When Shirley Steele buys a run-down small farm in Minnesota, she's hoping to see more of her son and his elusive wife, but it seems he's always too busy to come by, and implement the repairs he promised to the home and property - installing a furnace, for one. (Winter is coming, Bobby. Mom's gonna freeze.) Shirley does what she can to turn the place into a home, and soon it seems she might even enjoy living there.

Then someone sets fire to her barn.

Things kind of go downhill after that.

We all know old ladies living alone are magnets for dead bodies, but so many are turning up on Shirley's property, she's thinking of turning her place into a cemetery.

Cohen gets it right - an intriguing murder (or two), an engaging heroine, and a few well-placed doses of humor are exactly what you need for a fun cozy mystery.

I enjoyed the antics with Shirley and her rescued mini horse, Pearl, who's now living in Shirley's bedroom. I also d the relationship between Shirley and the church caretaker, Norma, who is built, as Jim Croce once sang, " a 'frigerator with a head." I'm hoping these two will team up to solve another mystery soon.

I'll buy the doughnuts.gift-from-publisher humorous-fiction mystery30 s Kathy CohenAuthor 13 books32

I'm happy to report that "The Hobby Farm Murders" has been selected for listing at the following site for cozy readers: https://cozy-mysteries-unlimited.com/...

It was also selected for inclusion at the following Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cozy-M...3 s John1 review

Engaging mystery about Shirley Steele, a recent transplant from Nebraska to Minnesota, who gets off to a shaky start with her new home situated on a modest rural acreage. Between a house that is an understatement if described as a "fixer-upper" with a barn that too soon serves as tinder, and the odd ducks that make up a parade of neighbors she's introduced to that keep her off balance, her smooth transition into the community of Shady River, MN is awkward at best.
Not to mention the bodies that begin to show up on her property.
But thank goodness for coffee, and pastries. And Pearl, the miniature horse she adopts on a whim.
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Kathy Cohen has a flair for describing her character's mood and setting a sense of place, and moves the story along at a steady pace. I found myself wishing for more fleshing out of the characters, the why's and wherefore's.
Such as where can I find that liniment?1 Joel BreslerAuthor 6 books73

It's always a pleasure reading a new Kathy Cohen novel, and the Hobby Farm Murders is no exception. She really knows how to tell a story, moving it along at just the right pace. Cohen's characters are simultaneously familiar and unusual. We feel we know them even if they're not anyone we've ever known in person. She adds humor while often seeming not to, a wonderful spice you can taste but not identify. One line in particular jumped out at me: referring to a guy who'd just had his head shaved, "He'd only taken a few steps down the sidewalk when he felt the lack of hair on the nape of his neck rise." Hard not to smile!1 Brandy Sims26 1 follower

I really enjoyed The Hobby Farm Murders! The main character was likable, funny, and relatable, and the plot was twisty and exciting. I was invested from the very first chapter. It stood out from other books of this genre I have read lately. I'd join Shirley, Frances, and Pearl anytime for donuts or future mysteries to solve! 52-book-club-challenge-2022 booklist-queen-2022-challenge craving-for-cozies-challenge-20221 Amy Spelts3

I loved this book. I laughed out loud at Shirley's eccentricities, but it's a thriller so hang onto your hat. 1 Shmuel YaccobyAuthor 3 books12

A driven, surprising plot

A moving dialogue in the story:
As she reached the critical scene of her encounter with this Kirby York guy in Norma’s bedroom, he interrupted. “So the deputy sheriff appeared in the window with his gun as you swung a harpoon at Kirby and he held a knife out at you?” “Yes. He probably saved my life. I was never so happy to see anyone ever. I’ll never know if I could have gotten out of there on my own.”

The first two chapters take you into the dynamic, surprising plot right away. And just through the dialogues between the various characters from the neighborhood and town I could tell the nature of their character - brilliant.

Many factors make this plot different than other murders cases including Shirley the main character, the unusual, diverse neighbours, the pastor and the detectives. And of course the unique Minnesota aura.

Having Shirley’s dog, Frances, who is almost blind and can’t hear a thing, provide a perfect metaphor for the elusive murders’ scene and plot.

A stuttering ending wrapped around the Minnesota snowy scene. Highly recommended for such a genre.
P.S. WinnAuthor 85 books350

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