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Home Crafting Mystery #2
Heaven Preserve Us
Wine jelly. Watermelon pickles. And a suicidal stalker? Great.Thirty-something crafter extraordinaire Sophie Mae Reynolds makes preserves by day and answers a crisis center help referral line by night. What better way to help people while still keeping a low profile? But on her very first night, she gets a call from a man who is threatening suicide . . . and her. Angrily deeming the caller a crank, her boss, Philip Heaven, disconnects the line. Days later, Philip dies from a nasty case of botulism. Now, as a stalker singles out Sophie Mae, Philip's eerie last words keep coming back to haunt her: Threat. Meant it. Stirring up the town with talk of murder by preserves, can Sophie Mae and her handsome boyfriend Detective Barr Ambrose spoil a mad murderer's poisonous plans?This dangerously delicious second book in the Home Crafting Mystery series also includes recipes for preserves and beauty products!
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2008
57 people are currently reading
722 people want to read
About the author
Cricket McRae
12 books256 followersCricket McRae enjoys home crafts like food preservation, cheese making, candle making, and fiber arts. She writes the Sophie Mae Reynolds Homecrafting Mystery Series. As Bailey Cates, she also writes the Magical Bakery Mysteries.
For two years Cricket managed her own soap making business, including all product design, manufacturing and marketing. The recipes included in her first book, Lye in Wait, are all Cricket's original formulations. She has also worked in a variety of other fields ranging from drivers license examiner to program manager for a major software firm. This fulfills her mothers warning that shed never have a regular job if she insisted on studying philosophy in college.
The sixth Home Crafting Mystery, Deadly Row to Hoe, released November, 2012. Her books are also available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Ibooks and Google E-books.
Series:
* Home Crafting Mystery
For two years Cricket managed her own soap making business, including all product design, manufacturing and marketing. The recipes included in her first book, Lye in Wait, are all Cricket's original formulations. She has also worked in a variety of other fields ranging from drivers license examiner to program manager for a major software firm. This fulfills her mothers warning that shed never have a regular job if she insisted on studying philosophy in college.
The sixth Home Crafting Mystery, Deadly Row to Hoe, released November, 2012. Her books are also available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Ibooks and Google E-books.
Series:
* Home Crafting Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
January 13, 2013
Heaven Preserve Us by Cricket McRae was a quick, fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the special information on soap making and canning. The plot was somewhat disappointing as I guessed the murderer early on. However, the book held my interest and the writing was well-crafted. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
March 10, 2018
Solid little mystery. Sophie Mae starts volunteering for a crisis hotline. Her first call ends up being a stalker. Soon after that, her boss dies from botulism poisoning, and her detective boyfriend is hospitalized with a light case of it. For some reason, the police don’t care about either of those. They’re only worried about catching the Cadyville Creep that’s been attacking women lately, so Sophie Mae has to go out and solve the mystery herself.
There were a few good recipes that if I wasn’t so lazy, I’d probably try. It did ALMOST make me want to be crafty!
There were a few good recipes that if I wasn’t so lazy, I’d probably try. It did ALMOST make me want to be crafty!
September 24, 2015
Sophie Mae Reynolds is a Crafter extraordinaire, she has an online business selling her Homemade Soaps and other products , she also volunteers at Heaven Houses crisis center helpline at night. But one night she gets a strange call from a man threatening suicide. He wants to talk about Death. Her Boss Philip Heaven says its a crank call and disconnects the caller. Days later Philip dies from Botulisn poisoning. Than someone begins stalking Sophie Mae and she is getting weird phone calls/ Her Roommate begins dating someone new in town and Sophie Maes Detective Boyfriend is in the hospital with Botulism poisoning. Not to mention their is a creeper person raping and beating up women. Philips dying words Threat meant it are haunting Sophie Mae. When one of her friends is accused of suppling the tainted beets Sophie Mae decides to investigate on her own. What she finds out almost gets her killed!
