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Clucks and Clues Cozy Mysteries #1
A Cop and a Coop
It’s a mother-clucking mystery!
When Leona Davis hatches a plan to return to her beloved hometown of Honeytree, Oregon, she hopes to build the egg farm of her dreams and leave behind the marriage of her nightmares.
But the yolk’s on her when she breaks ground on her chicken palace and unearths a skeleton in her front yard. It’s clearly fowl play. The bones may be decades old, but there’s no statute of limitations on murder.
With a county forensics team roosting on her lawn and a flock of town gossips poking their beaks where they don’t belong, Leona’s well-laid farming plans may be nothing more than a wing and a prayer.
Her spicy high school ex, Sheriff Eli Ramirez, assures Leona he’ll crack the case, but he’s not exactly a hardboiled detective. Her best hope to get back to a life with more hens and less mens? Scramble to uncover her small town’s buried secrets before everything’s totally plucked.
A Cop and a Coop is the first book in the clever, irreverent Clucks and Clues Cozy Mysteries series that will keep you chuckling and guessing until the end.
No gore, swears, or other yucky stuff.
When Leona Davis hatches a plan to return to her beloved hometown of Honeytree, Oregon, she hopes to build the egg farm of her dreams and leave behind the marriage of her nightmares.
But the yolk’s on her when she breaks ground on her chicken palace and unearths a skeleton in her front yard. It’s clearly fowl play. The bones may be decades old, but there’s no statute of limitations on murder.
With a county forensics team roosting on her lawn and a flock of town gossips poking their beaks where they don’t belong, Leona’s well-laid farming plans may be nothing more than a wing and a prayer.
Her spicy high school ex, Sheriff Eli Ramirez, assures Leona he’ll crack the case, but he’s not exactly a hardboiled detective. Her best hope to get back to a life with more hens and less mens? Scramble to uncover her small town’s buried secrets before everything’s totally plucked.
A Cop and a Coop is the first book in the clever, irreverent Clucks and Clues Cozy Mysteries series that will keep you chuckling and guessing until the end.
No gore, swears, or other yucky stuff.
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First published August 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
February 24, 2021
The writing is excellent, the story line compelling for the most part. Lots of jumping to conclusions here; at one point the main characters were racing down so many rabbit trails in their suspicions about whodunit that I did get tired of their muddle.
I really didn't like Leona's character. If there's a female equivalent of a misogynist, she's it. Having been betrayed by her ex-husband she despises men in general and resents being told anything by a man. Whatever a man says or even suggests, she does the opposite, regardless of common sense. If the sheriff tells her to stay back, she barges right in. But his character seems so weak he needs and accepts this help.
I kept on reading because I wanted to find out who really did do it -- though I guessed the guilty party a lot sooner than Leona, who discovered the body while digging on her property.
All through the story she hops back and forth suspecting everybody she knows. The town sheriff, Eli, comes across as having no clue; Leona has to suggest suspects. His main role in the story seems to be minding Leona, which makes him appear clingy. No matter how often she rebuffs, snarls at and insults him, he pops up regularly, hoping she'll accept his offer to help her on the farm and hinting at the romance they once had.
However, if you like the Agatha Raisin type, truculently independent, with a hyper imagination, who's not afraid to tackle anything or confront anyone, and is kind to lame chicks, you may enjoy this story. And Leona's abrasive nature may soften if she relaxes in her new role and locale as the series progresses.
I really didn't like Leona's character. If there's a female equivalent of a misogynist, she's it. Having been betrayed by her ex-husband she despises men in general and resents being told anything by a man. Whatever a man says or even suggests, she does the opposite, regardless of common sense. If the sheriff tells her to stay back, she barges right in. But his character seems so weak he needs and accepts this help.
I kept on reading because I wanted to find out who really did do it -- though I guessed the guilty party a lot sooner than Leona, who discovered the body while digging on her property.
All through the story she hops back and forth suspecting everybody she knows. The town sheriff, Eli, comes across as having no clue; Leona has to suggest suspects. His main role in the story seems to be minding Leona, which makes him appear clingy. No matter how often she rebuffs, snarls at and insults him, he pops up regularly, hoping she'll accept his offer to help her on the farm and hinting at the romance they once had.
However, if you like the Agatha Raisin type, truculently independent, with a hyper imagination, who's not afraid to tackle anything or confront anyone, and is kind to lame chicks, you may enjoy this story. And Leona's abrasive nature may soften if she relaxes in her new role and locale as the series progresses.
November 24, 2022
I gave this 3 stars because the mystery was actually pretty good. If I had to rate it based on the main character, I would give it a Negative -5 stars because I disliked her that much. That woman screamed, yelled, berated, flew of the handle, at people for literally breathing next to her. She threw better tantrums than a 2 year old. She threw tantrums when people offered to HELP her?? Make that make sense 😒😒🙄🙄 ughhhhh
January 6, 2021
Good
This book is good. I can't wait to continue reading more in the series. It's funny in parts so there's that too.
This book is good. I can't wait to continue reading more in the series. It's funny in parts so there's that too.
September 3, 2020
I received a free audio copy of this book from the publisher Tantor Audio. I voluntarily reviewed it.
