Berry the Evidence

Cranberry Cove #7

by Peg Cochran

An unscrupulous realtor pays the ultimate closing costs in the new Cranberry Cove Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Peg Cochran!

Autumn is settling in on Cranberry Cove, but things are starting to heat up when Monica’s stepmother shows up at her back door gripped by panic. Gasping out an explanation, she tells Monica she’d been dozing in her realtor’s car when he was shot dead. Refusing to alert the police for fear that the killer will target her next—or that the police will consider her their prime suspect—Monica’s stepmother goes mute, and Monica decides to track down the culprit herself to clear her name and keep her safe.

Finding the killer won’t be so easy, though, as the victim had run afoul of buyers, sellers, and even other realtors at one time or another, and it seems that nearly everyone in the small town had a reason to want him dead. Even more puzzling is that the deeper Monica digs into the background and final days of the victim, the more the clues point to her stepmother. Then a second body is found, and Monica realizes she’s going up against a devious killer who will stop at nothing to put everyone involved out of commission . . .

Includes a mouthwatering muffin recipe!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Fiction

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2022

About the author

Mystery writing lets Peg indulge her curiosity under the guise of “work” (aka research). She put pen to paper at age seven when she wrote plays and forced her cousins to perform them at Christmas dinner. She switched to mysteries when she discovered the perfect hiding place for a body down the street from her house.

When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading, cooking, spoiling her granddaughter and checking her books' stats on Amazon.

A former Jersey girl, Peg now resides in Michigan. She is the author of the Open Book Series (written as Margaret Loudon), the Murder, She Reported series, the Cranberry Cove Series, the Farmer’s Daughter series, the Gourmet De-Lite series, the Lucille series, and the Sweet Nothings Lingerie series (written as Meg London.)

Reviews

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series and loved this addition! I love how the story arc of Monica and Greg has progressed! Fun characters (although I did not care for Monica’s new employee…was hoping we would see her behavior addressed), love the setting, location, and all the delicious sounding cranberry recipes.
Would recommend this series to cozy mysteries lovers!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Peg Cochran, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!
My review on YouTube shorts
https://youtube.com/shorts/jjbtTnW5aXY

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence is the seventh book in the Cranberry Cove Mysteries. I have enjoyed reading all the books in this series. The book takes place in Cranberry Cove. Michigan. Monica Albertson is the main character. She is the baker for the Sassamanash Farm store and lives in a small cottage on the property. Monica is known for her cranberry bake goods and salsa. The farm is owned by her half brother, Jeff. Monica is married to Greg who owns Book 'Em a new and used book store. Monica is in the early stages of pregnancy. Her step-mom, Gina comes to her house quite frightened. She was asleep in a realtor's car and when she woke up she found him dead. She wondered if she was drugged. She panicked and came to Monica as she was afraid she might be the next or that the police might arrest her. She did not go to the police. Richard Taylor (Rip), a realtor, was the victim and was shot. Gina and her boyfriend, Mickey Welsh were making a bid on a house. She asks Monica if she can help her find out who did it.

Nancy, Monica's mother has rented a cottage as she has come to help Monica in the farm store as Kit Turner, her other baker, is leaving to run Greg's new cafe which he is constructing on the second floor of his store.
Monica has also just hired Janice Bakker to take Kit's place as she worked for another baker when she lived in Grand Rapids. The town has a close knit group of people who own the shops.
.
Monica finds out that Rip was not popular and had many people who did not like him. She starts to ask questions. There are a lot of suspects that could have wanted to kill Rip and anyone of them could have done it. There is a second murder. Kayla, Rip's girlfriend is found in a ditch.

The story takes the reader on an adventure of who did it and why. It comes to an exciting climax, The story ends with the opening of the cafe which is named Monica's Cafe.

I look forward to the next book in the series. The book left the reader with many questions. What will Monica and Greg's baby be. How will it work out with her new employee and will her mother, Nancy decide to live in Cranberry Cove. The upcoming wedding of her half brother Jeff and his fiancé. Laura, etc. as well as the next adventure for the towns-people.

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this ARC.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. A pleasant cozy mystery in a series that I have enjoyed very much. The mystery was solid with an exciting ending. There were some unbelievable parts. Also, I felt that there was some spark missing in the interaction between characters and less of it than in other books. There was a lot of details about the routine of her day which I enjoyed but it may have been at the cost of other aspects of the series that I have really liked.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐ -- Cute cover!

Sigh, I really wanted to like this one. The setting was so "cozy". Alas, it just didn't work for me. Maybe because it was book 7 and I haven't read the previous ones? I just found Monica annoying, and the mystery (especially Gina's involvement) was honestly too far-fetched. 🤷🏻‍♀️

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has been just OK for me from the beginning. The mystery is usually decent but I’ve never felt any chemistry between the characters, particularly Monica and Greg. When they decided to get married, it was a shock because they didn’t seem to really warm to each other. Then there’s all the unnecessary description of mundane tasks: I’ve already been told Monica needs to change her pants, I don’t need the next paragraph to be a play-by -play. And finally there’s my biggest pet peeve for cozies: MCs who own a business but are too busy snooping to actually go. Needless to say, I’m done with this series.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars out of 5
BERRY THE EVIDENCE is the seventh book in the Cranberry Cove Mystery series by Peg Cochran. It’s been enjoyable watching the core characters develop over the course of the series and in this newest release, we find the protagonist, Monica, blissfully married and expecting a baby. And of course, the cranberry farm and store setting are charming, along with the delicious foods mentioned throughout (be prepared to have cranberries on hand before you start reading!). The mystery to be solved, along with the number of suspects who wanted the realtor dead, was solid enough as well. However, as a whole, this book fell short for me. The improbability of Monica’s stepmother confessing to Monica that she was a passenger (albeit asleep) in the realtor’s car when he was murdered and neither of them going to the police right away (and waiting forever to admit it to the authorities without consequences) left me less than invested in what happened. As the story progressed, it, unfortunately, didn’t hold my attention like previous books in the series.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Star Gater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for accepting my request to read and review Berry the Evidence.

Author: Peg Cochran
Published: 09/20/22
Genre: Cooking, Food & Wine -- Mystery & Thrillers
Series: Yes

Welcome to Cranberry Cove and book #7 in the series. I have not read the other six books and while reading didn't miss them. Heads up, this is a cozy mystery.

Yes, there is a bakery and there are recipes at the end of the book. This story has some of what I have noticeably missed in all genres: there is a happily married couple, they have a cat and a dog, and there is no profanity.

The little town was cute, and the characters likeable. At one point, I'm pretty sure I could smell the aromas of the bakery. There was a death; nothing was over the top. It was a clean and simple read.

I would recommend this for teens, elderly, and Christian readers interested in a mystery. I would have also used this as a nursing home read when I volunteered. This would make a nice gift basket with the book and recipe ingredients.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good read. This installment of Cranberry Cove has little to none of what I’ve come to enjoy about the series (rich character development, genuine connections, lovely landscape and delicious foods), and a bunch of repetitive, formulaic drivel.

There is entirely too much dog walking and tea drinking and info dumping. There are plot contradictions, and the excessive pregnancy commentary feels completely off in places for a first trimester. Perhaps Cochran is setting us up for a sooner than expected due date in the next book, but feeling the baby move still doesn’t happen before hearing the heartbeat. I wanted to enjoy Berry the Evidence; sadly, I couldn’t find much to enjoy.

Thank you to Peg Cochran, Beyond the Page Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitlin C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh in the Cranberry Cove mysteries. I really enjoy the characters and the setting of these. Monica is newly married and newly pregnant and hard at work in the kitchen of the cranberry farm her brother, Jeff owns. She has increased her staff to help her with her ever growing business and belly. Her husband, Greg is expanding his bookstore and including a cafe, which he has named after his new bride. Monica's step mother, Gina comes rushing to her, scared after waking up in the car next to her dead realtor. She begs for Monica's help, and honestly, Monica can't resist a good murder. She starts poking around and asking questions, which is bound to irritate the killer.

Monica starts to unravel the story of Rip's (the relator) life and learns that he may have had quite a few skeletons in his closet. I enjoyed this mystery and the evolution of the characters as well as of story line. I am looking forward to the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence is the seventh book in the Cranberry Cove Mysteries by Peg Cochran. I believe I read a few of the earlier books but not the whole series, this can be read as a stand alone as I had no problem following along.

An unscrupulous realtor pays the ultimate closing costs…

I love the setting of a cranberry farm and store but all the delicious foods mentioned throughout the book had my mouthwatering.
Overall the mystery was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I didnt guess the killer before Monica this time!

I can’t wait to read the next book and see how things are at the Sassamanash Farm store.

I enjoyed my time in Cranberry Cove and I look forward to reading the next instalment.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

[Kara Rutledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence (Cranberry Cove, #7) by Peg Cochran takes place in Cranberry Cove, where it's autumn. Things start to get toasty when Monica's stepmom, Gina, arrives at her house and is frantic. Gina had fallen asleep in her realtor's car. When she woke up, Rip was dead from a gunshot, and Gina refuses to go to the police. Monica decides to investigate in hopes of keeping her stepmom safe.

A big thank you goes out to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the Advanced Readers Copy of Berry the Evidence (Cranberry Cove, #7) by Peg Cochran. I was happy to receive this ebook for free in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn't familiar with the author, Peg Cochran, prior to reading Berry the Evidence, so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The novel was well written and paced perfectly. I felt like I was right there in the town as I read the book. Although it's the seventh book in the series, Berry the Evidence can be read as a stand alone.

The majority of the characters were extremely likable. The only exception to that was Janice who was overbearing with her know it all attitude and pregnancy myths. With that being said, the people that lived in Cranberry Cove seemed to have such a great community, and I'd love to live there and be friends with several of the characters.

There really isn't anything negative I can say about Berry the Evidence except that it seemed like Monica was constantly taking her dog for a walk. I kept expecting a plot twist on one of these walks, but there wasn't any.

Overall, I really enjoyed Berry the Evidence (Cranberry Cove, #7) by Peg Cochran. It was exactly what I needed to read . . . light and fun. I give it four out of five stars, and I look forward to reading all the books that came before this one in the series.

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[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in a series by Peg Cochran and my third. Monica Albertson is a baker at her and her brother, Jeff's Sassamanash Farm. Her husband's bookshop, Book 'Em is being extended to include an upstairs cafe and is due to open shortly so there's plenty to be getting on with. She is also in the early stages of pregnancy and if that isn't enough, her step mum, Gina turns up at her house panicked; she was asleep in her estate agent, Richard's car and when she woke up she found him dead.

Although I am rather late to the party in Peg Cochran's 'Cranberry Cove Mystery' series as I started from book five, I still found Berry the Evidence an enthralling, fun read. I especially like the character of thirty-something Monica, also the proud owner of Mittens the cat and Hercule the dog who turned up at Book 'Em one day. Monica creates tasty treats using cranberries that are sold in her brother's farm shop and she also does the financial accounts for the farm. The cranberry-based culinary creations that Monica makes sound absolutely delicious.

The character development is excellent, the plotline is very well done and I was turning the pages late into the night. A humorous, absorbing story of mystery and mayhem that has inspired me to read some of the other instalments when I can fit them in.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence by Peg Cochran takes us back to Cranberry Cove and a pregnant (although not very) Monica. Things are busy, between the pregnancy and the opening of the cafe in Greg’s bookshop. Kit would be leaving the kitchen to run the cafe so Nancy, Monica’s mother was here to “help” and Monica had hired a new woman, Janice, with years of experience baking so things should be good. And it was until her stepmother, Gina, showed up explaining that she had been in a car with her realtor, Rip, when she wasn’t able to keep her eyes open and she dozed off. When she woke up Rip had been shot and was dead in the drivers’ seat. She didn’t know what to do so she came to Monica, who told her to go to the police. As did everyone else to whom she told the story. Did she listen? Of course not.

