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Sweetfern Harbor #1
Posies and Poison
When Brenda Sheffield receives the letter from Edward Graham she knows her life will change drastically. She is now the proud owner of Sheffield Bed and Breakfast in the seaboard town of Sweetfern Harbor, willed to her by her uncle Randolph Sheffield. After pursuing a career as an amateur sleuth, she looks forward to the new challenge.
Once she arrives in the picturesque village, the colorful shops and enticing townspeople hold her spellbound. Assured crime never happens in the safest place along the New England coast, she delves into her new career. Brenda learns that not all is as it seems in Sweetfern Harbor. A despicable woman named Lady Pendleton not only owns most of the town, but she also makes it her mission to continue vendettas against everyone by regularly raising rents on businesses and homes. She is known to have ruined people financially more than once.
The day Lady Pendleton’s car comes barreling toward the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast, Brenda watches in horror until it comes to an abrupt stop. When Lady Pendleton does not emerge from the car, Brenda discovers her slumped over the steering wheel. She is pronounced dead by the Coroner and he deems it a homicide. Most of the townspeople become suspects.
The very handsome Detective Mac Rivers enlists Brenda’s help in solving the case. Brenda discovers twists and turns in every tidbit of new information that reaches her. The intertwining of loyalties and fierce protection of one another in Sweetfern Harbor adds to the difficulty in solving the case. On top of that, Brenda must keep focused on the case, and not on Mac Rivers’ charm.
Sweetfern Harbor Bed and Breakfast Cozy Mysteries can be read in one to two hours. It is perfect for those moments when you are waiting at an appointment or want to enjoy a quick read.
Once she arrives in the picturesque village, the colorful shops and enticing townspeople hold her spellbound. Assured crime never happens in the safest place along the New England coast, she delves into her new career. Brenda learns that not all is as it seems in Sweetfern Harbor. A despicable woman named Lady Pendleton not only owns most of the town, but she also makes it her mission to continue vendettas against everyone by regularly raising rents on businesses and homes. She is known to have ruined people financially more than once.
The day Lady Pendleton’s car comes barreling toward the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast, Brenda watches in horror until it comes to an abrupt stop. When Lady Pendleton does not emerge from the car, Brenda discovers her slumped over the steering wheel. She is pronounced dead by the Coroner and he deems it a homicide. Most of the townspeople become suspects.
The very handsome Detective Mac Rivers enlists Brenda’s help in solving the case. Brenda discovers twists and turns in every tidbit of new information that reaches her. The intertwining of loyalties and fierce protection of one another in Sweetfern Harbor adds to the difficulty in solving the case. On top of that, Brenda must keep focused on the case, and not on Mac Rivers’ charm.
Sweetfern Harbor Bed and Breakfast Cozy Mysteries can be read in one to two hours. It is perfect for those moments when you are waiting at an appointment or want to enjoy a quick read.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2017
1463 people are currently reading
839 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Meadows
184 books436 followersWendy Meadows is a USA Today bestselling cozy mystery author who creates the perfect escape for readers who love amateur sleuths, small-town secrets, and mysteries you can solve with a cup of tea in hand.
Her beloved series—including Sweetfern Harbor, Alaska Cozy Mysteries, and Travel Writer Mysteries—feature quirky characters, family bonds, and charming whodunits with no gore, just gentle intrigue that keeps you guessing.
When she's not plotting her next puzzle, she's spoiling her pets, enjoying time with her two adult children, and hunting for the perfect hybrid tea rose to inspire her peaceful settings.
Join her cozy community and get a free ebook plus behind-the-scenes peeks into her stories and characters.
Her beloved series—including Sweetfern Harbor, Alaska Cozy Mysteries, and Travel Writer Mysteries—feature quirky characters, family bonds, and charming whodunits with no gore, just gentle intrigue that keeps you guessing.
When she's not plotting her next puzzle, she's spoiling her pets, enjoying time with her two adult children, and hunting for the perfect hybrid tea rose to inspire her peaceful settings.
Join her cozy community and get a free ebook plus behind-the-scenes peeks into her stories and characters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
August 16, 2017
It was cute, but there was no "Ah-Ha!" moment for me
The story was a bit forced for me. It's like someone looked at a "HOW TO WRITE for Dummies" book and followed the outline.
(Spoiler alert) You have a character that EVERYONE Hates and has reason to want dead. There really wasn't any thought or intrigue to who did it. I felt like I was reading an expanded outline:
A. Character dies
B. Find cup
C. residue in cup
D. killer tries to flee on bus
E. Give obvious suspects
F. Add love interest
There was no time where I was surprised, curious, thoughtful.
I was led, step by step to the killer. I like to at least be a little surprised when I find out who "Did It". I think I yawned.
I guess the best way to describe it is (my opinion only):
It was a plain oatmeal kind of story.
You know you ingested it, but you'll forget about it in an hour and be hungry for something else.
The story was a bit forced for me. It's like someone looked at a "HOW TO WRITE for Dummies" book and followed the outline.
(Spoiler alert) You have a character that EVERYONE Hates and has reason to want dead. There really wasn't any thought or intrigue to who did it. I felt like I was reading an expanded outline:
A. Character dies
B. Find cup
C. residue in cup
D. killer tries to flee on bus
E. Give obvious suspects
F. Add love interest
There was no time where I was surprised, curious, thoughtful.
I was led, step by step to the killer. I like to at least be a little surprised when I find out who "Did It". I think I yawned.
I guess the best way to describe it is (my opinion only):
It was a plain oatmeal kind of story.
You know you ingested it, but you'll forget about it in an hour and be hungry for something else.
August 8, 2017
Decent story, somewhat ridiculous ending…
I enjoyed the story , but I'm sorry, nobody gets away with or isn't charged for murder regardless of how nasty the person that got murdered is, unless somebody big is paid off which is not what happened here. Not a very realistic ending.
I enjoyed the story , but I'm sorry, nobody gets away with or isn't charged for murder regardless of how nasty the person that got murdered is, unless somebody big is paid off which is not what happened here. Not a very realistic ending.
December 4, 2017
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
January 18, 2018
Posies and Poison
Sweetfern Harbor Mystery #1
Wendy Meadows
Mystic Owl Publishing LLC, July 2017
150 pages, ebook, paperback
Cozy mystery, location
✮✮✮⭒
I purchased this book as part of a 4 book bundle at the current price. This is my honest review for which I am not being compensated in any way.
Editing issues: extra words, missing words
Brenda Sheffield has just inherited her Uncle Randolph’s B&B in Sweetfern Harbor in New England. So, she’s leaving her job as the assistant to a Private Investigator in Michigan and moving to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. She has wonderful memories of her one and only visit there when she was ten. It was a magical place and she and her uncle seemed to make a connection on that one visit.
Brenda hadn’t worked cases with the P.I., but she had had some good insight into things on the couple cases when he had asked for her input. Word has gotten around about her previous experience, so when Detective Mac Rivers asks for her help with the case, she’s quite willing to be consulted and help out.
Lady Pendleton is a most unlikable and unliked woman. She happens to be rich and own most of the town. She’s the local landlord and raises the rent constantly on both homes and businesses until she is on the point of driving people out. Or possibly to action. Someone’s taken action. Lady Pendleton was in a big hurry driving up to the Sheffield B&B, but she never made it inside. She died in her car. Brenda saw the whole thing and was on hand to give the report to the police.
The relationship that starts to bloom between the two investigators is sweet. Both are old enough to know what they want and go after it. Mac is a widower and his grown daughter is one of the town’s businesses. Brenda has never been married, but she’s old enough to have been in several relationships and been on her own enough to be sure of what she wants from life. She has the confidence of having lived in a larger metropolis, but Mac is shyer for having lived in a small town for the ten years since his wife died and he was raising his daughter by himself.
There is no shortage of suspects for this one. Mac’s own daughter is a prime suspect. She runs the flower shop and was having a run in with the deceased recently over the raised rent and plumbing problems. In fact, the deceased was suing her over the cost of the plumbing repairs. Jenny had been mouthing off about getting even with Lady Pendleton and a lot of people had heard her.
