My name is Albert St. Pierre, and I was never so happy to lose a farm. Let me explain.
My late wife Marie and I grew the usual assortment of New England summer crops on our small property for many years together. We planted one field to sweet corn, another to squashes, and raised up a great many tomatoes and peppers. We produced some darn tasty sweet onions, too. Folks weren’t so keen on salads at that time, so that wasn’t part of the mix and nobody but my Italian friend Vinnie had much use for garlic.
My Marie, she had the green thumb with flowers. Why, back in the day her perennial garden was the envy of the county, and she also had a way with annuals like zinnias and sweet peas. We raised chickens for some twenty-odd years, too, but they finally got too smelly for us. Their eggs surely were tasty, though.
But Marie passed about three years ago now, and then my consarned foot had to be amputated from the diabetes. So when our great-niece Cammy got laid off her job as a programmer, I thought she just might want to take over Attic Hill Farm as a change of pace. She grew up summering with us, she’s always been a smart cookie, and she absorbed a good bit of farming knowledge along the way. She’s already gathered quite the group of regular customers, even some of those nutty ones who call themselves locavores. It’s a shame she’s had to run into a murder or two in the last year, but she managed to use that brain of hers to figure out who did it before even the police did.
I spend my days now in the lap of luxury over at Moran Manor Assisted Living. I have a nice big sunny room, a kitchenette, a computer, and a whole raft of folks who do the cooking and cleaning. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean and friendly. You ought to stop by and join me for a meal or a mean game of Scrabble. I’d welcome you.
You can read more about Albert and Cam in Til Dirt Do Us Part, the second book in the “Local Foods” mystery series, published by Kensington. The first book in the series is A Tine to Live, a Tine to Die. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
In the second Local Foods mystery, Til Dirt Do Us Part (May, 2014), the growing season is winding down and the fall days are cold and dark. The produce is local – and so is the crime – when long-simmering tensions lead to murder following a farm-to-table dinner on Cameron Flaherty’s farm. It’ll take a sleuth who knows the lay of the land to catch this killer. But no one ever said Cam wasn’t willing to get her hands dirty.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on May 30, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of TIL DIRT DO US PART. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Former organic farmer Edith Maxwell writes the Local Foods Mysteries about farmer Cam Flaherty, a Locavore Club, and locally sourced murder (Kensington Publishing). Under the pseudonym Tace Baker she writes the Speaking of Mystery series (Barking Rain Press), featuring Quaker linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau in small-town Massachusetts. Edith holds a PhD in linguistics and is a long-time Quaker. She also writes award-winning short crime fiction. A technical writer and fourth-generation Californian, she lives north of Boston.
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I sure would stop by and see Albert if I could. I love Scrabble!
Thank you for the chance to win – this looks like a fun book.
I love cozies that are based in New England, I spent many summers there
Would love to win this
Thank you for the opportunity to win 🙂
The first one is on my t-b-r list. Time for me to get at it!
As I said on Edith’s Facebook page, Cam and her friends are a great read. I love serials because the characters, and sometimes settings, are familiar with each new story.
What I liked most was the easy manner in which Edith integrated the organic farming – and rescue chickens – into the story. I know that it most likely was not easy to do that while keeping the pace of the story going – but she made it LOOK easy!
Sounds really good.
i like his style.
Albert, I’m happy retirement agrees with you! I know Cammy is doing a bangup job with the farm! I look forward to reading all about it.
The book sounds kind of sad but also very interesting. I would enjoy reading about the vegetables are well as the murder. Thanks for this chance to win it.
It’s nice to meet you Albert and I look forward to reading about Attic Hill Farm, thank you for the chance to win.
Love the play on words title. 🙂
Count me in.
Thanks Albert, that was a great little vignette, I’m not that good at Scrabble so you’d probably beat the tar out of me. I also can’t imagine how you put up with chickens for 20 years. Too dumb and smelly for me. I’d rather raise pigs any day. Thanks for the chance to win the book.
I grew up on a farm. I remember being out on the field with my mom, dad, brother and sister. When we would get hungry we would eat whatever vegetable we were picking at the time. Talk about fresh vegetables. lol
Stop by your local nursing home or senior center. You will be glad you did. These folks have a lot to offer.
Albert,I like your little story and would like to read more about Cam and your farm. Thanks for the offer.
Love the play on words title. 🙂
Count me in.
(Used the wrong email address above)
My best friend has an organic family farm inside the DC beltway–and that’s not easy these days in this heavily populated area. She’s always working against the powers that be who want her land for a city dump, or commercial real estate, or a shopping mall, BUT this farm has existed since before the Civil War, and if she has any say in it, it will remain around for a good long time. And yes, she sometimes takes rescue animals. Best of all, we get yummy organic blueberries by the bucket load, which we freeze and use all winter long. My husbands favorite food!!
Now, she has yet to find a dead body on that farm,and we’d like to keep it that way. BUT, as a story in a cozy—what fun!!! Would love to get this book to read and review. Yeah for the organic farm and cozy writers!!!!!!!
Albert sounds like a great guy. I think finding bodies all around might interfere with the focus of growing wonderful things. Sounds like a terrific story.
Farming and even gardening can be a LOT of work. I’d rather just read! Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Thanks Dru for yet another awesome review and introduction to a new-to-me-author and series!
sxygrndma48(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am not at all familiar with this author and it sounds like I should be. Thank you for highlighting this book and for the giveaway.
My mom grew up on a small farm. My grandfather retired by the time I was a child and kept enough ground to grow veggies for family and friends. I loved picking tomatoes, corn etc. with him. I’d love to read this book!
this is on my tbr list
Very interesting concept for a cozy. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to win this book. I’m currently reading the first book A Tine To Live, A Time To Die. Great series.
This sounds so good – thanks for the great introduction!!
This looks like a fun series! Thanks for the chance to win!
This looks like a really fun read! I am always looking for new (to me) authors, and just added Edith Maxwell to my list!
Sounds like a good read—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
This series sounds fun.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
Who knew farming could be so deadly! 🙂
I’m halfway through the first book, Tine To Live, A Tine to Die….and it is AWESOME !!!!! Add book 2 to my Goodreads Book
Challenge !!
Some of my fondest memories was visiting my great grandmother on her farm. 😀
I love eating fresh food from my garden, but I mainly grow herbs and fruits. I don’t have the knack for veggies. I always wanted chickens too-I love getting farm fresh eggs!
Thank you for a chance to winTil Dirt Do Us Part. This book sounds interesting.
Wow, all these wonderful commenters! Thanks to all who added me to your list. And mostly thanks to Dru Ann, the cozy mystery’s biggest fan.
Thanks Edith.
Would love a chance to win this book and have a visit with Albert.
Loved the first one& looking forward to this. Mom’s family were farmers and Dad’s father owned horse ranch ( also cattle, wheat, & hogs).
would love to start this series!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
another one on my “to get and read” list!
wow this books sounds very good. I can’t wait to add this to my Goodreads!
I love Edith’s books and would love to own this one for sure. Thanks for the opportunity.
Cynthia
I enjoyed the first one. Gets me in the mood for the local farmer’s markets. Thanks
contest is closed.