Scan barcode
hirvimaki's review
2.0
Er, what? What? I enjoyed the first farm-to-fork mystery enough (3 stars) to read the next in the series. Sadly, I felt this one fell flat. The mystery wasn't. The clues weren't. And the cast of characters were just bizarre in a cartoonish way. There was not a single piece of believable dialogue and the portrayal of a minority community was poorly handled and seemed smooshed into the tale for the sake of adding some colour to the plot. I really wanted to like this series but I won't be picking up the next one.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
Killer Green Tomatoes by Lynn Cahoon is the second story in A Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. Angie Turner is the co-owner as well as the head chef at County Seat. She has been trying to recreate her Nona’s fried green tomato recipe for the restaurant, but she has yet to get it exactly right. Estebe Blackstone, Angie’s sous chef, knowing that Angie is looking for good produce suppliers recommends Pamplona Farms which is run by his cousin, Javier Easterly. Javier is quite the flirt and is known for his rotating girlfriends. The produce, though, is exceptional and Angie is excited to create new dishes for the County Seat with the fresh veggies. One day Estebe gets a call at work from an agitated Javier. His latest girlfriend, Heather was found murdered behind the Red Eye Saloon after a very public disagreement. Javier is accused of the crime and Estebe asks Angie for her assistance. Angie will need to work in her investigating in between managing the restaurant, filling in for Estebe, making sure her farm animals get fed and taking care of her temporary roommate. Erica, Mrs. Potter’s granddaughter, has the chance to take a vacation in Cabo, but she needs someone to take care of Mrs. Potter. Angie agrees to watch out of for her elderly neighbor despite her misgivings. Angie is in for a busy and entertaining week. Things are heating up and Angie needs to be careful or she will get burned.
I enjoyed reading Killer Green Tomatoes. I like the author’s conversational writing style and the engaging characters that she created. Angie is a smart, hardworking woman who is getting her new business off the ground. I find Angie to be a likeable and relatable main character with her unusual pets of Mabel, the chicken and Precious, the goat as well as the lovable, Dom (her St. Bernard puppy). Mrs. Harriet Potter is a delightful addition to the series. I am glad that she had a more prominent role in Killer Green Tomatoes. Mrs. Potter provided levity with her well-meaning antics (you will have to read the book to find out what I mean). Angie’s romance with Ian is progressing. I appreciate that the author is not rushing their relationship. They are taking the time to get to know each other. Working in time for dates is difficult, though, with their busy schedules and the pesky murders. The mystery was well-plotted and is woven throughout the story. The author manages to combine the cozy and mystery elements, so they are balanced. If you are an avid reader of cozy mysteries (like me), then you will not have a problem arriving at the solution. There are many cozy moments in Killer Green Tomatoes with friendship, animals, cooking, romance, mishaps, creating new recipes and, of course, eating. I like how everyone who works at the restaurant comes together for a meal each week. It gives all the workers a chance to try the food and get to know each other. Killer Green Tomatoes can be read as a standalone. Personally, I would read Who Moved My Goat Cheese? prior to Killer Green Tomatoes. It will allow you to see the development of the characters and the restaurant. My rating for Killer Green Tomatoes is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There is a recipe for fried green tomatoes at the end of the book.
I enjoyed reading Killer Green Tomatoes. I like the author’s conversational writing style and the engaging characters that she created. Angie is a smart, hardworking woman who is getting her new business off the ground. I find Angie to be a likeable and relatable main character with her unusual pets of Mabel, the chicken and Precious, the goat as well as the lovable, Dom (her St. Bernard puppy). Mrs. Harriet Potter is a delightful addition to the series. I am glad that she had a more prominent role in Killer Green Tomatoes. Mrs. Potter provided levity with her well-meaning antics (you will have to read the book to find out what I mean). Angie’s romance with Ian is progressing. I appreciate that the author is not rushing their relationship. They are taking the time to get to know each other. Working in time for dates is difficult, though, with their busy schedules and the pesky murders. The mystery was well-plotted and is woven throughout the story. The author manages to combine the cozy and mystery elements, so they are balanced. If you are an avid reader of cozy mysteries (like me), then you will not have a problem arriving at the solution. There are many cozy moments in Killer Green Tomatoes with friendship, animals, cooking, romance, mishaps, creating new recipes and, of course, eating. I like how everyone who works at the restaurant comes together for a meal each week. It gives all the workers a chance to try the food and get to know each other. Killer Green Tomatoes can be read as a standalone. Personally, I would read Who Moved My Goat Cheese? prior to Killer Green Tomatoes. It will allow you to see the development of the characters and the restaurant. My rating for Killer Green Tomatoes is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There is a recipe for fried green tomatoes at the end of the book.
kimdavishb's review
5.0
KILLER GREEN TOMATOES by Lynn Cahoon is the second book in the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series and is a worthy addition to a delightful series. Protagonist Angie Turner owns the County Seat restaurant with her best friend, Felicia, in the small town of River Vista, Idaho. Angie’s life centers on preparing delicious food and treating her employees like family. In fact, there is a very strong theme of family that is woven into both the plot and the subplots of the book, from her employees, to her elderly neighbors, to her adorable pets. You can’t help but love her giant St. Bernard puppy, Dom! I also greatly enjoyed the descriptions of food and cooking and how it connects families and friends together. Ms. Cahoon also provides an emotional connection between Angie and her deceased grandmother by involving recipes passed down. I loved her idea of creating a cookbook from those handwritten, food stained treasured papers!