September 29, 2013
From the instant I read the first page, I was hooked! This book has everything I love - it's cozy, it has characters who are easy to love, it has good food, and it even smells good! The protagonist has her own business (another plus!) making and selling soaps and scented gels. Just reading the recipes is like a little psychological aromatherapy!
And, oh yes, the mystery is good too! As my favorite bookseller used to say, "A nice clean little murder at the beginning and lots of lovely clues to keep your interest." It's not Agatha Christie but it's certainly the 21st Century equivalent! I loved it! I'll be looking for more of Cricket McRae's work!
And, oh yes, the mystery is good too! As my favorite bookseller used to say, "A nice clean little murder at the beginning and lots of lovely clues to keep your interest." It's not Agatha Christie but it's certainly the 21st Century equivalent! I loved it! I'll be looking for more of Cricket McRae's work!
July 21, 2011
This novel was about our sleuth, home crafter, Sophie Mae trying to solve a crime involving the director of the Helpline referral charity. The crime is death by Botulism. Not only did Sophie Mae witness the death, she has attracted a stalker.
With her detective boyfriend recovering from his injury, Sophie Mae feels it is up to her to solve this crime as the local police feel it is just a death due to accident.
As a bonus the book also has recipes for Wine Jellies, saltea bath bags, and air fresheners.
There are other mysteries involved as well. A good book.
With her detective boyfriend recovering from his injury, Sophie Mae feels it is up to her to solve this crime as the local police feel it is just a death due to accident.
As a bonus the book also has recipes for Wine Jellies, saltea bath bags, and air fresheners.
There are other mysteries involved as well. A good book.
August 16, 2011
I love a good murder mystery. And I've fallen in love with these characters. On to number three!
September 13, 2013
Very enjoyable. I am a sucker for a good cozy mystery with a Welsh Corgi and this one had it. Wish there was just a little more of Brodie and his quirks.
March 8, 2021
I don't want to judge the book too harshly, it is what it is and it does what it tries to do. The book is clean, in that way. Clean, simple, pleasant.
The mystery, though, was a little weak. "Maybe it's that guy. Oh, it was!" Ultimately, it's more than a little hard to understand the motivation, and not nearly enough was done to justify the method. But I don't think anyone reads this type of mystery expecting a mind-blowing puzzle, so its fine. Like I said, it is what it is, and it isn't trying to be more.
The mystery, though, was a little weak. "Maybe it's that guy. Oh, it was!" Ultimately, it's more than a little hard to understand the motivation, and not nearly enough was done to justify the method. But I don't think anyone reads this type of mystery expecting a mind-blowing puzzle, so its fine. Like I said, it is what it is, and it isn't trying to be more.
February 18, 2019
Love this series
I started reading this series because the main character has the same name as my daughter. I’m really enjoying it. The stories aren’t too heavy. The characters are generally likable and interesting. I’d recommend to anyone who likes light mysteries.
I started reading this series because the main character has the same name as my daughter. I’m really enjoying it. The stories aren’t too heavy. The characters are generally likable and interesting. I’d recommend to anyone who likes light mysteries.
November 6, 2019
This is my pick for the Book Riot 2019 Read Harder challenge task# 23 A self-published book
I got this book for free from Amazon a couple years ago, but only just got around to reading it. The writing is good, I enjoyed the characters, and the plot was believable enough to be fun to read.
I got this book for free from Amazon a couple years ago, but only just got around to reading it. The writing is good, I enjoyed the characters, and the plot was believable enough to be fun to read.
March 28, 2020
After her boyfriend has the same symptoms as her boss, who died, Sophie wonders if some of the preserves at the preserve swap were the cause. When the police tell her the health dept. is investigating she does her own investigating as she believes her boss was murdered.
June 29, 2018
I've been reading a lot of cozy mysteries lately and finally found one that I really liked. Oddly plausible.
October 6, 2019
Good clean fun
September 27, 2020
Sophie Mae steps into another mystery. I enjoyed the mystery and the writing of this series. I hope we will be able to get more of these in a reading format so I can continue the series.
December 4, 2021
Great book loved it, 2 more in the series to read yet.
July 19, 2022
3.75 stars :-)
December 5, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were several mysteries going on at once that kept me engaged and guessing!
April 28, 2013
For anyone that knows me, I'm not much for mysteries. However, I am trying to expand my horizons and branch out into other styles of writing. I saw this on a free booklist and decided to give it a whirl. I figured since it had somewhat to do with food, how bad could it be?
I was pleasantly surprised with the entire read. The characters were well developed, the story was easy to read, and frankly, not lame. In fact, I was quite taken by the whole thing and really enjoyed myself throughout the whole book. Even trying to solve the mystery before it was over. Ms. McRae did a great job keeping that tidbit to the end.
In Heaven Preserve Us: A Home Crafting Mystery we see Sophie May Reynolds trying to live her entrepreneurial life as soap maker and canning preserves during the and answering the helpline at a local crisis center at night. One night she takes a call from a mysterious suicidal guy who ends up stalking her via phone.
Worse yet, the crisis center is in financial trouble, Sophie Mae's boss mysteriously dies of food poisoning and everyone becomes suspect, including the crisis center secretary! What a mess but oh what fun to watch Sophie sleuth her way through the maize of clues until she finds the culprit.
With the help of her roommates, friends in the preserve exchange and the townsfolk of Cadyville (including Sophie's boyfriend, Detective Ambrose) Sophie stumbles upon a few more things than she bargains for.
I must say that I really enjoyed Heaven Preserve Us: A Home Crafting Mystery by Cricket McRae. It was a fun, quick read and easy to follow. I actually thought this was the first book in the series, but just recently found out that it's the second. I am definitely going back to read the first one before continuing on.
What I liked the most was the recipes and other ideas that Ms. McRae shared with her readers. This one is definitely a keeper!
I was pleasantly surprised with the entire read. The characters were well developed, the story was easy to read, and frankly, not lame. In fact, I was quite taken by the whole thing and really enjoyed myself throughout the whole book. Even trying to solve the mystery before it was over. Ms. McRae did a great job keeping that tidbit to the end.
In Heaven Preserve Us: A Home Crafting Mystery we see Sophie May Reynolds trying to live her entrepreneurial life as soap maker and canning preserves during the and answering the helpline at a local crisis center at night. One night she takes a call from a mysterious suicidal guy who ends up stalking her via phone.
Worse yet, the crisis center is in financial trouble, Sophie Mae's boss mysteriously dies of food poisoning and everyone becomes suspect, including the crisis center secretary! What a mess but oh what fun to watch Sophie sleuth her way through the maize of clues until she finds the culprit.
With the help of her roommates, friends in the preserve exchange and the townsfolk of Cadyville (including Sophie's boyfriend, Detective Ambrose) Sophie stumbles upon a few more things than she bargains for.
I must say that I really enjoyed Heaven Preserve Us: A Home Crafting Mystery by Cricket McRae. It was a fun, quick read and easy to follow. I actually thought this was the first book in the series, but just recently found out that it's the second. I am definitely going back to read the first one before continuing on.
What I liked the most was the recipes and other ideas that Ms. McRae shared with her readers. This one is definitely a keeper!
February 20, 2012
Heaven Preserve Us by Cricket McCrae
Summary: Wine jelly. Watermelon pickles. And a suicidal stalker? Great.
Thirty-something crafter extraordinaire Sophie Mae Reynolds makes preserves by day and answers a crisis center help referral line by night. What better way to help people while still keeping a low profile? But on her very first night, she gets a call from a man who is threatening suicide... and her. Angrily deeming the caller a crank, her boss, Philip Heaven, disconnects the line. Days later, Philip dies from a nasty case of botulism. Now, as a stalker singles out Sophie Mae, Philip's eerie last words keep coming back to haunt her: Threat. Meant it.
Stirring up the town with talk of murder by preserves, can Sophie Mae and her handsome boyfriend Detective Barr Ambrose spoil a mad murderer's poisonous plans?
