Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thankyou to NetGalley and K.P. Cecala for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Hard Cider Abbey in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I have to say, I loved reading this book. It was a quirky, fun read with memorable characters. The setting was very descriptive. This is an author I would definitely read again.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC for this book!
With a unique set of characters and a setting that you might not find normally in other novels, K.P. Cecala's mystery novel is definitely something that is hard for me to forget. I am definitely intrigued to see what Cecala brings out next, because this one is wonderful.

We start the story with our monk main character, Brother Odo who moves from Canada to West Virginia where he joins a new abbey. What is unique from the get-go is how Odo is mute - however later on we will discover that he isn't really unable to speak, he just does not want to. But the story isn't just about that. Joining Odo is the talkative, passionate Brother Emerick - a former soldier who is quirky and deeply cares about the people he loves. The story ensues with a mystery when another member of the abbey was found hanging from a tree. Everyone assumed it was a suicide, but Emerick is convinced that it was a murder.

Other than the unique setting of the book (I mean, I don't think I've ever read a book - let alone a mystery book - set in a monastery before!), the writing of Hard Cider Abbey is definitely enjoyable. It's quirky and fun, has a lot of humour but also at parts solemn, and oftentimes very cozy. The story reminds me of a cozy mystery but less simple, it's definitely a mystery that makes the reader want to know what happened, and the characters along with their pasts and relationships really add value to the overall arc of the story.

With fun characters and an overall page-turning mystery, I absolutely enjoyed this book. I loved the religion aspects of the story that were present but not too much, and as someone who never really knew much about the lives of monks, I definitely got a great insight into how a monastery runs, but also how monks are also just humans, they live and breathe and have passions, families, hobbies, personalities, and weaknesses, just like anybody else. I adore the relationship between Odo and Emerick and I'm definitely looking forward to the next instalments of this book.

So if you're looking for a fun, lighthearted mystery that has a unique setting and unique characters, absolutely pick this one up.

A very unique setting for a non traditional mystery. A cider brewery in Appalachian West Virginia by monks. A senior monk is found dead. His death has the appearance of a suicide. In a very non democratic setting, the lowest ranking monks decide the monk's death was murder and set out to investigate. They must look outside the Abbey where all evidence points to someone inside the Abbey. The book was enjoyable in it's uniqueness. You don't find cursing in the Abbey and you would not expect to find violence. In today's societies, it was very unusual to find and enjoy a non traditional story line that could keep your interest to the end. It will be interesting to see the author's next book in the series.

An absolutely wonderful book with an engaging, if somewhat unusual sleuth. The abbey of the title is in the mountains of West Virginia. Brother Emmerick is a local boy relatively new to the abbey. Brother Odo, a mute Quebequois orphan has been sent to the abbey when his abbey closes.

When Emmerick spies Odo on the side of the road, the4 two discover the dead body of the abbey's librarian. While everyone else thinks it's a suicide, Emmerick thinks it's murder. Assisted by Odo, he sets out to solve the case.

The author does a fantastic job of conveying the wildly different atmospheres of the abbey and rural Appalachia accurately.

I loved the twisty plot, the author's affection for the area and his characters. I look forward to more volumes in the series.

"Hard Cider Abbey" is the first in a mystery series that feature Brother Emerick and Brother Odo as the amateur sleuths at the Holy Face Monastery in West Virginia. When they discover the body of a fellow monk, Brother Lucian, in the local "death forest" they do not believe that his death was self-inflicted and setout uncover the truth. Overall, the story was enjoyable and a good setup for a new mystery series that brings components of Inspector Gamache, rural Appalachia and cozy mysteries into this ailing monastery with a cast of quirky characters.

Free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was released on August 15th and is now available.

A very well written and enjoyable mystery. I loved the cast of characters and the setting.
I’m curious about the next instalment.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this Arc

Brother Odo has arrived from Quebec, the last of his order, to join the Holy Face Monastery in West Virginia. Near to the monastery he meets Brother Emerick and shows him the body he has discovered of a monk, Brother Lucian. Emerick is convinced that Lucian has been murdered and is determined to prove it.
Although well-written, and an enjoyable mystery I didn't find myself totally engaged by the story. Still a good solid start to a new series