Strawberries and Crime

Firstly I must point out that I had some difficulties reading this book which probably affected my enjoyment of it a little. The ARC I received for my Kindle had letters missing from the text - everywhere and all through the book. I could work out what words should have been but it did throw me out of the story a bit. I struggled with 'ba fled' for ages until the context suggested it should have read 'baffled.'<br /><br />I guessed baffled was what I was but I persevered. There was a good story in there, set in the countryside, on and around the Finn Family strawberry farm. Charlotte Finn is the main character and owner of the farm and there are a number of friends and locals who feature too. Plus I must not forget the baby pig who aids in the investigation work and is called Horse because he eats like one.<br /><br />The mystery is solid, the characters are all okay, the pig is a little over the top and the book turns out to be a satisfactory read. <br /><br />Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Charlotte Finn had settled into life on the Finn Family Farm and was happy in her surroundings, until blight started attacking the strawberries. Only one farm in the area didn’t seem to be affected, and when the cantankerous old farmer was found hanging in his barn, Charlotte and Boyd thought it was suicide. But it didn’t take long before it was proven to be a murder. The Chief of Police was doing her best under trying circumstances, while Charlotte was investigating on the side. <br /><br />I was initially attracted to the cover of this book, and although I haven’t read the first in the series, I found <i>Strawberries and Crime</i> by Elle Brooke White easy enough to get into. But in my opinion, the story and writing were mediocre at best. I found myself annoyed with Charlotte and her followers – they seemed childish and immature. And a comment by one of the characters – “This isn’t a farm, it’s a zoo without cages” – seemed spot on to me. A pig called Horse; a ladybeetle called Mrs Robinson; it was more along the lines of a children’s book in my opinion. Not for me I’m afraid.<br /><br />With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.<br />

Awesome farm-theme cozy mystery. I SO enjoy the little pink pig who’s as smart as Einstein, in my opinion! And, how cute is it that his bestie is an itty-bitty ladybug named Mrs. Robinson?! They live on the Finn Family Farm with Charlotte Finn who is struggling to bring the farm out of debt with a healthy crop of strawberries. Sadly, the local farmers are in an uproar reporting blight and damage to their strawberry patches. Fights break out as they begin to suspect and accuse each other. Charlotte and the rest of the Finn farm tribe set out to gather information to see if they can find a common denominator between all the problems with the crops.<br /><br />Fun story filled with interesting facts, cute farm animals (and owls), great descriptions and dialogue, excellent supporting characters, and the latest criminal technology that is amazing! This is such an excellent cozy series (don’t miss book one!). I also really like Chief Teresa Goodacre, who’s an honest law official and a practical woman. The bad guys are really mean doublecrossers. Charlotte’s best friends, Beau (who’s a hoot!), and Diane (who’s cooking keeps everyone fed), stick by her as staunch supporters. Diane’s new farm-to-table restaurant is ready to open. The ending may surprise some readers. I highly recommend this story.<br /><br />I honestly reviewed an unedited, digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own. Thank you.<br />

<i>Strawberries and Crime</i> is book 2 of <i>Elle Brooke White's</i> Finn Family Farm Mystery series. Although I didn't read book 1, Dead on the Vine, I soon got into this novel and Charlotte's life on the Finn Family Farm, left to her by her Great Uncle Tobias. Set in Southern California among the hills of the Santa Barbara Mountains, Charlotte is a likeable protagonist, albeit a bit impulsive in her sleuthing. The author surrounds her with a great cast of secondary characters including Horse, Charlotte's pet pig. He has been adorned with humanlike qualities allowing him his own mannerisms making him, for me, the star of the show. The mystery is weaved throughout the story and took some unravelling as I considered the suspects on offer. Chief Theresa Goodacre is a hands on, no nonsense law enforcement officer that doesn't suffer fools and keeps Charlotte in check. All in all, a great cozy with a surprise finale.<br /><br /><i>I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.</i><br />

Strawberries and Crime is book 2 of the Finn Family Farm Mystery Series.<br /><br />Charlotte and her sleuthing baby pig are back on the scene to solve another mystery. The farm is finally running smoothly due in part to caretakers Joe and Alice, and farmer Sam. However, a body is found and it's not what it seems. Of course, Chief Goodacre suspects foul play. and unfortunately, it's Charlotte boyfriend.<br /><br />There is enough twists and turns to keep you wanting more. Great loveable characters and a surprise ending.

This is a fun cozy mystery. The human characters are interesting and likable and the farm animal characters are adorable. The mystery is well written with plenty of suspects and red herrings. I look forward to reading more in this series. <br /><br />All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

