Wisconsin Grocers Association

This week, I indulged my love for Granny Smith apples by reading “Granny Smith is Dead” by Chelsea Thomas. This is book number five in her Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery series.

Chelsea Thomas grew up in the quaint village of Pine Grove. After her parents died, Chelsea was raised by her aunt, Miss May, at the Thomas Family Fruit and Fir Farm. After high school, Chelsea studied at Duke, then went to run her own design firm in New York. When things went bad, Chelsea returned to Pine Grove.

Since she’s been back, Miss May, Chelsea and Teeny have gotten very good at solving crimes before the local police. That upsets Police Chief Ferguson, but Deputy Wayne doesn’t really mind because he’s been trying to get Chelsea to agree to a date.

As this story opens, Chelsea is working in the orchard bakery when local “legend” Delores Granny Smith appears. After berating Chelsea, she gives her a stack of papers advertising the latest historic homes tour she will be conducting.

Granny brags that she plans to reveal letters proving that the Brewster family had helped the British during the Revolutionary War. Then Bev Brewster arrives, and an argument begins. Granny’s current husband, Ricardo, chimes in.

Then he’s joined by Wendall Smith, Granny’s first husband. Before the things go further, Miss May tosses them all out of the bakery.

The next morning, Miss May takes Chelsea to make amends. They deliver fresh bakery to Bev, then move on to Granny’s but hear Ricardo and Granny’s son, Buster, arguing. Ricardo is demanding Buster move out.

They head to the first house on the tour but find only a small group waiting — and no Granny Smith. The group gives up and leaves, but Miss May senses something is very wrong and proceeds to search for the basement and the tunnels said to have been used by the Underground Railroad.

Once in the tunnels, they discover Granny. She’s been stabbed with a vintage knife. Strangely, the tunnel walls are covered in graffiti. One side is dramatically artistic while the other is covered with childish smiley faces. When the police arrive, the two women pretend innocence, but no one believes them because they are well known for their investigations.
Deputy Wayne makes a wager with Chelsea that sounds very much like a date, but she’s not ready to commit to dating now. They head for Grandma’s Café where they discuss the “case” with Teeny. As they list the obvious suspects, they make a plan to interview them one at a time.

There is drama when the trio sneaks into Granny’s house and comedy when lanky Germany Turtle tries to woo Chelsea with poetry and flowers. Little by little they cross suspects off their list, only to replace them with new ones.

The investigation becomes dangerous when the disagreeable Buster’s body is found in the tunnels. Things clarify a bit when they realize that they have Granny Smith’s car keys. With a little help from Big Dan the mechanic, they find it hidden in the quarry. All clues indicate Buster killed his mother and hid the car, but who killed Buster?

Once again, the women compile their suspect/motive list. This time, they look to both the future and the past for clues, and suddenly the killer is obvious. With Big Dan in tow, they decide to confront the killer. When confronted, he tries to escape. Chelsea’s plan to disable him is thwarted when Deputy Wayne steps in and cuffs him. Back at the orchard, Wayne confidently makes dinner plans for him and Chelsea when she gives him a big surprise.

Surprises can be both good and bad, but you’ll never get a bad surprise at your public library. This would be a great week to go in and check it out.

AT A GLANCE
BOOK:
“Granny Smith is Dead”
AUTHOR: Chelsea Thomas
PUBLISHER: Independently published
PUBLISHED: July 23, 2019
PAGES: 282

Category: