Cover Image: Berried in the Past

Berried in the Past

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Ms Cochran can surely write a cozy mystery that will keep you hooked.
The plot is well crafted, the setting is lovely and the cast of characters well thought and likeable.
The mystery was solid and kept me guessing.
I can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

Not the best instalment in this series but fairly entertaining nonetheless. I would have enjoyed a bit more local day-to-day life as well as more baking scenes since these are the types of things that keep me coming back to this series rather than the mystery. I will probably read the next book but it's possible it might be my last read in this series unless something changes my mind.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first Cranberry Cove mystery and I can honestly say that it will not be my last. Of the eastern shore of a very cold Lake Michigan there was so much warmth eminating from the main characters that you could not help but be drawn into the story. What would you do if a stranger showed up on your doorstep confused and claiming that someone was trying to kill them? Newlywed Monica Albertson is not only a wiz in the kitchen, where she makes the most wonderful cranberry creations for the Sassamanash Farm store, but also when it comes to piecing together a mystery. Aided by her husband Greg, her stepmother Gina, and the mysterious Dana Bakker, sister of the deceased. Several suspects from Marta's own family to ghosts from the past and all of this while Monica struggles to be supportive of her helf brother Jeff, who is thinking of selling the Farm to pay for a new experimental treatment to help his partially paralyzed arm, a result of his military service in Afghanistan. Not everyone is supporitve of the farm sale, especially since the developer has plans to build a mall. Sleepy and picturesque Cranberry Cove does not want or need a mall. As I said before this book kept pace as well it kept my attention and in no time Iwas to the recipes at the back of the book. I will make the bread in the fall but was inspired to try my hand at the wonderful cookies that were mentioned several times through out the story. Definelty a good read with all of the classic cozy requirements.

Was this review helpful?

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

I liked this one a lot better than the previous one. The murder mystery was interesting and intrigued me. I always like a story within the story. It was a quick read.

There was much baking of cranberry goods, and I confess, I'm not a cranberry fan. The recipes hold no draw for me, but then, I've never made a recipe from a book that turned out as good as it sounded, so oh well, haha.

Altogether, this was a much better comeback for this series and I am looking forward to the next.

Was this review helpful?

Murder and Mischief in Cranberry Cove
Things begin popping in Cranberry cove. There's a murder, a developer wanting to build a mall and Jeff is thinking of selling the farm. Everyone's lives are in the balance. Each person's future depends on someone else's decision. What a mess. The characters are very interesting but could have been more developed. It was a good story. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Monica & Greg are newlyweds living in a cottage on Monica's brother's cranberry farm. Greg has his small bookstore in town and Monica bakes breads, muffins & cookies to sell in the little shop on the farm. A perfect life.... until a stranger comes knocking on their door in the middle of a snow storm.

Since this is a cozy mystery, there is a dead body and clues leading to the killer.

I like the characters and the setting. It was a nice quick read.

Was this review helpful?

Life is good for Monica and Greg. Newly married and life is looking good, they are snug indoors on a cold snowy night when their late night calm is disturbed by a knock at the door. Who on earth would e out on a night like this? When Monica opens the door she sees a woman, definitely not dressed for the elements, who asks for help. She says somebody is trying to kill her. Amnesia has clouded her memory and saying that she remembers a house with a red door won't get them far. Monica, of course, lets her stay the night and the next day the search begins. when they do find the right red door they also discover her sister, dead. Natural causes turn to murder and Monica is drawn into family troubles. Will she be able to catch the killer before she becomes the next target?
I enjoy the small town of Cranberry Cove, Michigan and all of the people living there. Monica's husband owns a new and used book store, Monica makes tasty cranberry edibles and helps her brother with the cranberry business. The mystery left me satisfied - a puzzle complicated enough to keep me guessing and I guessed wrong.
My thanks to the publisher Beyond the Page and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Entertaining and light-hearted mystery! This was the first book I had read by Peg Cochran but I enjoyed it immensely. I loved the small town home feeling of the book where neighbor knows neighbor. I also enjoyed the cranberry theme throughout the book. It was entertaining to read how Monica used cranberries in all her baking. both at her bake shop and at home Monica & Greg are the main couple in the book who are at the center of this small town. Along with Monica's brother, Greg, who owns a farm that is at the heart of some controversy in the story, they help keep the alive in this book. The mystery of who killed Dana's sister propels Monica to enhance her sleuthing tactics and solve the murder. There are a plethora of characters who might be suspects in the murder including the murder victim's sister, brother & various other suspects. The story line draws the reader in and maintains interest throughout the book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from this publisher & Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was a delightful read! Despite Berried in the Past being the fitfth in the Cranberry Cove Series, I had no problem reading gthis as a standalone. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline, so I am very glad there are already more books in the series for me to read.

