Penned In by Lynn Cahoon

Book Summary

Penned In by Lynn Cahoon has Angie Turner and the gang from the County Seat heading off for a team building exercise at a historic penitentiary.  After a tour of the facility and learning the local history, they will be locked in for the night.  Shortly after being assigned their cells, Angie finds one of the four guards dead.  One of the people locked in with them is the killer.  Can Angie and the chefs identify the bad guy, or will they end up the next spirits haunting the facility?

My Thoughts

Penned In is A Farm-to-Fork Mystery novella.  I do not recommend reading it on its own if you are unfamiliar with the series (come back and read it after you finish the others).  I enjoyed reading Penned In.  It was a delightful Halloween mini cozy mystery.  All our favorite characters are back including the large and lovable, Dom as well as Precious, the Houdini goat.  Each quarter the chefs from the County Seat do a team building exercise.  It was Matt’s turn to pick the venue and he chose an old, supposedly haunted penitentiary.  They are not allowed to bring in cell phones or other niceties (like food).  I cannot imagine being locked in with a killer. This was a unique take on a locked room mystery.   Penned In is a fun story to read with a delightful whodunit. There is a recipe for Chocolate chip muffins included.  Penned In has a party penned in at the penitentiary, the darling Dom, a gone guard, and haunted happenings.  

Penned In is available from Amazon*.  It is available through Kindle Unlimited.  The other novels in A Farm-to-Fork Mystery series are Who Moved My Goat Cheese?, Killer Green Tomatoes, One Potato Two Potato Dead, and Deep Fried Revenge.  The next novel in A Farm-to-Fork Mystery series is Killer Comfort Food which publishes on January 5, 2021.  Thank you for reading my review today.  Next time I am featuring Howloween Murder by Laurien Berenson.  It is A Melanie Travis Mystery (a novella for Halloween).  I hope that you have a spirited day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

Deep Fried Revenge by Lynn Cahoon

Good Day!  I hope everyone had a lovely Easter.  Looking for reading material?  Here are some books that I have been reading.  Amish Country Murder by Mary Alford (Love Inspired Suspense) is now out and available for $2.99 (ebook) from Amazon.  Old Friends and New, Another Mystery by Christa Nardi is the 3rd A Sheridan Hendley Mystery.  I will be a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour on April 22.  Shredding the Evidence by Daryl Wood Gerber, The Englisch Daughter by Cindy Woodsmall & Erin Woodsmall and Six Cloves Under by Gin Jones release on April 21.  What are you reading?

Deep Fried Revenge by Lynn Cahoon has Angie Turner, a co-owner in the County Seat, participating in the Idaho State Fair’s Restaurant Wars.  At the end of the first day of competition, the winner fails to appear and is found dead in his competition trailer.  Soon a second man falls ill after eating tainted tacos.  Is someone trying to eliminate the competition?  Angie intends to find out without finding herself the killers next target.  Deep Fried Revenge is the fourth A Farm-to-Fork Mystery.  It can be read alone for those new to the series.  Angie Turner is a friendly chef with a big heart.  She is dating Ian McNeal who suits Angie.  Angie’s lovable St. Bernard, Dom is just as busy and friendly as ever.  Angie is busy with the restaurant as well as the farm plus she is now competing in the Boise State Fair’s version of Restaurant Wars. The competition is stiff with the front runner ending up dead after the first round of competition (which Angie’s team should have won).  Angie cannot help but ask questions and dig for clues (she is naturally curious).  I liked the carnival atmosphere with the rides, exhibits and the food that will clog your arteries (but is too good to resist).  The mystery had a handful of suspects.  I wish there had been more action and sleuthing.  One detail pointed me in the direction of the killer.  The mystery did not become a priority until late in the story.  The gang was more concerned with a new arrival, Bleak.  She is a teenage runaway in need of assistance.  She provides few details about herself, but she does make it clear that she will not go back home.  Bleak gets a job at the County Seat and goes to live with the sheriff and his wife.  Bleak finds herself in a sticky situation that will need Angie and the gang to come to her rescue.  Lynn Cahoon has an engaging writing style.  It is friendly and casual which makes Deep Fried Revenge easy to read.  The story had a good flow and moved along at a steady pace.  I enjoyed joining Angie, Ian, Felicia and the group at the fair.  There is also romance in the air between Felicia and a certain sous chef.  Deep Fried Revenge is an upbeat cozy mystery with fun fair food, the darling Dom, a killer cooking competition, a worrying runaway and a crafty killer. 

Deep Fried Revenge is available from Amazon*.  For other options, click here.  The next A Farm-to-Fork Mystery is Penned In which releases August 31. Murder in Waiting is Lynn Cahoon's next A Tourist Trap Mystery.  It will be out on June 30.  Lynn Cahoon will be debuting Kitchen Witch Mysteries with Chili Cauldron Curse on August 25.  I am looking forward to reading the author's first paranormal mystery.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow with Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr.  I hope you have a blissful day and enjoy the cartoon below.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.