Molly runs the Morning Sun Coffee shop and the poison was administered in one of their coffee cups. Maybe Molly was the one that mixed her cappuccino with poison. Or Logan, wasn’t he the one who was tending the counter at Morning Sun Coffee that morning? Or was he late again that morning?
Phyllis Lindsey, Molly’s mother, is the housekeeper at the B&B. She’s already been run out of one job by Lady Pendleton. And she’s got a secret relationship going with William, the husband of Lady Pendleton. Could she have decided to get rid of Lady Pendleton to clear the way for she and William to be together? And Pete Graham, the mailman, who carried the secret mail between William and Phyllis. Was he in a hurry for his reward? Or was William in a hurry to get rid of his unlovable wife? Was he after her money and got tired of waiting? He didn’t seem the type, but you never know.
It could have been any of the tenants of Lady Pendleton who were just fed up with the constant raising of already high rents. But, as usual for a cozy, the answer came out of nowhere. There was no way we could have known that Carrie, the young gal who handles the reservations for the B&B had lost her home and everything else because of Lady Pendleton and that she was a wiz at chemistry. Or that she had taught Logan the one thing that he needed to know to do this. We didn’t know about Logan’s family’s history with Lady Pendleton either. We did know that Carrie and Logan were a couple, but you just don’t expect a young couple to be involved in murder. And then for the whole town to be behind getting the actual murderer off in the end.
The characters were created very nicely. Each one being an individual and not just a caricature of a character. None of them had great depth, but they all worked as people. The storyline was good, other than the surprise solution. This seems to be the way cozies roll. You seem to have to accept that about them. So far, I haven’t found one that actually gives you enough clues to solve the case. A hint here or there, but nothing like a hard mystery does. It would be quite interesting, I think to try another of these Sweetfern Harbor books to see what else happens in this nice little town. This first book introduces you to so many of the people in town, the merchants, at least. The second book in the series is Dead in Bed. I have books one through four, so I’m sure you’ll see them here when I get around to reading them.
Sweetfern Harbor Mystery #1
Wendy Meadows
Mystic Owl Publishing LLC, July 2017
150 pages, ebook, paperback
Cozy mystery, location
✮✮✮⭒
I purchased this book as part of a 4 book bundle at the current price. This is my honest review for which I am not being compensated in any way.
Editing issues: extra words, missing words
Brenda Sheffield has just inherited her Uncle Randolph’s B&B in Sweetfern Harbor in New England. So, she’s leaving her job as the assistant to a Private Investigator in Michigan and moving to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. She has wonderful memories of her one and only visit there when she was ten. It was a magical place and she and her uncle seemed to make a connection on that one visit.
Brenda hadn’t worked cases with the P.I., but she had had some good insight into things on the couple cases when he had asked for her input. Word has gotten around about her previous experience, so when Detective Mac Rivers asks for her help with the case, she’s quite willing to be consulted and help out.
Lady Pendleton is a most unlikable and unliked woman. She happens to be rich and own most of the town. She’s the local landlord and raises the rent constantly on both homes and businesses until she is on the point of driving people out. Or possibly to action. Someone’s taken action. Lady Pendleton was in a big hurry driving up to the Sheffield B&B, but she never made it inside. She died in her car. Brenda saw the whole thing and was on hand to give the report to the police.
The relationship that starts to bloom between the two investigators is sweet. Both are old enough to know what they want and go after it. Mac is a widower and his grown daughter is one of the town’s businesses. Brenda has never been married, but she’s old enough to have been in several relationships and been on her own enough to be sure of what she wants from life. She has the confidence of having lived in a larger metropolis, but Mac is shyer for having lived in a small town for the ten years since his wife died and he was raising his daughter by himself.
There is no shortage of suspects for this one. Mac’s own daughter is a prime suspect. She runs the flower shop and was having a run in with the deceased recently over the raised rent and plumbing problems. In fact, the deceased was suing her over the cost of the plumbing repairs. Jenny had been mouthing off about getting even with Lady Pendleton and a lot of people had heard her.
Molly runs the Morning Sun Coffee shop and the poison was administered in one of their coffee cups. Maybe Molly was the one that mixed her cappuccino with poison. Or Logan, wasn’t he the one who was tending the counter at Morning Sun Coffee that morning? Or was he late again that morning?
