She's ready to reap the rewards of her hard work, but this harvest is a killer.
Though she’s still healing from serious injuries, Taylor Quinn’s heart is ripe with happiness. Business at Flour Sax Quilt Shop has blossomed in the early spring sun, and with it hope for the future of Comfort, Oregon. But the promise of the season is poisoned when she discovers a dead body.
Murder at the family strawberry farm uncovers a scandal she’d do anything to bury. But when her messy romantic life sullies both her investigation and her instincts, she’s going to have to dig deep to catch the killer.
Can Taylor pick the rotten fruit from this crop of suspects before he kills again?
Fruit Basket Upset is the sixth cozy in the heart-felt Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery Series. If you like witty dialogue, charming settings, and stitching together the truth, then you’ll love Tess Rothery’s page-turning whodunit.
Buy Fruit Basket Upset to taste sweet justice today!
I was very impressed with the depth and complexity of this sixth in the Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mysteries! It is the best one so far. It includes a serious social concern, a compelling mystery, the beautiful Comfort, Oregon setting, and new understanding of our favorite characters. This, more than the earlier novels in the series, was hard to put down, especially as the mystery progressed and the very real challenges of early 2020 began, and Taylor examines her life.
It is the end of February 2020, and Taylor is helping Grandma Quinny – Ingrid – and a shirttail cousin Coco prepare the strawberry farm for a visit from a kindergarten class. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t happen as planned. Coco and Ingrid saw a partially buried body in the field. The young woman was Coco’s best friend and mom of a four-year-old boy.
This murder hits too close to home for Ingrid’s comfort, and she will go to great lengths to find out whodunit. Taylor is still recovering from the injuries she received last fall from the last murder she solved, but she is also looking to find out what happened to Molly Kay.
Taylor broke up with her boyfriend, Hudson, a few months earlier, and she is still experiencing some of the emotions. He didn’t like her involvement in solving mysteries, even when they did affect her family or friends. She met a man from Portland who she is very interested in, but he is more involved with his career than with her. Moving to Portland is not an option for her, as she is the third-generation owner of Flour Sax Quilt Shop in Comfort.
Characters are defined very well. As a result of the contributing factor in Molly’s murder and the change of Taylor’s relationship status, she has become introspective about her own dating. While I prefer only a little relationship drama in a cozy, the impetus for her consideration gives it value. I loved getting to know more about Ingrid; she is an intelligent, loving woman who doesn’t miss much and doesn’t pussyfoot around when confronting people. I enjoyed getting to see Taylor’s younger adopted sister, Belle, and her husband Jonah, working in their historical mansion. Belle and Jonah have different passions regarding the use of the home, and I am fascinated with Belle’s desire for at least a weekend to pursue her interest.
Taylor has sufficient employees to run the quilt shop when she is doing other things, and I missed seeing it this time. I appreciate the author’s excellent descriptions of the scenes, so real I could almost smell the loam on the farm. This is the first cozy I’ve read that includes the start of the 2020 pandemic, so I will be interested to see how it is addressed in the next novel. I appreciate seeing it through the eyes of the characters.
The murder itself was complex; I would not have put together the pieces of it as well as Ingrid did. I was so sorry to see why this young mother died, and the involvement one of her best friends had in it. I was stunned to see how lucrative Coco’s “business” was and the many lives effected. It is one of several major crises our society struggles from that will probably never go away – especially when Coco’s specialty is so lucrative to her and her employees. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates well-written cozy mysteries that include real current events, tragedies that could be pulled from newspaper headlines, and female sleuths with grit and sensitivity.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary eArc of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Taylor is finding her footing after breaking it off with Hudson. She just didn't feel the attraction for him today she does for Graham Dawson, the journalist. Their romance is moving slowly because he's focused on his career. He's here to investigate the murder of a young mother whose body was found on the Quinn Farm. She was dating an older man. She meet him through a dating service. Taylor isn't making headway with her investigation. Her Grandma Quinny decides to help. She knows that she can solve this case. I was shocked to watch Taylor's grandmother in action. She's a smart and savvy woman. She knows how to get information and to convince people to reveal their secrets. I can see that Taylor takes after her. Tess Rothery has added a new dimension to this series. I enjoyed learning more about Grandma Quinny. She was the star of this book. Fruit Basket Upset was a powerful mystery with unexpected twists. It was great to be back in Comfort Oregon and catch up. This mystery was well written and gave a new slant on the dynamics in the Quinn Family. I really enjoyed this book.
Taylor has volunteered to help out at her family's strawberry farm for the annual kindergarten field trip, but before the kids get there a body is found in the field. She discovers that the dead body may be related to her shoestring cousin's "business" matching young women up with sugar daddies. Are all the things with her cousin's business really above board or are there hidden scandals? Unbeknownst to Taylor, Grandma Quinny is also doing her own investigation. Will the women be able to track down and find the killer? Taylor's personal life is falling apart as she is now newly single, her home is now quiet again with just her and Grandpa Ernie, and Taylor is struggling with making decisions about what is best for Grandpa Ernie. The family drama is definitely escalating in this book. It is also set in early 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic when people are still trying to figure out how to respond to the virus. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more in the series.
One thing you can be sure of with this series is there is never a dull moment. There are a few surprise facts that come to light in this story that explain some of the characters’ actions and how they interact with others. Even though this story is a stand-alone book, I prefer reading the series in order.
This is a (mostly) clean read; no sexual scenes, no graphic violence, and only mild cursing by an injured person who was under the influence of pain killers following surgery which did not offend me.
I received a free ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review is my honest opinion of the book.
Loved this book. Taylor Quinn finds a body of a young woman in her grandparents strawberry field and begins to investigate why someone would kill her. The investigation brings her Grandma Quinny into the mix and we learn about the background of Taylor’s parents. Why are young women being targeted? Is this a warning to someone? Can’t wait for the next story in this series. I received an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Things have been looking up for Taylor and the Quilt Shop. That is, they have until she finds a dead body at the farm. Now she's faced with finding the culprit before SHE ends up in the sights of the law.
I look forward to every new Quilt Shop adventure, there are always a few unexpected twists and turns, and these characters really do keep me coming back. And though this is Book Six in the series, it does well as a stand-alone read . . . but do read the others, they are such good reads to curl up with in this weather!
[I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from the author with no obligation to review. The opinions expressed herein are my own and are given freely.]
When a body is discovered on the family strawberry farm, Taylor is once again investigating! I so enjoy the characters in this series and following them, as I learn new things about them with each story. Each book can stand alone, but I like the continuity of reading them in order. There are definitely some surprises and twists in this one, and I stayed up late to finish it! The ending definitely caught me by surprise! I am on the author’s advance review team and am always so happy to write about books I have enjoyed!
The Taylor Quinn Quilt Shop Mystery series continues to provide entertaining reading with Book 6, Fruit Basket Upset. The reader will learn more about Grandma Quinny, Taylor’s challenging love life, Cousin Coco’s lively livelihood, and get updated on many of the other characters we have grown to love in Comfort, Oregon. There’s always a mystery, but I would probably read this series even if there wasn’t.
Fruit Basket Upset kept me reading as more background is shared about Taylor's circle of friends and family. I felt that this book has more reveals and plot twists than the others in the series. Tess Rothery has created a very intriguing sleuth with a wide circle of quirky relatives and friends. I always feel like I have come back to visit when a new book is released. This one kept me up far too late!
This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building. Can't wait to read what the author brings out next. Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Perfection! Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2021 This light, fun mystery is just the ticket for this time in our lives! A visit to Comfort is just what is needed and pure comfort. The characters are wonderful and the story just twists you around so you don’t know who did it. I thoroughly enjoyed this and Avery book in the series. I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed the sixth book in this series. The characters are so real and I always feel I want to hug some of them and thump some of them too! In spite of my determination to solve the mystery, I was still surprised by the end! I can't wait for another one!