With characters you can love and relate to, the story also contains a well-written mystery. When Angie’s sous-chef’s cousin is accused of murder and then disappears, Estebe begs her to find him and clear his name. The author weaves in bits and pieces about the Basque culture and the festival organized by Estebe’s family. There were plenty of suspects and a strong plot that kept the pace flowing and the conclusion wrapped up the threads of the subplots nicely. I look forward to reading more books in this series!
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With characters you can love and relate to, the story also contains a well-written mystery. When Angie’s sous-chef’s cousin is accused of murder and then disappears, Estebe begs her to find him and clear his name. The author weaves in bits and pieces about the Basque culture and the festival organized by Estebe’s family. There were plenty of suspects and a strong plot that kept the pace flowing and the conclusion wrapped up the threads of the subplots nicely. I look forward to reading more books in this series!
I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
git_r_read's review
5.0
Another fab mystery from Lynn Cahoon. I love this series. In part because of the well-done mystery, but I really dig the premise of a restaurant that serves up from what's available seasonally. Would that this place existed in small-town Idaho. With these characters and this town.
I feel for Angie as she navigates her budding relationship with her new boyfriend, she has her business she's building with her best friend, she finds herself investigating again much to the dismay of everyone except her sous chef who actually asks for her help.
We get a glimpse into the Basque community and meet more of Angie's neighbors.
The mystery was a bit loose, but I still liked it and I am glad I have book #3 on the Nook ready to go next.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
I feel for Angie as she navigates her budding relationship with her new boyfriend, she has her business she's building with her best friend, she finds herself investigating again much to the dismay of everyone except her sous chef who actually asks for her help.
We get a glimpse into the Basque community and meet more of Angie's neighbors.
The mystery was a bit loose, but I still liked it and I am glad I have book #3 on the Nook ready to go next.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
peggyemi's review against another edition
4.0
If you enjoyed the first book in this series then you are going to want to add this one to your to be read list. I always enjoy a books from author Lynn Cahoon. She creates diverse characters that appeal to all readers and Angie is no different. She is a likable characters and one I can relate to - probably because we both have type A personalities. The secondary cast of characters are fun and we can see growth already, as we get to know some of them a bit better in this book. Angie's romance with Ian is progressing slowly, which I like as it gives us more insight into her personality.
The mystery was solid and woven throughout the book from the beginning to the end. There are two different yet related crimes so there are clues peppered throughout the story. I did guess one of the culprits but not the other, which was revealed in a dramatic conclusion.
I always finish a book by this author having been entertained and looking forward to the next release. This book was no different.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
The mystery was solid and woven throughout the book from the beginning to the end. There are two different yet related crimes so there are clues peppered throughout the story. I did guess one of the culprits but not the other, which was revealed in a dramatic conclusion.
I always finish a book by this author having been entertained and looking forward to the next release. This book was no different.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
kristirose's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
I enjoyed the main mystery; however, I didn't care for the secondary subplot. I found Angie and Mrs. Potter both quite annoying. It just wasn't enjoyable to me. I struggled to keep reading.
melmo2610's review against another edition
5.0
Another Fun Down Home Mystery
This was a charming installment in Lynn’s newest series: “Farm to Fork.” It had a good mystery with several twists and turns and a nice side story with Angie having a roommate for the week. This series is on my “read immediately” list for brand new releases for sure!
This was a charming installment in Lynn’s newest series: “Farm to Fork.” It had a good mystery with several twists and turns and a nice side story with Angie having a roommate for the week. This series is on my “read immediately” list for brand new releases for sure!
morticia32's review against another edition
2.0
Book 2 in the series.
I thought I had read everything by this author, but somehow the first book in this series slipped past me. But I honestly didn't realize that until I came to write this review. This book felt like it could have been the first. The characters still felt a bit flat to me, which was a surprise, because I like Ms. Cahoon's other two cozy series quite a lot.
I had a very hard time getting in to this book. It started off pretty slow, with only a brief glimpse of the farm-to-table restaurant the series is named for. After that we get a lot about the main character's personal life and, "is she cheating on her boyfriend with her sous chef?" speculation from small town busy-bodies.
In the end, the mystery surprised me a bit, so it ended up with an okay rating, but I don't feel like it's up to par yet with the other books by this author and I don't really have much incentive to go back and read the first book.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
I thought I had read everything by this author, but somehow the first book in this series slipped past me. But I honestly didn't realize that until I came to write this review. This book felt like it could have been the first. The characters still felt a bit flat to me, which was a surprise, because I like Ms. Cahoon's other two cozy series quite a lot.
I had a very hard time getting in to this book. It started off pretty slow, with only a brief glimpse of the farm-to-table restaurant the series is named for. After that we get a lot about the main character's personal life and, "is she cheating on her boyfriend with her sous chef?" speculation from small town busy-bodies.
In the end, the mystery surprised me a bit, so it ended up with an okay rating, but I don't feel like it's up to par yet with the other books by this author and I don't really have much incentive to go back and read the first book.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
caitz's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0