Becca has a less than stellar track record where weddings are concerned with two divorces to her credit, but agrees to do this for her best friend. This may send some good wedding karma her way, though she is in no way interested in making any sort of commitment to her boyfriend, Ian, including traveling to Iowa to meet his family. 

Several days before the weeding, Drew’s mother local, unpopular banker Madeline Forsyth announces she is holding a dinner for the newly engaged couple and Becca and Ian are to attend as well. Becca isn’t too fond of Drew’s cousins when she meets them, but she is polite for Linda’s sake. When Madeline misses dinner, the guests search the house for her as the cook points out her car has not left the garage. Unfortunately for Becca, she and Ian find the unpleasant woman murdered on her bed. 

Becca decides that one of the things a “number one” must do for the bride is to solve the murder of her once future mother-in-law so the wedding can proceed before Drew has to report for duty.  She has no idea how she is going to pull this off, but gets right to work, finding herself out on a ledge, literally. She finds many people whose farms were being foreclosed on by Madeline’s bank, perhaps incorrectly, and many people who might have wanted Madeline dead. Will she be able to sort it all out in record time allowing the couple, now not so happy, to say “I do?”   

The Fruit of All Evil provides a nice sense of community among the vendors at the farmers’ market where Becca and Allison work.  They share a camaraderie born from their livelihoods and their passion for the South Carolina land and all things local and good.  They are all disturbed at the number of their friends and neighbors receiving foreclosure notices. When they learn that some of these may be fraudulent, they are even more upset.  Becca is secure in a relationship with a metal artist, Ian, ten years her junior, who is interested in making their relationship a little more permanent.

There seems to be some unrecognized tension growing between Officer Sam Brion that may be responsible for some of Becca’s reluctance to commit more to Ian. Ian is very caring and supportive of Becca and gets Becca an interview to sell her products at a local coffeeshop with several locations. Becca works quickly and efficiently to solve Madeline’s murder and then plans a surprise wedding for her friend, hoping to give them a little joy after their sorrow.  Fun characters and a great setting are the highlights of this series full of home-grown goodness.                                          

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry