Reviews

No Farm No Fowl by Julie Anne Lindsey

thisandthatwithkaren's review

5.0

“No Farm No Fowl” book 1 in the Thelma & Luisa Mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey. OMG I love her new series featuring Thelma a Polish Chicken! I can see this being another hit, Julie is already one of my favourite authors and per usual I was not disappointed.

It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for Thelma and Louisa in this new farm to fun cozy mystery series!

I LOVED this book! I was left smiling once again and didn’t want to leave this happy place. I like how the author ties it to her other series and I hope we have a joint investigation in the future between Luisa and Bonnie.

I found the characters (both human and feathered) a delight to read about and the setting of Meadowbrook in Cromwell, Georgia was so charming and fun.

The mystery is well-written and plotted. There are several red herrings and twists to keep the reader engaged. I suspected the killer halfway through but then changed my mind, as there were other viable suspects.

I look forward to reading all the books in the series and highly recommend to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

I voluntarily agreed to read a digital copy of this book supplied by the Author. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

neverloweonbooks's review

5.0

No Farm No Fowl is the first book in the Thelma & Louisa Mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey and it was the perfect beginning to a new cozy series.

It’s about the adventures of Louisa and Thelma, who we first met in the Bonnie & Clyde Mysteries. They were instantly lovable and I’m so glad they get their own series!!

Louisa is suspect number one for the murder of a local food blogger who just happened to give a bad review of her café. With the help of her friends, Eli and Mary, she must figure out who is framing her before her reputation and business are ruined forever.

I really enjoyed this one and liked getting to know more about Louisa and the cottagecore community. Eli, Mary, and Louisa’s mother are fantastic side characters and added a great dynamic to Louisa’s story.

I encourage you all to pick up this short and sweet read soon. I am looking forward to the next!

cdubiel's review

5.0

Okay, I'm not going to lie. Julie is a dear friend of mine. But I truly enjoy reading her books, and I'm so excited for this new series. A spinoff of the Bonnie and Clyde series, this one focuses on Louisa Eggers, who lives on a sustainable farm community in the town of Cromwell. Cromwell is next door to Bliss, where Bonnie Balfour lives. Bonnie and Louisa met in the last Bonnie book, and it's great for Louisa to have her own series. She's younger than Bonnie and doesn't have as much life experience, but she's quirky and fun, plus she has a delicious love interest who's not a detective!! In her first outing, Louisa encounters a food critic who pans her new shop, Souffle the Day--and then he dies in her cafe. She's got to clear her name and find out who really killed the man. I liked the fresh twist in this one. It's tough to keep coming up with plots when you've written as many mysteries as Julie has. I highly recommend this series and all of Julie's other ones!

birdieandthebooks7's review

funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved it

See the full discussion here

https://youtu.be/MGW10ctXfjk

nicolewhopickedthisbook's review

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Watch the livestream discussion
https://youtu.be/MGW10ctXfjk

dollycas's review

funny lighthearted mysterious

5.0

 

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Welcome to the cottagecore community of Meadowbrook where Louisa Eggers has made her home with her favorite Polish chicken Thelma. Her mother would rather have her living at home and helping with the family business but she is working hard to have her own success with Souffle the Day selling quiches and souffles.

Her business has been open just three months and she had high hopes that a local food critics review would drive even more customers to her little cafe but instead, he gave her place a scathing review. When he returned she was hoping to change his mind so she served him up a delicious quiche. After just a few bites he keels over dead and Louisa is scrambling to prove her innocence and save her business.

Louisa and Thelma may have to crack a few eggs to get to the truth but she is not going to chicken out until she catches the real killer.

We first met Louisa in Burden of Poof, the first book in the Bonnie & Clyde Mystery Series but this book can be read all on its own.

Louisa is a wonderful main character. She has settled in the communal community of Meadowbrook, a neighborhood in Cromwell, Georgia with her inherited goats and her flock of chickens. She is determined to make a life there for herself which is the total opposite of the socialite life she was brought up in. She truly is living her dream until one little review could bring it to a very early end. A little quirky, she puts Thelma in a cage and takes her everywhere with her and the chicken loves it.

We also meet her friend Mary, who is totally driven by one thing, selling/trading her eggs. If Louisa’s cafe fails, that affects Mary in a major way. The friendship between the two women is there is just not a warm and fuzzy one yet. I do like the way they banter.

Then there is Eli. There is a palpable romantic charge between him and Louisa but she really doesn’t know much about him and why he has settled down in their little community. He and Mary are all in to help Louisa sleuth out the killer. He also steps up to keep her safe.

Louisa’s mother is a true southern woman who loves her daughter so much she will do anything for her but she really wants Louisa to come home and take over her rightful role at Laurelwood which has become a living museum. Louisa is happy to help but her life at Meadowbrook is her number one priority.

All the characters Ms. Lindsey has created are delightful, human, and animal. From the core characters to the supporting cast, they feel genuine and their dialogues feel true to life.

The mystery she has wrapped these characters in is very well-plotted with several suspects. She dished up some egg-citing twists that pulled me deeper into the plot as I tried to solve it all before the big reveal. I failed as the true culprit flew completely under my radar. I do love it when I am surprised at the end.

The author also tangles some romance amidst the mystery. Eli and Louisa are taking it slow but there is a wedding at the end that had me smiling and giggling a bit too.

No Farm, No Fowl was an egg-cellent start for this series. Engaging characters and a great mystery had me entertained from the first page to the last. There was a cliffhanger at the end to lead readers into book two and I can’t wait for it to be released. I hope to spend a lot of time in Georgia with these characters. 

bwilhoite8's review

funny lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

This is a spin off series from Julie's Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries and it was amazing. Julie really does out do herself with every new release. Louisa is such a kind and sweet soul. Someone you would love to have as a friend and to have in your corner. So many great characters. Her grumpy bestie makes me LOL. The town they live in is unique. I can't not wait for Thelma and Louisas next adventure. 

msrichardsreads89's review

funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely ADORED this book! After meeting Thelma and Louisa in the Bonnie and Clyde series, I knew this would be a fun story. The cottagecore setting was lovely, and I loved the miniature donkey wedding. Louisa is a slightly quirky but endearing character and Thelma has so much personality! As per usual, Julie Anne Lindsey has written a fast paced, fun mystery with just a hint of romance. (Who doesn't love Eli?) I loved the plot twist at the end, and I cannot wait for book 2! 

Thank you to Julie Anne Lindsey and Cozy Queen Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.