What I liked about the book: This is just a good solid series. Though I've only read the first two, I enjoyed both of them. I love Sophie Mae. She's a very well developed, strong female character. True, like most cozy mystery detectives she does make some unwise choices that tend to put her in danger, but that is often the nature of the cozy sleuth. I also like that this is a "clean" series. Yes, there's a dead body - it's a mystery. But it's not gory and there is no graphic language. The home crafting tips are an added bonus.
What I didn't like about the book: Can't think of anything. It's a good solid read for cozy mystery lovers.
Summary: Wine jelly. Watermelon pickles. And a suicidal stalker? Great.
Thirty-something crafter extraordinaire Sophie Mae Reynolds makes preserves by day and answers a crisis center help referral line by night. What better way to help people while still keeping a low profile? But on her very first night, she gets a call from a man who is threatening suicide... and her. Angrily deeming the caller a crank, her boss, Philip Heaven, disconnects the line. Days later, Philip dies from a nasty case of botulism. Now, as a stalker singles out Sophie Mae, Philip's eerie last words keep coming back to haunt her: Threat. Meant it.
Stirring up the town with talk of murder by preserves, can Sophie Mae and her handsome boyfriend Detective Barr Ambrose spoil a mad murderer's poisonous plans?
What I liked about the book: This is just a good solid series. Though I've only read the first two, I enjoyed both of them. I love Sophie Mae. She's a very well developed, strong female character. True, like most cozy mystery detectives she does make some unwise choices that tend to put her in danger, but that is often the nature of the cozy sleuth. I also like that this is a "clean" series. Yes, there's a dead body - it's a mystery. But it's not gory and there is no graphic language. The home crafting tips are an added bonus.
What I didn't like about the book: Can't think of anything. It's a good solid read for cozy mystery lovers.
November 5, 2009
This is a weak 4.... it is kind of fun, and I enjoyed it....but after the fact, I realize I don't have any clear impression of either character or plot. I can sit myself down and think aobut it, and recall it, but it isn't one that stands out, that leaves me really wanting more of the characters, etc. Good plane reading, or reading when I am looking for something to read casually.
A reputation as a small town busybody sleuth. A gum-cracking boss who keeps calling her "babe." Now a suicidal phone stalker? Great.
After solving the messy mystery of her neighborhood handyman's lye-induced death, thirty-something Sophie Mae Reynolds makes preserves by day and answers phones at a crisis center by night. What better way to keep a low profile? But on her very first night, Sophie Mae gets a call from a man who is threatening suicide . . . and her. Overhearing the caller's irate outbursts, her morally bankrupt boss Philip Heaven severs the line. As harassing calls to her home increase, Philip comes down with a deadly case of food poisoning. And his eerie last words keep ringing in Sophie Mae's ears: "Threat. Meant it." Now stirring up the town with talk of murder-by-preserves, Sophie Mae and her hunky boyfriend Detective Barr are on a blood-red trail of rancid beets to find and stop the crafty killer.
A reputation as a small town busybody sleuth. A gum-cracking boss who keeps calling her "babe." Now a suicidal phone stalker? Great.
After solving the messy mystery of her neighborhood handyman's lye-induced death, thirty-something Sophie Mae Reynolds makes preserves by day and answers phones at a crisis center by night. What better way to keep a low profile? But on her very first night, Sophie Mae gets a call from a man who is threatening suicide . . . and her. Overhearing the caller's irate outbursts, her morally bankrupt boss Philip Heaven severs the line. As harassing calls to her home increase, Philip comes down with a deadly case of food poisoning. And his eerie last words keep ringing in Sophie Mae's ears: "Threat. Meant it." Now stirring up the town with talk of murder-by-preserves, Sophie Mae and her hunky boyfriend Detective Barr are on a blood-red trail of rancid beets to find and stop the crafty killer.