Cranberry Cove is a perfect little town in Michigan and Monica and Greg are the perfect couple. They have a good life, busy but fun. The baby coming was just icing on the cake. Monica promised herself she would stay out of this murder case. She had the baby to think of. But what could it hurt to do a little searching on the Internet? One thing led to another and before you could say, “cranberries” she was in up to her neck in the investigation. This is a very character-driven genre so we revisited characters we’ve met before and met some new ones. The plot was good. Sadly, this guy had plenty of possible murderers so it was tough going for a while. It was well worth the read, if only to revisit Cranberry Cove and catch up on the lives of people we know. A good read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Berry the Evidence by Beyond the Page, through Netgalley. All thoughts are mine. #Netgalley #BeyondThePage #PegCochran #Berry the Evidence

[Patrizia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stelle e mezza
Era un pezzo che non leggevo questa serie, poi mi sono accorta che avevo questo libro che era perfetto per un paio di challenge mensili che sto facendo, per cui ho deciso di leggerlo anche se in teoria ce ne sarebbero due prima. Devo dire che sono rimasta delusa dalla protagonista, che si mette a indagare, interrogando varie persone, sospetti inclusi, incurante del pericolo. E non dice nulla alla detective, che pure è amichevole nei suoi confronti. Ovviamente alla fine si caccia nei guai... mah...

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence
by Peg Cochran
This is the seventh book in the Cranberry Cove series. I’ve not read any of the previous books so came into the series here and that posed no problems at all. It works just fine as a standalone, although I am sure my experience would have been different if I’d had more of the background. I found it to be a pleasant read.

Monica Albertson is a busy person with some complicated family relationships. When her distraught stepmother appears at her door one day telling Monica that she was napping in the car of a real estate agent and woke up to find him dead, and then ran away, Monica is drawn hesitantly into an investigation. Gina refuses to go to the police, fearful that she will be targeted.

Unsurprisingly, Rip, the deceased real estate agent, is not exactly an ethical person and has made many enemies. We don’t see much of the police in this book, but Monica ends up discovering secrets and learning things about people in the village she’d rather not know.

There are the quirky characters you’d expect in a cozy mystery. Because Monica is a baker, the village diner and the Pepper Pot cafe are local destinations where much is observed and learned, and Monica’s half-brother runs a cranberry farm, food plays a big role in the story. The mystery was interesting and when it was all wrapped up, there were plenty of background issues left to be resolved in future books as Monica tracks down more killers in and around Cranberry Cove.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Berry the Evidence, by Peg Cochran, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love the name of the town, Cranberry Cove, so pretty. Alas, there is a murder to solve, can Monica solve it? Did her stepmother kill her realtor? I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, it was a short but sweet read.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

***SPOILER ALERT - REVIEW IS HIDDEN DUE TO [ANGRY] SPOILERS***

I should have listened to my gut and avoided this book. The previous book was such a bad read for me, but because I totally believe in giving authors second [and third and fourth apparently] chances, because I cannot even imagine trying to write a book everyone will like or love, so here I am, finished with a book that I feel was a complete waste of time.

There were so many things wrong with this book that I cannot even begin to list all of them here; I will just list the ones that bothered me the most. To begin with, the story is unbelievable at best and totally ludicrous at worst. WHAT woman, who never expected to be pregnant, finds herself pregnant and warned by her DOCTOR and her husband to take it easy, avoid stress and rest often would IGNORE them and just go off and do what she pleases? That was one of the things that really got to me [for very personal reasons]. Also, WHO WHO WHO has someone confess something to her and CHOOSES TO NOT GO TO THE POLICE??? C'mon. I get that Gina is her stepmother, but that is no excuse. A man was murdered. It was beyond frustrating. And I do not believe for a second that the cops would have just sighed and moved on from that [THAT whole scene in the book made me want to scream out loud; it was like Detective Stephen had an out-of-body experience and became a totally different person and let the fact that Gina HID EVIDENCE and didn't come forward with what she knew just slide on by. I almost quit the book right there, but being so close to the end, I wanted to know if I was correct about the {VERY} obvious killer. Here is a clue; I was]. What a crock of crap. And Monica continuing to pass off her work [I know she is pregnant, but she is allowed to do some work. IF she spent less time trying to be a cop, she'd been able to do her job and her employees would not be so exhausted from doing their own job AND hers. I cannot even imagine how disrespected they must feel; if this was real life, she would be without employees and wondering what the heck she was going to do] to run around town is beyond frustrating [it was one of the BIGGEST peeves from the previous book]. And please do not even get me started on Monica's mom and her actions. Or Monica's new "hire". Sigh.
And after you wade through all of that, you get that ending. WHAT. THE. HECK. *EYEROLL* At that point, the best part of the book was the opening of the cafe at Greg's bookstore. Seriously.
It is unfortunate that the books have gone in this direction - this used to be one of my favorite series and I was always so excited when a new one was announced. I am sad to have to walk away, but with so many books to read [and ones I actually WANT to read], I just don't want to waste my time with books that are totally meh and are insulting to the reader [in my opinion]. Such a shame; I am very disappointed and I cannot recommend this series anymore to anyone. :-(

Thank you to NetGalley, Peg Cochran and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence by Peg Cochran is the seventh A Cranberry Cove Mystery. Each book can be read as a standalone. I have enjoyed reading the series in order because it allowed me to see the changes that have occurred in Monica’s life. Monica is happily married to Greg, and she is expecting their first child. She has hired a new baker to replace Kit Turner who will be running the new café in Greg’s bookstore Book ‘Em. Monica’s mother is in town and helping her in the farm kitchen (making delectable cranberry muffins, salsa, cookies, and other goodies). Monica is surprised when Gina burst into her home. Gina was with her realtor, Richard “Rip” Taylor in his Jaguar waiting to see if they received a response to her bid on a home. She fell asleep in the car and when she awakened the realtor was dead. Instead of calling the police, Gina panicked and ran. Gina refuses to contact the police. She is afraid they will suspect her or worries the killer will come after her. Monica is left with no choice but to dive into the case. There is humor scattered throughout the story. I like Peg Cochran’s writing style. I find it light and friendly. The characters are developed and relatable. There are some quirky characters like Gina. The mystery took us on a journey around Cranberry Cove. We follow Monica as she works to uncover who killed Rip and why. She soon learns that Rip was not a good guy which opens up the suspect list. There are clues to help the reader solve the crime. It depends on your sleuthing level on whether you solve early or are surprised by the killer’s identity. The reveal was suspenseful with a smidgin of humor. The story ends with the opening of the café in Book ‘Em. I had to laugh at Monica’s reaction that people in town knew about her pregnancy. I do not know how she expected it to stay a secret after telling certain people. Readers are left with a few unanswered questions, but we will have to wait for the next installment to get the answers (will Greg and Monica have a boy or girl, will Monica’s mother stay in town, will Monica’s new employee work out). We also have Jeff and Laura’s wedding to look forward to as well as the building of Greg and Monica’s new home. I enjoyed my time in Cranberry Cove and I look forward to reading the next installment. Berry the Evidence is a cute cozy with a meddling mother, pregnancy sleepiness, lovable fur babies, tasty cranberry treats, a stepmom problem, a murdered realtor, a candle get together, and a cozy new café.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fall is here and Monica has much to do. Besides being pregnant, her husband is on the verge of opening a cafe over his new and used bookstore. That puts Monica in a spot as her trusted employee is going to leave to work with Greg. Time to hire a replacement but will she be a good fit? Only time will tell. With all of that running on a loop in her mind, the last thing she needs to deal with is her step-mother, Gina.
Rip (who turns up living up to those initials - he's the corpse) is a local realtor and a real piece of work, as well, turns up dead. If only it was just a random death but, no, Gina has fallen asleep in his car and when she wakes up she discovers that he has been murdered. Under the circumstances the police should see Gina as the prime suspect so she turns to Monica for help. Seems like the list of suspects is very, very long but soon enough his girlfriend turns up dead and that list does some re-arranging. Who wanted both of them dead and how does it connect to Gina? Let the investigating commence.
I have enjoyed the previous six books in this series and this one was just as enjoyable. With a lovely small town setting, a nice cast of recurring characters and a solid puzzle to solve, it checks all of the boxes on the list of what makes a good cozy. I hope there will be more.
My thanks to the publisher Beyond the Page and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: There is always a fine line that any author of cozies walks to move the story along and create excitement and suspense. Too far one way and the heroine deserves a Darwin Award. Too pragmatic and she is a bit of a bore. There were a couple of times when Monica stepped perilously close to the edge, letting herself get drawn into a murder investigation when she can barely get through her normal day thanks to her pregnancy. But get involved she does, largely because another character, Gina, makes a truly dumb decision not to inform the police that she happened to be in a car when another person was murdered. She saw nothing and could prove that she was drugged but she refused to take the advice of everyone close to her.

The deceased was a slimy real estate agent who had left a trail of betrayal and cons that meant the suspect list was long. But as Monica gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, one by one her top suspects are either cleared or killed. And when the killer is finally revealed, the motive for murder is understandable even if it is not acceptable.

Overall, the book was entertaining and it skimmed close to the edge but never went over it. The characters despite their momentary lapses are the kind of people with whom you would want to spend time. So for an enjoyable fall read, this book would fill the bill. Four purrs and one paw up.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cranberry Cove mysteries were among my favorites when the series started. This book doesn’t do the series justice.
Monica is blatantly nosy in this book and has no good reason to get involved. Monica runs around town without even checking in with the cranberry kitchen staff. Greg acts like it’s no big deal, patting Monica’s hand and advising her to be careful. Why didn’t Monica go to the police when Gina refused to? It would have been the smart thing to do. Monica often made better decisions in the past.

There are many pregnancy myths filling this book. It would have been half the size if not for all of Janice’s dire warnings and opinions. I was excited for Monica and Greg to be having a baby, but the way things played out in the story with everyone sticking their oar in was the worst of a small town. Previous books seemed to have more of the positive parts of small towns.

The elements didn’t work together so well. I know we needed several suspects but the toilet tank and surrounding events was odd. When you get to the conclusion of the story, you wonder why it was part of the story since the issues arising from it had no resolution.

It took me longer than usual to finish a cranberry cove mystery. I did finish because I’d received and ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. I liked catching up with Monica, Greg, Jeff and Lauren but the mystery didn’t really work for me.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peg Cochran has long been one of my favorite cozy authors. This is a delightful series set on a cranberry farm that is interesting and fun to read about. This is 7th in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. This is a exciting mystery to conclusion. I love how the author has different stories going on with each charcter and sets the stage for the next book for her readers.

Monica Albertson is the protagnist of the series. She bakes cranberry goods for sale in the farm shop. Monica is a talented baker. She and her Brother are half owners of the farm. Monica lives on site and she and Greg get along well. Gregs wife is newly pregant. The transition to married life for Greg has been a nice part of this series. His wife's step Mother has found a dead body and runs to Monica and Greg for help. She woke up next to the body and does not remember the crime. They set out to solve the murder as well as save her from arrest.

This was a exciting sleuth that kept me turning pages. The addition of some new charcters and the charcters development is well crafted to the next book. I recommend this cozy series for your reading enjoyment.

[Tracy Condie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is taken quite literally when a commode ends up in the reeds at the cranberry farm. That is not the strangest part of this mystery, Monica‘s stepmom Gina ends up in a car with a dead real estate agent. Are the two connected??? There are more than a few suspects to choose from and plenty of red herrings to throw you off track and confuse you. Monica finds herself, once again, on the trail of a mystery. This time she is also prepping for the new café located atop her husband’s book store, breaking in a superstitious baker for the Farm, and all while being in her first trimester of pregnancy which is the sleepiest trimmest of the three. As if the pregnancy doesn’t wear her out enough, the search for clues, creating cranberry yummies like the cranberry walnut muffins (recipe at end of story) is more than most people could shoulder. It does seem like the constant inquiries regarding her health from the locals might do her in, as she hasn’t told more than her closest companions that she and her husband, Mark, are expecting. This is a page turner that should be enjoyed with a nice cup of tea and a little something sweet, like those muffins.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure that every time a Cranberry Cove Mystery is released, the cranberry stock goes up! With a "keep you guessing" mystery and delicious food descriptions and recipes how can it not? Berry the Evidence finds Monica hiring a new staff member, keeping her mother occupied, trying to keep her step-mother out of jail and keeping herself healthy because....you'll give a little happy squeal when you find out!