A Cop and a Coop caught my eye because of the fun chickens focused theme. I don't think I've read a cozy mystery about chickens before. And this definitely was a fun focus for a cozy mystery book. It was the well done twisty mystery that pulled me in further and kept me reading.
Leona Davis is back in her hometown after a failed marriage. She now is trying to rebuild her life and her plan is to start a chicken coop on the old farm she bought. While digging a hole for her coop foundation she stumbles upon the body of a dead person. While it took me some time to get into this book, once the mystery really started I was hooked.
The mystery in this one is a very solid one with plenty of twists. There are so many times when it feels like things are falling on it's place before another twist brings everything in a new light. It kept me guessing until the end when everything came together. It all makes sense and the way all the clues shed information, but eventually point in another direction then it might seem at first. It was interesting to learn more about the dead guy along the way as well. I liked how Leona talked to people and tried to figure it out and the police actually appreciated her help even though she did a better job at figuring things out then they did. It was nice to see the police appreciate her efforts. It felt realistic how Leona got caught up in it all as the body had been found on her farm after all. It really was an engaging mystery and I liked the way it progressed.
Leona was a nice enough main character. I liked her drive to build her chicken coop and how capable she was, but it did bother me how she never accepted anyone's help and got too defensive at times. I liked how she investigated the case and talked to the right people to get to the bottom of things and how she thought things through. I did think she could be a tad rude or rough to others at times, but I feel that by the end of the book she learned a bit from that and hopefully she's more likely to accept help instead of push people away in the next book.
There is a bit of a romance set-up as well with the police officer who she briefly dated when in high school. Most of the book they spend bantering and bickering. It's clear he still cares about her, but Leona doesn't believe it and doesn't like him telling her what to do and can act quite prickly toward him. He on the other hand keeps offering his help and telling her what to do. It could be a tad frustrating at times. Especially when Leona pushed him away, but then when he stayed away she wanted him back. I hope they work things out in the next book as it seems they made some progress at the end. I did like how he appreciated her help in the investigation and how they made for a good team.
There is a bunch of side characters as well that play a role. I liked how we got a good feel for the important side characters and they all had their own personality. There also are some great chicken characters involved, it was funny how she kept ending up with more chickens than expected and all the funny names she gave them. I hope to see more about the coop in the next book.
The narrator did a good job with this book. It took me a few chapters to get used to her voice, but after that it was comfortable listening to her. She didn't have too much variations in voices for the characters, but everyone still sounded slightly different and it was clear who spoke most of the time. I thought her voice fitted the main character well.
To summarize: this was a fun cozy mystery and a great introduction to this new series. I liked the chicken theme of this book and the way Leona gets involved in the mystery. The mystery is a really solid one with plenty of twists and turns and it kept me guessing. It's a really engaging mystery and I liked how it all progressed. The pace is well done with plenty of new clues popping up and I liked the reveal of who the murderer was. I liked Leona's character, but she could be a bit too independent at times and didn't want to accept any help. There is a bit of a set-up for a romance, but it mostly was banter and bickering in this book, they did make for a good team and I think they might make for a good couple. In this book I didn't quite care for the romance as he kept wanting to help and tell her what to do, while she kept pushing him away and saying she didn't need his help. There are some fun side characters and chickens to read about as well. It took me a few chapters to get used to the narrator, but after that it was a comfortable listen. I thought her voice fit Leona. All in all I enjoyed listening to this one and look forward to the next book!
A Cop and a Coop caught my eye because of the fun chickens focused theme. I don't think I've read a cozy mystery about chickens before. And this definitely was a fun focus for a cozy mystery book. It was the well done twisty mystery that pulled me in further and kept me reading.
Leona Davis is back in her hometown after a failed marriage. She now is trying to rebuild her life and her plan is to start a chicken coop on the old farm she bought. While digging a hole for her coop foundation she stumbles upon the body of a dead person. While it took me some time to get into this book, once the mystery really started I was hooked.
The mystery in this one is a very solid one with plenty of twists. There are so many times when it feels like things are falling on it's place before another twist brings everything in a new light. It kept me guessing until the end when everything came together. It all makes sense and the way all the clues shed information, but eventually point in another direction then it might seem at first. It was interesting to learn more about the dead guy along the way as well. I liked how Leona talked to people and tried to figure it out and the police actually appreciated her help even though she did a better job at figuring things out then they did. It was nice to see the police appreciate her efforts. It felt realistic how Leona got caught up in it all as the body had been found on her farm after all. It really was an engaging mystery and I liked the way it progressed.
Leona was a nice enough main character. I liked her drive to build her chicken coop and how capable she was, but it did bother me how she never accepted anyone's help and got too defensive at times. I liked how she investigated the case and talked to the right people to get to the bottom of things and how she thought things through. I did think she could be a tad rude or rough to others at times, but I feel that by the end of the book she learned a bit from that and hopefully she's more likely to accept help instead of push people away in the next book.
There is a bit of a romance set-up as well with the police officer who she briefly dated when in high school. Most of the book they spend bantering and bickering. It's clear he still cares about her, but Leona doesn't believe it and doesn't like him telling her what to do and can act quite prickly toward him. He on the other hand keeps offering his help and telling her what to do. It could be a tad frustrating at times. Especially when Leona pushed him away, but then when he stayed away she wanted him back. I hope they work things out in the next book as it seems they made some progress at the end. I did like how he appreciated her help in the investigation and how they made for a good team.
There is a bunch of side characters as well that play a role. I liked how we got a good feel for the important side characters and they all had their own personality. There also are some great chicken characters involved, it was funny how she kept ending up with more chickens than expected and all the funny names she gave them. I hope to see more about the coop in the next book.
The narrator did a good job with this book. It took me a few chapters to get used to her voice, but after that it was comfortable listening to her. She didn't have too much variations in voices for the characters, but everyone still sounded slightly different and it was clear who spoke most of the time. I thought her voice fitted the main character well.
To summarize: this was a fun cozy mystery and a great introduction to this new series. I liked the chicken theme of this book and the way Leona gets involved in the mystery. The mystery is a really solid one with plenty of twists and turns and it kept me guessing. It's a really engaging mystery and I liked how it all progressed. The pace is well done with plenty of new clues popping up and I liked the reveal of who the murderer was. I liked Leona's character, but she could be a bit too independent at times and didn't want to accept any help. There is a bit of a set-up for a romance, but it mostly was banter and bickering in this book, they did make for a good team and I think they might make for a good couple. In this book I didn't quite care for the romance as he kept wanting to help and tell her what to do, while she kept pushing him away and saying she didn't need his help. There are some fun side characters and chickens to read about as well. It took me a few chapters to get used to the narrator, but after that it was a comfortable listen. I thought her voice fit Leona. All in all I enjoyed listening to this one and look forward to the next book!
March 5, 2020
First book in the Clucks and Clues series. This is set in Honeytree, Oregon with Leona Davis as the main character. She can't wait to start work on building a chicken coop now that she's back home. The sheriff in town, Eli Ramirez, happens to be an old high school boyfriend. After digging for quite a while, she manages to dig up a couple of boots along with lots of trash. Upon closer inspection, the boots appear to have bones inside them. Looks like her plans for the chicken coop are going to have to wait when homicide takes precedence.
Great change from regular cozies since this one has a farm setting. The mystery hooked me in from the beginning. I loved the fact that Leona is in her mid-fifties with hot flashes and not a spring chicken (pun intended). There's plenty of humor in this book along with a great small-town cast of characters. I laughed all through the book. The crazy rooster, hens and baby chicks will steal your heart. I just bought book two because I loved this one and gotta read more. This gets a definite recommend for cozy mystery readers. You gotta try this series for yourself!
Great change from regular cozies since this one has a farm setting. The mystery hooked me in from the beginning. I loved the fact that Leona is in her mid-fifties with hot flashes and not a spring chicken (pun intended). There's plenty of humor in this book along with a great small-town cast of characters. I laughed all through the book. The crazy rooster, hens and baby chicks will steal your heart. I just bought book two because I loved this one and gotta read more. This gets a definite recommend for cozy mystery readers. You gotta try this series for yourself!
March 6, 2021
Quirky and fun small town crime mystery. Leona returns home after a divorce and wants her independence. She’s a determined older heroine who’s decided to start a chicken farm. Before she can finish her coop she finds a dead body. Will admit it took me a bit to warm up to, but I did and I plan to read the next book in the series too. Adored her chickens, including Dr Speckles, Boots, Phyllis, Cher, the Magdas, and Alarm Clock.
October 20, 2020
I never knew chickens could be so interesting! Throw in a murder and a women starting a new life with a hint of romance and you have the recipe for a good read.
June 24, 2023
A Cip and a Coop
This is a struggle for me to rate. It could have been a good book, but Leona made me hate it! She was what the kids today call a Karen, and I absolutely despised her! I kept hoping Eli would arrest her or tase her! My husband is a cop so I was looking forward to this book, but all I kept thinking was no way would he put up with that crap. Had she been a decent person, I would have liked the mystery aspect of the book, but I couldn't get past how horrible she was. The only reason I finished it was because I paid for it. I did like the mystery and didn't figure out the killer and I liked everyone else in the book.
This is a struggle for me to rate. It could have been a good book, but Leona made me hate it! She was what the kids today call a Karen, and I absolutely despised her! I kept hoping Eli would arrest her or tase her! My husband is a cop so I was looking forward to this book, but all I kept thinking was no way would he put up with that crap. Had she been a decent person, I would have liked the mystery aspect of the book, but I couldn't get past how horrible she was. The only reason I finished it was because I paid for it. I did like the mystery and didn't figure out the killer and I liked everyone else in the book.
January 26, 2025
I loved this book! I’ve never read any books by this author, but I’m so glad I found this one. This first book was pretty long, too, at nearly 300 pages so I was able to get a lot of information and get to know all the characters.
Leona - Fiercely independent, stubborn, strong-willed, stands up for what she believes, doesn’t back down in the face of danger/possible death, and doesn’t want anyone telling her what to do - especially a man - and will actually do the exact opposite of what she’s told. Basically, she acted like a child through most of this read, jumped to conclusions, and nearly got herself killed.
Eli - Chief of Police for Honeytree, Oregon, Leona’s boyfriend in high school, after 30 years away from Leona he’s still sweet on her (even though Leona acts like a total B toward him from the moment he reunited with her). My feeling is that Eli and Leona will end up getting back together as a couple and live/love happily ever after… and solve crimes together!
Ruth - Leona’s best friend from childhood until 18 years old when Leona was married and moved out of town. 30 years and Leona’s divorce later, Leona buys Ruth’s grandpa Amos’s farm and Ruth is her best friend again. Ruth sells real estate (she was the seller of her grandpa’s farm to Leona) and also owns a hair and nail salon called “Do or Dye” which is the most clever salon name I’ve ever heard! Ruth has wild curly red hair and is an amazing friend to Leona.
Tambra - artist and works in Ruth’s salon painting amazing designs on people’s fingernails. Tambra was also asked to paint and design a new sign for Leona’s farm The Lucky Cluck. Tambra is a good person and friend to Ruth and now Leona.
There are obviously numerous other people in this book, but the above four will probably be the primary ones throughout this 7-book series, although Tambra may not be mentioned as much. I’m not sure.
I felt right at home while reading every word. It reminded me of visiting and staying with my grandparents on their farm when I was a little girl. I was able to picture everything and felt warm and cozy all over.
There are some cuss words in this read, but probably only 3. Leona says “Motherclucker” in place of the actual bad word. However, like I said, there are a couple curse words.
Next is book 2 A Flock and a Fluke.
Leona - Fiercely independent, stubborn, strong-willed, stands up for what she believes, doesn’t back down in the face of danger/possible death, and doesn’t want anyone telling her what to do - especially a man - and will actually do the exact opposite of what she’s told. Basically, she acted like a child through most of this read, jumped to conclusions, and nearly got herself killed.
Eli - Chief of Police for Honeytree, Oregon, Leona’s boyfriend in high school, after 30 years away from Leona he’s still sweet on her (even though Leona acts like a total B toward him from the moment he reunited with her). My feeling is that Eli and Leona will end up getting back together as a couple and live/love happily ever after… and solve crimes together!
Ruth - Leona’s best friend from childhood until 18 years old when Leona was married and moved out of town. 30 years and Leona’s divorce later, Leona buys Ruth’s grandpa Amos’s farm and Ruth is her best friend again. Ruth sells real estate (she was the seller of her grandpa’s farm to Leona) and also owns a hair and nail salon called “Do or Dye” which is the most clever salon name I’ve ever heard! Ruth has wild curly red hair and is an amazing friend to Leona.
Tambra - artist and works in Ruth’s salon painting amazing designs on people’s fingernails. Tambra was also asked to paint and design a new sign for Leona’s farm The Lucky Cluck. Tambra is a good person and friend to Ruth and now Leona.
There are obviously numerous other people in this book, but the above four will probably be the primary ones throughout this 7-book series, although Tambra may not be mentioned as much. I’m not sure.
I felt right at home while reading every word. It reminded me of visiting and staying with my grandparents on their farm when I was a little girl. I was able to picture everything and felt warm and cozy all over.
There are some cuss words in this read, but probably only 3. Leona says “Motherclucker” in place of the actual bad word. However, like I said, there are a couple curse words.
Next is book 2 A Flock and a Fluke.
November 13, 2022
Premisa típica de Misterio cozy, o acogedor, nuestra protagonista vuelve al pueblo en el que se crió y del que huyó en cuanto tuvo edad para ello. Divorciada, en torno a los sesenta y pocos si no me equivoco y un "pelín" despechada. Además, tiene su toque de Romántica aunque no sé cómo se irá desarrollando a lo largo de la serie.
Tiene la típica ambientación de pueblo pequeño rural, la cual cada día me gusta más porque es donde vivo ahora, en un pueblo perdido de la mano de las diosas 🤣
Y, mi criptonita, porque vivo obsesionada con tener gallinas, o mejor dicho: fascinada.
Nuestra protagonista, Leona, vuelve a su pueblo natal para montar una granja de gallinas. Me muero.
Si no le han caído más estrellas es porque me ha parecido un poco flojo en ciertos aspectos. Por ejemplo, los protagonistas tienen las evidencias de quién es el asesino en las narices y no se enteran. Parecen demasiado ingenuos. Sobre todo, Leona. Por cierto, hablando de personajes, tanto Leona como su ex (el poli del título) me han parecido personajes interesantes. Más o menos complejos y me han caído bien. Él, Eli, me parece que promete 😁
Ya veremos cómo se desarrolla en futuros libros.
He escuchado el audiolibro, la narradora me ha encantado. Le va genial a la historia y al personaje.
Y me estoy pensando comprar la edición en papel, por mi obsesión con las gallinas 🤣🤣🤣
Si me gusta el siguiente libro, lo haré.
Tiene la típica ambientación de pueblo pequeño rural, la cual cada día me gusta más porque es donde vivo ahora, en un pueblo perdido de la mano de las diosas 🤣
Y, mi criptonita, porque vivo obsesionada con tener gallinas, o mejor dicho: fascinada.
Nuestra protagonista, Leona, vuelve a su pueblo natal para montar una granja de gallinas. Me muero.
Si no le han caído más estrellas es porque me ha parecido un poco flojo en ciertos aspectos. Por ejemplo, los protagonistas tienen las evidencias de quién es el asesino en las narices y no se enteran. Parecen demasiado ingenuos. Sobre todo, Leona. Por cierto, hablando de personajes, tanto Leona como su ex (el poli del título) me han parecido personajes interesantes. Más o menos complejos y me han caído bien. Él, Eli, me parece que promete 😁
Ya veremos cómo se desarrolla en futuros libros.
