What do you think?
Rate this book
A Candy Holliday Mystery #1
Town in a Blueberry Jam
First in the fabulous new Candy Holliday Murder mystery series.
In the seaside village of Cape Willington, Maine, Candy Holliday has an idyllic life tending to the Blueberry Acres farm she runs with her father. But, when an aging playboy and the newly crowned Blueberry Queen are killed, Candy investigates to clear the name of a local handyman. And as she sorts through the town's juicy secrets, things start to get sticky indeed...
In the seaside village of Cape Willington, Maine, Candy Holliday has an idyllic life tending to the Blueberry Acres farm she runs with her father. But, when an aging playboy and the newly crowned Blueberry Queen are killed, Candy investigates to clear the name of a local handyman. And as she sorts through the town's juicy secrets, things start to get sticky indeed...
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 2, 2010
66 people are currently reading
2936 people want to read
About the author
B.B. Haywood
9 books217 followersB. B. Haywood is a pseudonym of writing team Beth Feeman and Robert Feeman. They conceived the idea for the Candy Holliday mysteries while driving around the Maine countryside, stopping at different small towns throughout the state.
Series:
* Candy Holliday
Series:
* Candy Holliday
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
July 2, 2010
There's a blueberry festival in Candy's small town and along comes blackmail and murder.
There are several big problems with the book. One is that I really disliked the catty behavior of Candy and her best friend. The snide comments they made about different townspeople made them come off as obnoxious and rude. Two, the writing was very slow and uneven especially at the beginning. It did get better as the story progressed, but there were still too many parts that just didn't blend together. Three, and most important, the plot was just silly and unbelievable. Who breaks into homes and town hall and expects not to be arrested?
I give it a 2 instead of a one is because I did like the blueberry recipes and some of the descriptions of the farm and the town. Plus, I did like the relationship between Candy and her father.
There are several big problems with the book. One is that I really disliked the catty behavior of Candy and her best friend. The snide comments they made about different townspeople made them come off as obnoxious and rude. Two, the writing was very slow and uneven especially at the beginning. It did get better as the story progressed, but there were still too many parts that just didn't blend together. Three, and most important, the plot was just silly and unbelievable. Who breaks into homes and town hall and expects not to be arrested?
I give it a 2 instead of a one is because I did like the blueberry recipes and some of the descriptions of the farm and the town. Plus, I did like the relationship between Candy and her father.
June 23, 2017
Great first book in the series! I really liked Candy, Maggie, Doc and the rest of the gang and I hope to see more of Ben in future books. The blueberry festival was fun and I enjoyed the aftermath. The mystery was well done and the ending was exciting. I look forward to reading more!
May 21, 2010
A month or so ago I was lucky enough to win Sharon's Garden of Book Review's Spring Cozy Give-Away. One beautiful spring day I received a box with over 10 titles-HOORAY! Thanks again Sharon!
Now, it should be said that I am fairly new to the cozy mystery sub-genre. Last year I was browsing on the Books-A-Million website, and I discovered a couple new mystery series with female protagonists. I assumed they would be like Sharon McCone or Kay Scarpetta. Instead, they were more like Jessica Fletcher. Women of a certain age, ordinary moms/shopkeepers/bakers/scrapbookers/librarians/vampires/telepaths (OK, I guess vampires and telepaths are not ordinary, but there are cozy mysteries about them, so whatever) solving mysteries not because it is their job, but because they are kind and thoughtful, or nosy and bossy, or wrongly accused themselves, and want to see justice done. Little did I know that I was finding a new-to-me sub-genre complete with it's own websites and blogs!
So, with a box full of cozies to choose from, I picked Town in a Blueberry Jam, by B.B. Haywood. Mostly I chose it because it is the beginning of a series, and most of the other titles are continuations, so I wanted to start something fresh. The story revolves around the ridiculously-named Candy Holliday, a former marketing exec turned blueberry farmer in southeastern Maine. After her marriage failed, and her mother died, she moved with her father, Doc, to Blueberry Acres to try a different kind of life. As the story opens Candy is preparing for the annual Blueberry Festival, which includes the pageant to crown the Blueberry Queen. After an unexpected turn-of-events leads to the winner being a 30-something woman instead of a high school student, chaos and murder ensue. Candy and her best friend Maggie are left to try and find the truth behind this mysterious death.
The thing about cozy mysteries is that you just have to take them as they are. They are light, rather shallow, easy to read, and I don't know about you but I can usually see the answer to the mystery coming from pretty early on in the book. What makes them enjoyable, at least for me, is the fact that they are light, rather shallow, easy to read, and easy to figure out. They are the perfect book for when my brain is tired, like it is at the end of a school year. I don't necessarily want deep, thoughtful literature. I want escapism. Town in a Blueberry Jam helped me to escape from the stress and chaos that the end of the year brings in my world. There are two major things in its favor. One, it is set in my favorite part of the country, New England. Haywood does a good job evoking a small-town summer in that part of the world. And, it kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out, but there was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Overall, Town in a Blueberry Jam was a pleasant, if not earth-shattering, way to spend a couple of days.
Now, it should be said that I am fairly new to the cozy mystery sub-genre. Last year I was browsing on the Books-A-Million website, and I discovered a couple new mystery series with female protagonists. I assumed they would be like Sharon McCone or Kay Scarpetta. Instead, they were more like Jessica Fletcher. Women of a certain age, ordinary moms/shopkeepers/bakers/scrapbookers/librarians/vampires/telepaths (OK, I guess vampires and telepaths are not ordinary, but there are cozy mysteries about them, so whatever) solving mysteries not because it is their job, but because they are kind and thoughtful, or nosy and bossy, or wrongly accused themselves, and want to see justice done. Little did I know that I was finding a new-to-me sub-genre complete with it's own websites and blogs!
So, with a box full of cozies to choose from, I picked Town in a Blueberry Jam, by B.B. Haywood. Mostly I chose it because it is the beginning of a series, and most of the other titles are continuations, so I wanted to start something fresh. The story revolves around the ridiculously-named Candy Holliday, a former marketing exec turned blueberry farmer in southeastern Maine. After her marriage failed, and her mother died, she moved with her father, Doc, to Blueberry Acres to try a different kind of life. As the story opens Candy is preparing for the annual Blueberry Festival, which includes the pageant to crown the Blueberry Queen. After an unexpected turn-of-events leads to the winner being a 30-something woman instead of a high school student, chaos and murder ensue. Candy and her best friend Maggie are left to try and find the truth behind this mysterious death.