December 20, 2016
Fairly quick read. Pleasant characters with believable ordinary personalities and circumstances. A nice change of pace from romance novels or grizzly murder mysteries. It's made me take pause at my own canning techniques lest they result in botulism!
January 20, 2013
I've discovered a new genre of fiction, and I'm dubbing it, "Domestic Mysteries." They are murder mysteries where the main character is of the highly domestic type. I love them and that makes me such a nerd!
This first one I found just by chance on the shelf when looking for another book. The main character has a home business selling homemade soaps. (Apparently this is the second in the series, and the first one was more about soap and was called Lye in Wait). In Heaven Preserve Us the mystery revolved around home canning, though it did talk about some of the characters' other domestic forays as well. The main character is volunteering at a local helpline, and after getting a strange call from a suicidal man (that her boss calls a hoax, and hangs up on) she starts getting stalked around town, and her boss ends up dead. I read this one earlier in the summer, and don't remember the story in as much detail, but I definitely remember it getting intense, and wondering how she'd ever make it out alive!
A great bonus is a bunch of recipes in the back of the book for homemade gel air-fresheners, bath tea bags, and other fun products in the book.
This first one I found just by chance on the shelf when looking for another book. The main character has a home business selling homemade soaps. (Apparently this is the second in the series, and the first one was more about soap and was called Lye in Wait). In Heaven Preserve Us the mystery revolved around home canning, though it did talk about some of the characters' other domestic forays as well. The main character is volunteering at a local helpline, and after getting a strange call from a suicidal man (that her boss calls a hoax, and hangs up on) she starts getting stalked around town, and her boss ends up dead. I read this one earlier in the summer, and don't remember the story in as much detail, but I definitely remember it getting intense, and wondering how she'd ever make it out alive!
A great bonus is a bunch of recipes in the back of the book for homemade gel air-fresheners, bath tea bags, and other fun products in the book.
January 19, 2013
Awesome book. Great characters. Interesting story. Was glad to see the recipes at the end, though was hoping to see the sawdust muffin recipe though. Also was hoping to have B move in at the end and E to win and someone to hook up with the cute handymen.... But overall a satisfying read. Oh there were a couple grammar spelling issues in the digital edition, none major or confusing like I've seen in other digital versions of books. Oh, is there a way to pick a digital edition on the app?
And thanks to the author and and amazon and kindle for letting me download a free copy. That was some time ago though, so if you're reading this now don't get your hopes up that it's still free. IM not saying it won't be, but IM not saying it will be either.
Holy crap is the good reads app and mobile browser version ever a pain in the assto use. the typing takes five minutes to spell a word and constantl.comy behind. forget about correcting spelling or grammar .... its too painfyl.
And thanks to the author and and amazon and kindle for letting me download a free copy. That was some time ago though, so if you're reading this now don't get your hopes up that it's still free. IM not saying it won't be, but IM not saying it will be either.
Holy crap is the good reads app and mobile browser version ever a pain in the assto use. the typing takes five minutes to spell a word and constantl.comy behind. forget about correcting spelling or grammar .... its too painfyl.
June 30, 2010
I really liked this book. I have read quite a few cozies and began getting tired of the way the main character would stumble into solving the mystery. In this book it is handled so much more grown up and realistic. Not contrived at all.. The character actually has reason to go looking for clues and hunting down truth. and it is not done in a busybody annoying way,it is well handled. This author writes this Genre very different from the others I have read. I cant say enough about how she handles the 'Amateur Sleuth'.
The only downside is I had an idea early on who the murderer was but I enjoyed the book anyway.
I also learnt a thing or two... There is a recipe for making Gel home air fresheners in the back ! I will have a go at these.
And will be adding other books by this author to my TBR pile!
The only downside is I had an idea early on who the murderer was but I enjoyed the book anyway.
I also learnt a thing or two... There is a recipe for making Gel home air fresheners in the back ! I will have a go at these.
And will be adding other books by this author to my TBR pile!
