Goodnight Moo by Lynn Cahoon

Book Summary

Goodnight Moo by Mollie Cox Bryan has Brynn McAllister’s Buttermilk Creek Farm sponsoring the first annual cheesemaker’s contest at the Shenandoah Springs Annual Fair.  Marigold, one of Brynn’s three cows, is expecting and Schuyler asks that Brynn foster a Highland cow whose owner has passed away.  Jewel has had a rough time and will need lots of food plus tender loving care.  Brynn receives a call from a distraught Willow stating that Josh was just involved in a tractor accident.  The man who was hit dies at the hospital and Josh is arrested.  Something seems suspicious about the whole incident to Brynn.  Wes Scors, Brynn’s assistant, is visiting a farm and finds the hired hand dead.  Sheriff Edge has Wes as his prime suspect.  Brynn knows that Wes would not harm a soul and is determined to prove his innocence.  Something fishy is going on in Shenandoah Springs and Brynn is determined to get to the bottom of it.

My Thoughts

Goodnight Moo by Mollie Cox Bryan is the 2^nd tale in A Buttermilk Creek Mystery series.  It can be read as a standalone if you have not indulged in Christmas Cow Bells.  Goodnight Moo is not quite what I expected.  I was expecting a lighthearted cozy mystery and I thought this one a little more serious.  I found the book to be a little on the slow side.  We see what it takes for Brynn to run her farm day in and out.  She gets up early to take care of her cows, do farm chores, and make cheese.  Brynn is lucky to have Wes as an assistant. He is a great chef and baker who is becoming a creative cheesemaker as well.  There is a wonderful community in Shenandoah Springs, Virginia.  The residents all seem to know each other and what is going on in their lives.  Brynn McAllister has her farm sponsoring the first cheesemaker’s contest at the Shenandoah Springs Annual Fair.  As with any new endeavor, things do not run smoothly.  The mystery was more complex than those you normally find in cozy mysteries.  There are two suspicious deaths.  When Wes ends up arrested, Brynn begins asking questions.  There was a lack of active investigating.   I wanted more action and less Brynn sleeping.   While the crime is complex, the solution is quite simple. I also would like a better wrap up of the crime.  Brynn’s sister visits and helps her with the case.  Brynn has good friends that visit regularly and are there for her when she needs them.  I like the diverse cast of characters.  The feelings towards Wes were in keeping what is currently occurring in our country.  I did find Brynn’s naivete regarding local people’s attitudes surprising. There is plenty of cooking and eating in Goodnight Moo plus cheese sampling.  It is interesting learning about the various cheeses and how they are made as well as Highland cows. I was put off by the amount of foul language in the book.  I read cozy mysteries because they are normally void of these offending words.  Goodnight Moo takes us back to Shenandoah Springs with a cheese competition, a terrifying tractor, cute cows, various victims, crazy computer glitches, and fun at the fair.

Goodnight Moo can be obtained from Amazon*.  The first novel in A Buttermilk Creek Mystery series is Christmas Cow Bells.  It is currently $.99 on Amazon (subject to change without notice) and on Kindle Unlimited.  You can find Mollie Cox Bryan's other novels here. Thank you for reading my review today.  I appreciate it.  It is hard to believe that this is the last day of August.  The month went by quickly.  Tomorrow I am featuring An Amish Singing by Amy Clipston.  Four Amish novels in one book with singing as the common thread.  I hope you have a glorious day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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