He escuchado el audiolibro, la narradora me ha encantado. Le va genial a la historia y al personaje.
Y me estoy pensando comprar la edición en papel, por mi obsesión con las gallinas 🤣🤣🤣
Si me gusta el siguiente libro, lo haré.
October 25, 2021
Book1 Leona left here luxurious life with her 30 year marriage from her husband that was cheating on her in Beverly Hills to be a farmer like her father where She grew up. She was starting a chicken and Apple. Farm. The farm was her best friend Ruth family awhile back. When the deputy she realized was her boyfriend Eli from When she was in her teens. Walt a nosy neighbor and his much younger wife Anne. Leona was digging up to get her chicken coop ready for the little baby chicks that were doing to be arriving via mail. When she did dig she found 2 boots she discovered bones in the boots. Her friend Ruth a house realtor and a hair dresser Do and Dye hair salon and another friend Tambra told her not to call in the calvery. So she did not at first. But then she found something that looked like blood on it. So she decided to tell her deputy friend Eli because now she knew it was murder. Rusty Ruth brother was acting kind of weird when she talked to him about the bones. Leona started getting tipsters and Different hens delivered to her front of her house she wondered why. But Anne Walt wife said when talk comes that you keep chickens people start leaving them for her. This book was good Loved all the sweet little chickees Leona had a injured one that she put in her home and it baby did not want to go back outside with the others so Leona left her in the house. Hillary Avis tells about some of the chickens roosters and hens what breed they are. Some of the plot was kinda farfetched but I did like it. I will read 2 nd book
April 16, 2023
2023 bk 129. What a quirky and fun beginning to a new mystery series. Returning to her home community after a divorce, our heroine hopes to develop her own chicken farm on land once belonging to her best friend's grandfather. With the discovery of a body on the spot where she wants her new chicken coop - well - let the good times, the old gossip, and the memories begin! I enjoyed her characters and the plotting was well done, even leaving me trying to figure out who done it. Serious topics considered: #Can you go home again#Starting over in your 50's#Spouse abuse of anytype#Chicken Math.
November 19, 2019
First in the new CLUCKS AND CLUES COZY MYSTERY Series, A COP AND A COOP sees 56-year-old Leona Davis returning to her hometown, tiny Honeytree, Oregon, after 35 years of Beverly Hills marriage. Leona purchases an apple orchard and plans to raise chickens for egg sales. Very feisty and independent, she refuses male help and instead digs her own coop foundation, never expecting to uncover buried bones.
I love a mystery with convolutions and this Cozy definitely delivers!
I love a mystery with convolutions and this Cozy definitely delivers!
August 15, 2023
Loved this book!!! Can’t wait to read the next book.
Kept you guessing to the end to who had committed the murder twenty years ago. And was the newest
Murder connected.
Kept you guessing to the end to who had committed the murder twenty years ago. And was the newest
Murder connected.
Read
January 30, 2025Good read
Really enjoyed the book. I love a good murder love story!! I agree that Chicken Math is so a real thing!!
Really enjoyed the book. I love a good murder love story!! I agree that Chicken Math is so a real thing!!
December 6, 2020
Hi-jinks at the Hen Coop
What a funny and somewhat convoluted fashion to solve one crime that leads to more crimes? The rustic countryside has never been described quite like this book depicts.
What a funny and somewhat convoluted fashion to solve one crime that leads to more crimes? The rustic countryside has never been described quite like this book depicts.
May 1, 2025
Sorry this one did nothing for mr the characters were really irritating.
August 29, 2020
Another pleasant cozy
I read these books in backward order, but it didn’t matter and I enjoyed them anyway. Hoping to catch up with Leona and her friends again soon
I read these books in backward order, but it didn’t matter and I enjoyed them anyway. Hoping to catch up with Leona and her friends again soon
January 18, 2021
A perfect cozy mystery
I really enjoyed all the characters. They all had personalities that were relatable I couldn't stop reading it. I sure was fooled as to who dunnit.
I really enjoyed all the characters. They all had personalities that were relatable I couldn't stop reading it. I sure was fooled as to who dunnit.
September 28, 2023
When I first started this book I was convinced I was going to give it 3 stars. By the middle I was at 3.5 and by the end I was at 4. I'll start with strengths. I clucking love the chickens. They are the best! I love how Leona's flock just keeps growing and I can totally see her becoming the "crazy chicken lady" in later books. In fact, her love of chickens makes me want to become a crazy chicken lady!
The reason for the initial low score was Leona's horrible negative, no good, very bad attitude toward everyone, specifically Sherrif Eli Ramirez. I get that she came out of a horrible relationship, was totally scorned and hurt, but that does not give her the right to treat everyone like trash. She was nasty and rude to people who were helping her and had I been there in the book with her I would have been royally pissed if she talked to me the way she talked to Eli and even to her BFF Ruth. Her attitude was totally off putting and at one point I almost stopped reading because of the way she treated people.
With only having read the first book, I have to believe the author was trying to show us Leona's maturation and improvement in behavior. I do think she started to soften up as the book went along, hence the increased rating at the end. I will continue to read the books, but if Leona continues to treat people the way she did initially, I won't be continuing the series.
