Customer Reviews

A Suspicion of Strawberries (Scents of Murder Series #1) (Heartsong Presents Mysteries #11)

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Wasn't sure what to expect with the new Heartsong Mystery line...but when I received and read Lynette Sowell's "A Suspicion of Strawberries" I knew they had some quality in store for us readers.

Sowell's plot is above average -- unique setting, believable, sympathetic characters, and a dandy of a plot. I suspected everybody. The romance thread is also out of the ordinary...fresh, not hackneyed, and evokes sympathy and empathy with both heroine and hero. The ending satisfies on both the mystery and the personal levels. I'd recommend this one for anyone who is tired of the 'same old, same old.' You won't be disappointed.

This author just keeps getting better and better, and her new cozy mystery line is among the best I've seen. Great job! and please keep them coing! (I understand "The Wiles of Watermelon" is due out in the fall?)

Andi Clark built her business, Tennessee River Soaps, from scratch. She sells her fancy soaps and scrubs on the Internet, as well in her shop. Even so, she's barely staying afloat, until Chandra Rae Thacker brings her bridesmaids to the shop for a "spa day." It's going great, and Andi is congratulating herself for pulling it off, when Chandra goes into anaphylactic shock and dies from using the Cherries Jubilee Facial Scrub Andie had mixed for her. Some one broke into the shop recently, and Andi suspects the intruder added strawberries to the scrub, knowing Chandra was allergic to them. In order to save her business, Andi is determined to find the killer and restore her reputation.
A tangled puzzle full of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing. A first rate cozy with a very satisfying ending.

I met Lynette Sowell at the Meet the Christian Authors Night in The Woodland's Texas a week ago. Her book, A Suspicion of Strawberries, begged me to buy it. The cover was so appealing! So I bought it, had her sign it and forced her to have her picture taken with me. I finished it last night and I have to say, I love it! To me, her writing was familiar and comforting and I found it very easy to crawl into that book at night and just enjoy myself.

When soon-to-be bride, Charla Thacker, dies in Andi's soap shop,no one suspects that it could be murder. Except Andi. It is, after all, her shop that is now being passed by for "safer" shopping experiences. So she takes matters into her own hands to find out who is to blame for Charla's death. Along the way she makes a few discoveries about her own life. There were many times while I was reading that I laughed so hard I was sure I would wake the house. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I enjoy a good mystery but somehow it took me 'forever' to finish this one...the plot was good, the characters believable & yes, when I finished it, have to admit it was an enjoyable read....I would consider reading another book in this series but in the meantine, give me the Scumble River mysteries by Denise Swanson & the Murder, She Wrote series by Donald Bain

SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES
By Lynette Sowell
Review by Laura V. Hilton

Andi Clark loves her soap shop, and her new facial scrubs are taking off. She hopes that business will be even better now that Charla Rae Thacker and her bridesmaids are coming for a morning of pre-wedding pampering. Andi lets Charla Rae pick out her own facial scrub and then waits on the wedding party hand and foot while they are in her store. The last thing she expected is for Charla to keel over dead from an allergic reaction to strawberries--when Andi personally made a cherry facial scrub.

Now everyone is blaming Andi for Charla's death, and her business is in trouble. Andi suspects sabotage and murder when she finds strawberries mixed in to her facial scrub, and she sets out to find the murderer. Andi discovers that most people in town have a motive to kill Charla--but who actually did the deed?

If things are stressful enough, Andi's long-time boyfriend, Ben Hartley, decides now is the time to settle down. Can Andi keep him at arm's length, or is she prepared to go the distance?

A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES is the first published mystery of Ms. Sowell. I used to be her critique partner way back when we were both beginner writers and it is wonderful to see and hold her published books in my hands. I thoroughly enjoyed A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES and it ranks in my top few favorites from this new line.

Andi is an adorable heroine, struggling to make a business work, when she has a history of caving in under new business pressures. Her sister is realistic, and makes an excellent sidekick. All the secondary characters are well developed and real acting. The faith message is expertly woven in and isn't preachy. Don't miss A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES. It is the perfect book for a lazy summer afternoon. $6.95. 250 pages.

First I've read in the Heartsong mystery group but it certainly won't be the last. The characters are believable and their everyday life that includes worship is relatable and welcome.