of the holiday season and the efforts of the ladies to get to the bottom of things and solve the mystery. Another enjoyable read with all the hallmarks of the things that make stories enjoyable to read: excellent setting, engaging characters, good dialog that moves the story along, and just plain entertainment. Do yourselves a favor and read Bernhardt's book.

[Marcia Trotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another superb book, in the Kay Driscoll series, by Susan Bernhardt! A friendly visit to Hawthorne Hills retirement community, turns into another murder mystery to solve. A caretaker of the facility, while enjoying a Christmas tea, dies from anaphylactic shock. No Epipens are in their spot for quick rescue. Suspicion turns into the realization.. This was murder, but why? With the help of three residents, and several workers, Kay and her crime solvers, set out to find answers. The ladies also have a new neighbor, Robert, who has recently purchased Hawthorne Hills and seems suspicious. Many things begin to unravel in the beautiful, college town of Sudbury Falls.

[Doug Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great cozy mystery. Excellent!

After reading Kay Driscoll Book 1, I couldn't wait to find out what Kay and her 2 friends had gotten themselves into this time. At first I wondered how the the nature of the initial murder could be used as a building block to a good mystery, but I was totally wrong. The plot builds, becomes more complex, new characters are introduced, all contributing to an excellent mystery book. I love the characters and the setting. The plot moves along at just the right pace, revealing such great writing skill of this author. The Kay Driscoll series is a winner. Join the fun and have a read!

[Marsha West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Bernhardt’s MURDER UNDER THE TREE is the second in the Kay Driscoll Mysteries. It is just as delightful as the first in the series. The small town setting with everything Christmas is perfect. Her characters are lovable but far from perfect. We can all identify. You won’t want to miss reading about Kay and her friends. Her relationship with her husband is especially endearing. When you finish, besides being eager for the third book, you’ll be thinking of moving to this small Wisconsin town. I can’t wait for the next one.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read my second delightful mystery. This one is a mystery that takes place at Christmas time. It takes place at a nursing home where a Christmas party for the residents is taking place. o
One of the workers has a reaction to something and dies. As in the previous mystery Kay Driscoll investigates to find Answers. The supporting characters are exceptional.

[Nicole Btothaizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery lovers of all types will enjoy this book. A nice blend of humor and vivid description along with good research really makes "Murder under the Tree" a nice read.

[Antje Hergt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! A must read for all mystery lovers. Couldn't put it down, even though I forgot to update Goodreads.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay Driscoll and her husband Phil are about to celebrate their first Christmas at Sudbury Falls. They have parties to attend, a party of their own to host, their sons are coming in for a holiday visit, and one of their sons will be celebrating a birthday just after Christmas. Needless to say Kay has a lot to do. Christmas presents have to be bought, birthday gifts have to be found, decorations have to go up, and Kay is loving every moment of these hectic days especially since hubby, Phil, will be home with her for the entire week. Kay is in bliss until … yes, there’s always an “until.”

While attending a holiday party at the Hawthorne Hills Retirement Home Kay and the rest of the guests watch as Les Hollings, a caretaker, eats some food, starts to choke, falls to the ground, and dies. Les was allergic to peanuts and somehow peanut butter got into this food thus killing him.

The retirement home swears that they don’t use any peanut butter since some other guests have the same allergy. Sweet Marissa’s Patisserie had catered some of the food and Marissa said she didn’t use any sort of peanut product in the dishes that went to the retirement home. So how did the peanut butter get into Les’ food and no one else with a peanut allergy had problems? Well, that was obvious to Kay. Les was murdered for some reason.

With a little persuasion Kay agrees to investigate the murder not that she’s a detective but she did help solve a previous murder during Halloween. Husband Phil begs her not to get involved and the Sudbury Falls police chief especially doesn’t want her involved but what they don’t know can’t hurt them even though she herself just might be hurt in the process. But Kay starts her own investigation anyway with a little help from her best buds Elizabeth and Deidre.

“Murder Under the Tree” by Susan Bernhardt is the second book in the Kay Driscoll Mystery Series. “The Ginseng Conspiracy” is not only the first in the series but also Ms. Bernhardt's first novel. It was terrific but “Murder Under the Tree” far surpasses it. It’s almost like the author got into her natural writing groove. Her skills are sharper and seems to lack the fear that she might have had about pleasing her publishers and readers with her first novel. Here she’s obviously writing from her heart. The party scenes and Kay’s home life descriptions are just about perfect and far from boring. I especially enjoyed the way she spoke about Sudbury Falls and how the community was gearing up for the Christmas Season. It made this Jewish New Yorker wish she lived in a small town and participated in all the Christmas activities and decorations. Big kudos to Susan Bernhardt for coming so far in her skills to write what she obviously felt and throwing her fears to the wind.

Now for the mystery portion. It was good. There were lots of suspects and you never really knew who the killer was until close to the end. Although I did start to suspect before Ms. Bernhardt gave the murderer’s name. The characters are enjoyable and well thought out. There’s a nice twist at the end when one of the character’s made a surprise discovery. That part was kind of nice and heat breaking too.

One thing was left up in the air and I read the last few pages a few times to make sure I didn’t miss it. The characters did talk about this missing aspect so I’m wondering if that will be answered when I read the third book which I have in my Kindle.

Will cozy lovers like the Kay Driscoll series? Sure, although it isn’t really a cozy even though some of the basics for a cozy are here. Mystery lovers will take to it because Ms. Bernhardt’s books are wonderful thrillers too.

And while I’m at it, I want to suggest that Susan add some recipes to her books. She talks a lot about food and I’d like to see a recipe or two. What can I say? I like food.