The thing about cozy mysteries is that you just have to take them as they are. They are light, rather shallow, easy to read, and I don't know about you but I can usually see the answer to the mystery coming from pretty early on in the book. What makes them enjoyable, at least for me, is the fact that they are light, rather shallow, easy to read, and easy to figure out. They are the perfect book for when my brain is tired, like it is at the end of a school year. I don't necessarily want deep, thoughtful literature. I want escapism. Town in a Blueberry Jam helped me to escape from the stress and chaos that the end of the year brings in my world. There are two major things in its favor. One, it is set in my favorite part of the country, New England. Haywood does a good job evoking a small-town summer in that part of the world. And, it kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out, but there was a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Overall, Town in a Blueberry Jam was a pleasant, if not earth-shattering, way to spend a couple of days.
September 22, 2017
This was a cute cozy-very light and fluffy!
July 15, 2023
DNF at 51%
There was no tether connecting the mystery to the main character. She wasnt made to be a nosy person, there was no personal stake, and it had nothing to do with her job as a blueberry farmer. The book just decided she would investigate the murder without taking half a second to give her a reason as to why. Every time she got involved with the mystery, it was always, ”She was doing something completely unrelated and then it was like something possessed her and she was suddenly doing XYZ and she didn't know shy but she did it.” And how can I care about a character like that? One the story refuses to give any sort of agency to actively make even a singular choice for herself in the entire first half of the book.
There was no tether connecting the mystery to the main character. She wasnt made to be a nosy person, there was no personal stake, and it had nothing to do with her job as a blueberry farmer. The book just decided she would investigate the murder without taking half a second to give her a reason as to why. Every time she got involved with the mystery, it was always, ”She was doing something completely unrelated and then it was like something possessed her and she was suddenly doing XYZ and she didn't know shy but she did it.” And how can I care about a character like that? One the story refuses to give any sort of agency to actively make even a singular choice for herself in the entire first half of the book.
October 18, 2019
This was okay - I didn't like it enough to read the second one though.
September 17, 2023
Candy Holliday has had a tough time lately but is doing better since her move to a blueberry farm in Cape Willington, Maine, where she lives with her dad. Candy's tough times can't compare to Jock Larson, a local celebrity who has just been found washed out to sea after a fall off the cliffs. Only it looks like he may have been PUSHED off the cliffs! He was about to serve as a judge at the annual Blueberry Queen pageant where Candy's BFF Maggie's daughter, Amanda, is hoping to win. The whole town is shocked when gossip queen, Sapphire Vine, wins the contest! Not only is Sapphire not a teenager, she was the joke of the competition! Then Sapphire turns up dead, her head bashed in with a hammer and Candy's friend, Ray, a local handyman, is arrested! Candy knows Ray could never harm a fly, let alone his hammer. She and Maggie set out to investigate and prove Ray's innocence.
I was not feeling this story at all. It's an older one, which would be OK but it feels a little dated in attitude and technology. The plot is far more grim than I'm used to and the opening scene is awful! Candy's backstory is also darker than most. The plot meandered a lot, with no real need for Candy to investigate. Abe has a top lawyer and a social worker to help prove his innocence. The murderer finally appears out of thin air. I didn't even think about that person or think anything of the one tiny barely there clue. I did figure out the rest though. The secrets were kind of obvious and not worth the worry. Some of the things that happen are so unbelievable! Also, one historical error. Those "widow's walks" around the chimney of old homes served as a way to get out in the roof and put out fires! (I think this is the one on the Opera House in the novel! https://www.fishermensvoice.com/archi....) While the mystery isn't influenced by the myth, the history of the opera house was unnecessary, especially the myth.
Candy is an unappealing character. She doesn't have much focus or direction in her life, which is OK but she is a mean gossip, makes fun of Sapphire for being a gossip and an awkward pageant contestant yet she's Ok with She really is TSTL. She goes around asking questions of suspected murderers for no reason and then shares information with a potential suspect. She breaks and enters, steals evidence and pokes around places on her own where she could be killed. When her best friend She's not too much brighter than Hannah Swensen. Candy speaks better but her investigation technique is the same. Maggie is fun but trouble. She likes to gossip and mock Sapphire. She's an over protective mom and I was surprised she wasn't suspect #1 in Sapphire's murder since she announced if Sapphire won over Amanda, Maggie would kill her. Maggie is a protective mom and she loves her daughter but sometimes she needs to chill. The one thing I have to say about Maggie is she's a stronger woman than Candy. Maggie works hard, she can fight back and she is a survivor.
At first Jock seemed like a sympathetic character. He was a professional athlete, an Olympian and big fish in a small town. He seemed to prefer living there because it fed his ego to be the big man around town. The female half of the population adored him and the male half loathed him. There's no excuse for "numerous red-headed children" he may or may not have fathered. There's ways around that unless the women thought he'd stick around if they "accidentally" made a mistake and had his child. Oh ladies! Jock was a slimeball. An arrogant, lazy man who would never take responsibility for his actions. While he doesn't believe Sapphire pushed him, he thinks she was responsible for his death. Since Sapphire was murdered, I believe there is one murderer who wanted revenge on them both! Sapphire was awful. She was smart for sure, smarter than Candy but she didn't use her brains for good. She used her brains to write sniping gossip about the townspeople and to insert herself into a pageant meant for teenage girls. (Let's not even get into how dated and disgusting that concept is and how sexist!) Sapphire should use her column to do an expose on the pageant. Is that what she's doing? I don't think so given what we know about her. She gleefully ruins people's reputations if she has to and doesn't care. I think she has some dirt on the pageant judges or organizer to throw the competition her way. When her story comes out, like Candy, I had more understanding of why Sapphire did what she did and more empathy but the storyline felt a little dated in the explanation and words used to describe Sapphire's situation.