Phyllis Lindsey, Molly’s mother, is the housekeeper at the B&B. She’s already been run out of one job by Lady Pendleton. And she’s got a secret relationship going with William, the husband of Lady Pendleton. Could she have decided to get rid of Lady Pendleton to clear the way for she and William to be together? And Pete Graham, the mailman, who carried the secret mail between William and Phyllis. Was he in a hurry for his reward? Or was William in a hurry to get rid of his unlovable wife? Was he after her money and got tired of waiting? He didn’t seem the type, but you never know.
It could have been any of the tenants of Lady Pendleton who were just fed up with the constant raising of already high rents. But, as usual for a cozy, the answer came out of nowhere. There was no way we could have known that Carrie, the young gal who handles the reservations for the B&B had lost her home and everything else because of Lady Pendleton and that she was a wiz at chemistry. Or that she had taught Logan the one thing that he needed to know to do this. We didn’t know about Logan’s family’s history with Lady Pendleton either. We did know that Carrie and Logan were a couple, but you just don’t expect a young couple to be involved in murder. And then for the whole town to be behind getting the actual murderer off in the end.
The characters were created very nicely. Each one being an individual and not just a caricature of a character. None of them had great depth, but they all worked as people. The storyline was good, other than the surprise solution. This seems to be the way cozies roll. You seem to have to accept that about them. So far, I haven’t found one that actually gives you enough clues to solve the case. A hint here or there, but nothing like a hard mystery does. It would be quite interesting, I think to try another of these Sweetfern Harbor books to see what else happens in this nice little town. This first book introduces you to so many of the people in town, the merchants, at least. The second book in the series is Dead in Bed. I have books one through four, so I’m sure you’ll see them here when I get around to reading them.
May 21, 2025
"Posies and Poison (A Sweetfern Harbor Mystery #1)" by Wendy Meadows is a quick read multiple point of view cozy mystery set in a small New England town. Brenda recently inherited her uncle's bed and breakfast and isn't feeling fulfilled in her job as a P.I.'s assistant, so she jumps on the opportunity for change. While first getting reacquainted with the town she finds out about the horrible lady who owns most of the properties in town. Those into cozy mysteries know what will happen next.
The cops are bit over their heads with who may have want to take the landlady out of the picture permanently. Since the whole town hated her there's bo shortage of suspects. The hunky detective pulls Brenda in to help since she has some experience helping her ex boss. It did end up being one of my suspects but I was leaning more towards a different one. Super cozy ending though.
The cops are bit over their heads with who may have want to take the landlady out of the picture permanently. Since the whole town hated her there's bo shortage of suspects. The hunky detective pulls Brenda in to help since she has some experience helping her ex boss. It did end up being one of my suspects but I was leaning more towards a different one. Super cozy ending though.
November 28, 2018
11 books in this series, what??! i love a great mystery ..so would include that in my faves. love these characters. love the cover. so pretty! so crawl on up, get a cup of joe and read this book. Such a fan. well written, quick read for me. awesome!
August 17, 2017
Enjoyable sweet read
Easy read. It is light and fun to read. Makes you want to live in a community so connected. I would recommend it.
Easy read. It is light and fun to read. Makes you want to live in a community so connected. I would recommend it.
September 17, 2020
Relaxing reading
I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Good characters and nice mystery to follow. No graphic violence. Nice way to spend the afternoon. I will look for book 2.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Good characters and nice mystery to follow. No graphic violence. Nice way to spend the afternoon. I will look for book 2.
March 14, 2021
Posits and Poison
I loved this book never read this author before looking forward to reading more of her books I love a good clean mystery
I loved this book never read this author before looking forward to reading more of her books I love a good clean mystery
June 14, 2018
A rather lacklustre storyline which isn't the author's norm
A solid read but not as good as some of the author's other books. A letter out of the blue gives her a chance for a new start. Luckily she has inherited property outside the control of the local gentry. When the local landowner (who is less then disliked in the village) ends up dead she is asked to aid the local police force. Can they sort out who was responsible? The characters unfortunately were rather lacklustre and the storyline just stumbled from one thing to another. I really like this author but this just wasn't for me.