This story is about Monica, a local baker who works at her brother's cranberry farm. Monica and her husband Greg live on property, and are disturbed one night by a woman who is clearly upset and disoriented. The woman tells Monica that someone is trying to kill her. As they are able to calm the woman, named Dana, they realize that she has some memory loss, and she reports she had a car accident on her way to escape the person who wanted to harm her.

Monica helps Dana retrace her steps, looking for a house with a red door. They come across a farmhouse, which Dana immediately recognizes as her childhood home. They go inside and find Dana's sister dead. During this time, a real estate developer has also come to town to try and buy Monica's brothers farm to build a mall. It appears that the property Dana's sister lived at is also targeted by the developers. As Monica starts looking into Dana's memory loss and Dana's sister's death, several warnings come to Monica, including being passed a note on the street that tells her her brother better not sell his property.

I enjoy the way the author describes the town, with just enough detail to connect all the characters and really get a picture of the town itself. I really enjoyed this mystery and would encourage anyone who likes cozy mysteries to check out this series.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Berried in the Past by Peg Cochran is the 5th book in a Cranberry Cove series, and another fun addition. I really enjoy this series. Monica and Greg are married, and enjoying an evening home when a women knocks on their door. The women appears confused, and states that someone is trying to kill her. Monica is determined to help this women get her memory back. I found this book interesting, and I couldn't stop reading. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I highly recommended this book and series for any cozy mystery lovers like me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Oh this one was MUCH better than the last one!! YAY!!! And I am glad, because I really wasn't ready to give up on Monica and Greg and all of the assorted characters that come along with them.
This one starts on a snowy night with a bang on the door and just goes and goes until it ends with a gun and a roll down a hill, a chase and a reveal. And its a doozy. And I never saw it coming. Not until close to when Monica did [and I didn't have the why either]. It is amazing just how much years of anger and bitterness can turn you into a cold-blooded murderer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Loved being with Greg and Monica for a while. Would you open your door to a stranger and then invite them to spend the night? Would this be a good move on Monica’s part or would she regret her hospitality? Follow along as we learn Dana’s story and Monica’s investigation into the murder that takes place. Do you know someone who was so hurt that they carry a grudge for several years, even if they act like they don’t? What would you have done in this person’s place? No, I’m not giving any names. I enjoyed this story and the characters. I think you will too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Was this review helpful?

Berried in the Past by Peg Cochran is the fifth in her Cranberry Cove mystery series. Monica and her husband, Greg, are comfortable sitting in front of the fireplace on evening when there is a knock at the door. Concerned because it is a little later than one normally expects guests, they hesitantly opened the door and found a confused woman who insists someone is trying to kill her. After inviting her in, and seeing to her welfare, Monica can't let it go and needs to find about more about her. She can't seem to remember where home is so the next day Monica drives her around town to see if she recognizes the house. She does. They enter the house only to find the dead body of her sister, several days old, lying in her bed. The mystery deepens.

Monica is a baker, specifically, making cranberry delights for the farm store she runs on her brother, Jeff's, cranberry farm. She is in her mid-thirties and loves her job. She loves being creative and being her own boss. She loves coming up with cranberry delicacies, and she loves her husband. He runs a used bookstore in their small town and she had never expected to have someone like him in her life. Their life is a good one but she does seem to attract dead bodies. Her friend, Detective Stevens, is not convinced it was death by natural causes, despite being told that by the ME, who arrived on his way to the airport for a well-deserved vacation. She decides to look into it. She is also the harried single mother of a toddler, but she is more careful than the ME. This is a very character-driven book with terrific characters. There are plenty of lesser story lines, holding the reader's interest until things happen in the main one. This was a terrific story. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of Berried in the Past by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #berriedinthepast

Was this review helpful?

Though this is my first in the Cranberry Cove series by Peg Cochran, Berried in the Past is book #5. Despite this, I was keen to dive straight in as I adore a good cozy mystery. I did not feel at any disadvantage as the author provided enough backstory on the characters involved.

