Dyeing Season by Karen MacInerney is the fifth book in the “Dewberry Farm” cozy culinary mystery series. Publisher: Gray Whale Press, March 30, 2019

The eggs aren’t the only things dyeing in Buttercup. . .

It’s springtime on Dewberry Farm, and homesteader Lucy Resnick is busy putting together her wares for the Easter Market. She’s just finished potting the last of her herb starts when a tornado rips through her farm, destroying her crops, scattering her livestock and tearing up the barn. As Lucy searches for two kids lost in the storm, she makes a grisly discovery: her neighbor’s home health aide, Eva, strangled with a hand-knitted scarf.

While investigating the young woman’s death, Lucy discovers that blood isn’t always thicker than water. . . and that somebody may be taking advantage of the town’s more vulnerable citizens. When a second body turns up, drowned in a vat of dye, the whole town is walking on eggshells. Will Lucy find the killer in time?

Or has dyeing season just begun?

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Karen MacInerney knows how to tell a story that will pull you in never letting go until the last page is read. Lucy in all her inquisitiveness, wants to know why Eva was murdered and who is trying to take advantage of her neighbor. When another person is found dead, Lucy is more than determined to solve this puzzling case.

This was a fast paced and easy read that I devoured in one sitting. The mystery was nicely planned to give you just enough of a taste to keep me glued to all that was happening. This character-driven tale makes me feel like I’m part of the action – I’m there helping Lucy look for her critter and looking for clues. With a few surprising nuggets of strategically placed twists, the killer’s identity becomes apparent as one by one the suspect pool shrinks until there was only one person standing. This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more adventures with Lucy and her friends.