A solid read but not as good as some of the author's other books. A letter out of the blue gives her a chance for a new start. Luckily she has inherited property outside the control of the local gentry. When the local landowner (who is less then disliked in the village) ends up dead she is asked to aid the local police force. Can they sort out who was responsible? The characters unfortunately were rather lacklustre and the storyline just stumbled from one thing to another. I really like this author but this just wasn't for me.
July 4, 2020
Basically the story is short but good, the narrator not so much.
A nice cozy involving a transplant to a small town on the New England shore who has inherited a lovely B&B with a reliable staff. She has a history of assisting with investigations so the local detective asks for her help in resolving the question of who actually murdered the most hated person in town. Good sleuthing is managed despite the short length of the book.
I was disappointed that the narrator had such a grating voice and the delivery was peculiar at best.
A nice cozy involving a transplant to a small town on the New England shore who has inherited a lovely B&B with a reliable staff. She has a history of assisting with investigations so the local detective asks for her help in resolving the question of who actually murdered the most hated person in town. Good sleuthing is managed despite the short length of the book.
I was disappointed that the narrator had such a grating voice and the delivery was peculiar at best.
May 1, 2018
The writing of this book seemed a bit amateur and needed work on details. Sentences seemed choppy and I didn't care for the spacing due to the fact that other books I've read, when there's a gap between paragraphs it denotes a different time, like later that day, not a new paragraph. This may be due to it being read on the Kindle, but I wasn't a fan of no indentations.
The book read easily, but the flow was lacking. Maybe as the author writes more this will get better.
The book read easily, but the flow was lacking. Maybe as the author writes more this will get better.
May 21, 2018
Good book for pre-teens
Not believable. A police detective should not disclose facts surrounding his case, especially. to someone that he has a romantic interest. Extremely light reading, good book for pre-order teens.
Not believable. A police detective should not disclose facts surrounding his case, especially. to someone that he has a romantic interest. Extremely light reading, good book for pre-order teens.
April 21, 2020
When Brenda Sheffield inherits a bed and breakfast from her uncle, she packs up her life as an assistant to a private investigator in Michigan and relocates to the charming small town of Sweetfern Harbor. As is the way, the residents there know everyone and everyone’s business but, for the most part, all get along very well. There is an exception though, and in this case, it is the local grande dame and largest property owner, Priscilla Pendleton. Soon after Brenda arrives, the town gets into an uproar because “Lady” Pendleton has announced another rent increase and is really putting the squeeze on the small, local business owners. When Lady Pendleton suddenly ends up dead and everyone in town has a motive to get rid of her, the local police detective asks Brenda to help him work through the long list of suspects.
Posies and Poisons is a short and quick introduction to the Sweetfern Harbor cozy mystery series by Wendy Meadows. The author has created a quaint setting in the small seaside town, one every reader will want to visit, if it were possible, with a variety of interesting characters to populate it. The main character, Brenda Sheffield, is calm and canny and very observant of her fellow residents. This amateur sleuth did not do anything out of the ordinary or put herself in harm’s way as most do, and that was a nice change. She was smart, sensible, capable, and likable. The police detective on the case, Mac Rivers, seemed less so. Likable, yes, and definitely a candidate as a romantic interest for Brenda but he seemed to jump from suspect to suspect too quickly.
The Audible edition of the book was easy listening and didn’t require strict attention to detail. It was fun. The narrator, in this case, had a pleasant enough voice however her delivery was rife with odd pauses which were very distracting from the story itself. I slipped into my Kindle edition of this book and found it a much better reading experience than this audio version.I recommend this book for cozy mystery readers especially those that like those small-town stories.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
June 17, 2020
This was a fun quick listen. I did get a bit confused with so many characters getting introduced all in a short space of time but there was a lot of suspects to keep it interesting. I liked the small town community and the way everybody know everybody's business. I did think it would have been better if the story was longer, as a few interviews happened without the listener being present. Also the characters could have been developed more with a longer story. It was good, what was there and I do think as the series continues the characters will become likeable the more you get to know them and it is a good start to a new series.
Brenda has inherited her uncle's business a Bed and breakfast and all the wonderful staff that runs it. She soon settles in but finds the idyllic settings isn't the friendliest place in the world, all because of one woman lady Pendleton. Everybody in town seems to have reason to hate her. She owns all the properties in town, from houses to business and as a consequence she puts up the rent prices as and when she wants or feels like it and no matter who it hurts. So Brenda isn't surprised when she ends up dead, someone was going to snap sooner or later. With everyone having a motive and pointing the finger the police turn to Brenda for help, she used to work for a private investigation agency in a big city. So her keeping her ear to the ground would be a big help. Who really did kill the most hated woman in town? Her own husband?, the police chief's daughter? Her lawyer? The suspects seem end less.
The narrator was okay bit seemed a bit breathless or the words were drawn out and I couldn't always tell who was ment to be talking.
Brenda has inherited her uncle's business a Bed and breakfast and all the wonderful staff that runs it. She soon settles in but finds the idyllic settings isn't the friendliest place in the world, all because of one woman lady Pendleton. Everybody in town seems to have reason to hate her. She owns all the properties in town, from houses to business and as a consequence she puts up the rent prices as and when she wants or feels like it and no matter who it hurts. So Brenda isn't surprised when she ends up dead, someone was going to snap sooner or later. With everyone having a motive and pointing the finger the police turn to Brenda for help, she used to work for a private investigation agency in a big city. So her keeping her ear to the ground would be a big help. Who really did kill the most hated woman in town? Her own husband?, the police chief's daughter? Her lawyer? The suspects seem end less.
The narrator was okay bit seemed a bit breathless or the words were drawn out and I couldn't always tell who was ment to be talking.
August 22, 2021
I received this book free of charge from Freebooksy for an honest review.
I love cozy mysteries and this did not disappoint. It was a quick read, maybe 2 hours.
Brenda Sheffield is needing a change in her life. She's been working as an assistant to a private investigator, even aiding him in cracking some cases. However, he doesn't really see her an asset so when she received a letter from her uncles lawyer saying she's inherited his bed and breakfast, she jumps at the chance. Sweetfern Harbor is a quaint town in New England.
The town is cute and close knit, however, most of the town, with the exception of the bed and breakfast, is owned by a woman named Lady Pendleton. Lady Pendelton is a rich, tyrant who keeps raising the rent on the shops and insists on filing lawsuits against many of the towns residents. When she is found murdered one afternoon outside the bed and breakfast, the whole town is suddenly a suspect. Can Brenda and the police detective Mac Rivers figure out who the perpetrator before someone else falls victim?
I really enjoyed this story. Quick pacing and each character created in such a way, that I can definitely see more stories where Brenda is sleuthing. I had my suspicions and to who might be the killer but was still surprised by who it actually way. It wasn't an intense "gotcha" moment, but I still really enjoyed reading this one. I will definitely be looking for more books from this series.
I love cozy mysteries and this did not disappoint. It was a quick read, maybe 2 hours.
Brenda Sheffield is needing a change in her life. She's been working as an assistant to a private investigator, even aiding him in cracking some cases. However, he doesn't really see her an asset so when she received a letter from her uncles lawyer saying she's inherited his bed and breakfast, she jumps at the chance. Sweetfern Harbor is a quaint town in New England.
The town is cute and close knit, however, most of the town, with the exception of the bed and breakfast, is owned by a woman named Lady Pendleton. Lady Pendelton is a rich, tyrant who keeps raising the rent on the shops and insists on filing lawsuits against many of the towns residents. When she is found murdered one afternoon outside the bed and breakfast, the whole town is suddenly a suspect. Can Brenda and the police detective Mac Rivers figure out who the perpetrator before someone else falls victim?
I really enjoyed this story. Quick pacing and each character created in such a way, that I can definitely see more stories where Brenda is sleuthing. I had my suspicions and to who might be the killer but was still surprised by who it actually way. It wasn't an intense "gotcha" moment, but I still really enjoyed reading this one. I will definitely be looking for more books from this series.
February 11, 2019
Brenda Sheffield (assistant to a PI) has just found out her uncle has passed away and she has inherited his bed and breakfast in Sweetfern Harbor. She is taken by surprise as she has only met the man once, but can’t wait to leave her old life behind and start anew.
The town of Sweetfern Harbor is just what Brenda has been looking for. The village is filled with beautiful shops and the friendliest of residents. Well, all but one… Lady Pendleton. It appears she owns more than half of the buildings and apartment rentals in town and is a bit of a tyrant. She is ruthless to the core and loves nothing more than raising rents and kicking people out of their homes and businesses.
When Brenda discovers the body of Lady Pendleton slumped over the wheel of her car in the driveway of the Sheffield B&B, she finds herself involved in a murder case alongside handsome detective Mac Rivers. Can the murderer be found before another victim is claimed?
This is a wonderful new cozy mystery series with lots of twists and turns, fabulous characters, and a great storyline.
The town of Sweetfern Harbor is just what Brenda has been looking for. The village is filled with beautiful shops and the friendliest of residents. Well, all but one… Lady Pendleton. It appears she owns more than half of the buildings and apartment rentals in town and is a bit of a tyrant. She is ruthless to the core and loves nothing more than raising rents and kicking people out of their homes and businesses.
When Brenda discovers the body of Lady Pendleton slumped over the wheel of her car in the driveway of the Sheffield B&B, she finds herself involved in a murder case alongside handsome detective Mac Rivers. Can the murderer be found before another victim is claimed?
This is a wonderful new cozy mystery series with lots of twists and turns, fabulous characters, and a great storyline.
April 1, 2021
For what there was of this story, I kinda liked it. I felt like it could have been a much better book had their been a little more to it. A crotchety old lady who has held the whole town hostage, basically, is murdered. Who did it? The story is pretty simple, there is this concerted effort to find the culprit, but when all is solved, nobody really wants to see anything happen to the perp. A very light love story is developing, but everything feels very rushed. I almost felt like there was a story, but it was just decided to publish the outline. It's a series I "might" like if there was a little more to it. The characters are likable, but it is all very simple and rushed.
June 13, 2021
I absolutely love this book!!!!
This is going to be a great series the way it is starting.
Brenda is a gem!!!! I love where the Bed and Breakfast is located and i feel like i am there in that community.
Brenda has inherited not only the B&B, but a huge family that look out for each other.
Detective Mac Rivers is a smart man to use other resources to get the end result.
It didn't hurt that Brenda knew a thing or two about investigating the right way.
The most hated person in town got poetic justice, you get what you give.
Now you have to read for details.
I read this book in a day and a half, cause i couldn't put it down.
This is going to be a great series the way it is starting.
Brenda is a gem!!!! I love where the Bed and Breakfast is located and i feel like i am there in that community.
Brenda has inherited not only the B&B, but a huge family that look out for each other.
Detective Mac Rivers is a smart man to use other resources to get the end result.
It didn't hurt that Brenda knew a thing or two about investigating the right way.
The most hated person in town got poetic justice, you get what you give.
Now you have to read for details.
I read this book in a day and a half, cause i couldn't put it down.
May 24, 2024
I needed something that was short, but engaging, to read. Posies and Poison fit the bill perfectly!
Wendy Meadows manages to fit a well-developed story into this novella without losing depth of character or the feeling of knowing the town. She provides the reader with a fast-paced story that includes just the right combination of mystery and romance. I love how easily Brenda is accepted by the residents of Sweetfern Harbor. The way that the townsfolk pull together and work with Brenda to solve a local murder made me smile.
The story is neatly wrapped up without any cliffhangers. It Is the first in a series that I will likely continue reading.
Wendy Meadows manages to fit a well-developed story into this novella without losing depth of character or the feeling of knowing the town. She provides the reader with a fast-paced story that includes just the right combination of mystery and romance. I love how easily Brenda is accepted by the residents of Sweetfern Harbor. The way that the townsfolk pull together and work with Brenda to solve a local murder made me smile.
The story is neatly wrapped up without any cliffhangers. It Is the first in a series that I will likely continue reading.
December 13, 2018
Nice cozy little murder mystery. Read on my Kindle thru Amazon Prime. ... In a town full of people who wanted to be free of Lady Pendleton, in the end the murderer made absolute sense. Working through all the potential suspects, including the detective's daughter, too Mac (the detective) and amateur sleuth Brenda enough time to get to know each other well enough that I see their relationship growing in the next Sweetfern Harbor Mystery.
