Shiloh Bellamy worked as a producer in California after a young man she loved died. She returns to her native Michigan to help her Dad with the farm. She wants to turn it into an organic farm but she finds the man financing her venture dead at the local farmer's market. She and her father become suspects because it was one of his antique guns that was the murder weapon. She needs to find other suspects before the local police chief with whom she started on the wrong foot arrests them both. As in most recent cozies, a developing romance begins not long after she arrives. It was not bad for a first installment, and an unanswered question remains which may be stretched over one or more future installments. The narrator was the weakest link. At times her tone and cadence led this listener to believe she was completely bored with the novel and that it was "just a job" she couldn't wait to finish. ( )

Shiloh returns to the old family farm after 15 years. She has given up her career as a TV producer to pour her energies into saving the farm by turning it organic. But then she finds out that the man who is bankrolling this venture is despised by her father, and most of the small town. And when that man is found dead by Shiloh in the farmers’ market, she and and her dad are the primary people of interest. This cozy captured my interest from the beginning. It has some unusual twists to keep readers guessing, as well as a sprinkling of romance to keep things lively. The main characters are quite likable, and it will be interesting to watch how things progress in future books. ( )

Shiloh Bellamy left Michigan years ago after a tragedy and led a successful life in California but now her father, and her family’s farm needs her so she returns to Michigan with plans to turn Bellamy Farms into a sustainable, organic operation. The only way she can do that is to sign with an investor, something she quickly regrets when the investor is murdered and the police suspect either Shiloh or her father is the killer. When Shiloh realizes the police aren’t looking for any other suspects, she sets out to clear her name. It won’t be easy – everyone in town thinks she or her father is guilty but Shiloh is determined to find the killer not only to clear her family’s name but so she can build the farm of her dreams.

“Farm to Trouble” is the nicely done first book in Amanda Flower’s Farm to Table cozy mystery series. Flower has created an interesting character in Shiloh who wants to help her father even though her relationship with him isn’t the best. In fact, it is the relationships that make this book so interesting starting with the reason Shiloh left town so many years ago and her relationship with not only her father, but her cousin Stacy, and her next door neighbor Quinn who seemingly has never forgiven Shiloh for the death of his best friend but may like her more than he lets on (and his daughter is adorable!). These relationships can be tough to take – if I was Shiloh I would have been on the first flight back to California – but they make for an interesting book to read (I do hope the relationships soften up a bit in the next book – people were awfully mean to Shiloh at times). The mystery itself was well plotted with plenty of twists and turns and surprises – while I tried to guess who the killer was (my guess was usually whoever was meanest to Shiloh at the time!) – I was surprised when the killer was revealed. Finally, there was a mystery that was not solved by the end of this book – I look forward to the next book to see if it is solved then.

“Farm to Trouble” is a nicely done cozy mystery. ( )

Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower is the first book in A Farm to Table Mystery series. It contains Amanda Flower’s engaging writing style that makes the story easy to read. The author took the time to develop the characters and establish the setting. Shiloh Bellamy left Cherry Glen, Michigan fifteen years ago after the death of her fiancé, Logan. Her father, Sully injured his back and has asked Shiloh to return to help with the family farm. She quits her job, sells her home, and cashes in her 401K. Unfortunately, her father had sizeable debts which took all of Shiloh’s funds. She now needs an investor if she is to restore the farm and make it a success as an organic farm. Unfortunately, Shiloh is not privy to the local gossip and picks the wrong man to invest in the venture. When the investor ends up dead, Shiloh along with her father are prime suspects. Shiloh talks to various people in the town trying to get information to help her solve the murder. I hope we see more active investigating in future books along with action. There were little things that pointed at the killers’ identity. There is a secondary mystery involving money that Grandma Bellamy saved and hid away for Shiloh. She needs to figure out the clues if she wants to find it and save the farm. I like that we get to know Shiloh, her father, her cousin, various friends of Shiloh’s, and some of the townspeople. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Cherry Glen and the farm. Huckleberry, Shiloh’s pug dog, is a show stealer. He is such a cutie. Other scene stealers are Esmerelda the cat and Hazel, Quinn Killian’s eleven-year-old daughter. I have a feeling there will be a romance blooming between Quinn and Shiloh in the future. I thought the author captured the small town feel especially with the people’s attitudes. This was a cute story that I enjoyed reading. I look forward to the next A Farm to Table Mystery. Farm to Trouble is a charming cozy mystery with gossip galore, an insatiable investor, a high-strung hound named Huckleberry, tasty cherry treats, a cute convertible, and a mystifying treasure quest. ( )

Shiloh Bellamy was a successful producer in Hollywood but when her father asked for her help on the family farm in Michigan, she chucks it all and heads back to her roots. Thinking that she can revitalize the farm by going organic, she signs a deal with a local developer not knowing his unscrupulous ways. When he is found murdered shortly after her return, she and her father are prime suspects. Shiloh needs to write a new script identifying the true murderer.

I liked the premise of the series but thought that the story dragged a bit at the beginning and was somewhat repetitive of some details as the story unfolded.

I love this author's books so I know this series will get better. ( )