A Cut Above

Karnie Cleaver #1

by Judi Lynn

Karnie works in her family's butcher shop. She's worked there a long time and knows all of the customers, and they know her...maybe too well. When a new butcher shop opens on the north side of town, they're full of gossip about it, but no one expects the owner--Donna Amick--to walk into A Cut Above and try to steal Karnie away from her parents to work in her shop. Sam Lessman, the young man her dad and brother trained, got a fulltime job with Donna and keeps singing Karnie's praises. It comes as a shock, then, when Karnie opens the back door of their store to find Donna's body propped against the back of the building. It's even worse when she learns that Sam is the major suspect for killing her. But she knows Sam. She knows he didn't do it, and she intends to prove it.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2021

About the author

Judi Lynn received a Master’s Degree from Indiana University as an elementary school teacher after attending the IPFW campus. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades for six years before having her two daughters. She loves gardening, cooking and trying new recipes.

Reviews

[Dallass · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not fast paced, it held my attention.

This was an interesting book. The prickly Karnie was very much a loner who is personable, but comes off as a bit standoffish. Matt, her brother Chuck’s friend, always seemed to look down at her - Chuck’s pesky little sister - so when he seems to take an interest, it takes Karnie a while to catch up. Her parents are lovely, Chuck is steadfast and sweet, and Porter is a self absorbed jerk. Add into the mix some cute kids, an adorable dog, Mrs. Sprunger and the various other characters that you meet, it makes for a nice cosy.

The mystery itself was pretty simple. Donna is a nasty person who everyone agrees had it coming to her, which means that there are no shortage of potential suspects. Since both businesses are butcher shops, be prepared for a lot of food references, scenes, and recipes mentioned that will have your mouth watering. Speaking of butcher shops, I love that Karnie works in a butchers shop, it is one of the odder professions used for the female protagonist, but offers a perfect place to pick up the local gossip.

4 stars ⭐️

[Wulfwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judi Lynn is a still new to me author. I read one of her Jazzi Zanders mysteries before reading this one.
This book is the start of a new series. It is set in a butcher’s shop that the main character’s family own. Karnie, (I thought it was clever to name her Karnie which sounds like the Spanish word for meat, carne), also works there and coordinates a cooking show she does with weekly specials. One thing I have noticed with both books is that the author knows the occupations she gives her main characters. Jazzi does home renovations. Both times the author wrote accurately and detailed about what the main character was doing. This is something I find very interesting, especially since working takes up a big part of most people’s day. I have enjoyed hearing about the work they do.
Karnie’s work brings in to the book a lot of characters and the author takes the time for you to get to know them. I love some of the bit players in the book. I’m already looking forward to reading more about them in future books. I also enjoy how people are connected in the small community where Karnie lives and works. I felt at home there.
The mystery begins when the owner of a new butcher shop in town is found dead at the family’s butcher shop’s backdoor! This brings in Detective Carmichael. He seemed nice and interested in Karnie, keeping her family in the loop about the investigation. When it appears that Karnie may be in danger, Matt steps in to help keep her safe. Who is Matt? A customer and a long time friend of her brother Chuck, (there is a theme with the names as you will see with a third brother). Matt is divorced and has custody of his two young children. He also has a dog, Jolly. I love books where animals play a role in things. I also love that the author is showing that fathers can and do step up for their children. So often it is a deadbeat dad, (I’m talking about books in general with this issue). I know several fathers who are custodial parents and they have all the same issues to work out that women do. It’s refreshing to see it portrayed in a positive way. The author also portrayed another social issue in a natural and positive way in the book. I loved that she put it in there and moved on because she treated it the way it should be in real life. This is what it is, acceptance, get on with life. If you have read my reviews you know I don’t go into the mystery. I feel strongly that it is for you to discover what the clues are and who the suspects are.
It is slow paced though there is a lot going on. I enjoyed it as much as I do my fast paced books. There are a couple of editing issues but they in no way detracted from my enjoyment. They were spacing issues in two areas. I mention it only because they are noticeable and I am hoping the author sees it so she can fix the Kindle version. I haven’t read a print version so it is very possible this is only a Kindle issue. Please don’t let it stop you from reading this enjoyable book. Reading it, you can tell that the author puts a lot of work into her books. I hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I did.
I almost forgot! *face palm* At the end of the book, the author has included a few of the recipes that Karnie makes on her cooking show or prints on recipe cards for customers. I made the hamburger soup one and it was tasty. I am planning on making three more this week and will probably use her leftover suggestions. Yes, they sound that easy and delicious. You might want to make a recipe and have it warming in a slow cooker while you read. I wish I had done that.

[Mae Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel introducing the Karnie Cleaver mysteries by author Judi Lynn. She has a deft pen with cozies, as proven by her Jazzie Zanders series. Lynn scores again with Karnie and her family who own the A Cut Above butcher shop. Once again, Lynn populates her tale with plenty of interesting characters. Aside from Karnie and her family, the reader gets to know several of the customers (regulars) who visit the butcher shop. I love Mrs. Sprunger! Then there’s Matt, the owner of a nearby farm, who is divorced with two small children. It’s clear from the start Matt is set on turning Karnie’s head, but she’s not so easily convinced. As he tells her, she’s “prickly.”

She knows what she wants. She’s happy living alone, working the counter at the butcher shop and producing a video cooking show with tips on how to prepare various dishes using the meats her family sells. Her following is so popular the owner of a new, rival butcher shop tries to lure her away with a chunky salary. Not long after Karnie turns her down, Donna Amick ends up dead, a meat cleaver in the back of her head. Karnie is not a suspect but that doesn’t stop her from trying to discover who is responsible, especially given the woman’s body was dumped behind A Cut Above.

The sleuthing alternates with plenty of family scenes and an evolving relationship between Matt and Karnie. I love his kids, and their dog, Jolly. Isn’t that a great name for a dog?

On the murder end, there are several suspects with motive, plus a second murder to contend with. Then somebody attempts to break into Karnie’s house, and the stakes get higher. The murderer is revealed in a tense and suspenseful moment (some nail biting on my part), and the ending provides a perfect wrap while setting up the characters for more adventure. I for one will be following this delightful series. And as a bonus, the author includes several recipes at the back of the novel. A winner all the way around!

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehh it was okay, having just read books 1-7 of the Jazzi Sanders Mysteries by the same author, this one was sort of a let down. I just could not connect with Karni Cleaver, the MC here. While the author tried to portray her as an introvert, which is fine (being one myself) she made Karin’s character very rude, judgmental at times, brusque, uncaring, etc. while there was some growth in her character, especially in regard to her relationship with Matt, I just didn’t buy it.

The mystery itself is a typical Judi Lynn mystery with lots of red herrings and suspects. Overall, it was a quick, ok read.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would! At first I just wasn't sure I really liked Karnie that much. I loved her crazy brother Chuck and her dad. And I even liked Matt before they became friends. Karnie was a little pushier of a main character than I'm used to, and for that reason, she did seem older than her 27 years. But when I saw how good she was with Matt's kids, she started growing on me.

I really like that the author doesn't waste time with dragging things out. She goes right for the story points the reader wants (at least I know I did!) and makes it interesting. I had a suspicion of whodunit, but wow, that was a great showdown with both parties involved taking down the perp. Carmichael was a nice enough detective, but he sure depended on civilians a lot for their input, which is actually fine by me as opposed to yelling at them for getting involved. It's all in fun and fiction, so why not have it the way you want it when you escape to a cozy mystery, right?

I won a Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway and want to say thanks, as well as the fact that winning the book in no way affected my decision to give a good review or not. I just really enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end--but I'm savoring the next book preview included at the end! Hopefully it won't be long before it comes out.

[M.L. Rigdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn does it again with another cozy mystery and a lady butcher last-named Cleaver. Karnie is quirky, cranky and fun, hiding a soft heart under a lot of snark. True to Judi Lynn's style, there is a wonderful family, lots of food and a murderer to locate while unbending her personal life rules to accept a yummy single dad with a farm of organic beef. Quite the temptation for a gal who knows what to do with a cut of meat. Every pun intended.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed the storyline and read

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. This first book in the series was also my first butcher shop cozy. Very interesting and Karnie will grow on you.

[Amary Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous culinary cozy

Ms. Lynn gives us a great read in this tale. Set in a family run butcher shop, Karnie is determined to solve the murder of the much hated woman....found against the shop's back door

[Mary Howerton · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was honestly a fine mystery, the ending felt super rushed and was very much a whirlwind. It’s hard to nail down a time frame of events in the novel, so everything seemed to happen really through the last 100 or so pages. It was a quick read and was a pretty cozy mystery, though!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like their relationship was revolving around her being a great cook too much. I like the characters tho, different to what I usually read. I felt like their relationship could’ve evolved differently but that’s just my opinion

[Megan McSherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like there was a missed opportunity to make more meat puns lol

Otherwise a pretty good murder mystery

[Andrea Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karnie works in her family's butcher shop and has worked there a long time and knows all of the customers. There is a new butcher shop that opened on the north side of town, they're full of gossip about it, but no one expects the owner--Donna Amick--to walk into A Cut Above and try to steal Karnie away from her parents to work in her shop. Sam Lessman, the young man her dad and brother trained, got a fulltime job with Donna and keeps singing Karnie's praises and later Karnie opens the back door of their store to find Donna's body propped against the back of the building. Karnie gets involved in solving the murder and this could get her in more trouble.