At a time when Monica should be resting and getting ready for a wonderful event, she's in the middle of a mystery that puts her in the cross hairs of a murderer. I enjoy the character, of Monica, because she's been through a lot and is a very strong person. The side story about Monica's new staff member and her interesting personality added humor to the story. Berry the Evidence has the "twists and turns s" I love along with "red herrings" galore!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Get cozy, grab a hot drink and a Cranberry muffin and settle in for a wonderful mystery!

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence by Peg Cochran is the seventh book in the Cranberry Cove Mystery series. What a fun whodunit! Amateur sleuth Monica Albertson is surprised by her stepmother Gina's sudden appearance at Gina's cottage. Monica was even more surprised when Gina told her she left the scene of a murder without telling the police. Gina was in realtor Rip Taylor's car which house hunting when she fell asleep. When she woke up Rip was dead. Gina was afraid to tell the police because she feared she would be the prime suspect in the murder. From that point Monica, who is not investigating (yeah, right) find herself overhearing conversations that are clues and those conversations lead to her snooping/sleuthing. I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense. Monica and her husband Gregare fun characters and it was nice to revisit characters from previous books in the series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence is the seventh book in the Cranberry Cove mystery series. This is the first book I’ve read in this series, but I had no problems reading it or getting into the series even though I’d missed the first six mysteries. Overall I enjoyed this mystery and liked getting to know the characters and the town of Cranberry Cove. This was a good mystery that was a fast read and made me want to start this series from the beginning. My only complaint is how Monica helped Gina keep what she knew from the police when it could have helped solve the murder quicker, but that wasn’t enough for me to not enjoy the book, it was more of an annoyance in the background.

I am glad I gave this series a chance and I look forward to reading the mysteries in this series that I have missed! I think this is a good read for anyone looking for a cozy mystery, whether you’ve read the series from the beginning or not.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this mystery!

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I was so excited to finally have a new book in the Cranberry Cove series but it fell a tad flat. The mystery was great and took a lot twists and turns. A lot of players with plenty of motive.

The interaction between all the characters was very blah compared to the other books in the series. I was disappointed in how Kit was treated. He felt used more than a beloved employee. Kit is one of my favorite characters. The new employee is going to take some getting used to as she is harsh and sort of rude. I am interested to see how the new bookstore cafe works out.

The most exciting part of the story is Monica’s pregnancy. She just as the beginning and hasn’t had a chance to develop cravings or experience much. Hopefully in the next book we get to experience more.

Even though this was not my favorite I still enjoyed reading the newest installment in the Cranberry Cove series.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berry the Evidence is the 7th book in the Cranberry Cove Mysteries. I read the first book some time ago but when I had a chance to read this book, I opted to get it. It would be better to read the books in order but it was ok as a stand alone book. Monica is married to Greg and she is pregnant. Monica and Greg are opening a cafe in his bookstore. Monica's stepmom, Gina, is drugged and asleep in the car when the town,'s realtor is murdered and Gina is worried about being the prime suspect. There is another death as well. It is an enjoyable book with likable characters and a cozy mystery to keep you guessing as long as you put aside Gina not telling the police her involvement in the case. Other than that, it is worth a read. I received an advance copy from net galley for an honest review. #BerryTheEvidence #NetGalley

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book seven in this series finds Monica in the When her step mother asks her to find out who killed the realtor she was with when he was killed, how can Monica say no?

While Monica may be getting tired in her first trimester, it seems the whole town has more energy and has gone nuts with the crazy things in the news lately. Could they be related to the realtor’s murder or are they all separate incidents? With a commitment to family, can Monica help Gina and still protect her baby? She sure hopes so!

Another great entry in this cozy foodie series. It’s nice to see life continuing in each book in addition to each new mystery. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Monica with her family expanding.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peg Cochran is a new-to-me author. This is the first cozy mystery I’ve read where the amateur sleuth isn’t actively assisting/bothering local law enforcement every step of the way. She does occasionally speak to one detective, but doesn’t pass on her thoughts about suspects, motives, etc. And there are plenty of suspects with motive enough to kill.

Monica takes many risky chances trying to solve the case on her own. As if one dead body isn’t enough, another one is found not long after the first. Is it possible that her stepmother is guilty of at least the first murder? If not, is her life in danger, too? Can Monica figure everything out in time to prevent another murder?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.