Maggie's daughter Amanda is a good kid. Why is she in a beauty pageant? They're always rigged anyway. She seems smart but when she's around her boyfriend, Cameron, she acts like a typical teen girl in love, ignoring everyone and everything around her. Cameron seemed like a nice boy at first but when he learns about Sapphire's death, he ends up going crazy! I hope he's not running away because he killed her. That would be terrible for Amanda! Another contestant, Haley Pruitt, was clearly the winner. She is the most talented at any rate. Her Rachmaninoff piano solo sounds stunning. I love Rachmaninoff and wanted to throttle Maggie for her rude comments. Haley happens to be the granddaughter of the wealthiest woman in town. Mrs. Pruitt assumes her granddaughter will win the pageant and is furious when Sapphire wins. Why is not one looking at Mrs. P as a suspect? Candy considers it because Mrs. Pruitt never goes anywhere without her chauffeur. Is he a bodyguard? A hit man? Just because he has a face like a bulldog doesn't mean he needs to be described as ugly and assumed to be a villain. Candy jumps to some wild conclusions there. Mrs. Pruitt is a surprise and a refreshing change from TSTL Candy and barely more than TSTL Maggie. I think she's a master of diversionary tactics and knows full well what Candy is thinking when Candy comes nosing around. I hate to say it but I actually had the same thought as candy. It seems logical. As first runner-up, when Sapphire is killed, Haley becomes the Blueberry Queen! She doesn't seem to show any sadness or feeling about Sapphire's death but she IS a teenager so that may not mean anything. What about the families of the other contestants? Surely they must be angry their daughters didn't win?
There's no evidence tying Ray to the murder of Sapphire except for a hammer with a distinctive red handle. It sounds like the police are investigating how many of those were ordered and sold and who bought them. Why doesn't Candy share what she did to Abe's hammer so they can prove whether the murder weapon is his or not? Because she's TSTL and that thought does not cross her mind! Ray is described as "slow" by some townspeople. Candy thinks 30 years ago he would have been described by some pretty awful words. Slow is not any better! Just because he graduated high school doesn't mean he doesn't have special needs or a learning disability or something. Ray is sweet. He's shy, socially awkward and gentle. His speech pattern is folksy and different from standard English. He has a big crush on Candy and she doesn't like it. She's trying to be nice and not hurt Ray but she also gives him hope which is cruel. I was not happy when it looked like the police were going to railroad Ray into confessing to a crime he didn't commit so I was pleased when he was given an expensive lawyer AND a social worker. I was going to complain that he needs someone with him while he's being charged with the crime!
Sebastian J. Quinn, a nationally recognized poet, is vacationing nearby and agreed to volunteer as a pageant judge after Jock is murdered. No one seems to care Jock was killed. They go ahead and have the competition anyway because it was already organized and the winners earn scholarships. Right away Sebastian seems to develop a crush on Candy. He wants to be fawned over because he's "famous" but I get the impression he's probably a phony. I think he's maybe a hack and maybe got lucky with a publisher once and then continues to be published on name recognition. He is eager to hear what Candy has discovered about Sapphire's death which makes me suspicious of him. Plus as a judge, he may know why Sapphire won. He isn't sharing which isn't nice. Candy was willing to share with him!
Herr Georg, an elderly German baker who makes the most divine pastries, has a crush on Candy. Why? She's young enough to be his granddaughter! He keeps giving her free baked goods which is a perk and he seems harmless but Herr Georg was a pageant judge! He also isn't telling Candy what he knows about why Sapphire won. He seems nice enough but how well does Candy know him, really? She's new in town and he hasn't lived there forever either.
Candy's dad is kind of a jerk to her. He continually calls her by a nickname he knows she hates, disrespecting her completely. When she needs help building her booth, he claims he physically can't help and then goes off to help someone else! What the heck dude? He backs out on dinner together when Candy really needs and wants him to be there for her. He's too busy hanging out with the guys to spend time with his daughter. I really wanted to like him because he's a history professor and enjoys spending time alone studying history but I did not like him very much.
The recipes look good, especially blueberry whipped cream but I'm not sure why anyone would want blueberry gingerbread. Maybe on the other side of the world when Christmas is in summer?
I will not be reading any more books in this series.
I was not feeling this story at all. It's an older one, which would be OK but it feels a little dated in attitude and technology. The plot is far more grim than I'm used to and the opening scene is awful! Candy's backstory is also darker than most. The plot meandered a lot, with no real need for Candy to investigate. Abe has a top lawyer and a social worker to help prove his innocence. The murderer finally appears out of thin air. I didn't even think about that person or think anything of the one tiny barely there clue. I did figure out the rest though. The secrets were kind of obvious and not worth the worry. Some of the things that happen are so unbelievable! Also, one historical error. Those "widow's walks" around the chimney of old homes served as a way to get out in the roof and put out fires! (I think this is the one on the Opera House in the novel! https://www.fishermensvoice.com/archi....) While the mystery isn't influenced by the myth, the history of the opera house was unnecessary, especially the myth.
Candy is an unappealing character. She doesn't have much focus or direction in her life, which is OK but she is a mean gossip, makes fun of Sapphire for being a gossip and an awkward pageant contestant yet she's Ok with She really is TSTL. She goes around asking questions of suspected murderers for no reason and then shares information with a potential suspect. She breaks and enters, steals evidence and pokes around places on her own where she could be killed. When her best friend She's not too much brighter than Hannah Swensen. Candy speaks better but her investigation technique is the same. Maggie is fun but trouble. She likes to gossip and mock Sapphire. She's an over protective mom and I was surprised she wasn't suspect #1 in Sapphire's murder since she announced if Sapphire won over Amanda, Maggie would kill her. Maggie is a protective mom and she loves her daughter but sometimes she needs to chill. The one thing I have to say about Maggie is she's a stronger woman than Candy. Maggie works hard, she can fight back and she is a survivor.
At first Jock seemed like a sympathetic character. He was a professional athlete, an Olympian and big fish in a small town. He seemed to prefer living there because it fed his ego to be the big man around town. The female half of the population adored him and the male half loathed him. There's no excuse for "numerous red-headed children" he may or may not have fathered. There's ways around that unless the women thought he'd stick around if they "accidentally" made a mistake and had his child. Oh ladies! Jock was a slimeball. An arrogant, lazy man who would never take responsibility for his actions. While he doesn't believe Sapphire pushed him, he thinks she was responsible for his death. Since Sapphire was murdered, I believe there is one murderer who wanted revenge on them both! Sapphire was awful. She was smart for sure, smarter than Candy but she didn't use her brains for good. She used her brains to write sniping gossip about the townspeople and to insert herself into a pageant meant for teenage girls. (Let's not even get into how dated and disgusting that concept is and how sexist!) Sapphire should use her column to do an expose on the pageant. Is that what she's doing? I don't think so given what we know about her. She gleefully ruins people's reputations if she has to and doesn't care. I think she has some dirt on the pageant judges or organizer to throw the competition her way. When her story comes out, like Candy, I had more understanding of why Sapphire did what she did and more empathy but the storyline felt a little dated in the explanation and words used to describe Sapphire's situation.
