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Apple Orchard #10
The Smoking Bun
All it took was one gooey cinnamon bun...
...to change Pine Grove forever
Yeah, murders can be sticky. But this killing was unlike anything the girls had investigated before.
It's a small-town, so everyone knows everyone else, and every window sill has a fresh baked pie waiting to cool. But that doesn't mean nothing bad ever happens.
Lucky for Pine Grove, Miss May, Teeny and Chelsea are sharper than ever.
Cinnamon buns are delicious. No one disputes that fact. But this murder wasn't soft and fluffy. So the girls need to roll up their sleeves and get to work...
...because it's up to them to find the smoking bun.
...to change Pine Grove forever
Yeah, murders can be sticky. But this killing was unlike anything the girls had investigated before.
It's a small-town, so everyone knows everyone else, and every window sill has a fresh baked pie waiting to cool. But that doesn't mean nothing bad ever happens.
Lucky for Pine Grove, Miss May, Teeny and Chelsea are sharper than ever.
Cinnamon buns are delicious. No one disputes that fact. But this murder wasn't soft and fluffy. So the girls need to roll up their sleeves and get to work...
...because it's up to them to find the smoking bun.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2020
147 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Thomas
56 books807 followersEveryone loves a secret.
So here's a good one...
...Chelsea Thomas is technically two people, married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas.
Matt and Chelsea write cozy mysteries set on an apple orchard in upstate New York. They also write television and film. As screenwriters, they have worked with several studios, including Nickelodeon, SONY and CBS.
Chelsea and Matt are graduates of Duke University and they are members of the Writers Guild of America. And they are USA Today Bestselling authors.
Chelsea enjoys spending time with animals and practicing yoga. Matt loves playing music. They both enjoy spending time near the water.
Want a free novella PLUS a free cozy mystery cookbook?
Join the Chelsea Thomas Reader Club at www.chelseathomasauthor.com.
So here's a good one...
...Chelsea Thomas is technically two people, married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas.
Matt and Chelsea write cozy mysteries set on an apple orchard in upstate New York. They also write television and film. As screenwriters, they have worked with several studios, including Nickelodeon, SONY and CBS.
Chelsea and Matt are graduates of Duke University and they are members of the Writers Guild of America. And they are USA Today Bestselling authors.
Chelsea enjoys spending time with animals and practicing yoga. Matt loves playing music. They both enjoy spending time near the water.
Want a free novella PLUS a free cozy mystery cookbook?
Join the Chelsea Thomas Reader Club at www.chelseathomasauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 13, 2021
Teeny is incensed! Petey, her former employee, has opened his own restaurant and stolen her famous hash brown lasagna recipe! Well, not Petey but his chef, Buck, who claims to have borrowed the idea and elevated it. Teeny, Miss May and Chelsea head to Pete's Land and Sea to check it out and are amazed when the food tastes horrendous. Buck may use fancy ingredients but definitely on the low end and Miss May and Chelsea know fancy Manhattan food. How does that account for all the tourists flocking to the restaurant? When Chelsea needs the ladies' room but doesn't want to wait in line, she sneaks upstairs to a secret bathroom where she stumbles over the dead body of Buck... holding a cinnamon bun?! Chelsea concludes he didn't just pass out and hit his head, it must be poison and that means murder! The trio know the Pine Grove PD is useless so Chelsea must summon her feminine wiles to extract info from Wayne so they can solve the crime and see justice done for Buck!
Wow! This was the best of the entire series and I had missed reading it in order. I did speed read over some of the extraneous matter like backstory and Amy's inane chatter so that helped. The mystery was really good. I guessed who right away and then I changed my mind and changed it again so the reveal ended up a surprise. I did not put the clues together to add up the motive though. I like the way Chelsea handled herself at the end and the story didn't get too silly.
Chelsea is maturing. She's getting better at detecting and putting clues together. She has good instincts and her time spent in Manhattan also gives her an edge on this case. She babbles a bit when she lies still but not as much as she did to begin with. I was pleased to see she explains why she's suddenly drinking coffee when she didn't like it to begin with. I could do without her flirting with Wayne. Germany is so sweet! He's an oddball for sure and lives in Africa most of the time, but he adores Chelsea and worships her. Wayne is arrogant and wants Chelsea to like him. He's trying too hard.
As always Miss May is ready with a pie to question her suspects and she supports her friend Teeny. Teeny goes a little crazy in anger and I skimmed a lot of her chatter about her favorite TV shows. She doesn't change. I find her funny but only in small doses. Here we meet Amy from A New Leash on Life for the first time. She babbles more than Chelsea and Teeny combined and dumps her entire life story on Chelsea the minute they meet. She's a little eccentric even for Chelsea but nice. I don't get the impression she cares deeply about the welfare of animals, she just loves them as if she would love a plush version. Her mobile dog grooming business is a great idea. Petunia, her grandmother, is a hoot as always. She's sharp in more ways than one. I love her nemesis, Ethel, the card shark too.
Buck, a New York CIA trained chef, is a horrid person. He's egotistical, rude, mean and doesn't care about anything or anyone except himself. He's also a womanizer and super disgusting. Suspects include Petey. All clues point to Petey at first. He's too nice and wimpy to be a murderer. Not poison anyway. Then there's Hannah, his wife. She's a little cranky herself and not altogether the most kind and pleasant person to be around. There's also Rebecca, the waitress, who has a mysterious side gig and a bizarre aversion to people. I kind of liked her and could relate to her! Her personality leaves a lot to be desired though and from what we learn, she could easily be the murderer. Maybe it was accidental? There's also a number of former staff in New York, professors, fellow students at the CIA and restaurant employees who might want to murder Buck, not to mention the customers. Who is the mysterious woman seen outside Rebecca's house? Is she the murderer? Jeffrey from Hudgens, a fancy restaurant in Manhattan seems suspicious. Could he have killed Buck for some reason?
This was a lot of fun to read. I'm moving on to the one after the next and hope it's good too.
Content warnings:
Talk of open marriage
blood
Wow! This was the best of the entire series and I had missed reading it in order. I did speed read over some of the extraneous matter like backstory and Amy's inane chatter so that helped. The mystery was really good. I guessed who right away and then I changed my mind and changed it again so the reveal ended up a surprise. I did not put the clues together to add up the motive though. I like the way Chelsea handled herself at the end and the story didn't get too silly.
Chelsea is maturing. She's getting better at detecting and putting clues together. She has good instincts and her time spent in Manhattan also gives her an edge on this case. She babbles a bit when she lies still but not as much as she did to begin with. I was pleased to see she explains why she's suddenly drinking coffee when she didn't like it to begin with. I could do without her flirting with Wayne. Germany is so sweet! He's an oddball for sure and lives in Africa most of the time, but he adores Chelsea and worships her. Wayne is arrogant and wants Chelsea to like him. He's trying too hard.
As always Miss May is ready with a pie to question her suspects and she supports her friend Teeny. Teeny goes a little crazy in anger and I skimmed a lot of her chatter about her favorite TV shows. She doesn't change. I find her funny but only in small doses. Here we meet Amy from A New Leash on Life for the first time. She babbles more than Chelsea and Teeny combined and dumps her entire life story on Chelsea the minute they meet. She's a little eccentric even for Chelsea but nice. I don't get the impression she cares deeply about the welfare of animals, she just loves them as if she would love a plush version. Her mobile dog grooming business is a great idea. Petunia, her grandmother, is a hoot as always. She's sharp in more ways than one. I love her nemesis, Ethel, the card shark too.
Buck, a New York CIA trained chef, is a horrid person. He's egotistical, rude, mean and doesn't care about anything or anyone except himself. He's also a womanizer and super disgusting. Suspects include Petey. All clues point to Petey at first. He's too nice and wimpy to be a murderer. Not poison anyway. Then there's Hannah, his wife. She's a little cranky herself and not altogether the most kind and pleasant person to be around. There's also Rebecca, the waitress, who has a mysterious side gig and a bizarre aversion to people. I kind of liked her and could relate to her! Her personality leaves a lot to be desired though and from what we learn, she could easily be the murderer. Maybe it was accidental? There's also a number of former staff in New York, professors, fellow students at the CIA and restaurant employees who might want to murder Buck, not to mention the customers. Who is the mysterious woman seen outside Rebecca's house? Is she the murderer? Jeffrey from Hudgens, a fancy restaurant in Manhattan seems suspicious. Could he have killed Buck for some reason?
This was a lot of fun to read. I'm moving on to the one after the next and hope it's good too.
Content warnings:
Talk of open marriage
blood
November 3, 2020
The Smoking Bun is book 10 in the Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery series by Chelsea Thomas. I love spending time in Pine Grove, NY. with Miss May, Chelsea and Teeny! I enjoyed this latest instalment in the series, the characters are well-developed and we continue to learn a little bit more about each of them. My favourites are still Teeny, aunt May and Chelsea. There is still a love triangle with Germany and Wayne wanting Chelsea’s affection but could this be ending ...
The mystery has so many twists and red hearings that you are kept guessing until the very end. I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series. I find them to be entertaining and the plot moves at a steady pace that keeps you engaged. Also Steve the dog continues to dig hole's for Chelsea and what has he dug up this time ....
I can’t wait for the next instalment to find out!
I highly recommend this book/series. It can easily stand alone but I recommend you read the series from the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The mystery has so many twists and red hearings that you are kept guessing until the very end. I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series. I find them to be entertaining and the plot moves at a steady pace that keeps you engaged. Also Steve the dog continues to dig hole's for Chelsea and what has he dug up this time ....
I can’t wait for the next instalment to find out!
I highly recommend this book/series. It can easily stand alone but I recommend you read the series from the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 19, 2020
First time for me, 10th case for these amateur sleuths.
This was my first book by this author. And even though it is the 10th in this series, I had no trouble enjoying this.
It was also the first cozy mystery I've read which has a team of 3 amateur sleuths as the main characters. Which adds to the fun of reading it, because of all the conversations they have. About possible killers and motives. And how they react to each other.
It was also my first cozy mystery in which the main characters already solved so many murders, that everyone around them, expect them to solve this one as well. Since the police isn't exactly good at their job...
And it was my first cozy mystery which ends with the finding of a body....
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was my first book by this author. And even though it is the 10th in this series, I had no trouble enjoying this.
It was also the first cozy mystery I've read which has a team of 3 amateur sleuths as the main characters. Which adds to the fun of reading it, because of all the conversations they have. About possible killers and motives. And how they react to each other.
It was also my first cozy mystery in which the main characters already solved so many murders, that everyone around them, expect them to solve this one as well. Since the police isn't exactly good at their job...
And it was my first cozy mystery which ends with the finding of a body....
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 1, 2020
Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny are at it again! In the tenth book of the Apple Orchard Cozy series Chelsea stumbles across the body of a dead chef and the trio of amateur sleuths feel obligated to find his killer. This case takes them all over the New York countryside and into the Big Apple. It isn’t long before the clues come together and the women have the killer right in front of them. Chelsea has quite a shock when the killer is arrested right in front of a surprise her boyfriend has concocted for her at the fall festival.
I always look forward to the release of the next book in this series. The main characters are a bit kooky and entertaining. I also love the setting. Farms and countryside locations are some of my favorites. The plot in this book moves at a steady pace and makes it hard to put down. The characters are nicely developed and support the story well. This book can stand alone for new readers, but the entire series is worth reading in order. Like the last book, this one leaves us with a tiny cliffhanger and I can’t wait for next addition to the series. I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I always look forward to the release of the next book in this series. The main characters are a bit kooky and entertaining. I also love the setting. Farms and countryside locations are some of my favorites. The plot in this book moves at a steady pace and makes it hard to put down. The characters are nicely developed and support the story well. This book can stand alone for new readers, but the entire series is worth reading in order. Like the last book, this one leaves us with a tiny cliffhanger and I can’t wait for next addition to the series. I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 27, 2020
This is book ten of the Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery series and starts with one of the famous trio in quite a mood. Chelsea and Miss May are at Grandma’s restaurant, waiting for their friend and owner of the place, Teeny, to bring out their food and join them for a gossip, but matters don’t seem to be going well in the kitchen and Teeny’s very loud and upset voice can be heard! It seems that one of the other restaurants in town is now serving one of Teeny’s own creations and has basically stolen her recipe and her customers. A recently hired chef calling himself Buck and spouting about being a gastronomical wunderkind. The stab in the back is that the owner of Peter’s Land and Sea used to work at Grandma’s with Teeny and she encouraged him to open his own place. Now this chef has even out of towners queuing up for hours to get into the place and try out the chef’s gastric delights.
Teeny is usually such a happy person, so this bad mood is very unlike her. A bust up with Buck himself sees her invited to try out his version of her latest dish and Chelsea and Miss May agree to go with her. The only free time for a booking, as it is apparently so busy and booked up in advance, is seven AM the next day! When they turn up there is a queue already, even though they were early, but then a server comes to say there will be a slight delay. When Chelsea tries to get in by asking to use the bathroom, she is denied access, but that never stops her. She goes round the back to use the staff entrance, but hears Petey and Buck coming, so has to hide. The two have quite an argument and she finds Petey in tears afterwards. Once he goes back in, she goes upstairs to the staff toilet, only to find something blocking the door. Oops, yet another body found by Chelsea of course! The other two join her and before they think of calling the police, a waitress called Rebecca comes in as well. Why she was coming to a toilet that the trio found out afterwards, was out of order for some days, is one of the many mysteries they have to solve.
Yet another murder mystery in Pine Grove for the trio to unravel. An obvious but not lethal head injury draws the eye, but it is the cinnamon bun with one bite out of it, beside the toilet, that draws the eye and ends up having been the murder weapon in this case! With a police captain who doesn’t like any of the trio and hates the fact they end up solving most of the murders in town, they are separated and questioned for hours before being released. They go to question his wife Hannah, for her to say they had split up and he was staying at a motel. When they go there to look for clues, they find an abomination of a mess! But also a clue from something that is very out of place. A hint that means someone else may have shared some intimate time with Buck. Buck was very fastidious in his dress and had some weird ideas he insisted upon for the restaurant, even though Petey was the owner, and made him hire female servers, but only allow them to work three hour shifts at a time and the menu choices were all Buck’s. Not that the fancy ingredients seemed to make much of the food very palatable, according to the trio.
Lots of different suspects crop up, from angry girlfriends, their friend Petey and from some dodgy foodie dealings. All in search of the smoking bun that caused the first murder. When another suspect linked to Buck is also killed, it seems this case is much bigger than the trio first thought. They are really busy and having to work hard at solving this case and hopefully before the killer strikes again. The trio have thrown themselves into the midst of the investigation and yet again place themselves in a dangerous position and end up annoying lots of people. A surprise at the local October Fall Festival brings a big and personal decision to the fore for one of the trio. A big shock at the end is linked to a severed foot found by their dog Steve in a hole in their orchard, with another limb being found and Chelsea now knowing who these limbs belong to, leading to the next book in the series. Another fun foodie adventure with the investigating trio who use food to discuss their cases and always offer pies or other baked goods to most suspects they need to question. Always fun stories to read and each case always brings about a confused series of different suspects and possible reasons for murder. Never a dull moment! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Teeny is usually such a happy person, so this bad mood is very unlike her. A bust up with Buck himself sees her invited to try out his version of her latest dish and Chelsea and Miss May agree to go with her. The only free time for a booking, as it is apparently so busy and booked up in advance, is seven AM the next day! When they turn up there is a queue already, even though they were early, but then a server comes to say there will be a slight delay. When Chelsea tries to get in by asking to use the bathroom, she is denied access, but that never stops her. She goes round the back to use the staff entrance, but hears Petey and Buck coming, so has to hide. The two have quite an argument and she finds Petey in tears afterwards. Once he goes back in, she goes upstairs to the staff toilet, only to find something blocking the door. Oops, yet another body found by Chelsea of course! The other two join her and before they think of calling the police, a waitress called Rebecca comes in as well. Why she was coming to a toilet that the trio found out afterwards, was out of order for some days, is one of the many mysteries they have to solve.
Yet another murder mystery in Pine Grove for the trio to unravel. An obvious but not lethal head injury draws the eye, but it is the cinnamon bun with one bite out of it, beside the toilet, that draws the eye and ends up having been the murder weapon in this case! With a police captain who doesn’t like any of the trio and hates the fact they end up solving most of the murders in town, they are separated and questioned for hours before being released. They go to question his wife Hannah, for her to say they had split up and he was staying at a motel. When they go there to look for clues, they find an abomination of a mess! But also a clue from something that is very out of place. A hint that means someone else may have shared some intimate time with Buck. Buck was very fastidious in his dress and had some weird ideas he insisted upon for the restaurant, even though Petey was the owner, and made him hire female servers, but only allow them to work three hour shifts at a time and the menu choices were all Buck’s. Not that the fancy ingredients seemed to make much of the food very palatable, according to the trio.
Lots of different suspects crop up, from angry girlfriends, their friend Petey and from some dodgy foodie dealings. All in search of the smoking bun that caused the first murder. When another suspect linked to Buck is also killed, it seems this case is much bigger than the trio first thought. They are really busy and having to work hard at solving this case and hopefully before the killer strikes again. The trio have thrown themselves into the midst of the investigation and yet again place themselves in a dangerous position and end up annoying lots of people. A surprise at the local October Fall Festival brings a big and personal decision to the fore for one of the trio. A big shock at the end is linked to a severed foot found by their dog Steve in a hole in their orchard, with another limb being found and Chelsea now knowing who these limbs belong to, leading to the next book in the series. Another fun foodie adventure with the investigating trio who use food to discuss their cases and always offer pies or other baked goods to most suspects they need to question. Always fun stories to read and each case always brings about a confused series of different suspects and possible reasons for murder. Never a dull moment! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
November 14, 2020
I Love the pun, The Smoking Bun! Another hilarious adventure for Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny! This is again a laugh out loud book in the Apple Orchard series that once you begin you can't stop turning pages! The new chef at Peter's Land and Sea is arrogant and not well liked. Besides, he stole one of Teeny's recipes. This adventure takes them all over NY. So guess who is found dead. Why it's Buck the chef! And now the three sleuths decide it is up to them to find the killer. Of course, Wayne, the local detective helps them on the side. This is a tricky murder and Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny have their hands full trying to figure out who disliked Buck, the new chef enough to kill him. Add to all that Chelsea's love triangle between Wayne, the detective and the quirky French. Will Chelsea ever make a decision? I Love this series and can't wait for their next adventure. I love how the three ladies and their quirky personalities and behaviors blend so you not only try to figure out the murderer in each book in the series, but you laugh right through it! I received and ARC from of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
November 3, 2020
Buck is the new chef at Peter's Land and Sea who had the audacity to steal one of Teeny’s recipes! So guess who is found dead in the out-of-order bathroom? Before the clues can become cold, Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny are on the job once more to track down the killer of the arrogant new thieving chef. Of course their cheering section, the community members who love them and know the case is in good hands, wait expectantly for the capture of the bad guy as the Pine Grove Police Department tries to keep up.
This is such a fun series that never lets the reader down. I start out every book by laughing for 5 minutes at the clever title! The characters are charming, clever, and a delight to see in action as they relentlessly seek justice. Grab your copy and enjoy their pursuit as you try to figure out the clues for yourself!
This is such a fun series that never lets the reader down. I start out every book by laughing for 5 minutes at the clever title! The characters are charming, clever, and a delight to see in action as they relentlessly seek justice. Grab your copy and enjoy their pursuit as you try to figure out the clues for yourself!
November 4, 2020
The three super sleuths Chelsea, Miss May & Teeny certainly have a head scratcher on their hands with this one, as things unfold I get why there are quite a few people wanting Buck dead but the suspects vary and with one as much as I don't want it to be them they really don't help themselves. I love the banter between the three especially with what Chelsea gets pushed into lol but not only do we have a murder or two to solve but there is still the thing about Germany as well as Wayne and Chelsea. Things are changing with Chelsea's love triangle and well I know who I would choose and I know who Miss May and teeny would choose but Chelsea welll... that girl needs to make a decision especially after the parade, gawd I feel sorry for everyone involved with that.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 14, 2020
What is happening with Teeny? Never seen her so angry!!!
What about Petey and his restaurant? He is definitely a suspect!!
The gang is all over the area trying to figure this one out.
I love cinnamon buns too!! Not happy that it was used as possible weapon.
Watch out for all the rabbit trails!!!! The clues are there to figure out who did it and not get caught on the wrong trail. Just pay attention!
Probably can be read as a standalone but hard for me to say since I have been reading the series. If need to start here then go back and get to really know the characters in previous books.
Fun, easy to read cozy mystery. Very enjoyable.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC (Beta) book.
What about Petey and his restaurant? He is definitely a suspect!!
The gang is all over the area trying to figure this one out.
I love cinnamon buns too!! Not happy that it was used as possible weapon.
Watch out for all the rabbit trails!!!! The clues are there to figure out who did it and not get caught on the wrong trail. Just pay attention!
Probably can be read as a standalone but hard for me to say since I have been reading the series. If need to start here then go back and get to really know the characters in previous books.
Fun, easy to read cozy mystery. Very enjoyable.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC (Beta) book.
October 23, 2020
Chelsea Thomas has done it again! She never fails to deliver a page-turning, keep you guessing, laugh out loud book! Who can resist the three charming detectives Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny? They never fail to solve the case! And they keep their sense of humor through the whole thing.
Of course, I can’t forget to mention the romantic side. Will Chelsea end up with hunky police detective Wayne or the lovable, unconventional Turtle? I’m torn between the two! But I won’t give you any spoilers!
You definitely want to read this book. But be prepared...as soon as you finish it you will want to read the next one in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Of course, I can’t forget to mention the romantic side. Will Chelsea end up with hunky police detective Wayne or the lovable, unconventional Turtle? I’m torn between the two! But I won’t give you any spoilers!
You definitely want to read this book. But be prepared...as soon as you finish it you will want to read the next one in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 29, 2020
This is a cute series that has gotten better with time. The characters are very quirky and that makes their distinctive personalities really shine through. The mystery is well plotted and it took me until the end of the book to figure out who the killer was.
Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny are at Peters restaurant having discovered that his new chef stole Teenys signature hash brown lasagna dish. Buck is rude, bossy, and generally not nice but finding him murdered doesn't sit right with these ladies. They set out to discover who killed him with an assist from Wayne a local detective who admits these ladies do a good job or catching killers. Better than the local police force does.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny are at Peters restaurant having discovered that his new chef stole Teenys signature hash brown lasagna dish. Buck is rude, bossy, and generally not nice but finding him murdered doesn't sit right with these ladies. They set out to discover who killed him with an assist from Wayne a local detective who admits these ladies do a good job or catching killers. Better than the local police force does.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 4, 2020
Another fun visit with Chelsea, Miss May & Teeny. There are always a lot of laughs with this crew and some delicious sounding food. This time the head chef at Petey's restaurant is murdered and naturally Chelsea finds him. Since he and Petey just argued that puts Petey in the sights of the police along with Teeny. Does Petey have it in him to kill someone? Can Chelsea figure out who the real killer is before more people are murdered? And what is going on with Chelsea and Germany Turtle? Is Chelsea destined to stay single or will Germany give up his lion research and come back from Africa? Can't wait to read the next mystery!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 22, 2020
Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny find themselves in the middle of not one but 2 murder mysteries. In addition they still have the issue of the severed foot found in the orchard by Steve the dog. It takes them awhile to barrow the suspects and find the link in the two murders. In the end the three amateur detectives find their killer. Chelsea has an important decision to make and Steve finds another body part that will lead to answers. Can’t wait to see what the next book had in store for our 3 amateur detectives.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 3, 2020
I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books in this series, and this one did not disappoint. Chelsea is bit more introspective and focused on her love life, and we get teased with a "mystery for another day (book)," which was kind of fun. Of course, there is a murder and Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny are on the job again. Part of the fun of these books is the way the community reacts to the three "celebrity" amateur sleuths vs. how the Pine Grove Police Department sees them. I highly recommend this series, and that you start at the beginning to to follow the story line and appreciate the humor.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 3, 2020
Teeny is mad about something that Chelsea and Miss May know nothing about. But they have their own problems when a severed hand is found on their apple farm a month earlier and still no information as to whom it belongs to or where the rest of the person is. But when Buck comes into the cafe, Teeny really loses it! Buck is the new cook at Peter's Land and Sea and he 'stole' one of her recipes. When they go to Peter's Land and Sea, they find Buck's body up in the employees' bathroom, a bathroom that is out of order. Other than Teeny, who would want to kill Buck? The ladies have their work cut out for them in this mystery. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Booksprout.
August 15, 2022
The unsolved mystery from book 9--Dread and Butter, remains unsolved. The severed foot that Steve the dog discovered and dug up on the farm, remains "unclaimed". Meanwhile the 3 Pine Grove amateur detectives have another murder mystery to solve. Buck, the head chef at Peter's Land and Sea Restaurant, is found dead in the restaurant's bathroom. Solving this case leads the gals all over New York. I love Teeny's description of Chelsea. "This girl has her foot in the mouth so much she might as well get foot flavored toothpaste." Chelsea continues to be indecisive about her love life to the dismay of Germany and Wayne. This continues to be a fun series to read.
October 23, 2020
I just love to read cozy mysteries and this one is no exception. It has a good plot, lots of action, many twists and turns and three hillarious sleuths, specially Teeny, who seems to be that old aunt that lots of people have and who never thinks before she speaks and lets her imagination run wild! It´s an entertaining and belivable story - hopefully to never happen in a restaurant any of us readers go to !
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 25, 2020
A new restaurant has opened in town and the owner is Petey, who was trained by Teeny. The chef is an arrogant, opinionated jerk that nobody likes. When Teeny, May, and Chelsea go for a meal at the restaurant they find the chef dead. Was it an accident or more sinister? Join them as they track down the clues to figure out if it was murder, and if it was, what was the motive. Enjoy the story as they discuss possible scenarios and track down leads. Another fantastic mystery in the Apple Orchard Series.
November 7, 2020
The Smoking Bun is the 10th book in the Apple Orchard Cozy series by Chelsea Thomas.
Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny are on the case investigating the murder of a recipe stealing chef. It is always fun to see what Chelsea gets pushed into doing by the older women. There are also interesting developments in Chelsea’s love triangle with Wayne and Germany.
I absolutely loved the conversation between Chelsea and Steve, the dog.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny are on the case investigating the murder of a recipe stealing chef. It is always fun to see what Chelsea gets pushed into doing by the older women. There are also interesting developments in Chelsea’s love triangle with Wayne and Germany.
I absolutely loved the conversation between Chelsea and Steve, the dog.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 11, 2020
The trio are at it again and this time it is the chef in town who stole a recipe from Teeny that is dead. They take charge and proceed to ferret out the clues to get on the right track to the culprit. So much is going on and suspense come from multiple directions. Surprises and twists get them to change course and heading on the right path. The endings just keep getting better and they build experience along the way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 6, 2020
Germany Proposes
Teeny's protege, Petey, opened a fine dining restaurant and it hasn't been doing so well. So he hires a New York chef who trained at the Culinary Institute of America. Everything was going well until customers began getting ill. Then the chef is murdered and his lover is murdered, and our three sleuths investigate. Once the case is solved the Apple Orchard hosts a big party to celebrate and Germany has strung a large banner across the street, goes down on one knee and proposes. Stay tuned for the next book to learn how it goes.
Teeny's protege, Petey, opened a fine dining restaurant and it hasn't been doing so well. So he hires a New York chef who trained at the Culinary Institute of America. Everything was going well until customers began getting ill. Then the chef is murdered and his lover is murdered, and our three sleuths investigate. Once the case is solved the Apple Orchard hosts a big party to celebrate and Germany has strung a large banner across the street, goes down on one knee and proposes. Stay tuned for the next book to learn how it goes.
October 22, 2020
This is the best Apple Orchard book yet! It can be a standalone but I think that they should all be read in order! This is because all the characters are so great and their personalities develop over the course of time. The twists of the plot is fun and often suspenseful while being hilarious. This is a must read!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2020
Even though the apple orchard was not the backdrop to this mystery, Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny are back to show up the police once again. With Teeny and their friend Petey suspects due to a previous confrontation, they race to discover who killed the arrogant new chef in town before the Fall Festival. The question is, whether it is one of them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 1, 2020
This is the 10th book in this series and they just keep getting better. In this one, Chelsea and Miss May team up with Teeny to solve yet another murder.
Life in a small town is like living in a fish bowl. Everyone knows everyone else and they all know everybody's business. They are fighting the clock to get this one solved before one of them end up in jail.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Life in a small town is like living in a fish bowl. Everyone knows everyone else and they all know everybody's business. They are fighting the clock to get this one solved before one of them end up in jail.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 2, 2020
This was such a great book. I really enjoyed it. The suspense was all the way throughout the book. Three women that solves crimes that the local police department could not or will not solve. After all the suspects that they suspected, they finally figured out who the killer was. Of all things to get killed by, a poisoned honey bun.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 3, 2020
The fancy new chef at Petey’s restaurant has stolen Teeny’s famous hash brown lasagna recipe! And it’s one of the last things he ever does. I love this series. The writing is top notch. The plot is tight and multi-layered and filled with believable, slightly zany characters. It was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to future installments. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
November 4, 2020
Is the bun part of a frame up, or simply proof that an open relationship can have lethal results?
Poor Germany Turtle pops back in with at least one surprise in mind. Can he and Chelsea work things out? Is Africa just too far to make the long distance thing work- especially when your beau is off in the veldt researching lions
Small town murders, mayhem and crazy romance for Chelsea once again
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Poor Germany Turtle pops back in with at least one surprise in mind. Can he and Chelsea work things out? Is Africa just too far to make the long distance thing work- especially when your beau is off in the veldt researching lions
Small town murders, mayhem and crazy romance for Chelsea once again
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 4, 2020
Another great book by these authors. The story is well written and the misdirection is very well done.
Miss May, Teeny and Chelsea are on the case of the poisoned chef. Buck Johnson is the new chef at Pete's restaurant and everyone hates him with good reason - he is an arrogant autocrat. When he steals Teeny's hashbrown lasagna recipe she is ready to kill him herself. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Miss May, Teeny and Chelsea are on the case of the poisoned chef. Buck Johnson is the new chef at Pete's restaurant and everyone hates him with good reason - he is an arrogant autocrat. When he steals Teeny's hashbrown lasagna recipe she is ready to kill him herself. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 4, 2020
Another great cozy mystery with great sleuth trio team. The story has mystery, suspense, intrigue and a bit of humor and keeps you engaged in the story. The characters are fun, entertaining, easy to get to know and engaging. It's well written and keeps you turning the pages and is a great who dun it cozy mystery you'll be glad you read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 14, 2020
I love the characters of Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny. Their banter makes the books in this series fun. After Teeny accuses a local chef of stealing one of her recipes, he is murdered with a poisoned cinnamon bun. With their reputation around town for solving murders before the police department realizes there's been a murder, they investigate by talking to the suspects. I can't wait to read the next book!
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