Otherwise, I look forward to reading about Leona's chickens and watching her relationships HOPEFULLY improve. Oh yeah, about the book (haha)! Leona returns home to Honeytree, Oregon after living with her unfaithful cheating husband in Beverly Hills, CA. She buys the family farm of her best friend, Ruth and decides she is going to raise chickens. While digging for the Taj Ma Coop she finds a boot with some bones in it. After alerting the authorities they recover the full skeleton. I did really like the author's sense of humor including the chicken names, and chicken puns!
The reason for the initial low score was Leona's horrible negative, no good, very bad attitude toward everyone, specifically Sherrif Eli Ramirez. I get that she came out of a horrible relationship, was totally scorned and hurt, but that does not give her the right to treat everyone like trash. She was nasty and rude to people who were helping her and had I been there in the book with her I would have been royally pissed if she talked to me the way she talked to Eli and even to her BFF Ruth. Her attitude was totally off putting and at one point I almost stopped reading because of the way she treated people.
With only having read the first book, I have to believe the author was trying to show us Leona's maturation and improvement in behavior. I do think she started to soften up as the book went along, hence the increased rating at the end. I will continue to read the books, but if Leona continues to treat people the way she did initially, I won't be continuing the series.
Otherwise, I look forward to reading about Leona's chickens and watching her relationships HOPEFULLY improve. Oh yeah, about the book (haha)! Leona returns home to Honeytree, Oregon after living with her unfaithful cheating husband in Beverly Hills, CA. She buys the family farm of her best friend, Ruth and decides she is going to raise chickens. While digging for the Taj Ma Coop she finds a boot with some bones in it. After alerting the authorities they recover the full skeleton. I did really like the author's sense of humor including the chicken names, and chicken puns!
August 26, 2023
I don't think so.
I've read another series by this author and enjoyed it, but I couldn't get into this one. Leona was a Beverly Hills 90210 housewife living in a McMansion and married to a high-priced plastic surgeon (who sounds like a good candidate for the "Narcissist of the Year" award). Her husband embarrassed and denigrated her throughout their marriage until he finally just dumped her for a younger model who better exemplifies what the wife of a plastic surgeon should look like. Leona now owns a run down farm and apple orchard where she plans to build a beautiful new chicken coop for the chicks that will soon arrive at her new chicken farm, which will be the beginning of her egg selling empire. While digging a trench for the new coop, she digs up a dead body. After that, Leona is obnoxious, obstructive, and mean spirited. It seems that nothing applies to her...whether it's a rule or a law. She listens to no one. She accepts help from no one. She doesn't have a chip on her shoulder - she has the whole boulder. She's just not likeable. It's understandable that she's angry due to the emotional abuse she received at the hands of her jerk of a husband, but then she turns around and abuses everyone else around her, even her best friend. I just about quit reading two or three times, but I kept reading to the end just to see if Leona had any redeeming qualities. I didn't see enough of those qualities to continue reading.
I've read another series by this author and enjoyed it, but I couldn't get into this one. Leona was a Beverly Hills 90210 housewife living in a McMansion and married to a high-priced plastic surgeon (who sounds like a good candidate for the "Narcissist of the Year" award). Her husband embarrassed and denigrated her throughout their marriage until he finally just dumped her for a younger model who better exemplifies what the wife of a plastic surgeon should look like. Leona now owns a run down farm and apple orchard where she plans to build a beautiful new chicken coop for the chicks that will soon arrive at her new chicken farm, which will be the beginning of her egg selling empire. While digging a trench for the new coop, she digs up a dead body. After that, Leona is obnoxious, obstructive, and mean spirited. It seems that nothing applies to her...whether it's a rule or a law. She listens to no one. She accepts help from no one. She doesn't have a chip on her shoulder - she has the whole boulder. She's just not likeable. It's understandable that she's angry due to the emotional abuse she received at the hands of her jerk of a husband, but then she turns around and abuses everyone else around her, even her best friend. I just about quit reading two or three times, but I kept reading to the end just to see if Leona had any redeeming qualities. I didn't see enough of those qualities to continue reading.
May 2, 2021
This is a wonderfully smart and sassy tale. Leona Davis has returned to her roots in Honeytree, Oregon following a nasty divorce and is trying to establish her new farm raising chickens to sell eggs. Within hours of her beginning preparations for an extra large chicken coop, she unearths an old boot...filled with human bones. Unfortunately for Leona, her old boyfriend, Eli Ramirez, is now a Captain in the sheriff’s department and a constant presence since her return. Leona turns to him for advice regarding her discovery and Eli calls in the officials. Instantly, all progress on a chicken coop is halted, the rest of the corpse is unearthed, 84 baby chicks are delivered, along with a handful of random unwanted chickens from locals, and Honeytree is deeply immersed in gossip and conjecture as to the identity of the dead guy and a possible murderer. And don’t assume anyone’s memory or conjectures are even close to a solution!
Hillary Avis has created a fabulous leading lady in Leona Davis and a great cast of characters in the charming community of Honeytree. I look forward to reading the continuing series, Cluck and Clues Cozy Mysteries.
Hillary Avis has created a fabulous leading lady in Leona Davis and a great cast of characters in the charming community of Honeytree. I look forward to reading the continuing series, Cluck and Clues Cozy Mysteries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2023
Well, this turned out to be a very enjoyable cozy read. I didn't think I would like it at first but the author, Hillary Avis, proved me wrong. The characters were well written but the lead character irritated me a bit with her attitude. It was an excellent storyline and it flowed smoothly. Supporting characters blended very well into the story.