I love the subtle humor of having a mini pig named Horse who understands and even sleeps with main character Charlotte Finn! I did read the first book, but I think that this one can stand alone. Charlotte left the ad world in Chicago when her relative left her a strawberry farm in northern California and two of her childhood friends came along to follow their own dreams. But there is crop sabotage, a murder, a sheriff who is wise to Charlotte's (and Horse's) sleuthing, and an assortment of suspects. The whodunit is a good one and the characters certainly are. No need for spoilers or plot summary, just enjoy some time away from reality with this one! Loved it!<br />I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I fell in love with the first book, Dead on the Vine, in the Finn Family Farm Mystery series by Elle Brooke White and couldn't wait for the next book and it is finally here !! Strawberries and Crime is full of entertaining stories and lovable people and a farm and community that you will want to be a part of !!<br /><br />Charlotte Finn is the main character in this series and she has inherited her great-uncle's farm in Little Acorn. Not only did she inherit the farm but the people and the animals associated with it are her responsiblility as well....and one animal in particular she couldn't get rid of no matter what....and that is Horse, her trusty companion and all around know-it-all protector the pig.<br /><br />In Strawberries and Crime the farm is alive with activity as Charlotte's childhood best friend Diane is building and working on opening a farm to table restaurant on property on the farm and everyone is doing whatever they can to help. Unfortunately Charlotte is pulled in a different direction when some of the strawberry crop starts dying and she finds out that hers isn't the only farm having this trouble. Then when her and Beau, Diane's brother as well as Charlotte's dear friend, meet up with some other farmers and there's an argument between Beau and another farmer, Linc, things go downhill quickly. And when Beau and Charlotte go to Linc's farm to apologize, they find him dead hanging in his barn. It doesn't take Chief Goodacre long to realize that it was murder and the murderer staged it to look like suicide and Beau was the last person to have a confrontation with him.<br /><br />Even though Charlotte should be tending to her strawberry plants and helping Diane get the restaurant ready to open, she is pulled into looking into Linc's death....she has to for Beau's sake. With the help of Horse and friend and farmhand Samuel, they decide to find out who would benefit from damaging other farmers crops and getting rid of Linc. Luckily Beau is taken off the suspect list early in the investigation, however, Diane's contractor Danny is taken in for Linc's murder. Diane and Danny have been getting to know each other on the personal level and she knows that even though he has a temper, he wouldn't have harmed Linc. <br /><br />Charlotte, Samuel and Horse work as a team looking into Linc's murder but it seems the suspect list gets longer rather than shorter and they seem to be fighting an uphill battle......<br /><br />Readers will LOVE this series with the unique characters.....especially Horse the pig and the relationship that he has with Charlotte. Readers will love the setting and want to move to the farm to partake in all the fun....but I'm sure you will want to steer clear of the murder...if you can help it !!!

Charlotte Finn inherited the Finn Family Farm from her late uncle. At first, she was going to sell it and go back to her job in Chicago, but after being there for a while decided she wanted to stay and make the farm profitable. She's repaired the pond she used to swim in, made additions, and now her best friend Diane Mason is getting ready to open a farm-to-table restaurant on the farm. Her crops are doing well, and she's pleased. <br /><br />At least until she and Diane's brother Beau go into town and hear some of the other farm owners talking about the strawberry blight. While she doesn't have it herself, she wants to know what is going on. After Beau gets into an altercation with Linc Pierce, they leave. The next day Beau wants to make amends and he and Charlotte go to Linc's farm only to find him dead. While it looks like suicide at first, it's soon found to be a homicide. With Beau the main suspect, Charlotte is determined to prove his innocence. Especially when she finds something horrifying on her farm, and clues all around her. Now if she can just discover what they mean...<br /><br />This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it much more than the first (sorry). The characters are a little bit more fleshed out, and the story line is very good. We go with Charlotte and gather clues along the way, hoping to find the trail of a killer. We also find that Samuel, her farmer, is along and willing to help, if only to keep her out of trouble. She has her own ideas on how to figure out who is ruining everyone's strawberry plants, and she's going to do something about it, even if it does get her into trouble.<br /><br />Sheriff Goodacre likes Charlotte, but refuses to share information -- unless Charlotte has something that's worth sharing with her. Their rapport is also excellent, and I like the fact that the sheriff doesn't dismiss Charlotte out of hand deciding that she's 'just rambling on.' She actually listens to her and follows leads when necessary.<br /><br />When we come to the climax and the murderer is revealed, it's a rather interesting one. It occurs at the same time as another event, and mixing the two together seems to work somehow. While I don't see a third book in the planning, I do hope that the author follows through and writes one. Recommended.<br /><br />I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.<br />

Charlotte Finn is finding her footing as a farmer, growing strawberries and tomatoes on the Finn Family Farm. With her career in big city advertising in the rear view mirror she is settled down and shares the farm with BFF Diane, her brother Beau, farmer Sam, Alice and her husband, Joe. As a team they work hard to keep the farm running smoothly since Charlotte inherited it from her uncle. They have high hopes for the upcoming strawberry season since Charlotte introduced her You Pick'em method of selling the crop to help them save money. It's not long before there are storm clouds on their horizon. While making a stop at the town garden center she and Beau stumble into a heated argument in the parking lot. Farmers are agitated and throwing around opinions about a strange blight that is affecting their strawberry crops. If it can't be stopped the season will be wiped out. One man is the loudest and gets in Beau's face before he leaves. When he later turns up dead suspicion turns to Beau. Knowing Beau wouldn't hurt a fly, Charlotte and her friends set out to unmask the killer.<br />The setting of Acorn, California is a true cozy small town. The mystery was a complex enough puzzle to keep me engaged to the end but the real draw of this series is Horse. He is the sweetest and the smartest little pink pig in the mystery genre. Where most main characters have a dog or cat as their "sidekick" Charlotte has Horse and they are an outstanding team. (He's named Horse because he eats like one) <br />My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.