This was alright. I didn't love it and I won't read more, but it was okay. I got it either free or cheap on the Kindle. It started out as gym reading, but I ended up just finishing it. Eh.

Very enjoyable cozy, featuring former police officer, current aspiring farmer, Abigail Mackenzie.

Although her life is almost monopolized by her bees, chicken, and farm work, Abby still has time to stumble upon mysteries. Due to her prior police training, she also has the time and ability to take an active part in solving said mysteries.

On this occasion, we are introduced to Abby's former colleagues at the police department, her neighbors, her previous/current/possible future loves, and the beautiful backdrop of Bay Area small town California.

A comfortable, pleasing read. As the development of her farm, supplemented by her detecting side job, has endless possibilities to expand upon, I trust that this series will flourish. Especially after this introduction.

**eARC netgalley**

*********Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review*******

So, mixed views on this one. I like the concept - ex-cop turned farmer drawn into investigating a death after she finds a body. But I didn't feel like I got to know enough about Abby to really care about her. I was surprised that this was the first in the series, because I felt like I was missing out on a lot of background to Abby and her relationships. The dialogue also didn't really sound right to me and there were some definite inconsistencies in the writing too.

But it wasn't terrible, (or terribly good if you know what I mean), and maybe in a book or two's time when the series has hit its stride the concept will work better.

A wonderful new addition to the cozy genre! Abby, a former police detective in the small town of Los Flores, is working hard to make her little farm a success. With fresh local honey to offer, she stumbles across a dead pastry chef. When his death is ruled a suicide, the chef's brother wants to delve deeper and Abby can't resist the chance to investigate. Add in some romance, and a sprinkling of recipes and farm suggestions make this a fun read. I look forward to future adventures.

A preview of this book was received from NetGalley in exchange for an objective review.

3.5 stars and a good series opener

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Abigail Mackenzie has left the police force for life on a farm. Her new life includes chickens, bees and growing veggies and fruits. She also does a little investigating on her own to help pay the bills. While delivering a new batch of honey to a local restaurant she finds chef Jean-Louis Bonheur dead in his kitchen. The police quickly rule his death as a suicide and close the case. When the chef’s brother comes to town he finds the ruling unacceptable and get a bee in his bonnet to hire Abby to investigate. She would just as soon make a beeline in the other direction but she has a hard time bee-lieving the chef would take his own life too. Together they try to find out if he was really murdered but they could both get stung before they get all the answers they need.

I liked Abigail Mackenzie from the very first page. She left the police force due to an injury but she still helps out when she can. Shocked to find a man she knows dead her training kicks right in. She checks the body and the scene and gives a thorough report when the officers reach the scene and she continues to theorize what may have happened. She even jumps in to help the medical examiner’s assistant, new and on his first call, get the body on the gurney and in the body bag. All the while searching for more clues. She is respected in the community and that helps as she takes on the investigation herself. She is patient and wise and sees things other people miss. She is my kind of amateur sleuth.

Ms. Lester’s writes with a very even flow. She introduces us to all the characters and their relationships. Some are more fluid and some are just developing. I found all of the characters very interesting and want to get to know them even better in future stories. Her pacing is perfect. The mystery has a few red herrings to divert us from detecting the true killer. I was kept guessing right to the end.

I also enjoyed the recipes and tips following each chapter.

This is a fine start for this series. I am looking forward to the next installment.

Abigail Mackenzie pushed the trowel deep into the soft, loamy earth where she had been planting lavender from gallon pots.

Abby is a former cop who is trying to fun a farm following a life changing injury prevented her from doing her job. She ahs chickens, bees and a lovely garden that she is using to make a living. Her honey is becoming well known and is used by a local pastry chef. Abby uses her investigative skills when she discovers the chef dead in his kitchen when she drops off his weekly honey.

This is a very good start to the series. There is a lot of good information about beekeeping and gardening. I found that quite enjoyable. Abby has a good relationship with several of her former co=workers which makes her investigation easier after the police chief closes the case as a suicide.

The characters are well rounded and the small town makes you feel like a neighbor. The chef's brother arrives and joins forces with Abby to find the murderer.

Early clues led me to consider the murderer. I just didn't quite get the accomplices at that time.

The beginning of a love triangle is present. I'm not sure if one character will be back in future books so maybe we will just deal with a local.

Really nice gardening tips are scattered throughout. I look forward to the next book.