Leona Davis has returned to her hometown of Honeytree, Oregon after a bitter divorce. Her plans are to raise chickens and have an egg production business. While digging out the foundation for her chicken coop, she comes upon a pair of boots, but inside them are bones, the bones of a human. When she calls the local law, her old high school flame, Eli Ramirez, now the local sheriff, comes to investigate. Eli has never forgotten Leona and now that she has returned, he has no intention of letting her go again. Reluctantly, Leona becomes involved in the investigation. Together, along with help from their mutual friends, they work to solve the mystery of the buried body and track down a killer.
Leona Davis has returned to her hometown of Honeytree, Oregon after a bitter divorce. Her plans are to raise chickens and have an egg production business. While digging out the foundation for her chicken coop, she comes upon a pair of boots, but inside them are bones, the bones of a human. When she calls the local law, her old high school flame, Eli Ramirez, now the local sheriff, comes to investigate. Eli has never forgotten Leona and now that she has returned, he has no intention of letting her go again. Reluctantly, Leona becomes involved in the investigation. Together, along with help from their mutual friends, they work to solve the mystery of the buried body and track down a killer.
June 18, 2023
Long buried bones dug up during a construction or gardening DIY is a popular cozy mystery trope. Leona, though, being in her sixties, is old enough and jaded enough to not immediately freak out when she uncovers the bones. That she considers moving the body and not reporting it struck me as a unique take. She didn't go that route but hearing her consider it because she's on a tight deadline to get the coop built for her chicks endeared me to her. She's an openly flawed character.
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April 3, 2025
I really wanted to like this book but the main character is so unlikable that it ruined the story.
November 23, 2019
It’s a mother-clucking murder!
When Leona Davis hatches a plan to return to her beloved hometown of Honeytree, Oregon, she hopes to build the egg farm of her dreams and leave behind the marriage of her nightmares.
But the yolk’s on her when she breaks ground on her chicken palace and unearths a skeleton in her front yard. It’s clearly fowl play. The bones may be decades old, but there’s no statute of limitations on murder.
With a county forensics team roosting on her lawn and a flock of town gossips poking their beaks where they don’t belong, Leona’s well-laid farming plans may be nothing more than a wing and a prayer.
Her spicy high school ex, Sheriff Eli Ramirez, assures Leona he’ll crack the case, but he’s not exactly a hardboiled detective. Her best hope to get back to a life with more hens and less mens? Scramble to uncover her small town’s buried secrets before everything’s totally plucked.
A Cop and a Coop is the first book in the clever, irreverent Clucks and Clues Cozy Mysteries series that will keep you chuckling and guessing until the end.
This was a very delightful read that had me laughing out loud in parts.
The plot and story line is so engaging from the start.
Lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing til the end.
The characters are so well fleshed out and enjoyable to read about.
Really enjoyed reading.
Recommend reading highly.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
When Leona Davis hatches a plan to return to her beloved hometown of Honeytree, Oregon, she hopes to build the egg farm of her dreams and leave behind the marriage of her nightmares.
But the yolk’s on her when she breaks ground on her chicken palace and unearths a skeleton in her front yard. It’s clearly fowl play. The bones may be decades old, but there’s no statute of limitations on murder.
With a county forensics team roosting on her lawn and a flock of town gossips poking their beaks where they don’t belong, Leona’s well-laid farming plans may be nothing more than a wing and a prayer.
Her spicy high school ex, Sheriff Eli Ramirez, assures Leona he’ll crack the case, but he’s not exactly a hardboiled detective. Her best hope to get back to a life with more hens and less mens? Scramble to uncover her small town’s buried secrets before everything’s totally plucked.
A Cop and a Coop is the first book in the clever, irreverent Clucks and Clues Cozy Mysteries series that will keep you chuckling and guessing until the end.
This was a very delightful read that had me laughing out loud in parts.
The plot and story line is so engaging from the start.
Lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing til the end.
The characters are so well fleshed out and enjoyable to read about.
Really enjoyed reading.
Recommend reading highly.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
August 19, 2024
Leona has returned to her home town to start a free-range chicken farm. All sorts of little things go wrong, but nothing compares to the day she digs up a boot with human bones in it!
This was a pretty good mystery, lots of good character interaction that was very believable. Leona's background, trying to get back to the simple life after being burned by her superficial jerk of an ex-husband, makes her very sympathetic. The pacing was good, and the incidental humorous moments were fun without derailing the seriousness of a murder case.
Two things dragged the book down for me, and unfortunately one of them was the main character. While it's understandable that Leona has trust issues, and zero interest in cultivating a new romance, she was consistently abrasive to everyone around her, including friends. And second, I know that cozy mysteries require some contrivance and coincidence to move the plot, but this book is overloaded with them. Leona was constantly doing some random activity and tripping over a clue. Once or twice would be one thing, four or five times felt like the writer was out of ideas.
Certainly decent, but I don't feel enough investment to continue with the series.
This was a pretty good mystery, lots of good character interaction that was very believable. Leona's background, trying to get back to the simple life after being burned by her superficial jerk of an ex-husband, makes her very sympathetic. The pacing was good, and the incidental humorous moments were fun without derailing the seriousness of a murder case.