Maggie's daughter Amanda is a good kid. Why is she in a beauty pageant? They're always rigged anyway. She seems smart but when she's around her boyfriend, Cameron, she acts like a typical teen girl in love, ignoring everyone and everything around her. Cameron seemed like a nice boy at first but when he learns about Sapphire's death, he ends up going crazy! I hope he's not running away because he killed her. That would be terrible for Amanda! Another contestant, Haley Pruitt, was clearly the winner. She is the most talented at any rate. Her Rachmaninoff piano solo sounds stunning. I love Rachmaninoff and wanted to throttle Maggie for her rude comments. Haley happens to be the granddaughter of the wealthiest woman in town. Mrs. Pruitt assumes her granddaughter will win the pageant and is furious when Sapphire wins. Why is not one looking at Mrs. P as a suspect? Candy considers it because Mrs. Pruitt never goes anywhere without her chauffeur. Is he a bodyguard? A hit man? Just because he has a face like a bulldog doesn't mean he needs to be described as ugly and assumed to be a villain. Candy jumps to some wild conclusions there. Mrs. Pruitt is a surprise and a refreshing change from TSTL Candy and barely more than TSTL Maggie. I think she's a master of diversionary tactics and knows full well what Candy is thinking when Candy comes nosing around. I hate to say it but I actually had the same thought as candy. It seems logical. As first runner-up, when Sapphire is killed, Haley becomes the Blueberry Queen! She doesn't seem to show any sadness or feeling about Sapphire's death but she IS a teenager so that may not mean anything. What about the families of the other contestants? Surely they must be angry their daughters didn't win?
There's no evidence tying Ray to the murder of Sapphire except for a hammer with a distinctive red handle. It sounds like the police are investigating how many of those were ordered and sold and who bought them. Why doesn't Candy share what she did to Abe's hammer so they can prove whether the murder weapon is his or not? Because she's TSTL and that thought does not cross her mind! Ray is described as "slow" by some townspeople. Candy thinks 30 years ago he would have been described by some pretty awful words. Slow is not any better! Just because he graduated high school doesn't mean he doesn't have special needs or a learning disability or something. Ray is sweet. He's shy, socially awkward and gentle. His speech pattern is folksy and different from standard English. He has a big crush on Candy and she doesn't like it. She's trying to be nice and not hurt Ray but she also gives him hope which is cruel. I was not happy when it looked like the police were going to railroad Ray into confessing to a crime he didn't commit so I was pleased when he was given an expensive lawyer AND a social worker. I was going to complain that he needs someone with him while he's being charged with the crime!
Sebastian J. Quinn, a nationally recognized poet, is vacationing nearby and agreed to volunteer as a pageant judge after Jock is murdered. No one seems to care Jock was killed. They go ahead and have the competition anyway because it was already organized and the winners earn scholarships. Right away Sebastian seems to develop a crush on Candy. He wants to be fawned over because he's "famous" but I get the impression he's probably a phony. I think he's maybe a hack and maybe got lucky with a publisher once and then continues to be published on name recognition. He is eager to hear what Candy has discovered about Sapphire's death which makes me suspicious of him. Plus as a judge, he may know why Sapphire won. He isn't sharing which isn't nice. Candy was willing to share with him!
Herr Georg, an elderly German baker who makes the most divine pastries, has a crush on Candy. Why? She's young enough to be his granddaughter! He keeps giving her free baked goods which is a perk and he seems harmless but Herr Georg was a pageant judge! He also isn't telling Candy what he knows about why Sapphire won. He seems nice enough but how well does Candy know him, really? She's new in town and he hasn't lived there forever either.
Candy's dad is kind of a jerk to her. He continually calls her by a nickname he knows she hates, disrespecting her completely. When she needs help building her booth, he claims he physically can't help and then goes off to help someone else! What the heck dude? He backs out on dinner together when Candy really needs and wants him to be there for her. He's too busy hanging out with the guys to spend time with his daughter. I really wanted to like him because he's a history professor and enjoys spending time alone studying history but I did not like him very much.
The recipes look good, especially blueberry whipped cream but I'm not sure why anyone would want blueberry gingerbread. Maybe on the other side of the world when Christmas is in summer?
I will not be reading any more books in this series.
August 27, 2013
Just finished this book which was recommended to me by my friend Lisa A Kelley. I really enjoyed it. I think this will be a great series and I look forward to reading the next ones! I liked the characters, setting and outcome of the story, I had not seen it coming!
You will enjoy this one too, grab a cup of tea a blueberry scone and the book!
You will enjoy this one too, grab a cup of tea a blueberry scone and the book!
July 27, 2014
Unlike a weekend in Maine, couldn't wait for it to be over.
August 2, 2018
There is nothing as handy as belonging to a bunch of online book clubs! I'm always getting to start books that I wondered when I would ever get around to starting. I'm so glad the club chose this book! I really enjoyed reading about the small fictional town of Cape Willington, Maine and getting to know Candy Holliday, her dad Doc and Candy's best friend, Maggie Tremont.
In the prologue, it described a man falling to his rocky death off a cliff in Cape Willington. As the book started, it was July and time for the annual Blueberry Festival in town. Everyone was excited, but there was a somberness in the air since the police had just reported the murder of Jock Larson, a local man who thought he was a celebrity since he was an ex-Olympic swimmer. He also thought he was God's gift to women and a lot of people weren't that sad to see him dead. When a local gossip column woman was crowned Blueberry Queen (instead of the usual younger high school girl), then the woman was found dead in her own home, all fingers pointed to Ray, a local handyman since it appeared that his hammer was found at the scene. Everyone had a soft spot for Ray who was the gentlest of souls, and Candy was not going to let him go down for a murder she and everyone else in town knew he didn't commit.
Candy and Maggie made a great sleuthing team and when Maggie couldn't go with her, sometimes Candy's dad would add some insight to the case or go with her himself. I thought it was pretty cool that he didn't try to discourage her from sleuthing. I loved that Candy and her dad had a close relationship, especially after he'd lost her mom and Candy had fairly recently gone through a bad divorce and the loss of a good friend she went to college with. They seemed to be helping one another heal while working on the blueberry farm and tending to the chickens.
