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leasummer's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed this first in the series (I've already read books 3 and 4 and didn't feel like there was any repetitiveness within the series). Small town Texas, our sleuth buys her grandmother's farm to make cheese and candles and enjoy the slower pace of life. There's a handsome vet, a new best friend who owns a restaurant (and has a dangerous ex husband), a roaming cow and of course murder.
houdini117's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
caitkom's review against another edition
4.0
Lucy Resnick has cashed in her savings and returned to Dewberry Farm, her late grandmothers farm. She has recently purchased the farm from a local woman, Nettie. What she didn't realize was that Nettie wasn't the sweet old woman she first thought. She realized this when Nettie sends thumper trucks to Dewberry Farm to start looking for oil, as she may have sold the property but not the mineral rights to the property...This will ruin Dewberry Farm and Lucy has just gotten started! All eyes are on Lucy when Nettie is found dead with a jar of Dewberry jam next to her body. As the newest member of the town Lucy has very few allies and must rally them to help her clear her name.
teriboop's review against another edition
4.0
Killer Jam is the first in a new series by award winning author Karen MacInerney. Known for her Gray Whale Inn mystery series and Tales of an Urban Werewolf series, MacInerney begins a new tale centered around former newspaper reporter, Lucy Resnick. Lucy decided to leave her busy work life at the Houston Chronicle to purchase her grandparent's farm in Buttercup, Texas. Lucy expected a quiet farm life of milking Blossom the cow (aka Harriet Houdini) and makin' dewberry jam, but instead finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of cantankerous town matriarch Nettie Kocurek. While on the trail to clear her own name, Lucy also begins to unravel an old family mystery that could explain a long time rivalry.
I generally don't read many mysteries but I thoroughly enjoy Karen MacInerney's cozy mystery series. I especially enjoyed Killer Jam for the Texas references and setting. I am looking forward to further adventures in Buttercup, Texas.
I generally don't read many mysteries but I thoroughly enjoy Karen MacInerney's cozy mystery series. I especially enjoyed Killer Jam for the Texas references and setting. I am looking forward to further adventures in Buttercup, Texas.
jcl9094's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Cozy mystery set in small town in Buttercup, Texas. Story centers around Lucy Resnick buying her grandparents farm and relocating from her hectic life in Houston. Simple cozy mystery. I liked the friendships she is making with the local woman. Of course, the veterinarian, Tobias, is her “like-interest”.
Unfortunately, Sheriff Rooster Kocurek’ character is written as a fat-belly, lazy, Boss Hogg-stereotype. Trite and disappointing.
Unfortunately, Sheriff Rooster Kocurek’ character is written as a fat-belly, lazy, Boss Hogg-stereotype. Trite and disappointing.
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
This was a 3.5 star read for me. I bumped it up rather than down because despite the formulaic story, it had some things that I liked. It is yet another character (female) who leaves the big city to start a new life in a) an idyllic setting where she is the outsider or 2) a place she has some ties to through family. There is a love interest who is a) the local sheriff etc. or b) the local doctor etc. And she immediately starts meddling.
In this case, Lucy decides to "homestead". She buys her late grandmother's farm and a cow. This would be totally unbelievable except for the fact she had spent all her summers as a child on the farm. And she admits she doesn't know enough. There is of course a murder or two and of course she is a suspect.
What I enjoyed about this cozy was that this town has a mix of German heritage and Czech heritage families. They often don't get along. These ethnic groups have a rich history in Texas and I found this aspect of the story interesting. Lucy used to be an investigative reporter so she applies those skills when the first murder occurs.
If you like a cozy mystery for a bit of escape, I don't think you'll go wrong with this one. Recommended for readers who like their cozies. For some reason I got this free from Amazon/Audible.
In this case, Lucy decides to "homestead". She buys her late grandmother's farm and a cow. This would be totally unbelievable except for the fact she had spent all her summers as a child on the farm. And she admits she doesn't know enough. There is of course a murder or two and of course she is a suspect.
What I enjoyed about this cozy was that this town has a mix of German heritage and Czech heritage families. They often don't get along. These ethnic groups have a rich history in Texas and I found this aspect of the story interesting. Lucy used to be an investigative reporter so she applies those skills when the first murder occurs.
If you like a cozy mystery for a bit of escape, I don't think you'll go wrong with this one. Recommended for readers who like their cozies. For some reason I got this free from Amazon/Audible.
meliaraastair's review against another edition
5.0
Lucy is ready to be done with the city life so she pools her life savings to buy her grandmother's farm. She's enjoying learning the ropes of growing her own food, making jam, milking her cow...until she gets a call that the previous owner retained mineral rights of her property and is going to drill for oil. Then while selling her jam at the town fair, someone stabs the mineral rights owner with a bratwurst skewer. Even though there are more people thrilled than upset at her death, since Lucy is the outside and the sheriff is related to the deceased, she seems like the easy target. Can she figure out who did it before she lands in jail?
Definitely going to be checking out more by this author! I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the farm life, there was a cute romantic interest that stayed at exactly what it should, and there was a whole secondary story going on too. This story was well written. It wasn't just "another of the usual" - I know cozies so often fall into tropes but this one was interesting and well written. And I really enjoyed the striking out to be an independent farm and trying to figure out how to make it all work. (If you are a fan of that type of story, I recommend Flat Broke with Two Goats for a true life story of starting a farm.) I'm very much looking forward to reading more in this series and I sure hope my library has them!
I'll go 9 of 10 overall and 4.5 of 5 for readabililty. It's not short or a single plot, but it was a great read that I had trouble putting down. I highly recommend it!
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
Definitely going to be checking out more by this author! I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the farm life, there was a cute romantic interest that stayed at exactly what it should, and there was a whole secondary story going on too. This story was well written. It wasn't just "another of the usual" - I know cozies so often fall into tropes but this one was interesting and well written. And I really enjoyed the striking out to be an independent farm and trying to figure out how to make it all work. (If you are a fan of that type of story, I recommend Flat Broke with Two Goats for a true life story of starting a farm.) I'm very much looking forward to reading more in this series and I sure hope my library has them!
I'll go 9 of 10 overall and 4.5 of 5 for readabililty. It's not short or a single plot, but it was a great read that I had trouble putting down. I highly recommend it!
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!
brookebatesratesbooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lmkent1's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0