Shiloh continues to work on her farm, turning it into an organic farm. Dealing with a stubborn father, a diva cat, an ornery chicken, a lovable pug, and goal-minded cousin takes a lot of her energy, but she still has time to make a pitch to local brewers for her future organically grown hops. Her father is competing in an ice fishing contest, and after getting him settled on the ice with her friend, Shiloh and her pug are making their way off the ice when her pug leads her to a body trapped under the ice. When her best friend’s husband becomes a person of interest in the murder, Shiloh is determined to prove him innocent. It’s an interesting mystery, filled with imagery of winter, ice fishing, brewing beer, organic farming, and murder. The third in the series, this installment is well written and has likable characters, and ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. ( )

In Farm’s Way is the third book in the Farm to Table Mysteries. While it can be read as a standalone, I think it is best to read the series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and the town. I like Amanda Flower’s writing style. It is lighthearted and friendly. The characters are relatable and quirky. Shiloh Bellamy is a former television producer who is working to turn Bellamy Farm organic. She takes her cute pug, Huckleberry with her everywhere. Huckleberry is not a fan of his new winter boots. I had to laugh at the descriptions of Huckleberry shaking his various limbs trying to rid himself of the boots. I like the balance between the lighthearted moments and those that are more somber or reflective. An example is when Shiloh sees her father with Hazel and wishes he had been like that with her when she was a child. The mystery kept Shiloh on her toes. As she asks questions, Shiloh’s suspect list grows longer. She needs to be discreet because law enforcement has warned her (multiple times) to keep her nose out of the case (like that is going to happen). The reveal was suspenseful and entertaining. We get to learn about cherry beer (how it is created) and organic farming. The author weaved all the elements together to provide a delightful tale. In Farm’s Way had me laughing often. I am eager to read the next Farm to Table Mystery to learn how Shiloh fares on her first date with an unexpected fellow. There is a recipe for suet (winter food for the birds) at the end of the book. In Farm’s Way is delightful tale with ice fishing fun, a pooch’s uncomfortable boots, a cherry craft beer competition, a bumped off brewer, and a sleuthing Shiloh. ( )

Shiloh Bellamy is busy in the winter trying to finalize her organic farm certification as well as determining the crops that she will plant come spring. The Fields Brewing Company is having a beer tasting and will be announcing their new master brewer (Shiloh's BFF Kristy's husband is in the running). The local ice fishing competition is also on the calendar so when Shiloh goes to check to see how her father is doing on the ice, she discovers the body of the owner of Field's brewing. Since Kristy's husband is a suspect, Shiloh feels the need to find out what happened.

I thought that this story was a little complicated - too many things going on at once but it was still a fun read! ( )

In Farm’s Way is the third book in the Farm To Table Mystery series by Amanda Flower.

It's winter in Cherry Glen, snow is covering the fields of Shiloh’s organic farm, and she is busy thinking about what she will be planting when Spring arrives. Kristy, Shiloh’s BFF, invites her to attend the Fields Brewing Company’s beer tasting, where a new master brewer will be announced. Kristy’s husband, Kent, is a part-time bartender there and is one of two finalists for the master brewer. The tasting will also be attended by Michigan Organic Beer Association(MOBA) members, who Shiloh would like to speak with about growing hops on her farm. While at the tasting, Shiloh notices that there seems to be some bad blood between Wallace Fields, owner of Fields Brewing, and some members of the MOBA.

The following morning heads out to Lake Skegemog to check how her father, neighbor Quinn, and his daughter Hazel are doing in the ice-fishing tournament. After checking on her dad and friends, Shiloh heads for the various booths set up along the shoreline, but before she gets there, she notices what appears to be a head below the ice. Shiloh yells for help, and the ice is chipped away, yielding the body of Wallace Fields. When the police take Kent in for questioning and becomes the prime suspect, Kristy calls Shiloh asking her to investigate and clear Kent’s name.

This book is another well-written and plotted story from Ms. Flower. The characters are believable and well-developed. I would like to call them my friends. Enough red herrings kept me guessing about who the killer was until the end. I love Huckleberry. I certainly understand his disdain for the booties he has to wear. I remember trying to put them on my Westie, who had the same feeling as Huckleberry.

A recipe for suet for birds is also included in the book.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this exciting series. ( )

After reading and enjoying the first book in the Amanda Flower’s Farm to Table Mysteries, Farm to Trouble, I enjoyed the second, Put Out to Pasture even more because Shiloh did work around the farm so the reader got to see a bit of farm life. And while I did like, In Farm’s Way, it’s once again light on actually doing any farming. With the surprise found on the farm and how this book ended, I’m thinking it’s going to stay light on the farming aspect…. But, I am okay with that since the location in Michigan is a delight to read about and Flower’s characters keep me wanting to come back for more to see what is happening in the community..

And talking about community, Flower does a fantastic job with her characters. Giving us many detailed ones, a few kooky ones, and adorable farm animals and pets. Shiloh’s next door neighbor is still trying to help her with the farm, but she still has a bad feeling about him… which hopefully we find out why soon. We get more cuteness with her pug, cats, and the chickens. The firefighter’s daughter really connects with Shiloh’s father in this one. And while the romance with the firefighter may not be happening, we might see something with the sheriff of another town.

As far as the mystery went, I felt it was a bit easy to figure out the killer, just because I didn’t feel like there were a lot of suspects, and one was acting a bit stranger than normal. But it was still an enjoyable mystery.
Another great book in the Farm to Table Mysteries, and I’m looking forward to book four. ( )