Nola Mae Harper is too busy restocking the jars of preserves and chutney flying off the shelves of her shop, Peachy Keen, to keep up with all the gossip about the upcoming mayoral election, but she does know the debate is sure to be a real barn burner.
Local farmer Clem Rogers claims he has a bombshell that could take small business owner Margie Price out of the running. But before Clem can reveal his juicy secret at the debate, his actual barn goes up in flames–with him inside of it. The town casts its vote against Margie, but Nola isn’t convinced the hardworking woman is capable of murder. Now to clear Margie’s name Nola will have to work fast under pressure, before Margie gets taken in by the fuzz…
INCLUDES RECIPES!
Susan Furlong
Rest in Peach by Susan Furlong
The annual Peach Cotillion, Cays Mill, Georgia’s biggest event, is fast approaching and Nola Mae Harper is just as excited as the rest of the town—even though she’s busy juggling both the cotillion dinner and the grand opening of her new shop, Peachy Keen. But she never expected that plans for the cotillion would end up in the pits because of the cutthroat competition between local debutantes.
When Vivien Crenshaw, insufferable church organist and despised mother of the town’s spoiled-rotten Peach Queen, is stabbed to death, the police turn to Nola’s friend Ginny as prime suspect. Apparently the two had fought over a one-of-a-kind cotillion gown. As Nola steps in to prove Ginny’s innocence she soon finds herself picking through a bushel of suspects, twice as many motives, and at the mercy of a killer all too keen on killing again.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Georgia Peach Mysteries, Book #2
My Rating: **** (4 stars)
What a sweet treat! This was my first Georgia Peach mystery, and I really enjoyed it. The story and the setting just ooze southern charm. Nola Mae Harper is working hard to get her Peachy Keen shop ready to open on time when a murder occurs in town, and her best friend is the prime suspect. She knows the safe thing to do is to stay out of police business, but will the sheriff really look any farther with such a convenient suspect at hand? When it seems that she won’t, Nola and her group of friends get together to try save Ginny’s reputation, the Peach Cotillion, and a romantic relationship or two.
Nola, Hattie, and Ginny are an engaging group of friends with very individual, believable personalities, and there were enough suspects and clues in this mystery to keep me guessing right up to the end.
This is book #2 in the series. While I think it might have been nice to know a little more about Nola’s first case, since she refers to it occasionally during the story, you don’t need to have read book #1 to enjoy this one.
NOTE: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
What Are You Reading (and listening to) Wednesday
What Are You Reading Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by It’s A Reading Thing. To participate, open the book you are currently reading to page 34 (or 34% in your ebook) and answer these three questions.
The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?
2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)
3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?
I’m going to give you double the answers this week…one book I’m reading, and the 2nd is the audiobook I’m currently listening to while commuting.
I’m Reading:
1. Rest in Peach by Susan Furlong
2. Sorry, left my book at home today without getting my quote from page 34, so here’s something from another page….
“She just called her a backstabbing snob, that’s all. That’s not the same as threatening to stab someone”.
3. I think I would like to visit Georgia, especially during peach season, but the times I’ve visited it’s been a little too humid for me to want to live there.
I’m Listening to:
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
2. Again, no quote form page 34….since it’s an audiobook, I’ll have to give you a random quote (or three). These do a decent job of illustrating the protagonist’s thought process.
Metaphors are lies.
I find people confusing.
And then I thought that I had to be like Sherlock Holmes and detach my mind at will to a remarkable degree so that I did not notice how much it was hurting inside my head.
3. This story takes place in what feels like a typical small town, but seeing it through Christopher’s eyes, I’m not sure I’d want to live there. I can’t even put my finger on the reason why, but the place makes me feel a little uneasy.
How about you? What are you reading (or listening to) this week?
WAYRW – Off the Books by Lucy Arlington
What Are You Reading Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by It’s A Reading Thing. To participate, open the book you are currently reading to page 34 (or 34% in your ebook) and answer these three questions.
The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?
2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)
3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?
Now for my answers this week…
1. Off the Books by Lucy Arlington
A Novel Idea Mystery, #5
I received an advanced copy for review from the author, but you can pick up your own copy on 2/2!
2. Page 34 only contains about 1/2 of a paragraph at the end of a chapter, but here goes…
So I simply shrugged and turned away, busying myself with gathering files and paperwork I’d need for the status meeting. Behind me, I heard the scurried clicking of claws against the hardwood floors, then a loud hiss and a sharp doggie yelp, followed by Bentley’s own form of barking: “Ms. Crump, get that cat into the break room now!”
3. Inspiration Valley North Carolina sounds like my kind of place, with all the southern charm you’d expect from a town in a cozy mystery. I’m sure it would be a great place to live.
The Book's the Thing 