On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
Real-life has cut into my reading time lately so I didn’t get a book read for this week’s Flashback Friday. So I am rewinding my review of Pulp Friction by Julie Anne Lindsey. The next book in the series, The Cider Shop Rules will be released next Tuesday.
Pulp Friction (A Cider Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – West Virginia
Publisher: Kensington (April 28, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 149672349X
ISBN-13: 978-1496723499
Kindle ASIN: B07TT2LWBQ
Nothing’s sweeter than a fruitful family business, and for Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe, that means Smythe Orchards in Blossom Valley, West Virginia. But this year’s apple crop is especially juicy—with scandal . . .
SEEDS OF DANGER
Thanks to Winnie’s new cider shop, Smythe Orchards is out of the red and folks can get their fix of the produce and other delectable products they love all year round. The locals are even booking the shop for events, including a June wedding! Winnie couldn’t be happier to see the barn filled to the rafters for the big bash—until her doting ex, Hank, is caught in a heated argument with the groom. Winnie plans to scold Hank after the party, but spots him running off instead. And when the groom turns up dead, apparently hit by the honeymoon getaway car, Hank is the main suspect. Now Hank is on the lam, and it’s up to Winnie to get to the core of the truth—before the real killer puts the squeeze on her . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in Blossom Valley just in time for a wedding at Smythe Orchards. Winnie’s is so excited to have her new cider shop used for weddings and local events. She knows this is the way to make the orchard fruitful and helps keep the place open year-round. But this time, the wedding ends on a sour note, and Winnie’s ex Hank right in the middle of it. He had a dust-up earlier with the groom and now that groom is dead. Winnie knows she should stay out of it but finds herself slicing through the clues to juice the real killer before Hank winds up behind bars.
I loved the first book in this series, Apple Cider Slaying, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. The author exceeded my expectations.
I find Winona Mae Montgomery to be an excellent protagonist. She is smart, and for the most part, thinks things through but like all amateur sleuths just sometimes finds herself in the thick of things she never imagined could happen when she leaps into something. Her friend Dot is a reliable sidekick and a strong character in her own right. Winnie is close to her grandmother and they make a great team running the orchard. We learn some new things about Sheriff Colton Wise as he and Winnie grow closer. Hank is still hanging around and is sometimes his own worst enemy. They are also several animal characters that have their own unique personalities. What I love is all the characters are engaging and realistic in their own ways. They continue to grow and become more endearing.
The mystery was very intriguing and unfolded at a perfect pace throughout the book. There were plenty of suspects and twists and turns and a real edge of your seat moment to grab my attention and hold on tight. I wasn’t totally surprised when the killer was revealed but I had discarded this person earlier.
I love the apple orchard theme. I love visiting local orchards and we can never have enough apples in the house.
A well-plotted mystery, wonderful characters, and a terrific setting make Pulp Friction a must-read.
I do encourage you to read Apple Cider Slaying too so you can get to know these characters from the beginning.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
You can read my review of Apple Cider Slaying here.
About the Author
Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. When she’s not creating new worlds and organizing the epic adventures of fictional characters, Julie can be found carpooling her three kids around Northeastern Ohio and plotting with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.
Author Links
Visit her online at www.JulieAnneLindsey.com
Facebook – Twitter – Pinterest –
Coming July 27, 2021
Coming Soon from Julie Anne Lindsey
Also by Julie Anne Lindsey
Find more by Julie Anne Lindsey here.
I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy of Pulp Friction!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”