Rotten to the Core

Orchard Mystery #2

by Sheila Connolly

Second in the series that readers can sink their teeth into.

Orchard owner Meg Corey must clear her name of murder after the discovery of a pesticide-poisoned body in her springhouse. Includes recipes.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Crime, Romance, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 20, 2009

About the author

Sheila Connolly taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns, and served as a fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company providing genealogical research services.

She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first. I'm not usually a big fan of farm books, but something about the small town and the apple orchard was perfect for reading in fall. It made me want to go apple picking and drink apple cider. I'm liking Meg more and more (though half the book she is worrying about not knowing anything and it got a little repetitive). I'm so rooting for her and Seth. I'd like to see more of the other characters in the next one so we can learn more about them. As for the mystery I picked out the murderer right away so of course it drove me a little nuts that it took everyone else longer to get there. Overall I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one.

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in the Orchard cozy mystery series

This was very enjoyable. I like the low-key sense of this cozy, meaning that the mc didn't go off all crazy searching for clues and trying to solve the mystery herself. I mean, she did talk to a few people and worry about herself being involved, but mostly she was just normally checking into things. The murderer was fairly obvious, but it was still interesting to watch things play out in a natural timeframe. The rest of the story--about Meg's house repairs and learning about her orchard--add a homey feel to this series. Very exciting scenes surrounding the dinner party and its aftermath that really moved the story along quickly. I do get a little frustrated that Meg spends a lot more time worrying about her home improvements and less time studying up about her orchard--shouldn't she be educating herself more?--but mostly she's a friendly and pleasant character. Seth, her neighbor and handy-man, is obviously going to be a love interest, and I like his character very much. Very down-to-earth and helpful. And Bree, the new orchard manager, looks like she'll be a good addition. What bothered me to some extent was the accent used by narrator Robin Miles. Although she has a fairly good handle on a New England accent, it seems a little pronounced and more New Hampshire than Massachusetts. I look forward to continuing with this series.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Oh man, I can't f__king believe this. Another basement, another elevator. How can the same sh_t happen to the same guy twice?"
-John McClane (Die Hard 2)

After solving the murder of her ex-boyfriend in book 1, One Bad Apple, Meg Corey could be forgiven for thinking that things would settle down and she would be able to turn her attention to making a go of the apple orchard.

Unfortunately, weeks after one crime is solved, another body has shown up on her orchard. A young environmental activist has been murdered. The method of murder, pesticide poisoning. With the State Police eager, nay desperate to hang the crime on her, she needs to investigate and find the real killer.


It's OK. It's even good. I nice way to kill some time for lovers of cosy mysteries. It follows the same basic pattern as the first book and no doubt, book three which I just bought, but it's a pattern I quite enjoy. Not sure how long before I get tired of it, but for now it's good fun.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg is settling into the house and farm, her new Orchard Manager is starting to move in (slowly as she still has classes to attend until the end of the academic year), and Meg has been adopted by an abandoned cat - so everything in the orchard is rosy, until Meg does a walk through and smells something rotten, which turns out to be a dead body! All of a sudden Detective Marcus is sniffing around again and Meg and Seth need to put their heads together to find out why the young man died there.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg has decided to stay on the farm and tend to the orchard but of course as the season is nearing another body appears. This time Meg didn't know who it was but that doesn't stop her from trying to help figure out who killed him and why place him in her orchard. I would be just as angree as Meg since it is her property. I wouldn't want bodies popping up on my property either. LOL I'm enjoying this series.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is the second in the series. And boy was there an apple rotten to the core, and we aren't talking fruit. This book was entertaining and I'm growing to love Meg and Seth. This series is going to be a winner.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoy this series and I really like the characters and the info about orchards.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second series that I have read by Sheila Connolly. So far, she seems to follow the same plot: a young girl with few ties to her previous town (Boston in both cases), finds herself in a Mayberry type setting where the townspeople have history that reaches back decades. She wonders if she can fit into this small town, slowed down lifestyle or if she is even worthy of the people she meets. There is a guy, and in this series the romance moved a little faster. All of that to say that I find her stories comfortable, like a worn pair of jeans-good for helping to tackle the day but lacking a lot of style and flair. I found this a quick read with just enough substance to not be a waste of time.

[Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

I liked this 2nd installment of Sheila Connolly's Orchard Series much better than I did One Bad Apple. Meg Corey has grown more confident and stronger. And the writing has gotten much better.

