I went into this book expecting a light, fun read. It was that, true, but so much more. Kudos to author Darci Hannah for her deft, sensitive handling of a serious issue that has touched many families, including my own. That she managed to do so while doling out not just funny, clever dialogue but making me hungry with all the talk of delicious blueberry dishes and recipes is all the more impressive.
Quite frankly, for the longest time, I expected my opening review line to be "a goat afloat on a boat, with a body". On the surface, that oft' repeated line rather nicely summed up the plot. True, it leaves out a few bewildering points, like said body on said boat was dressed as a Viking. The boat resembled a Viking ship. Beside the body were several items, including a sword and charred arrow? Charred? And, let's not forget the hay, slightly charred but being munched on by the goat. This entire sight is discovered by main character Lindsey, who lives in a, no lie, haunted lighthouse, and boyfriend Rory, an ex-SEAL.
All this after a series of pranks had disrupted the annual blueberry festival, not to mention the small-town parade held in its honor. The author does an excellent job of drawing you into the atmosphere. You feel the excitement in the air as children dart about, laughing and grabbing for the candy thrown from the floats. You sense the flavor of the various goodies being sold and consumed as spectators waved and applauded passing floats while chowing down. You see in your mind's eye the young musicians in the parade trying to march in step while struggling to play music. And, hey, is that choir on the float in tune? Doesn't matter. It's all in fun.
Until it isn't. Suddenly water balloon rain down on parade participants and spectators alike. The next day a herd of rustled goats stampedes through a fashion show made up of local models showcasing designs by Lindsey's ex-model mother, who utilized pets in costumes, too. Let's just say, Lindsey's big boy Wellie must have thought he was a herding dog, one with a raucous assist from the rest. Then there were the, yuck, mice in a pie at the pie baking contest. All these are disruptive but deemed harmless....until the goat in a boat with a body turns up.
Who killed Lars and set him afloat in a boat with a goat? Why? Lars was a member of Rory's unofficial veteran group and his death hits Rory hard. This is the third in the Beacon Bakeshop series and Lindsey and her family and friends come together to help solve the mystery. That is when things go from predictable to bewildering. I won't detail the plot more than I have since I'd like to let your approach it as blindly as I did other than to say you'll probably find yourself liking everyone involved, including the suspects and even the guilty party. They are revealed as real people, people we would enjoy knowing, with depth and quirks of their own. I mean, who else but Kennedy would outfit the goat from the boat as a unicorn? Girlie-girl or not, Kennedy, as well as the rest, have Lindsey's back and genuinely care about each other. Friendship is important. Your heart will ache for Lars' family and closest friends as the ending is revealed. There's nothing simply about this cozy mystery otherwise full of witty dialogue and set in a gorgeous place.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to attend this blueberry festival with Lindsey and the rest. Kudos to the author for her deft hand with the unexpected ending.
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