Set in the state of Michigan, Cranberry Cove is a fictional town, and I enjoyed all of the delightful, charming, small town descriptions and experiences.

Monica Albertson and Greg Harper are newlyweds who live in a cottage on Sassamanash Farm. Monica creates treats using cranberries that are sold in her half-brother's farm shop and she also does the financial accounts for the farm. Greg owns "Book 'Em" in the town, from where he sells new and used books. As Monica and Greg are settling into their harmonious married life on one bitterly cold winters night, a knock on the door disturbs their peace and quiet. The woman, Dana Bakker, standing on their doorstep announces that somebody is trying to take her life. After hearing Dana out, Monica soon finds herself in the centre of an investigation, and a deepening, ominous mystery...

The character creation by Peg Cochran was marvellous, and I especially liked the character of thirty-something baker Monica, also the proud owner of Mittens the cat. With its well-plotted mystery and a number of red herrings, at every turn I had a different suspect in mind. There were plenty of subplots to boost the readers' interest, running parallel with the main event. Berried in the Past is a terrific story that I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Beyond The Page Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Berried in the Past by Peg Cochran is the fifth A Cranberry Cove Mystery. New readers will have no problem reading this story. We get to return to the cozy town of Cranberry Cove with its charming shops and friendly citizens. Monica and Greg are newlyweds who live a cottage on Sassamanash Farm. Monica creates baked treats featuring cranberries which are sold in the farm store plus does the accounting for the farm and Greg owns Book ‘Em in town which sells used plus new books. It is after nine p.m. on a winter night when someone knocks on their door. Dana Bakker’s car skidded off the road after she escaped from the hospital. She believes someone is trying to kill her, but Dana is unable to recall more details. Dana was in the hospital from where she hit a tree and is now suffering from amnesia. She recalls a house with a red door (a common thing in Cranberry Cove). Monica takes her hunting for the red doored house and they find a dilapidated farmhouse with Dana’s sister dead inside. At first blush, it looks like the woman died of natural causes. Soon evidence points to murder. I thought the whodunit was straightforward and can easily be solved early in the book. Dana’s amnesia does not slow down our amateur sleuth. There are less than a handful of suspects for Monica to consider. There are good clues along with misdirection. I kept hoping the author would throw in a twist to surprise me at the end (one can dream). I did enjoy the action-packed reveal scene at the end and the clever way the guilty party is captured. There is further intrigue when Jeff considers selling Sassamanash Farm to pay for an experimental surgery on his arm. The town is up in arms and someone leaves threats at the farm and has notes delivered to Monica. There are warm, cozy moments in the story between Monica and Greg (newlyweds are lovey dovey). Kit, Monica’s assistant, is having some relationship and housing issues, another farm employee has happy news, plenty of baking with mouthwatering descriptions plus time spent with friends and family. Gina provides some lighthearted moments with her search for Mister Right. There are recipes at the end of the book. Berried in the Past is a warmhearted cozy mystery with a body in a bed, auto accident amnesia, cranberry cookery, troubling threats, a determined developer, nuzzling newlyweds and a mysterious murder.

Was this review helpful?

I have to say that if a stranger came to my door at night and told me someone is trying to kill them I would not let them in and invite them to spend the night but it certainly makes for a great attention getter to start the story. In addition it ends up involving Monica in a murder investigation while also worrying about possible changes in her future.

This is the first book I've read in the Cranberry Cove series but it worked fine as a stand alone. I enjoyed the setting and found the characters likable. I look forward going back to Cranberry Cove in the future. Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Berried In The Past is the fifth book in the Cranberry Cove Mystery series.

Cranberry Cove is experiencing bitter cold and heavy snowfall, but Monica and Greg are having a romantic evening curled up in front of their fireplace when there is knocking at their front door. When they answer the door, there is a lady who identifies herself as Dana and says that someone is trying to kill her. She relates that she has run her car off the road while trying to find her sister’s home. They all agree to wait until the morning after the roads have been plowed to help Dana find her sister’s home. The next morning Monica and Dana set out to find Dana’s sister. Soon Dana remembers enough that they can find the house. They receive no response when they knock on the door. Dana tries the door and finds it unlocked and they enter calling her sister’s name. Getting no response, they start searching the house and soon find her dead in her bed. The coroner is called and is in too much of a hurry to start his vacation and states she died of natural causes.

Dana doesn’t believe that the coroner’s decision is correct and asks Monica if she will help to find out how her sister really died and Monica quickly agrees to help. Monica soon learns that some of the sister’s pills are missing and that may have caused her to have a heart attack. She also learns that Dana’s brother has been trying to get his sister to see the house that the three of them own. A real estate developer is also in town and wants the property to build housing. It also appears that a couple of her friends might have wanted to see the sister die.

A sub-plot hits close to home for Monica. Monica’s brother, Jeff, wants to sell the cranberry farm so he will have money to repair the injuries from a war injury to his arm. She’s worried that she and Greg will have to find a new place to live and she will lose her bakery.

The story is well-plotted and written. The residents of Cranberry Cove are well-developed and quite enjoyable. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end.

There are also delicious-sounding recipes included in the book.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this delightful series.

Was this review helpful?

**I received Berried in the Past through NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review**

The past few days placed me in a mood where I longed for a story to help me escape the complicated times the world is currently experiencing. I found that story in Berried in the Past! This told the story of Monica Albertson, a small-town baker in Cranberry Cove (a village set in Michigan). Monica sets out to solve the murder of Marta Bakker, after her sister unexpectedly appears at her doorstep one night. Everyone who Monica meets has an explanation (and possibly a motive) for the woman’s death!

My interest was held from beginning to end, since I was curious to see how the mystery of Marta’s death would be solved. The side characters (and the conflicts that added on to the tale) kept things very interesting as well!

This book is the fifth installment of the Cranberry Cove series, but you don’t need to read the previous books to catch up on the goings-on in this small town. While I was relieved to discover that fact, I plan on picking up one of the earlier books in the series to learn how Monica’s relationship with the townspeople solidified!

The book was also filled with mouth-watering treats and baked goods. There are some recipes in the back of the novel which I’m very interested in trying out this week (I enjoyed reading about the Cranberry Orange Cake)!

Berried in the Past by Peg Cochran is sure to bring that escape from the crazy times happening in our world. You won’t be disappointed!

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Was this review helpful?

Peg Cochran throws you right into the mystery with a bang-up first chapter. There is a knock on the door and a woman, disheveled and stunned, claims someone is trying to kill her. She is taken back the next morning to her family home, and it is apparent that her Sister is dead and has been for several days. The writing is smooth and continuous allowing us to catch up with the back history of Monica and Greg. They are living in a small cottage owned by Monica until they build their own House and start a family.

The background is scrumptious. We have a baking area and a store which means lot of recipes and food...the air is filled with all those goodies. I love anything with cranberries so there is no problem with that. The atmosphere is icy and snowy, with winter days and a shivery, continuous, mystery. Red herrings are folded into the story as neatly as a recipe. In fact, I highly recommend you get a cup of tea and a muffin and read this on an evening you can pretend you are next to a roaring fire. This book has everything...likeable characters, mystery and great food.

Was this review helpful?

This is the fifth Cranberry Cove mystery. I recently read Berried at Sea, so I was already in Western Michigan with Monica and Greg. I wasn't quite prepared for the cold of winter, but Berried at Sea was fall harvest so the timeline is in order.
I enjoy Cranberry Cove and all the small town descriptions and experiences. I don't know if life is really this way in small town America anymore because the small town I grew up in was not this way. It is lovely to read about and maybe that makes this fictional town even better.
Monica and Greg are settled in for an evening by the fire when a pounding comes at their door. A woman they have never met before is standing outside in the snow. She says someone is trying to kill her. Thus begins this new mystery. At first it doesn't look like murder, but it must be for the story to gain traction.
There are internal stressful situations at the cranberry farm. There are outside threats. And one person far down the suspect list is the murderer because of something long in the past.

I felt a little out of sorts with Monica during her investigation. She feels guilty about investigating but still goes ahead and abandons Kit to do the baking for the farm store. Then even though Greg warns her to be careful she gets herself into danger with the murderer. I wish she would learn to call Detective Stevens earlier on. Also she needs to quit leaving home without her cell phone. These things bring this down to 4 stars.
There are enough explanations of the town and the staple characters for someone to read this mystery as a standalone without reading the rest of the series first.

Was this review helpful?