Do yourself a favor and start the Kay Driscoll mysteries. You’ll then see for yourself how a writer progresses from being good to incredible.

Find all my reviews at https://sharonreadsblog.wordpress.com/

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I got about 58 pages into this book & I can not finish it. I really dislike that the main character doesn't seem to really enjoy her husband. When she's describing him it's very rude and like "He has a paunch, etc." I would rather there be some chemistry between the main character and their significant other. So this one is a pass for me :)

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous Kay Driscoll murder. I cant get enough of Kay- it’s so easy to read and get into these stories because of how fun the characters are. Susan- if you are reading this, please write more!!

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:

While Kay attends a Christmas tea at Hawthorne Hills Retirement Home, a beloved caretaker dies from an allergic reaction to peanuts. When the official coroner's report rules the cause of death to be accidental, a small group of residents suspect foul play and call upon Kay to investigate.

Kay uncovers sinister plots of fraud, revenge, and corruption at the Home. During this season of peace on earth, good will to men, additional murders occur. Despite multiple attempts on her life, and with the support once again of her best friends, Elizabeth and Deirdre, Kay continues her quest for bringing justice for the victims.

Kay's first Christmas in Sudbury Falls is an unforgettable one, with equal amounts of celebration and danger. Tis the season to be sleuthing! (Goodreads)

Review:

Kay and her friends, Elizabeth and Deirdre, become involved in another murder investigation. This time someone dies at retirement home, and it is not one of the elderly residents. It is a caretaker that appears to be loved by all. When it is determined that the death was caused by an allergic reaction to peanuts, the ladies know they have to find answers and bring justice to the victim. With so many suspects and so few clues, it will not be an easy task but that fact will not stop them from achieving their goal.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Kay, Elizabeth and Deirdre all have strengths and weaknesses that make them seem more realistic. Kay is a very determined woman and does not like to take no for an answer. This is both a strength and a weakness, in my opinion, because sometimes she puts herself in harm's way. Elizabeth is very smart and seems to be the “common sense” one between the three friends. But she is a bit flighty when it comes to the men in her life. Deirdre is the “new age” member of the group and sometimes she is a little “out there” with her ideas. But she keeps the friends grounded and helps to center them again when things get chaotic. I love the way they are all different but their personalities meld together into a unique lasting friendship that compliments each other. They feel like real people that I would want to be friends with and experience life with. Everyone should have these types of friends in their lives.

The mystery is well plotted and carried on throughout the entire book. There are many suspects to consider and motives to uncover before the case can be solved. The more Kay looks into the life of the deceased, the more she learns about his not so stellar past. Is the murder related to a past indiscretion or something that has happened in the here and now? There is also another mystery in the book, that being Elizabeth’s “stalker”. I felt this added another layer to the book. There were a few “wow” moments while I was reading where my jaw dropped opened and I enjoyed that a lot.

I really enjoy when an author gives the reader an insight into their lives, whether it be with locations that they love, traditions that they they follow or hobbies that they enjoy. I think this makes the book more realistic and I become even more vested in the story. I think that this author did this with the Christmas traditions that Kay did with her family, and she did it well . It felt to me like the author was sharing some of her own family traditions with me and I loved this.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This is the second book in the Kay Driscoll series and the second book that I have read and both have been equally good. I will definitely be reading the third book, Murder By Fireworks, which has already been published. If you have not read any books by this author, do yourself a favor and grab all three. You will not be disappointed.

[Kenneth Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay Driscoll is back and that is a good thing! When a man collapses at a retirement home’s holiday dinner, efforts to save him from a deadly reaction to peanuts is thwarted by an unexplained absence of medicine. And why, Kay asks, was he the only one among several with peanut allergies who happened to succumb? Kay’s abilities as a detective have become well known in the small Wisconsin town of Sudbury Falls and residents of the retirement home ask her to investigate. Even though Christmas is imminent and parties (with wonderful food and drink, wonderfully described) are taking up her time, Kay still finds herself in the thick of a murder mystery. As usual, the police are incompetent, allowing the food (i.e., the possible murder weapon) to be thrown out before it can be tested, and generally acting as though they would rather be eating pastries at Marissa’s shop. (Of course, if you were to read some of the descriptions of Marissa’s handiwork, you might think the police are not so stupid after all).
This is the second Kay Driscoll mystery I have read, and I enjoyed it even more than the first one. Some have remarked that Kay and her friends quickly seem to become your friends—slightly kooky, imperfect, but very loyal friends. I have to agree. Meanwhile, Kay is feeling her oats. She is starting to do things in this book that she would not have thought of doing previously, and getting herself into a lot of trouble because of it. Good stuff! Congratulations to Susan Bernhardt. I am looking forward to the third in the series, which is do out in the next few days.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Christmas and Kay attends a holiday party at the local retirement home. While she's there, one of the workers dies from what appears to be a peanut allergy. Everyone knew the guy was allergic to peanuts, but nobody can figure out how the peanuts got into his food.

The whole thing is written off as accidental by the police, but Kay doesn't believe it. She starts an investigation into what really happened.

The book is really more a domestic holiday tale than much of a mystery. You know almost from the beginning who's shady and who's not. There are a lot of Christmas parties mixed in with Kay's anniversary.

One thing that happened though that really got me angry was she and a friend actually break into a suspect's home. I mean, really? It's one thing to be an amateur sleuth, but another to be stupid and break the law. I never like that in my main characters.

The story just had a lot more potential than was ever realized by the writing.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was okay but the dialogue was very weak and awkward. I didn't find Robert's actions very realistic.