This was a really well-written and plotted mystery with so many different angles and suspects that I didn't even think of suspecting the person that it turned out to be. The showdown with the killer was really exciting--Candy and Maggie acted as each others' heroes. Best of all, an innocent man was set free. Candy had started working for Ben, the editor of the Cape Crier newspaper, so I'm hoping that something will develop between them. She must like him because her first thoughts when he asked her to take over the gossip column were "Is he going to ask me out?" I think there's potential! I got a kick out of Doc and his buddies hanging out at the diner.
I've been collecting this series as I find the various books and now I'm anxious to keep reading it!
In the prologue, it described a man falling to his rocky death off a cliff in Cape Willington. As the book started, it was July and time for the annual Blueberry Festival in town. Everyone was excited, but there was a somberness in the air since the police had just reported the murder of Jock Larson, a local man who thought he was a celebrity since he was an ex-Olympic swimmer. He also thought he was God's gift to women and a lot of people weren't that sad to see him dead. When a local gossip column woman was crowned Blueberry Queen (instead of the usual younger high school girl), then the woman was found dead in her own home, all fingers pointed to Ray, a local handyman since it appeared that his hammer was found at the scene. Everyone had a soft spot for Ray who was the gentlest of souls, and Candy was not going to let him go down for a murder she and everyone else in town knew he didn't commit.
Candy and Maggie made a great sleuthing team and when Maggie couldn't go with her, sometimes Candy's dad would add some insight to the case or go with her himself. I thought it was pretty cool that he didn't try to discourage her from sleuthing. I loved that Candy and her dad had a close relationship, especially after he'd lost her mom and Candy had fairly recently gone through a bad divorce and the loss of a good friend she went to college with. They seemed to be helping one another heal while working on the blueberry farm and tending to the chickens.
This was a really well-written and plotted mystery with so many different angles and suspects that I didn't even think of suspecting the person that it turned out to be. The showdown with the killer was really exciting--Candy and Maggie acted as each others' heroes. Best of all, an innocent man was set free. Candy had started working for Ben, the editor of the Cape Crier newspaper, so I'm hoping that something will develop between them. She must like him because her first thoughts when he asked her to take over the gossip column were "Is he going to ask me out?" I think there's potential! I got a kick out of Doc and his buddies hanging out at the diner.
I've been collecting this series as I find the various books and now I'm anxious to keep reading it!
April 25, 2015
Initial Impressions 5/19/12: This was a cute first book to the series! I really liked Candy's character - Although I have to say, what's with all the cozy mystery series and their wacky names? This one has Candy Holliday, Sapphire Vine, Jock Larson, and Candy's dad "Doc" Holliday. Really? But regardless of silly names, I had a lot of fun with this one. Some of the smaller puzzles/mysteries, I did have a solid (and correct) guess at before they were revealed, but as to who the real killer was, I really didn't know until the end. I'm glad they didn't go for the easy choice here! I really do look forward to reading more in the series! I think it's Candy's character who's really bringing me back. I just really felt like she was down to earth in the rural setting even though she was supposed to be transplanted from the big city after she had suffered some hardships and moved back in with her dad up in Maine. I was glad we skipped the whole transition stage though and that she wasn't portrayed as an outsider even though she was not a native "townie"!
Review as originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: You know, I really enjoyed this little story. It's the first book I've read that's set in Maine (a place I so desperately want to visit -- Heard it's just gorgeous there!) and despite some super cheesy names like Candy Holliday (nicknamed 'pumpkin' by her dad - both names because she was born on Halloween), Sapphire Vine, and Jonathan "Jock" Larson (why do they always have cheesy names in these cozy mysteries? If I weren't so sucked in to these kinds of books, I might actually be really annoyed!), I thought this book was a lot of fun! I really liked Candy's character a lot. We didn't really get too into her past, but we do know that she gave up her old life after many hardships and came to live with her dad "Doc" Holliday (another name... sheesh, guys) on the blueberry farm in SE Maine. I really liked her switch from business exec to blueberry farmer. Unlike a couple other cozies who have tried to make this transition, Candy has already fully come over to the rural side of life and we weren't bothered by the awkwardness of having her feel like an outsider or someone who hasn't found her place. Instead, it was quite natural to be in the rural Maine setting and I found the town and other characters in the town quite pleasant!
That being said, I will say that I'm getting a little tired of so many cozies using a "slow" character (mentally) as a common scapegoat for a crime. It's happened in quite a few cozies that I've read recently (maybe it's just the order I've happened to choose to read them in), but the reoccurrence among authors is getting a little old! Ray the handyman is the "slow" character in this book and of course gets blamed for a murder he didn't commit, and this spurs on Candy's investigation. I just found that story line a bit tiresome.
Other than that, I really did enjoy the mystery. I had guessed a couple of smaller puzzles that had come up throughout the book, but as for who the killer was, I was actually pretty surprised in the end. Glad they didn't go for something too easy!
Review as originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: You know, I really enjoyed this little story. It's the first book I've read that's set in Maine (a place I so desperately want to visit -- Heard it's just gorgeous there!) and despite some super cheesy names like Candy Holliday (nicknamed 'pumpkin' by her dad - both names because she was born on Halloween), Sapphire Vine, and Jonathan "Jock" Larson (why do they always have cheesy names in these cozy mysteries? If I weren't so sucked in to these kinds of books, I might actually be really annoyed!), I thought this book was a lot of fun! I really liked Candy's character a lot. We didn't really get too into her past, but we do know that she gave up her old life after many hardships and came to live with her dad "Doc" Holliday (another name... sheesh, guys) on the blueberry farm in SE Maine. I really liked her switch from business exec to blueberry farmer. Unlike a couple other cozies who have tried to make this transition, Candy has already fully come over to the rural side of life and we weren't bothered by the awkwardness of having her feel like an outsider or someone who hasn't found her place. Instead, it was quite natural to be in the rural Maine setting and I found the town and other characters in the town quite pleasant!
That being said, I will say that I'm getting a little tired of so many cozies using a "slow" character (mentally) as a common scapegoat for a crime. It's happened in quite a few cozies that I've read recently (maybe it's just the order I've happened to choose to read them in), but the reoccurrence among authors is getting a little old! Ray the handyman is the "slow" character in this book and of course gets blamed for a murder he didn't commit, and this spurs on Candy's investigation. I just found that story line a bit tiresome.
Other than that, I really did enjoy the mystery. I had guessed a couple of smaller puzzles that had come up throughout the book, but as for who the killer was, I was actually pretty surprised in the end. Glad they didn't go for something too easy!
August 6, 2016
Town In A Blueberry Jam
A Candy Holliday Mystery, Book #1
B. B. Haywood
5 Stars
Synopsis:
First in the fabulous new Candy Holliday Murder mystery series.
In the seaside vi
llage of Cape Willington, Maine, Candy Holliday has an idyllic life tending to the Blueberry Acres farm she runs with her father. But, when an aging playboy and the newly crowned Blueberry Queen are killed, Candy investigates to clear the name of a local handyman. And as she sorts through the town's juicy secrets, things start to get sticky indeed... (Goodreads)
Review:
Candy is living with her father on their Blueberry Acres farm, and she is enjoying her life. She loves all things blueberry, she loves baking delicious pastries with the fruit, she enjoys spending time with her dad and her best friend Maggie. Life is quiet and safe in Cape Willington, until it isn’t. When two members of the community are killed, things become hectic and dangerous. And when a friend of her’s is accused of committing the murders, she knows she has to help prove his innocence.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really enjoyed the interaction between Candy and Maggie. They are really good friends and will do just about anything to help the other, including breaking and entering. We should all have that good of a friend in our lives. I also enjoyed Candy’s dad and his posse, they were fun to read about.
The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book. There are quite a few suspects to consider, especially since one of the victims was not really well liked. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and an occasional red herring thrown in, just for fun. Just when I thought I had the culprit nailed, something would happen to show that I was wrong. I never did figure out the killer until it was revealed.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching the action take place all around me.
Right from the very first page (the prologue), I was hooked on this book. The book does not start out like the other cozies that I have read, and I like that fact. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
A Candy Holliday Mystery, Book #1
B. B. Haywood
5 Stars
Synopsis:
First in the fabulous new Candy Holliday Murder mystery series.
In the seaside vi
llage of Cape Willington, Maine, Candy Holliday has an idyllic life tending to the Blueberry Acres farm she runs with her father. But, when an aging playboy and the newly crowned Blueberry Queen are killed, Candy investigates to clear the name of a local handyman. And as she sorts through the town's juicy secrets, things start to get sticky indeed... (Goodreads)
Review:
Candy is living with her father on their Blueberry Acres farm, and she is enjoying her life. She loves all things blueberry, she loves baking delicious pastries with the fruit, she enjoys spending time with her dad and her best friend Maggie. Life is quiet and safe in Cape Willington, until it isn’t. When two members of the community are killed, things become hectic and dangerous. And when a friend of her’s is accused of committing the murders, she knows she has to help prove his innocence.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really enjoyed the interaction between Candy and Maggie. They are really good friends and will do just about anything to help the other, including breaking and entering. We should all have that good of a friend in our lives. I also enjoyed Candy’s dad and his posse, they were fun to read about.
The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book. There are quite a few suspects to consider, especially since one of the victims was not really well liked. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and an occasional red herring thrown in, just for fun. Just when I thought I had the culprit nailed, something would happen to show that I was wrong. I never did figure out the killer until it was revealed.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching the action take place all around me.
Right from the very first page (the prologue), I was hooked on this book. The book does not start out like the other cozies that I have read, and I like that fact. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
January 27, 2014
This was okay. This is a cozy mystery that at times was entertaining, but for the most part, it was just okay. I find the cozy mystery genre fun sometimes; they are good entertainment to listen to audibly while I'm cleaning my house, easy reads on a weekend, fun to pack into a bag for a day at the beach, good filler when you're waiting in a doctor's office. So for that reason, I pick them up occasionally.
I do enjoy that many cozy mysteries follow a theme that could be attractive to knitters, or book lovers, bakers or travellers. This book's theme was blueberries. The story begins around preparations for a Blueberry Festival. The main character is from a blueberry farm. She makes blueberry wares to sell at the festival and in the town's cafe. There's a murder. The main character, Candy is figuring out life and takes on trying to solve the crime while still being master of all that is blueberry. It didn't make me want a blueberry muffin.
The story had a couple twists that were entertaining, but for the most part, like many cozy mysteries, you can sort of figure them out. It has to be one of the characters behind all the mayhem. And sometimes it went on a bit long in parts… "okay, okay, already" (I would say to myself). But I do this for many cozy mysteries. Yet, I still enjoy reading them.
I am quite certain that cozy mystery aficianados will enjoy this first-in-the-series book and will look for more of Candy's escapades. And, I may even try another as I do enjoy the genre. I never give 5 stars to cozy mysteries. They follow a pattern, they are kitschy on purpose and quick reads. This book is what I expected and always expect of a cozy mystery. Quick entertainment with some kitsch. Some days I need it, but I don't think they belong at a 4 or 5 star book rating on my list. Not a criticism, they just are what they are; light reads at an easy level.
I do enjoy that many cozy mysteries follow a theme that could be attractive to knitters, or book lovers, bakers or travellers. This book's theme was blueberries. The story begins around preparations for a Blueberry Festival. The main character is from a blueberry farm. She makes blueberry wares to sell at the festival and in the town's cafe. There's a murder. The main character, Candy is figuring out life and takes on trying to solve the crime while still being master of all that is blueberry. It didn't make me want a blueberry muffin.
The story had a couple twists that were entertaining, but for the most part, like many cozy mysteries, you can sort of figure them out. It has to be one of the characters behind all the mayhem. And sometimes it went on a bit long in parts… "okay, okay, already" (I would say to myself). But I do this for many cozy mysteries. Yet, I still enjoy reading them.
I am quite certain that cozy mystery aficianados will enjoy this first-in-the-series book and will look for more of Candy's escapades. And, I may even try another as I do enjoy the genre. I never give 5 stars to cozy mysteries. They follow a pattern, they are kitschy on purpose and quick reads. This book is what I expected and always expect of a cozy mystery. Quick entertainment with some kitsch. Some days I need it, but I don't think they belong at a 4 or 5 star book rating on my list. Not a criticism, they just are what they are; light reads at an easy level.
July 14, 2022
It's been a long time since I've read such an enjoyable cozy. This is my first novel from B. B. Haywood and I enjoy her writing style and her characters. All the cozy hallmarks are here; small town, recently separated middle-aged woman who does a career 180, themed hook, the best friend, and the murder. In this case, it's a twofer, and they bookend the Maine town's annual blueberry festival. There's the usual red herrings, the wrongly accused and small reveals that lead up to the big twist, the villain monologue, and the wrap up. Some authors make this formula a real chore, but Haywood really made it a pleasure. Candy is as sweet as her namesake, but not overly. She noses around to find out what's going on, but not so much so that it was unbelievable. She has help from the other townsfolk, and everyone wants to figure out what really happened to Jock and Sapphire. The small Cape town, like most, has many secrets, and Candy hasn't even scratched the surface. There's a potential love interest, but nothing happening just yet. There's wonderful setup happening here, and I'm really excited to dive into the next into this series. All in all, it was a very quick, very pleasant reading experience, and I'm happy I gave this series a try!
February 7, 2016
Town in a Blueberry Jam by B.B. Haywood starts a new cozy mystery series set in a contemporary coastal village in Maine. Candy Holliday lives with her father on his blueberry farm, which he purchased at retirement. Candy delights in the hard, simple work and the easily visible results.
Cape Wilmington holds an annual blueberry festival, complete with parade, booths and beauty contest. Candy volunteered to provide blueberry pies and work a booth. The town is shocked at the sudden death of a resident celebrity, followed not long after by the murder of a festival organizer. When a simple-minded, peaceful handyman is arrested for the crime on circumstantial evidence, Candy is compelled to investigate on her own, to find the real killer . In her quest for justice, she uncovers many secrets that town residents might kill again to keep buried.
Includes recipes: Candy Holliday's Blueberry Whipped Cream, Herr Georg's Bavarian Blueberry Pretzels, Blueberry Lemon Shortbread, Blueberry Gingerbread.
Cape Wilmington holds an annual blueberry festival, complete with parade, booths and beauty contest. Candy volunteered to provide blueberry pies and work a booth. The town is shocked at the sudden death of a resident celebrity, followed not long after by the murder of a festival organizer. When a simple-minded, peaceful handyman is arrested for the crime on circumstantial evidence, Candy is compelled to investigate on her own, to find the real killer . In her quest for justice, she uncovers many secrets that town residents might kill again to keep buried.
Includes recipes: Candy Holliday's Blueberry Whipped Cream, Herr Georg's Bavarian Blueberry Pretzels, Blueberry Lemon Shortbread, Blueberry Gingerbread.
May 28, 2016
We are going to Cape Willington, Maine which is a quaint
seaside village to visit with Candy Holliday on her Dad’s
Blueberry Farm.
Candy had been living in Boston when her big city world fell
apart leaving her divorced and jobless. How will she adapt
to farm living now???
Every year the Cape Wilmington blueberry festival is held
with booths of vendors selling blueberry products. There is
a parade and beauty contest. Candy has volunteered to host
a booth selling blueberry pies, blueberry preserves, blueberry
soap and many other products she made from the blueberry
farm.
But now all is not wonderful in Cape Willington…..a award
winning, playboy swimmer in found dead from going over a
cliff. Suicide or murder???
Then the Queen of the Blueberry Festival/ gossip columnist
is found bludgeoned to death by a hammer.
Candy decides to do her own investigation after a friend is
wrongly arrest for murder.
Interesting plot with many surprising twists and turns.
Great blueberry recipes at the end of the book.
seaside village to visit with Candy Holliday on her Dad’s
Blueberry Farm.
Candy had been living in Boston when her big city world fell
apart leaving her divorced and jobless. How will she adapt
to farm living now???
Every year the Cape Wilmington blueberry festival is held
with booths of vendors selling blueberry products. There is
a parade and beauty contest. Candy has volunteered to host
a booth selling blueberry pies, blueberry preserves, blueberry
soap and many other products she made from the blueberry
farm.
But now all is not wonderful in Cape Willington…..a award
winning, playboy swimmer in found dead from going over a
cliff. Suicide or murder???
Then the Queen of the Blueberry Festival/ gossip columnist
is found bludgeoned to death by a hammer.
Candy decides to do her own investigation after a friend is
wrongly arrest for murder.
Interesting plot with many surprising twists and turns.
Great blueberry recipes at the end of the book.
June 20, 2016
This is the first in the Town in a.......... series as I will call them. Just like the Cat who........series.
This introduces Doc and Candy Halliday to the readers.
Doc (Henry) is a retired professor from the University of Maine Who bought a Blueberry farm in Cape Willington, Maine after the death of his wife. Candy is his daughter, who he brought home after her life as a high powered ad executive and wife imploded when her husband left her after what she thought was a great marriage. She now helps him run the farm and does odd jobs on the side to bring in extra money.
The plot is pretty basic and yet had enough turns in it to keep me reading.
This small town has secrets, many secrets that I'm sure will come out in the following books.
The reason for the 4 stars was that it sometimes plodded along, not often, and I couldn't understand why someone who had no trouble breaking into a dead woman's house and walking around the room she was murdered in had trouble just being in the office she worked in. It was like the partners didn't get reactions right. But that is just me.
This introduces Doc and Candy Halliday to the readers.
Doc (Henry) is a retired professor from the University of Maine Who bought a Blueberry farm in Cape Willington, Maine after the death of his wife. Candy is his daughter, who he brought home after her life as a high powered ad executive and wife imploded when her husband left her after what she thought was a great marriage. She now helps him run the farm and does odd jobs on the side to bring in extra money.
The plot is pretty basic and yet had enough turns in it to keep me reading.
This small town has secrets, many secrets that I'm sure will come out in the following books.
The reason for the 4 stars was that it sometimes plodded along, not often, and I couldn't understand why someone who had no trouble breaking into a dead woman's house and walking around the room she was murdered in had trouble just being in the office she worked in. It was like the partners didn't get reactions right. But that is just me.
September 1, 2010
This book was an Easy-going cozy mystery with a tight plot and a few good twists.
Candy Holliday and her gal-pal Maggie Tremane team up to discover who murdered the town gossip. Her seemingly harmless handyman was seen leaving the crime scene and his brand new hammer (the murder weapon) was found at the scene of the crime. The entire town is in an uproar and Candy is determined to find out the killer.
I did have a few beefs with this book. The names of some of the characters were just a bit far fetched for me. A German baker name Herr Georg (gay-org) the Murder victim named Sapphire Vine???? Come ON! I can dig trying to be creative but these names were just to wierd for me. Plus the descriptions of each of the towns' buildings were a bit overdone. Many of the coversations were a tad drawn out, and I kept thinking, OK, real people dont talk like this.
Overall, It was a good book, worth reading, but not a keeper.
Candy Holliday and her gal-pal Maggie Tremane team up to discover who murdered the town gossip. Her seemingly harmless handyman was seen leaving the crime scene and his brand new hammer (the murder weapon) was found at the scene of the crime. The entire town is in an uproar and Candy is determined to find out the killer.
I did have a few beefs with this book. The names of some of the characters were just a bit far fetched for me. A German baker name Herr Georg (gay-org) the Murder victim named Sapphire Vine???? Come ON! I can dig trying to be creative but these names were just to wierd for me. Plus the descriptions of each of the towns' buildings were a bit overdone. Many of the coversations were a tad drawn out, and I kept thinking, OK, real people dont talk like this.
Overall, It was a good book, worth reading, but not a keeper.
November 8, 2010
Another fine cozy mystery set on the East Coast...this one is even better with the main character, Candy, owning a blueberry farm. She is a busy chickie, prepping for the upcoming festival and taking care of the farm as well as the odd jobs around town to help bring in some extra cha-ching so she can keep living this life she's grown to love.
There are some really well written characters, a good main character who is curious and wants to help her friend, there is her father who is helping in his way. There is a best friend to go on the capers with and a really off the wall character to make the eyebrows raise. And the ending to make the eyebrows go up even farther in the hairline.
I am looking forward to another look-see at Cape Willington and see what else Candy Holliday can get into.
Five (well there are four) blueberry recipes in back beans......
There are some really well written characters, a good main character who is curious and wants to help her friend, there is her father who is helping in his way. There is a best friend to go on the capers with and a really off the wall character to make the eyebrows raise. And the ending to make the eyebrows go up even farther in the hairline.
I am looking forward to another look-see at Cape Willington and see what else Candy Holliday can get into.
Five (well there are four) blueberry recipes in back beans......
August 16, 2011
It was a cute cozy, even if it did have a bit of a slow start - it wasn't until a third of the way though the novel that the second victim is killed and Candy starts her investigation. I did enjoy reading about the festival goings-on, particularly the pageant itself, which had some humorous moments. I did see one major plot twist coming a mile away, but I didn't know who the murderer was until the end, though it didn't really surprise me to read it.
The character development was about nil and the plot sometimes seemed to drag on, that's why this book gets three stars from me. It was a cute cozy, but it didn't blow me away.
The character development was about nil and the plot sometimes seemed to drag on, that's why this book gets three stars from me. It was a cute cozy, but it didn't blow me away.
March 3, 2017
A new to me mystery series with interesting characters in this small Maine town. Candy Holliday moves to Cape Willington to help her father on his blueberry farm. When a friend is accused of murder, Candy steps up to clear his name.
Find Town in a Blueberry Jam at the Westminster Public Library.
Find Town in a Blueberry Jam at the Westminster Public Library.
July 11, 2020
This is an entertaining "who done it" mystery. After two murders happen in a small town, protagonist Candy and her buddy Maggie go searching for the murderer. Their friend, the town handyman, was jailed for the murder and they knew he was innocent. There are quite a few of these cozy mysteries that are mindless and silly but this one was written well and it was not easy to guess the ending. You will get to meet a lot of strange and fun characters in this story. This is the first in a series by B.B. Haywood and was worth the read.
June 20, 2011
Not a spectacular mystery book, but still a nice reading.
As it's the first book in a series, lots of people were introduced but they have truly different personality, without falling into "clichés" either.
For instance, I'm pretty sure that Candy's father, Doc, and his bunch of friends will me more present in the next book, because, considering their former activities (cop, attorney....), they will be good sidekicks to the heroine :)
As it's the first book in a series, lots of people were introduced but they have truly different personality, without falling into "clichés" either.
For instance, I'm pretty sure that Candy's father, Doc, and his bunch of friends will me more present in the next book, because, considering their former activities (cop, attorney....), they will be good sidekicks to the heroine :)
March 31, 2018
Candy Holliday runs the blueberry farm with her father. Candy investigates when a friend is accused of two murdrrs. I had a hard time with this book. I couldn't connect with the characters or the story. It took me forever to read as I kept putting it down in favor of a book that I enjoyed . This was a reread for me as I wanted to give this book another try. Same result. I won't be continuing with this series.
September 14, 2018
This is a delightful cozy mystery, with a believable protagonist sleuth and a good friend who will follow her anywhere. There are several possibilities for the murderer, and I enjoy the way each one is explored until it seems ... no, that's not the one. In the end I was surprised at who committed the crime ... kind of came out of nowhere. Lots of likable characters, a few you love to hate, and all in all a good read.
April 12, 2010
This was a pretty good first outing in this new series. I like Candy and her dad, Doc. And the setting is great. I sometimes think I'd like to live in a little Maine town just like Cape Willington. Was easy to dislike both murder victims, tho the first one you only get to know in his thoughts. Some nice recipes, too. I'll be looking for the next one, TOWN IN A LOBSTER STEW.
April 14, 2010
Oh goody another mystery series! I liked the main character alot and always enjoy a mystery that takes place in Maine. Looking forward to the next!
April 23, 2010
I have to admit I picked up this book because i love blueberries and was looking for a mystery. Well i was pleasantly surprised, with a nice lite read.
May 2, 2010
Probably the best cozy I've read lately. It was cute without being cutesy and the mystery wasn't overly easy to solve. I'm anxious for the next title!
August 20, 2021
3.5 stars - all things blueberry are happening here, blueberry farm, blueberry pies, blueberry Queen. When the queen is murdered our sleuth sets out to clear the name of the mentally disabled handyman. I’m not great at figuring out the things ahead of time, mostly because I don’t want to, but this was very predictable. I guessed most things that our sleuth seemed to have to ponder for days. Doc wasn’t especially likable for a main parental character, nor was the best friend who came across as loud and a little ditzy. Overall it was entertaining despite being predictable and if my library had more in the series I would keep reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews