This is the second novel in the "An Orchard Mystery" cozy mystery series written by Sheila Connolly. I really enjoyed the first novel in this series, One Bad Apple (An Orchard Mystery). I would suggest that prior to readers starting this novel they go back and read "One Bad Apple" first in order to familiarize yourself with all of the characters.

The main protagonist in this novel is Meg Corey. Meg has decided to stay in Granford, Massachusetts and try her hand at establishing a thriving orchard while renovating her centuries old home. Meg unfortunately finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery after she finds a dead body in her spring house on the orchard grounds.

I really did like Meg a lot in the last novel. I also thought that Seth kept her from being too prickly and I am thrilled that this novel moves that relationship along. I can say that once again I was totally surprised by who the murderer was and why he/she did what they did. As other reviews have said I did like that Meg is not a cop wannabe and does have enough common sense to call the police and let them know what is going on. Also for those who love that we get recipes that include apples.

The reason why I marked it down one star was that once again we do have a lot of Meg complaining to get through. Also though I do love the renovating aspect of the novel I wish that Meg would start getting things taken care of at her house instead of constantly bellyaching how expensive everything is and she needs to determine whether the orchard can turn a profit. Believe me the readers definitely get that and her saying it repeatedly throughout the entire novel was a bit much. Also the character of her orchard manager, Bree was too prickly and sensitive at times and I found myself getting sick of the chip on her shoulder causing her to act like a brat a lot of times. I read the third book in the series already and I have to say that thank goodness Ms. Connolly dialed that back a bit though it is still there.

Would recommend to fans of this series! ( )

I began reading ‘The Orchard Mystery’ series by Shelia Connolly. The first title in the series is ONE BAD APPLE, followed by ROTTEN TO THE CORE. I believe there are presently 8 to 10 titles in the series so far.
I have enjoyed the first 2 titles very much. The characters are well-developed, likable and believable. Young Meg Corey moves into her mother’s inherited 200 year old colonial house in Granford, Massachusetts. Meg has just left her Boston city life and banking job and ended a relationship. Her mother (who does not make an appearance in the first 2 titles except for very short phone calls) thinks Meg needs a ‘project’ to take her mind off her problems and asks Meg to ‘fix up the house’ and ready it for sale. (This scenario is a bit of a stretch for me.) Meg hasn’t visited the area since she was a young child and discovers that a 15 acre orchard is part of the property. Meg becomes very interested in the different apple varieties, orchard management techniques and local history - not only of the orchard, but of the house, her distant relatives and the area as well.
Meg meets many of the small town’s inhabitants as she grapples with plumbing problems, orchard pest management, real estate issues, restoration work, and of course, the appearance of several dead bodies on her property.
I am comfortable with the characters and feel that they resemble the inhabitants of my own small New England town. The mysteries are good and developed. The insights into orchard management are very interesting to me and very well-researched. I am also interested in the local history of the area which is based on New England colonial history.
I think I will order #3 in the series, RED DELICIOUS DEATH. ( )

Meg is beginning to figure out what she needs to do to make the orchard productive and has hired Bree, a graduate student recommended by Christopher, to manage the orchard. Then she discovers the body of a young man who was not well-liked in her springhouse. She didn't know him, but he was the advocate for a group that wanted to avoid pesticides. Who wanted him dead enough to kill him? In the midst of this, Meg is learning more and more about orchard management, adopts pets, adjusts to farm life, and begins to find love. I don't think this is great literature, but it is a fun read. I probably learned more about pesticides and their use than I ever wanted to know. The part I loved best was when Meg took a bit of time one day to research the history of her farm. I don't think many readers will be surprised by the identity of the killer, but there are some interesting developments in getting to the revelation. ( )

This is the second book in a series and it is excellent. Not quite as frenetic as the first book, it is a fast read but not because the characters are running around in circles.

Meg is half owner of a 200 year old farm and 15 acre apple orchard. When she finds a young college student dead in her spring house she is again under suspicion even though she had never seen the young man before.

There are interesting tips about pesticides, apple growing, home improvement and animal care and feeding (cat and goat). And the mystery is well done too. I didn't expect the twist at the end, although I did figure out part of the mystery.

Highly recommended. It can be read as a stand alone but by reading the series you know a little more about the characters and some of the motivations. ( )

The second of a cosy mystery series featuring a Massachusetts apple grower as its heroine and while very cosy is not very mysterious at all. There is the discovery of a dead body followed by 200 pages of our plucky heroine learning how to live in her new home (driving a tractor, acquiring goats, spraying her apple trees, polishing her floors etc) and a quick last few pages revealing the glaringly obvious killer. ( )