Blossom Valley, West Virginia, is home to Smythe Orchards, Winnie and her Granny’s beloved twenty-five-acre farm and family business. But any way you slice it, it’s struggling. That’s why they’re trying to drum up business with the “First Annual Christmas at the Orchard,” a good old-fashioned holiday festival with enough delicious draw to satisfy apple-picking locals and cider-loving tourists alike—until the whole endeavor takes a sour turn when the body of Nadine Cooper, Granny’s long-time, grudge-holding nemesis, is found lodged in the apple press. Now, with Granny the number one suspect, Winnie is hard-pressed to prove her innocence before the real killer delivers another murder . . .[summary via Amazon]
Welcome to Blossom Valley, West Virginia, where the sun shines over the mountains and across the farms. However, not all is perfect in Blossom Valley and the population is about to be one less... Winnie Montgomery is trying to help her grandmother save the struggling Smythe Orchards. To help during their slow season, she is planning a Christmas festival. However, what isn't in her plan is finding a dead body in their barn. With the new Sheriff trying to peg the crime on her grandmother, Winnie must solve the mystery and keep the farm from going under!
Apple Cider Slaying is the first in a new series from Julie Anne Lindsey, who also writes the Kitty Couture Mysteries as Julie Chase. With Apple Cider Slaying she delivers an intriguing mystery surrounding an apple orchard, that evolves into one of the most heart-felt mysteries I've read in a while.
What makes this series so special is the relationship between Winnie and her grandparents. Winnie has been raised by her grandparents, after being abandoned by her mother. The love between Winnie and her grandmother, Granny Smythe, shines through the pages, and as I read the story I wished I had a Granny Smythe in my life. Julie Anne Lindsey has perfectly captured the relationship between them, and I think readers are going to cherish these two long after they turn the last page.
The mystery itself is very compelling. I read over 100 cozy mystery novels a year, and I love it when I'm completely stumped and have no clue who the killer is. This happened with Apple Cider Slaying. Right up to the "big reveal" I was stumbling in the dark trying to figure out who wanted the bossy, annoying Nadine Cooper dead.
Apple Cider Slaying will definitely be hitting my Top 5 favourite books of 2019. Beyond the mystery and wonderful relationship between Winnie and Granny Smythe, I can see there is a lot more to unravel in future books. I'm excited to dig into the lives of the residents of Blossom Valley again, and see what kind of adventures they go on!
If you're looking for the perfect holiday read pick up Apple Cider Slaying. It's got adventure, a little romance, intrigue and two cute feline sidekicks. However, this book comes with a warning.... it is so good you will want to finish it in one day (I did!) and want to eat apple pie and drink cider while you do (I did this too!)
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