loribonesscaswell

Welcome to Riverville, Texas, the heart of PECAN country. The Blanchard family farm is well known for its acres of pecan trees and also for their store, The Nut House, where they sell all kinds of yummy pecan treats including special pecan pies made daily by Miss Amelia. Miss Amelia’s granddaughter, Lindy, has been using her college education as a plant biologist to try to cultivate a pecan tree that is more resistant to drought to not only help her family but all pecan ranchers. But someone doesn’t want her to succeed and has even committed murder to try to put the Blanchard family out of business. The local sheriff is stumped and Lindy and Miss Amelia find themselves trekking all over the countryside trying to catch a killer.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This is a fine debut to this new nutty series. The author has given us the most important ingredient of a cozy mystery – Quirky Characters! She has created some real treasures. In addition to the Blanchard family we have the Chauncey twins and Miss Ethelred Tomroy. There is also Deputy Hunter Austen, more hunky than quirky, he has been friends with Lindy since they were kids and its hard for them to keep secrets from each other. This comes in handy while trying to solve a murder but there is also room for this to grow into a more romantic relationship.

Lee has also put together a well thought ouT whodunit. Plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep the readers guessing. There is also a great deal of humor and Southern charm spread throughout the entire story.

The reader is also treated to a look behind the scenes of a pecan ranch and several recipes.

I really liked this story and am looking forward to more adventures with Lindy and Miss Amelia.