The characters were all well rounded and nicely developed. Within the short span of this book, Wendy Meadows created a nice little town.
The characters were all well rounded and nicely developed. Within the short span of this book, Wendy Meadows created a nice little town.
April 4, 2019
I found this book at my local library. The title and cover really caught my eye. Wendy Meadows is a new author to me so I was interested to see what she wrote. This was a different kind of book for me. It is a short one (only 141 pages), so I knew it would go pretty fast. It was a good book, but the way it was written, you have to stay with it. There are parts missing, days missing, a lot of fast forward movement in this book. I enjoyed it, but it was different in its delivery of the story.
June 8, 2020
I wanted to like this. I am all for a small town that feels like family. However there were too many characters introduced and not enough buy-in for each of them, so the twist at the end did not pack the emotional relief it should have and I did not want to suspend disbelief enough for it to work. Likewise, the romance was too fast/ not enough buy-in. I also found the point of view changes unnecessary and the dialogue strangely formal at times. Plot-wise, the mystery was pretty standard not bad, but I'm not sure I'll pick up the sequel.
December 12, 2017
Exactly how the pre-view described this story!
Loved Posies and Poison,perfect to read while in Dr waiting room or in between errands. Endearing feel good mysteries that induce stress free moments of light hearted entertainment. Thank you Wendy the stories are as appealing as the titles. This is the first of many I will be reading interspersed with errand running and Grandparenting. On to "Dead in Bed"......
Loved Posies and Poison,perfect to read while in Dr waiting room or in between errands. Endearing feel good mysteries that induce stress free moments of light hearted entertainment. Thank you Wendy the stories are as appealing as the titles. This is the first of many I will be reading interspersed with errand running and Grandparenting. On to "Dead in Bed"......
October 13, 2018
Marvelous mystery
And this most certainly was a marvelous story. Ms Meadows has a talent for writing characters that have depth and become endearing to the reader. The fact that the main character and I share a name just ensures that I will read every book in this well written series and indeed, everything Wendy Meadows writes . For now, I am headed back to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast so that Brenda,Phyllis and the staff can entertain me with another murder mystery!!
And this most certainly was a marvelous story. Ms Meadows has a talent for writing characters that have depth and become endearing to the reader. The fact that the main character and I share a name just ensures that I will read every book in this well written series and indeed, everything Wendy Meadows writes . For now, I am headed back to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast so that Brenda,Phyllis and the staff can entertain me with another murder mystery!!
March 4, 2019
I'm giving this a 2 ** rating because of the ending.
May 14, 2019
Posies and Poison is the first book of the Sweetfern Harbor Mystery series. It lays the foundation for the series. This book introduces you to the main characters that are in the series. I would argue that book #1 is critical groundwork for the overall reader experience. Character development and dialogue are on point setting the tone. As a result the reader can easily become invested in the storyline and the series overall. My RECOMMENDATION: A must read for the series. Enjoy. – Tex.
August 23, 2019
The proud new owner of a bed and breakfast left to Brenda by her uncle, she quickly learns about all the friendly shop owners and a wicked woman who owns all the buildings and shops that occupy them. Hated by all.she loses control of her car in front of the B & B and is dead.Brenda, previously a want-to-be PI she becomes involved in the death which was caused by poisoning, antifreeze to be exact.Of all who hated her, who did it?
August 30, 2019
The story was good, someone poisons a very unlikeable woman. Every person in town had reasons to hate her. We knew most of the problems others had with her, but nothing about the young man who did do it until afterwards. So it was hard to figure out, which was ok. But the town supposedly having their own laws so that, since the victim was so hated, her killer will get off, is just wrong and not a very good ending.
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March 3, 2020Posies and Poison Sweetfern Harbor Mystery, Book 1, my first read from author Wendy Meadows. Well-written cozy mystery with intriguing, well-developed characters. I was impressed and enjoyed the vocal variety & inflections of narrator Kasey Logan. I look forward to reading more in this series & from this author. "I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
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