Book 64, 2025

[chez_jae]

Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


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I finished my work book at lunch today. It was Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton, and it’s the first in her “Farmers’ Market” series of cozy mysteries. The main character is Becca Robins, who owns a small farm and sells her produce and preserves at the market.

Becca is keeping busy with creating jams and preserves from her produce, selling at the market, and helping her twin sister get ready for an upcoming dinner to celebrate all the vendors at the market. When one of the vendors is murdered at the market and Becca’s friend, Abner, is considered the prime suspect, she can’t help but get involved. Abner wouldn’t harm a fly, and Becca aims to prove it. Soon she’s asking questions, visiting other vendors at their homes, and traveling to another market. Becca uncovers an old love quadrangle, and she can’t help but feel it holds the key to the current crime, if only she can figure out how the pieces fit.

I liked this for the most part. The farmers’ market was a new angle (for me), Becca has a couple romantic interests, and the narrative unfolded in a sensible fashion. It would have been nice to see less sleuthing from Becca and more of her living life. Characters were three-dimensional, including her dog, Hobbit. My enjoyment of the book was lessened by the foolish (read “stupid”) things Becca did in her zeal to prove Abner innocent.

Favorite line: She was old enough to have gotten over the need to have everyone like her all the time.

Average cozy mystery, average score of three.


1. Does the mc work at/as one of the following: baker/bakery/sweet shop/tea shop/coffee shop, library/librarian, antique/vintage shop, book store, fashion/boutique, bed & breakfast? No, she sells produce at a farmers’ market
2. Does the mc live at her (or his) place of occupation? No
3. Is the love interest involved in law enforcement? (Police officer, sheriff, detective, PI, FBI) One of them, yes
4. Does the mc have a dog/cat as a pet? Yes, she has a dog
5. Is the mc's BFF either a gay guy or a ditzy/zany woman? No
6. Did the mc find the body? No
7. Did the mc wind up in mortal danger at the end of the book? Yes
8. Is the mc's mother either: dead, absent, far removed, ditzy and dithering, or overbearing/disapproving/meddling? Yes, she’s absent
9. If mother is dead/absent, does the mc have another mother-figure (grandmother, aunt, mom's friend, or an older friend)? No
10. Is the mc child-free? (Either no children or else grown children--i.e. no small children to look after) Yes