Title: Apple Cider Slaying

Author: Julie Anne Lindsey

Publisher: Kensington

Publication Date: October 29, 2019

Page Count: 320

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

About the book:

Apples are at the core of the family business run by Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe. But this year’s crop is unseasonably ripe with murder . . .

ONE ROTTEN APPLE
 
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 . . .

Apple Cider Slaying by Julie Anne Lindsey is the first book in the new cozy A Cider Shop Mystery series. As with most cozy series each book should have it’s own mystery completely solved within and only carry over the character development.

Winona Mae Montgomery is doing her best to help her Granny Smythe save the family business, Smythe Orchards, located in Blossom Valley, West Virginia. The orchard has been  barely getting by so Winnie is excited to bring in some fresh, new and hopefully money making ideas for the business.

Winnie and her granny have the  orchard hopping with it’s First Annual Christmas at the Orchard. With customers everywhere on the property Winnie hopes it’s the perfect time to pitch another of her ideas to the bank but as she and the loan officer scope out the property during Winnie’s pitch they walk in on the body of Granny Smythe’s long time rival Nadine Cooper.

Apple Cider Slaying was a solid opening to a new cozy series. Being the first of the series I was of course just getting used to the characters and setting so while they were nice enough I wouldn’t say it overly stood out from the myriad of other cozies out there just yet. However, I did like this opener enough to  rate it at 3 1/2 stars and would continue on with book two.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Find this book online: 

Goodreads  /   Amazon

About the author:

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. When she’s not creating new worlds and organizing the epic adventures of fictional characters, Julie can be found carpooling her three kids around Northeastern Ohio and plotting with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Visit her online at http://www.JulieAnneLindsey.com.