January 6, 2015
I found Sophie Mae to be a very unlikeable character from the get go. One problem is that the author lets us in on way too many of her sarcastic and self-involved thoughts. Sometimes it's much better to not know what the character is thinking especially if she's an unkind person.
In this case Sophie Mae is working a crisis line. I was put off right away when she gets a call from someone who's talking about suicide and her thought refers to the person as melodramatic. This is not a woman who should be on a crisis line. She obviously has no empathy and little or no training.
I tried to finish, but couldn't. When I don't like a character's character, it's hard to stick around to see what happens.
In this case Sophie Mae is working a crisis line. I was put off right away when she gets a call from someone who's talking about suicide and her thought refers to the person as melodramatic. This is not a woman who should be on a crisis line. She obviously has no empathy and little or no training.
I tried to finish, but couldn't. When I don't like a character's character, it's hard to stick around to see what happens.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2016
The second book was as much fun as the first, though this time the main characters involvement in the mystery felt a bit more forced and some of her choices, as well as the reactions of the people in her life grated on my nerves as unrealistic in the real world. That is often the biggest downside to cozy mysteries for me, it is hard to justify the same person getting involved in so many mysteries in a small community that you just have to suspend disbelief and move on.
That said though I really enjoyed the character development and the mystery itself was interesting and was resolved nicely, both of which more than made up for any shortfalls elsewhere for me.
That said though I really enjoyed the character development and the mystery itself was interesting and was resolved nicely, both of which more than made up for any shortfalls elsewhere for me.
October 24, 2009
I'm fond of schlocky mysteries--so sue me!
There's some oddness (the main character is the boarder in a house run by a single mom, and one of her duties is to help raise the child?), and the depiction of a middle-aged romance is actually really depressing, but hey, it's a mystery that incorporates home canning--how much more can you ask of it?
Also? Loving the recipes! I am absolutely going to make wine jelly, AND the air fresheners(if I can figure out a vegan substitute for the gelatin). I may even read another book in this series, as well.
But only for the recipes.
There's some oddness (the main character is the boarder in a house run by a single mom, and one of her duties is to help raise the child?), and the depiction of a middle-aged romance is actually really depressing, but hey, it's a mystery that incorporates home canning--how much more can you ask of it?
Also? Loving the recipes! I am absolutely going to make wine jelly, AND the air fresheners(if I can figure out a vegan substitute for the gelatin). I may even read another book in this series, as well.
But only for the recipes.
August 21, 2011
Sophie Mae Reynolds is such a likeable character, I cannot resist this series of mysteries. They are well written, in very contemporary, non-fussy language, with a group of characters that one could actually imagine knowing. Sophie gets herself into situations that anyone of us might, so they are not hard to believe. Even the crimes don't seem far-fetched as they do in lots of mysteries. One only need be able to believe that the screwballs of the world who live next-door, cross the line. This is a quick, fun read. Enjoy!
January 31, 2013
Sophie Mae owns her own crafting business selling homemade soaps, scrubs, teas etc. She also volunteers at a local crisis hotline. When the hotline's boss dies, the police believe it's an accident. So, Sophie Mae investigates it as a murder herself.
Heaven Preserve Us is a very standard, kind of "homey" mystery. There is nothing overly exciting and there is nothing too offensive either. If you are looking for an easy read, it is a good one to pick up on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It's an especially good pick since it is Free on Amazon!
3/5 stars.
Heaven Preserve Us is a very standard, kind of "homey" mystery. There is nothing overly exciting and there is nothing too offensive either. If you are looking for an easy read, it is a good one to pick up on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It's an especially good pick since it is Free on Amazon!
3/5 stars.
May 15, 2012
This was a fun read about Sophie Mae Reynolds, the home crafter. At night time she answers a local crisis hot line. Her first night there she has a phone conversation that leads to her being stalked. In the meantime there is an outbreak of botulism in the neighborhood. Sophie Mae begins investigating when local police do not take the siutation seriosuly. The story was entertaining and the recipes for bath fizzies, wine jelly, etc were a nice bonus
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews