Dru’s Short Musing:
Going home to reassess her life finds Macki a prime suspect when a competitor is found dead with Macki standing over her dead body holding her pastry knife.
This fast-paced and well-written whodunit quicky became a page-turner as I had to know who was doing what to whom. The author knows how to tell a story that had me completely immersed in what was happening. An intriguing mystery perfect for this cozy reader with a bucket list of suspects, a few twists and turns that kept me in the game. Between the baking contest, her parents’ suspicious accident, the land developer, and the murder, Macki had her hands full as she tried to navigate which steps to take. It was great watching Macki’s self-journey as her confidence grew. I love that the siblings were named after apples. With a great cast of characters, engaging conversations and a small-town atmosphere, this was a culinary delight. I look forward to what happens next as we still have a mystery to solve. Overall, an enjoyable read and a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre.
Series: A Cider Falls Orchard Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: August 25, 2026
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Book Synopsis:
For lovers of everything cozy and fall time, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall brings all the autumn vibes to a brand new series featuring a family of Washington State apple orchard owners who become entangled in a murder investigation…
In the foothills of Washington’s Cascade mountains, the Smith family’s Cider Falls Orchard is at its busiest amid the bustling autumn season—but when murder enters the mix, one bad apple may have spoiled the whole barrel . . .
If you care for the land, the land will care for you.
For generations, that’s been the Smith family’s motto. Between hayrides, apple picking, bonfires, and tasty apple treats, their Cider Falls Orchard provides an autumn bounty that draws locals and tourists alike. And now, Mcintosh “Macki” Smith—named after an apple variety, just like her siblings—is home too, after a bad breakup.
Macki is glad to be on hand when her parents are sidelined by an accident, and she’s even been persuaded to enter the Cider Falls Festival’s prestigious baking competition with her famous double crust apple pie. But someone has taken the contest to deadly serious levels . . .
It seems there are plenty of surprising motives for murder, especially after Macki learns that a crooked developer wants to buy and demolish the orchard—which makes her parents’ accident increasingly suspicious. But serving up the real killer will put her in unexpected danger, because someone in this picture-perfect town finds murder as easy as pie . . .
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.