{"product_id":"a-late-frost-isbn-9780425275832","title":"A Late Frost","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn orchard owner searches for a poisoner in this Orchard Mystery from the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eNipped in the Bud.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe usually quiet town of Granford, Massachusetts, is even drowsier during the colder months. But this year it’s in for a jolt when Monica Whitman moves into town. She’s a dynamo who wants to make friends fast in her new home, and she throws herself into community activities. Meg Corey, now Chapin after her marriage to Seth Chapin, is intrigued by the new arrival, who has already sold the town board on a new, fun way to bring in visitors during the off-season: WinterFare, which will feature local foods (such as Meg’s apples) and crafts, as well as entertainment. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTragically, Monica falls ill and dies after the event in what looks like a case of food poisoning. When all the food served at WinterFare has been tested, including Meg’s apples, it becomes clear that there’s a more sinister explanation to the older woman’s sudden demise. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMeg’s investigation uncovers a bushel of potential suspects, one of whom is rotten to the core.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eINCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling Orchard Mysteries\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“[A] sleuth with a bushelful of entertaining problems.”—Claudia Bishop, bestselling author of the Hemlock Falls Mysteries\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Connolly’s writing style brings the reader into the sights, scents, and sounds of a small town.”—Open Book Society\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“An example of everything that is right with the cozy mystery.”—Lesa’s Book Critiques\u003cb\u003eSheila Connolly\u003c\/b\u003e is the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling, Anthony and Agatha award-nominated author of the Orchard Mysteries, the Museum Mysteries, and the County Cork Mysteries. She has 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 nonprofit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company, providing genealogical research services. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loves restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling. Now a full-time writer, she thinks writing mysteries is a lot more fun than any of her previous occupations. She is married and has one daughter and three cats.1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Did we celebrate Christmas this year?\" Meg Corey Chapin asked her      still-newish husband, Seth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He turned from the stove in the kitchen, holding up a coffeepot.      \"More?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Please!\" Meg told him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Seth refilled her cup, topped off his, and sat down across from      her at the kitchen table. His dog, Max, a solidly built Golden      Retriever, laid a head on his foot and resumed his nap. \"Christmas      . . . yes, I believe we did. I seem to remember there was a tree,      and boxes with paper and ribbons on them, and family members kept      popping in. Why are you asking now?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Because it all seems like a blur. After the honeymoon, which      wasn't exactly normal or typical—not that I'm complaining, and it      wasn't our fault that we got stuck solving a murder—we came back      and Bree told us she was taking another job and leaving in two      weeks, and somehow I haven't gotten things together since. Thank      goodness there's nothing that absolutely needs to be done right      now in the orchard.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It's too bad Bree had to leave,\" Seth agreed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bree had been Meg's orchard manager since she'd first arrived in      Granford to find she owned an apple orchard and might actually      need to make an income from it. When they'd first met, Bree had      recently graduated from UMass in nearby Amherst, but she was      young, untested, female, and born to Jamaican parents, any of      which could have been an impediment to finding a job in      agriculture. But she'd come highly recommended by a respected      professor at UMass, Christopher Ramsdell, born in Australia, and      Meg knew she needed someone to manage the orchard, since she was      clueless about it, so she'd agreed to hire Bree. Christopher had      been using the orchard as a sort of living demonstration for his      students, so he knew it well. Meg had hoped that he had      transferred most of that information to Bree, and it turned out      that he had.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Meg couldn't afford to pay Bree much. She had thrown in free      housing to sweeten the deal, so since her arrival Bree had been      living in the Colonial house Meg had acquired along with the      orchard. She'd proved to be a good roommate: she had kept to      herself, done her share of the cooking and cleaning, and been      invaluable to Meg in getting to know her orchard and learning what      trees she had and how to harvest, store, and sell the apples.      Bree's Achilles' heel was keeping financial records for the      orchard, although she was good at tracking what had been done with      which trees and what needed to be done from year to year. But Meg      could more than compensate on the financial side since most of her      professional experience had come from years of working in a Boston      bank. They'd made a good team, even after Seth had started      spending more and more time at the house, until they had finally      married in December, almost two years after Meg had moved to      Granford.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And then Bree had left for an internship in Australia, with Meg's      blessing. She wanted Bree to succeed and be happy, but it had left      her high and dry. Even after two years, there was still a lot she      didn't know about growing apples.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Tell me about it,\" Meg told Seth. \"But Christopher said he had a      good candidate to replace her.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You think she'll come back here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I really don't know. Selfishly I'd like that, but I want her to      do well, so I can't exactly stand in her way. We'll have to see      how the new person works out.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You have anything major on your calendar?\" Seth asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Not until we need to prune, and that's not urgent—yet. You?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A few small clean-up projects, and I suppose I should start      drumming up some new business for when the weather warms up.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You like the old-house projects better?\" Meg asked. Seth had been      a plumber, running what had been his father's small company, when      they'd first met, but his heart lay in house renovation and      restoration, mainly for the older buildings in the area, and there      were plenty of those.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Better than what?\" he replied. \"There aren't a lot of major      projects coming down the pike. Well, the town is still wrestling      with what to do with the old library, now that the new one is      open, but if they can't decide what that building should be, they      can't exactly advertise for architects, much less contractors. And      there might be a conflict of interest, since I'm a town selectman.      You and I both know I'd give them a fair estimate, but we don't      want anybody to challenge the process. I'm okay with that.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And that's the only major project? That suits your particular      skills, that is?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"For now. Most people wait until winter's over to see what work      their homes need, so I'm not worried. Besides, you can support me,      right?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"In your dreams! But we'll always have apples to eat. I can plant      a garden, and maybe you can trap a muskrat or two in the swamp.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"There aren't a lot of muskrats in Massachusetts, and I think you      need a permit to trap them. You want to make a fur coat? I'm not      about to shoot anything. How do you feel about eating frogs?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've tried them once, I think. Kinda like chicken? But not a lot      of meat on them.\" Meg took another sip of her coffee. \"So, the      bottom line is, there's nothing either one of us has to do today?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Looks like it. You have any ideas?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I am at a total loss. I don't know what to do with spare time      anymore. And I refuse to look at spreadsheets, though I know taxes      are looming. Even if I was a financial professional.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We should discuss our shared finances at some point, you know,\"      Seth said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My head knows it, but right now I don't wanna. Very adult of me,      isn't it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We could schedule a time. You know, we've got two unrelated      businesses to consider, both of which are sole proprietorships,      and the details are complicated.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Seth, my love, you are depressing me. You think I don't know      that? Let me ask you this: do we have money in the bank right now,      after all the wedding and honeymoon hoo-hah?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So that was hoo-hah? Live and learn. Yes, we have some money, and      we can cover our bills. But we may never be able to retire.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That is the farthest thing from my mind at the moment.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Their banter was interrupted by an insistent banging on the front      door. \"What time is it?\" Meg asked. \"That much noise this early is      seldom good news. And nobody who knows us uses that door.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So you want me to go, right?\" Seth said, smiling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"If you will, please, sir. I've got your back.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Seth stood up and headed through the dining room and the living      room to the front door. Meg didn't move. Please, let it not be a      crisis. They'd had more than their share in recent months. She      heard the creak of the door opening, and the rumble of male      voices. All right, their unexpected caller was male. Salesman?      State trooper? Religious fanatic? She couldn't begin to guess.      Luckily Seth returned quickly, followed by a twentysomething guy      wearing well-worn clothes and a heavy, shapeless coat. He was      shorter than Seth—maybe about her height? He could use a haircut,      but at least he didn't have one of the scruffy beards that seemed      to be popular among his age group.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Meg, this is Larry Bennett. He says Christopher sent him.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Hey, hi,\" the guy said. \"Sorry—Christopher said he'd meet me here      so we could do the introduction thing. He told me you needed an      orchard manager?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ah. Yes, we do,\" Meg said. \"Please, sit down. You want some      coffee?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Larry sat. \"Yeah, sure. Please,\" he added as an afterthought.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Seth, can you do the honors with the coffee?\" Meg asked. \"I'm Meg      Corey, uh, Chapin. Sorry, Seth, but I'm still getting used to it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No problem—I think my ego will survive.\" He set a mug of coffee      in front of Larry and took a seat next to Meg.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We just got married last month,\" Meg explained, feeling foolish.      \"I don't know how much Christopher has told you, but I'll give you      the short version while we wait. I kind of inherited this place      about two years ago, and when I decided to stay I realized I'd      have to make a living from the orchard, if possible. But I had no      experience, so Christopher suggested I hire Bree—Briona      Stewart—who was one of his students. Did he explain all this?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Not a lot. So she's been working here for two years? Why's she      leaving?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"She was offered an internship in Australia, which would be a big      plus on her résumé, and I told her she should take it. She left      right after New Year's.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So you need someone to manage the whole thing? What've you got?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"'Bout fifteen acres of mature trees, and we put in another three      acres of new trees last year, mostly heirlooms.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What do you do for storage?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Seth built some refrigerated storage units in the barn when we      started, but mostly I sell direct to local markets.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So no big contracts?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, and I'm not looking for any right now,\" Meg said, reflecting      that this Larry person wasn't exactly making nice with his new      employer, although he was asking the right questions. A little      rough around the social edges?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Larry turned to Seth. \"You—Seth, is it?—you work in the orchard,      too?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, I'm a renovator, but I know plumbing. Separate operation, but      I use the building next to the barn as my office space.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Other employees?\" Larry turned back to Meg, dismissing Seth      abruptly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Bree set up a team of pickers for me who come in for the      harvest.