Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Chicken Culprit

Chicken Culprit: Backyard Farming Mystery Series by Vikki Walton

About the Book

Chicken Culprit: Backyard Farming Mystery Series Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Colorado Morewellson, LTD Print Length: 251 pages Digital ASIN: B079SS1C4S

Finally healing after her heart-breaking divorce, Anne Freemont is ready to put the painful past behind her. Discovering an old Victorian for sale in the small mountain town of Carolan Springs may be just what she needs. The beauty of Colorado beckons, so Anne heads west to start her new life. Yet, before Anne's completely settled in, her neighbor is found dead in his compost pile. What’s worse is that Anne’s quirky young neighbor, Kandi Jenkins, could be the killer. When Kandi begs for her help, Anne feels she has no choice but to help the young woman. However, she finds herself quickly at odds with the local sheriff. And while she uncovers more of the community's secrets, she's also exploring her awakening feelings for Sam Powers, the town's deputy coroner. Once Anne starts looking at who could be the real killer, the suspect list keeps getting longer and longer. It seems that Carolan Springs is a place of many secrets. But who would want to murder Ralph and who’s willing to kill again to keep their secret?

Review:  Vicki Walton's Chicken Culprit is the first in a new series. I love finding new cozy series at the start.

Its a quick read and I  love that the setting of series is unique.  I've only read one other cozy that involves farming or rather homesteading. I like to see series divert from the usual.

Anne is escaping from her old life and meets Kandi shortly after moving into her new Victorian.  Kandi is "like" really fond of the word "like." Apparently that girl is trapped in an 80s  "Valley Girl" type film. Kandi is also really lovable, in her own unusual way.

Anne, I wasn't sure how to take her at times. Sometimes I liked her a lot, and other times I felt like she was kind of mean, though when it came to Kandi, it was hard not to be mean. Kandi could try the patience of a saint, especially after she is accused of murdering her neighbor, Ralph. Anne is getting away from her ex-husband who was, in not so many words, not quite nice. There are some other things in Anne's life that she's hiding, but that would give too much of the story away.

This book is full of quirky fun characters and many of them have motive to get rid of Ralph. I loved getting to know the townspeople as well as Anne and Kandi, who as we learn by the end of the book may becoming a sort of dynamic duo in future books, as these two women have developed a rather unique friendship as the mystery played out.

This was a truly enjoyable read. I can't wait to see what happens next in Carolan Springs.

Rating 5 flowers

About the Author

Vikki Walton is a suburban homesteader aka the Havensteader. She has chickens, gardens, and bees and is a certified permaculture designer. She’s also the author of nonfiction books. She loves to travel, is a global house and pet sitter and when not out in the garden or hiking in beautiful Colorado, is plotting her next mystery. Author Links: Website: www.vikkiwalton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vikkiwaltonauthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/havensteader
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