Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton is the first book in the new “Farmers’ Market” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), April 2010
Becca Robins leads a simple life, making jams and preserves on her very own farm. But when there’s a murder in her quaint little town, she puts herself in the line of fire to defend her friend’s innocence—and goes from making jam to being in one.
Becca is late for her stall time at Bailey’s Farmers’ Market. By the time she arrives, the normally lush and lively market has turned into a crime scene, with a murdered peach vendor as the featured item of the day.
Cranky old Abner Justen sells wildflowers and is like a father to Becca. It seems he’s also the number one suspect, seen arguing with the victim just days before. As Becca seeks the truth, she comes to realize that life in the friendly farmers’ market is filled with bushels of secrets and deceit. To preserve her own life, she’ll have to sniff out the murderer before he spoils the market for everyone.
This was an okay read, despite being a bit more descriptive than I like. We meet Becca who sells her products at the farmers’ market that her twin sister manages. When a dead body is discovered and the prime suspect is one of the vendors, Becca gets involved in investigating the murder.
*new-to-me author