Two things dragged the book down for me, and unfortunately one of them was the main character. While it's understandable that Leona has trust issues, and zero interest in cultivating a new romance, she was consistently abrasive to everyone around her, including friends. And second, I know that cozy mysteries require some contrivance and coincidence to move the plot, but this book is overloaded with them. Leona was constantly doing some random activity and tripping over a clue. Once or twice would be one thing, four or five times felt like the writer was out of ideas.
Certainly decent, but I don't feel enough investment to continue with the series.
February 15, 2025
Cheesy palate cleanser of a cozy mystery after heavier reading I’ve been doing for book clubs. The independent woman attitude didn’t endear the character to me, but things worked out eventually. I had some trouble believing Leona was in her 50s rather than her 20s based on some of the dumb stuff she thought and did.
I didn’t strongly suspect the killer but I also don’t think they were at all realistic about what police would do if they found someone murdered and definitely not in how investigations are handled, small town or not. They’re digging up the yard for days for a 20 year dead body but not checking the wife’s red-stained apron when a husband is found mutilated in the shed? If they’ve got a forensics team they should know what they’re doing better than that, not to mention the spouse if always a suspect.
The bird pun swear words were appreciated as a substitute for actual swearing but they were still cringy as was her poorly planned business (she was starting an egg operation (having grown up on an egg farm her father ran!!!) and hadn’t even considered the possibility of supplying restaurants?!). I also appreciated it wasn’t too heavy on the romance, the description had me a little worried.
I didn’t strongly suspect the killer but I also don’t think they were at all realistic about what police would do if they found someone murdered and definitely not in how investigations are handled, small town or not. They’re digging up the yard for days for a 20 year dead body but not checking the wife’s red-stained apron when a husband is found mutilated in the shed? If they’ve got a forensics team they should know what they’re doing better than that, not to mention the spouse if always a suspect.
The bird pun swear words were appreciated as a substitute for actual swearing but they were still cringy as was her poorly planned business (she was starting an egg operation (having grown up on an egg farm her father ran!!!) and hadn’t even considered the possibility of supplying restaurants?!). I also appreciated it wasn’t too heavy on the romance, the description had me a little worried.
February 18, 2020
A Cop and A Coop was a refreshing read. Instead of the usual bed and breakfast, bakery, bookstore themes, this book was about the beginning of a chicken farm. Leona Davis decides to move back to her hometown of Honeytree, Oregon after living in Beverly Hills and divorcing her husband. Her family had owned a chicken farm when she was growing up and decided she wants her own farm. To begin, she needs to dig the foundation for the chicken coop where she unearths two boots which just happen to have bones in them. From there, the adventure/mystery begins. I enjoyed this book and reading how Leona reunites with past classmates and how her relationship with the sheriff involves.
This book will keep you guessing of who did the murder and why. It’s an enjoyable read and am looking forward to the next in this series. There were humorous moments which had me laughing so hard I couldn’t stop. I enjoyed how the sheriff (Eli) wouldn’t give up on Leona. The author drew out each person's buried wounds and exposed their dark secrets to everyone. A great read, l couldn't put it down till I finished it.
This book will keep you guessing of who did the murder and why. It’s an enjoyable read and am looking forward to the next in this series. There were humorous moments which had me laughing so hard I couldn’t stop. I enjoyed how the sheriff (Eli) wouldn’t give up on Leona. The author drew out each person's buried wounds and exposed their dark secrets to everyone. A great read, l couldn't put it down till I finished it.
November 20, 2019
I recieved a free copy of this book for an honest review.
You won't want to fly the coop on this book! Hillary Avis brings yet another wonderful mystery into our homes.
When Leona Davis buys and moves into the Old Chapman Farm, she had no idea of the dirt she'd be digging up in her home town of Honeytree, Oregon, when she plans to build her own chicken coop.
Leona knew that moving back to town would stir up some old memories, but she's ready to put them in their place if those memories try to give her what-for; especially if one of those old memories happens to be a now hunkier ex-boyfriend from high school turned Sheriff that wants to make sure she's safe after she digs up part of a skeleton.
Of course she won't take any guff from any masagionistic male, especially after dealing with her ex-husband's shenanigans.
This story is plucky and a bit clucky. What with all the chickens... It has the potential to turn into a wonderful series with humor and a bit of amature detecting. I look forward to seeing where this clucky heroine goes in the future.
You won't want to fly the coop on this book! Hillary Avis brings yet another wonderful mystery into our homes.
When Leona Davis buys and moves into the Old Chapman Farm, she had no idea of the dirt she'd be digging up in her home town of Honeytree, Oregon, when she plans to build her own chicken coop.
Leona knew that moving back to town would stir up some old memories, but she's ready to put them in their place if those memories try to give her what-for; especially if one of those old memories happens to be a now hunkier ex-boyfriend from high school turned Sheriff that wants to make sure she's safe after she digs up part of a skeleton.
Of course she won't take any guff from any masagionistic male, especially after dealing with her ex-husband's shenanigans.
This story is plucky and a bit clucky. What with all the chickens... It has the potential to turn into a wonderful series with humor and a bit of amature detecting. I look forward to seeing where this clucky heroine goes in the future.
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