It's Spring in Granford, MA and Meg Corey is walking in her Orchard checking on the still dormant trees when she notices an odd smell. She follows her nose to her Spring house and discovers a body lying face down in the spring. Oh no! Another dead body on her property! Detective Marcus will surely try to pinned this one on her too.

The dead guy is a graduate student at the University and is the face of Green Grow, a group that demands no use of pesticides. And his death comes as the University plans to announce something BIG. But how did Jason get to her Spring house? And why her farm? Meg smells something Rotten to the Core and is determined to solve the suspicious death.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are the coziest of mysteries, which makes them fun to read as a change of pace. Meg has decided to keep her home & orchard, thus becoming a farmer. She wants to learn all about running the orchard, so we get to learn along with her as she finds out about integrated pest management programs, learns to drive a tractor, and gets some goats. She's also restoring her old home so there's fun stuff about refinishing her kitchen floor. Oh, and a dead body is found by her springhouse so she has to clear her name while also researching the history of her farm. It's just a relaxing visit to rural Massachusetts with a plucky heroine & a possible relationship with the neighbor.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, but it seemed a bit slow-moving. Though it's fun to meet more of the people in Meg's new town and to find out what's happening in her orchard as the seasons progress.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and light cozy mystery!

[Euwuuwue · Rating 2 out of 5]

The little I recall of the previous book, I remember it being a LOT better. This book was just blah, and the main character not very interesting or sympathetic. Doubting whether I will continue the series. 2.5

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoooooole lot of complaining about tractors. If you want to run an orchard you're gonna have to learn to use a tractor and there's no use bitching about it as much as Meg does. SHADDUP, MEG

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable second installment in this series. Such fun to follow Meg's house refurbishing projects ... to follow the progression of the perhaps budding romance between her and Seth ... AND to watch her mind work as she tries to unwind the mysterious death. In this book she learns a lot about fertilizer, how to drive a tractor, and how to refinish her kitchen floor. Lots of fun.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Orchard series has a plot that is similar to the first. Meg is now more at home with the residents of the town to which she has moved to renovate her house for sale. But now she has decided she might want to live there herself - IF she can get the house livable, and learn what is involved in maintaining her apple orchard. She will need the income from the orchard to support herself if she stays. She hires a student, Bree, to be her orchard manager, and provides a room in the house for Bree since she can't afford to pay much in salary. Her relationship with the helpful Seth is growing every day, as well. When a anti-pesticide pro-organic activist student turns up dead from pesticide poisoning in her orchard, suspicion falls on her, as usual. Detective Marcus seems to have a one-track mind when it comes to being suspicious of Meg. Luckily, the local police are more help to her. A dinner party given to celebrate her newly finished kitchen floor, nearly is the death of Meg, Seth, Bree from -guess what - pesticide poisoning. The murderer in this case is telegraphed earlier than in the previous book, but the story is still quite riveting. I'm enjoying the series very much.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading this series. I like the main character, a rising bank officer who had lost her job during the recession and at her mother's suggestion, left Boston to go to the historic home she and her mother had inherited from a pair of unmarried sisters who were distant relatives. Meg had only intended to be in the small Massachusetts town where the house was located long enough to get it in salable condition prior to returning to the business world. However, once she got there, she is finding that the town and the somewhat run down home is growing on her. Even with a reasonably substantial severance package, Meg has to be careful with her finances and as a result, she becomes directly involved in some of the many repairs that the house and its surrounds need. She gets guidance and perhaps something much more from her neighbor, Seth. Of course, this is a cozy mystery so yes, a murder or at least a suspicious death occurs and Meg, as the protagonist, of course becomes involved. Of course there is an obnoxious and not terribly bright investigator. Meg has learned that there is an orchard on her property and decides to try to make a living from it. I am enjoying this series.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second in the Apple mystery series---not as good as the first. Meg is back and trying to run her apple farm, with the help of the local college. Meg soon finds a body on her farm, in the orchard. While she doesnt know the victim, she is compelled to investigate his pesticide caused death. The first book was good because it talks about interesting apple facts. The second doesn't talk so much about apples, more about pesticides...which unsurprisingly aren't all that compelling. The second story lost much of what was good about the first-- a young lady finding an orchard, needing to learn about apples while trying to fix up her house. There is still some house fixing, but love interest Seth doesn't have much of a role. Why would a love interest be introduced (first book) and why exclude him from book two? This book just wasn't interesting and was hard to finish....Missing the magic of the first book.

