A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun cozy little mystery that I would suggest to anyone who likes mysteries and novels that feel like curling up next to a warm fire to read.

We follow our main character, who is recovering from a tragic accident that took the life of her husband, as she takes over her recently passed uncle’s orchard and decides to make a cidery on the property. However, by refusing to sell her property to a mysterious unknown corporation, she soon realizes that there’s more danger to this small Pennsylvanian town than expected.

I liked that there were hints of a potential romance, but nothing that was actually explicit nor took away from the story. There’s nothing wrong with romances in mysteries, I just personally wasn’t wanting one this early. I liked that she takes her time to get to know her potential love interest as friends first, and she waits until she thinks she’s ready to move on from the loss of her husband. I also liked that she was a disabled main character, with multiple mentions of her difficulty walking, as well as her use of a cane.

This book starts off slow, and I was considering DNFing it, as it started to look like there was more of a romance focus than on the potential mystery. However, just when I was losing interest there was a murder and then the novel really starts in earnest. I liked that the main character spends a great deal of her time investigating the murder, as well as the mysterious unknown trying to purchase her orchard, in addition to her day-to-day life. I know nothing about cideries or orchards, and it was interesting to see the entire project come together as the novel progresses. I also liked how this book captured that small town feel really well, with everyone knowing everyone, and by simply visiting and talking with people you can learn a lot about the history of the area. (Also, not related, but it was also fun as someone who lives in Pennsylvania to know the locations of the places mentioned - it really made the feel of the book really organic.)

This book is a fun little mystery that I think anyone who would like something described as “cozy mystery” would enjoy. The romance in this novel (the little that is there) develops naturally, and is not the main point of this book. The investigations feel natural, as well as the figuring out who the culprit is and its resolution. All-in-all this book really captures the vibe of the cover, and I think if the cover looked like something you’d be interested in you’ll like this novel.