Murder by Mushroom

by Virginia Smith

Book Overview

Serving up murderous munchies at a church potluck social wouldn't win any popularity contests, as Jackie Hoffner discovered. Someone had laced the casserole she brought with poisonous mushrooms... and the deadly dish had fellow churchgoer and town fussbudget Alice Farmer pushing up daisies. Now the gossip-hungry townsfolk suspected Jackie of foul play. To prove her innocence, she decided to conduct her own murder investigation, and Trooper Dennis...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037344253X
• ISBN13: 9780373442539
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

A Good Winter Read

I enjoyed reading this book. It had just enough mystery and just enough romance. I look forward to reading another cozy mystery by this author.

Gossip Can Be A Killer!

"Murder By Mushroom" by Virginia Smith, published by Love Inspired Suspense was an incredibly fun read. Here's the blip - A Killer Casserole Serving up murderous munchies at a church potluck social wouldn't win any popularity contests, as Jackie Hoffner discovered. Someone had laced the casserole she brought with poisonous mushrooms...and the deadly dish had fellow churchgoer and town fussbudget Alice Farmer pushing up daisies. Now the gossip-hungry townsfolk suspected Jackie of foul play. To prove her innocence, she decided to conduct her own investigation, and Trooper Dennis Walsh's helpful efforts and boy-next-door charm were welcome. Meanwhile, the town's mysterious poisoner seemed to have more victim's in mind... This is what I considered a fluff book (a quick, fun, light book with not a lot of depth but still satisfying somehow), until I read it. It turned out to not only be very fun and highly enjoyable book that kept me guessing til close to the end (although I did figure it out before it was revealed :-) but it also had a lot of meat to it and really hit home in some areas too. It dealt bluntly with the issue of church gossip and how it can really hurt when people assume and rush to judgement, but without being preachy. The heroine is NOT perfect, but is willing to ask forgiveness when she messes up. I finished the book with a smile and a resolve to think a little more before I judge and to be a little quicker to ask for forgiveness when I mess up. What more can you ask from a quick read - enjoyment, suspense, romance, comedy and some real meat in the middle. Pick it up and give it a read!

Delicious!

Welcome to Heritage Community Church---just don't eat at potluck!! This little novel came at just the right time, and was so much fun to read! Jackie Hoffner is new to HCC, and a backhanded comment at a potluck supper gets her dander up. Taunted that she can keep them supplied in potato chips, she decides to show the women of HCC. Her spiral noodle dish is a hit, and little is left to pack up as leftovers. But Alice Farmer snags a dish full, and it isn't long before Alice is dead and the police come knocking on Jackie's door. But Jackie didn't poison Alice with mushrooms---did she? And if she didn't do it, who did? While the cops are looking at Jackie (and one with more than just investigative interest:-), Jackie is looking a church members to find a killer. It's hard to write a murder mystery, albeit a cozy one, about a church. And to write it in a non-offensive and entertaining way is tricky. But Virginia Smith pulls it off masterfully. Steeple Hill and Love Inspired are two imprints that get overlooked, but both host some very talented authors. "Murder By Mushroom" is what I hope is a great new series...but if not, at least I got this one by Virginia:-) "Murder By Mushroom" gets 4 bookmarks from me, with a little mushroom charm...of the non-poisonous variety. Pick up a copy of this delightful cozy today...it's great summer reading! Although, I will lay off the noodle casseroles at poluck for awhile;-) Happy Reading! Deena

Killer Fungi

Jackie Hoffner thought she'd be helping out the church potluck by bringing in a mushroom casserole. Little did she know that her dish would end up killing the most hated woman in church! Jackie's on a mission to prove that she's innocent by trying to find the guilty party. The problem is that there are many people who wanted Alice Farmer dead. Secrets from church members arise as Jackie and the pastor's wife try to question those who have the biggest motive to kill. This was a fun book to read (although don't attempt on an empty stomach!) I liked Jackie even though she's no Nancy Drew. Her character changed throughout the story as her original intentions were purely to clear her own name. Then as she found out what really happened to everyone else she changed for the better. What I found most interesting about the story was the attitude that other Christians had against Alice. It's tough to show love towards someone so spiteful. So I was glad that there was actual animosity towards the character. It would have been unrealistic for everyone to start crying and mourning her passing. Alice Farmer is a mean old woman who seems to take delight in hurting others. There are many people who suffered because of her. Unfortunately no reason is given for her cruelty which is kind of unsatisfying. It was sad reading that there are some Christians who believe that this is how Jesus wants them to act. Dennis seems like a really nice guy. A huge contrast compared to Detective Connor who doesn't seem to have a very high opinion about women. I was clueless about the murder's identity until the very end but it was very satisfying to find out who it was. I really enjoyed this book and am hoping for more adventures with Jackie. If you like cozy mysteries, you'll like this book. Just don't eat any mushrooms while reading it!

Excellent

This book is very well written and an excellent picture of character weaknesses and strengths found in a typical central Kentucky small church congregation. It is enjoyable reading, a good and funny who-done-it! I recommend it for lovers of mystery, romance, and humor.