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No automation?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Not for the picking. No, we pick by hand, and move the apples      around with our tractor. When there's a drought, which we have had      recently, there's a well that supplies the orchard, but we need to      install a new pumping system.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Expensive,\" Larry said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes, it will be.\" Meg decided it was time to take charge. After      all, she was supposed to be interviewing him, not the other way      around. \"What's your background?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've got a degree in plant sciences from Cornell. You know about      their apple programs, right?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've heard of them, but I haven't visited. It's on my wish list.      When did you graduate?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A couple of years ago.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"And what have you been doing since?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've taken a bunch of graduate-level agricultural courses at      UMass—that's how I met Christopher. There was some grant funding      for apple research projects, so I was working on those. I haven't      made up my mind if I want to go for a grad degree, but I need a      job.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Have you worked in an orchard before?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My folks had one, but they're gone now, and so's the orchard.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Why do you want this job? We're pretty small, and there's not a      lot of room to grow. What can you learn here?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Look, I need a paycheck, all right? I know apples, and there are      some good ideas I picked up, that I'd like to try out.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Assuming I'm willing. You'd be working for me, and I need to be      part of making any decisions.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Larry looked like he was swallowing a comment, but in the end he      said, \"Yeah, I get that. But I can bring new ideas to you, right?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Of course. I don't pretend to know everything, but I wanted to be      clear from the start. I'm willing to listen to you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Meg sat back and contemplated this Larry person. He was kind of      abrasive. Defensive? Or just obnoxious? And young. Still, if he'd      been raised with an orchard, he must have more experience than      Bree had when she took on the job. And if Christopher vouched for      him, he must have something going for him. Where the heck was      Christopher, anyway? A knock at the back door answered that      question. Meg got up to let Christopher in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So sorry I'm late, Meg, my dear. Seth. Ah, I see my young      protégée has arrived. How've you been getting on, Larry?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Larry shrugged. \"Okay, I guess.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Coffee, Christopher?\" Seth asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh, no, no, thank you. I've had my fill for this morning.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Have you heard from Bree, Christopher?\" Meg asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My contact in Australia informs me that she arrived safely and is      quick to learn. I don't expect to hear much more from her. And      you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No, but I assume she's busy.\" Not that Bree owed her any personal      contact. They'd moved past an employer-employee relationship, but      stopped somewhere short of friends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Has Larry seen your property yet?\" Christopher changed the      subject adroitly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Just from the road,\" Larry said. \"We were talking about the job.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Well, then, I suggest we take a look at the orchard and the      relevant facilities,\" Christopher said, rubbing his hands      together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'll leave you to it,\" Seth said. \"I've got some other chores to      do.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Seth, can you feed the goats, please?\" Meg asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Sure, no problem. And I'll give Max some exercise, too.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Meg stood up. \"Well, then, let's take the tour.\" They gathered up      their coats, and Meg led the way out the back door, followed by      Christopher and Larry.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 2\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ask any questions you want, Larry,\" Meg said. They stood huddled      together in the driveway, shivering in the January wind. Meg      pointed. \"That's Seth's office space, at the end of the driveway.      The barn is obviously the barn. That's where the storage for the      apples is.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Can we take a look at that?\" Larry asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Sure.\" Meg led them to the front of the barn and hauled open one      of the big double doors. Inside, she pointed to the apple storage      units aligned along one wall. \"That's what we've got, the ones      Seth built.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How full are they now?\" Larry asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"About twenty-five percent, I think. The ones that ripened late or      hold well.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Where were the apples kept before you built these?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You'd do better to ask Christopher. I've got a pretty short      history here.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Christopher spoke up. \"We had no holding facilities here then. The      university managed this as an experimental orchard, and while some      of the apples were sold commercially, that was not a priority.      Some went to the university kitchens, others to local shelters.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"So you were more interested in managing the trees than in      optimizing the crop?\" Larry asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes. That's how I chose to define my mandate,\" Christopher said.      \"The sale and marketing aspects were handled by others. In your      opinion, young Mr. Bennett, would this division of labor have had      an impact on the crop?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Maybe. If you'd been interested in producing more apples, or      modifying size or resistance, you might have made different      choices.\"","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300771025125,"sku":"NP9780425275832","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425275832.jpg?v=1767720589","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/a-late-frost-isbn-9780425275832","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}