[Liora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg is the owner of a 15 acre apple orchard and dilapidated farmhouse that are about 200 years old in western Massachusetts. She is trying to learn about the apple orchard business and restore the old farmhouse. In this second installment of this cozy mystery series, she finds the body of a young man in her spring house. She does not know the young man at all, but is dismayed at finding yet another body on her property. Once again, she gets drawn into to trying to solve a murder mystery.

I found that this mystery stalled in the middle. It started out okay with finding the body and some interesting developments such as hiring Bree, an orchard manager, but then it just bogged down with a lot of stuff about pesticides and the organic movement and integrated pest management. Near the end, the action picked up and moved quickly then to a resolution. I am not sure yet what my verdict is yet on the series so I'll probably move on to the third book.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series and it is excellent. Not quite as frenetic as the first book, it is a fast read but not because the characters are running around in circles.

Meg is half owner of a 200+ year old farm and 15 acre apple orchard. When she finds a young college student dead in her spring house she is again under suspicion even though she had never seen the young man before.

There are interesting tips about pesticides, apple growing, home improvement and animal care and feeding (cat and goat). And the mystery is well done too. I didn't expect the twist at the end, although I did figure out part of the mystery.

Highly recommended. It can be read as a stand alone but by reading the series you know a little more about the characters and some of the motivations.

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with some other reviews that the prospect of a Second dead body just showing up on her Orchard in a matter of months. But I don't have as much of a problem with this as others.

I am a fan of Murder She Wrote, Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders. By the time you get to the end of an episode or story of one of these, you're usually surprised anyone is still alive and living in that area. So the Orchard Mystery books don't bug me too much.

This one is good because it expands on the first story, allows Meg to integrate into the local community and delves a little further into her story and that of the Orchard. I will finish this series eventually.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really enjoying this series. Meg is a great character and I can feel her struggles to learn about her orchard, make it a success, fix up her new home and fit into the community. All the progress she is making is marred by finding a body on her grounds in her spring house. When she learns that the young man was poisoned using pesticides it opens up all kinds of possibilities. There is much more to add to Meg's learning curve, as she struggles to learn about her about her orchard, IPM and living with her new orchard manager. How this all unfolds makes for a very interesting mystery. Can't wait for the next!!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable. I did not feel like it was something I had to read without stopping, but when I stopped I did not feel like I did not want to finish either. I just took my time with it. My thoughts, in no particular order: it's about time Meg and Seth acknowledged that was going on between them! There needs to be more Rachel. I'm not sure how I feel about Christopher now that he is working with the chemical company. Bree took a while to warm up, but I think she will add to the story nicely. Daphne was a bit obvious, but listening to her retelling of her side of the events was chilling; she was absolutely remorseless. I like this series and will be reading more.

[Sallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this on my flight to Boston a week or so ago. I like the main character, Meg Corey, and love Seth Chapin! Some heroines of mysteries start to bug me after a time, but so far, Meg is staying likeable. Interesting mystery, although I was practically shouting at the book (silently since I was on a plane full of people) who the murderer was, even though technically she wasn't. I just began #3 and am delighted to find Meg did NOT stumble over this latest corpse. I enjoy all the information about organic farming and locavore since I'm trying to do some of the same in my small way.

[Kellene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the 2nd installment in the series maybe a little more than the first. Watching Meg get her footing in rural life was fun, in spite of that nasty little dead body in the springhouse. Seeing growth in the continuing characters is a good thing, but the addition of spunky Bree to the lineup makes me like the series even more. The mystery in this one, and it's solution, was almost secondary for me to the character evolvement, and while I had some of the solution deduced before the reveal, part still surprised me. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Karma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in a series. Follows main character Meg as she learns to manage an old apple orchard (and house) she has inherited. Some information about orchard management, varieties of apples, home restoration. Author's weak spot is probably dialogue. Good story concept and general writing style. A very comfortable cozy mystery. Oh yes, the author has wisely decided to add a cat to the cast of characters. =)

[BJ Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apologies to those who love this series, but Meg just isn't doing anything for me. The first book, One Bad Apple was a weak 3* for me, so I decided that was just because the author was setting the scene and things would liven up, but it didn't happen. I guessed the who early on, and even guessed what was going on at the celebration dinner before it even happened.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this story! The Characters are great, story well written and even though I began to suspect who the murderer was I wasn't really sure until Connolly told us who it was! I really enjoyed how the cat came to live with her and with Seth's help the two goats! Good series, look forward to another one!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I do enjoy these Orchard mysteries. I like that Meg isn't an expert in the field and we get to learn with her. The mystery was good although I did catch on a little sooner than Meg did about who the culprit was. Enjoyable characters and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next! #readforkimberly