'Til Dirt Do Us Part (Local Foods Mystery)
At a dinner of local food growers, organic farmer Cam Flaherty can’t help but notice that her guest, Irene, is rubbing some folks the wrong way. But when Irene is found dead in a neighbor’s pigpen, Cam wants to help clear Cam’s friend Bobby’s name off the suspect list. Cam’s customers bring her gossip and engage in some strange behavior, particularly Diane, who turns out to have ulterior motives for visiting the farm. While doing her amateur sleuthing, Cam finds time to enter her produce in a fair, help abused animals, and deal with her moody boyfriend—all of which add depth to her character. The organic-farming backdrop ably supports a twisted and timely plot. There are plenty of farming-based cozies on the market today, but this one stands out in what is becoming a crowded field. --Amy Alessio