Apple Cider Slaying

Cider Shop Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Julie Ann Lindsey

Narrated by: Amy Melissa Bentley

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Apples are at the core of the family business run by Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe. But this year's crop is unseasonably ripe with murder....

One rotten apple

Blossom Valley, West Virginia, is home to Smythe Orchards, Winnie and her Granny's beloved 25-acre farm and family business. But any way you slice it, it's struggling. That's why they're trying to drum up business with the "First Annual Christmas at the Orchard", a good old-fashioned holiday festival with enough delicious draw to satisfy apple-picking locals and cider-loving tourists alike - until the whole endeavor takes a sour turn when the body of Nadine Cooper, Granny's long-time, grudge-holding nemesis, is found lodged in the apple press. Now, with Granny the number one suspect, Winnie is hard-pressed to prove her innocence before the real killer delivers another murder....

©2019 Julie Anne Lindsey (P)2019 Tantor

SUPERB NEW SERIES

THIS NEW COZY IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL WRITTEN AND NARRATED BOOKS I HAVE LISTENED TO IN A WHILE. THE CHARACTERS ARE LIKEABLE. THE STORYLINE INTERESTING. THE RED HERRINGS EFFECTIVE. I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ONE TO GET BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH WINNIE, GRANNIE, COLTON, DOT, JAKE, AND OTHERS.

Fun Holiday Story

Love holiday stories at Christmas. This one fit the bill. A lot like a Hallmark Movie with murder twisted in. Simple, loving characters I could get behind.

so cozy...

Great new series with interesting and likable characters. Narrator is fantastic too. Hope this becomes a series!

I want more!

I really enjoyed this book! The setting and characters were fun and I really enjoyed the main character. I really look forward to more books in this series.

Unrealistic

Could not finish the book. How unrealistic that grandma baked all of the goods for sale, yet had time to carry out long tours and various other tasks. Did I miss that they have several employees working in the shop and orchards? No other way for them to wrangle so many tourists and manage their business. Yet the book started out only saying they had no money, not that they would have a problem paying anyone. Sorry, this book is being returned.

Not for me

This book never grabbed my attention. The characters and plot seemed flat and formulaic. I didn't finish it.

Sweet Cozy Mystery

Rather old-fashioned, family-oriented mystery that takes place in WV. I made some apple cider while listening- inspired by one of the recipes from Winnie. I normally like more snark and adult themes - but this was soothing on a winter day. I listened at 1.3x speed.

Second time trying this one

I tried this book last year but the narrator spoke sooooo slow that I could not take it. It wasn't drawling, it was annoying!
I discovered that if I listen at 1.7 I like the story and she doesn't annoy me.
This author is one of my favorites so I really wanted to get through the book. I enjoyed it after increasing the speed. Probably not going to eclipse the Seaside Cafe Mysteries as a favorite series, but its good.

As sweet as a honeycrisp apple!

I recently discovered Julie Ann Lindsey's books and I adore them! This one is sweet and charming with the perfect amount of trouble making and who-done-it. On to the next in the series.

Easy listening story

the storyline was good but didn't keep my interest at times.
the narrator seemed monotone throughout

Performance was way too slow

I love this author's mysteries (under her various names) and generally prefer them on audible as I don't do such a good American accent in my head! But this actor spoke sooooo s-l-o-o-o-w-l-y it was excruciating. As a tip, listen to it on 1.25x speed for a more normal sounding performance. You can even get away with 1.50x, but it starts sounding a bit high putched in a chipmunk sort of a way any faster than that!