DEADLY TO THE CORE is the first book in the brand-new Cider House Mystery series by Joyce Tremel. As with the case of the start of a lot of new series, the beginning is a bit slow as the reader is introduced to the characters, the setting, and some backstory for reference. However, I couldn’t help but find protagonist Kate Mulligan sympathetic and can’t help but want to see her succeed in her new life and new venture in running a fruit orchard and cider house. After experiencing the devastating loss of her husband and recovering from her serious injuries from the accident that took his life, Kate finds herself inheriting the orchard from her great uncle. The strong descriptive voice of the author brings the delightful setting and the close knit community to life and the reader is there, from the ground up, as Kate builds her business. I enjoyed the tidbits of information about building out the cider house and “brewing” the cider. It’s obvious the author has done her research, which gave the story an authentic feel.

Relying on the orchard manager, Carl, to teach her what she needs to know, Kate is tenacious and dedicated to making a go of it. Except before he has a chance to impart his wisdom, Kate finds him murdered, her walking cane the weapon. Becoming a suspect wasn’t on her long to-do list and she’s determined to clear her name. Asking questions around town isn’t all that easy when you’re a newcomer, and it doesn’t take long for her to join forces with her neighbor. I liked how well they worked together and enjoyed the hint of romance that seems to be developing between the pair. Between the murder, a mysterious buyer snatching up all the land surrounding her property, an unscrupulous lawyer, and an abandoned mine, there was plenty going on to keep the plot moving at a fast pace once the introductions were over. The way the various threads of the plots came together ramped up my appreciation for the story. And, at the final reveal, all was explained and tidily wrapped up. Deadly to the Core is a great start to the series and I look forward to reading more about Kate and her cider house!

There are several recipes included at the back of the book and I couldn’t wait to try the recipe for apple pie. This quintessential comforting dessert is one of America’s top favorites. Ms. Tremel puts her own spin by using a generous amount of cinnamon. The ratio of sugar to tart apples was perfect and I upped the ease of putting it together by using Pillsbury’s refrigerated pie dough. With a sprinkle of sugar on the top crust (I used coarse sparkling sugar) this apple pie is delicious served warm, all on its own, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

 

Amazon Synopsis

After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do with it: open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of this murder.

She had been in correspondence with Carl, who had agreed with her brilliant idea of opening a cider house. But not everyone is so quick to buy what she was selling—Uncle Stan’s lawyer, Robert Larabee, paints a less rosy financial outlook of the orchard’s past, present, and future.

Kate discovers that Carl had large, unexplained deposits to his bank account and it becomes clear that either he was blackmailing someone, or someone was paying him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Kate and her neighbors receive offers to buy their property from a mysterious buyer. And there’s more than meets the eye with the neighboring orchard owner, Daniel Martinez, although Kate can’t quite put her finger on if it’s sweet or sour.

Will she be able to pick out the bad apple among the bunch before it’s too late?

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Joyce Tremel for providing a print copy of DEADLY TO THE CORE! Contest ends January 21, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.