One morning, Allison calls Becca to come to the market early when the body of vendor Matt Simonson is found.  Fellow vendor Abner Justen was heard having a loud argument with Matt and a bouquet of the flowers Abner sells is found on Matt’s body, making Abner the police’s first suspect. 

Becca is fond of Abner and has grown close to him and can’t believe he would murder anyone and sets out to prove it.  The more things Becca learns about Abner, the more she realizes how little she knows about him, beginning with where he lives. 

Metal sculptor Ian has been to Abner’s house to install some artwork and takes Becca there.  When they arrive at the house, they see that it has been ransacked and there are some mysterious pictures of Abner as a young man that Becca has the feeling she has seen before. Abner calls Becca and asks her to leave well enough alone, but Becca can’t let her friend take the blame for a murder he didn’t commit, though she can’t figure out why he’d want to. 

Soon, Becca is up to her berry-stained elbows in an investigation in which very little makes sense; but she must be getting close because someone is now stalking her. 

Farm Fresh Murder is a pleasant start to a new series featuring homegrown charm and a heroine who is not afraid to get down and dirty.  Becca is slowly reinventing herself as she takes over the operations of the farm and recovers from two divorces, though she shows a fair amount of interest in Ian and even some in Detective Sam Brion.

Becca enjoys living near to and working with Allison and having her nephew Mathis in her life.  Dog Hobbit completes her world along with her friends at the farmers’ market.  Becca’s investigation is earnest if not methodical and it’s likely that readers will see what Becca is missing long before she does.  Simple recipes and canning tips at the end of the book are a welcome edition after reading about all the delicious preserves Becca puts up.                                                     

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry