New Adventure:

Where: western Massachusetts

Who: Mabel Skinner




I wasn’t really sure what to think when I heard I was going to a garlic farm...really?? Um ok...I mean i do love garlic. I was going to be meeting Mabel Skinner who was the farm owner's niece. Peggy skinner the farm owner and Mabel’s aunt had recently passed away. Mabel an app developer is a little out of her element…. a lot out of her element. On top of dealing with trying to arrange services for her aunt, keeping up with her own job, she finds out she has to harvest her aunt's huge garlic crop in 4 days. Suddenly my visit seems like it was going to get a whole lot smellier. Mabel starts to believe her aunt was murdered...although most think of Peggy’s friends think she is just grieving. That is how I got roped into helping Mabel find out the truth about her aunts' death.




My thoughts:



This was the first book in the series. I thought the writing was good, and the mystery was great. I was in the dark until the murderer was revealed. Overall, this book was ok. I had a hard time with the main character. She did grow on me (pun intended lol), but still wasn’t my favorite. She was rude, and we get it…. she doesn’t like the mornings…. she is a night owl. If she made that point one more time...I would have pulled out my hair. I will give this series another shot…there is a lot of potential.

I don't know anything about Organic Farming, but that didn't interfere for a moment with warming up to this lovely Cozy Mystery set in New England. I really identified with protagonist Mabel, whom I found quite unusual but admirable as a main character. Long-orphaned and raised by her grandparents, since deceased, she is a work-from-home programmer of apps, who understands logic, reason, math, but is bewildered by humans and human emotions. So when her Aunt Peggy dies, Mabel notices how out-of-character was Peggy's last night, and she believes her death was no accident at all. But Mabel, with her divergence from social cues, dislike of human interaction, and misinterpretation of emotions, must parse these very aspects of human life she avoids. A delightful mystery results!


SIX CLOVES UNDER is a Garlic Farm Mystery by Gin Jones.

From Kensington Books comes a new series, "A Garlic Farm Mystery" by author Gin Jones. The first book, Six Cloves Under, will have readers learning a great deal about garlic and how difficult it can be for someone to step into a situation they have no clue how to handle.

Mabel doesn't know anything about growing, harvesting, or selling garlic. She doesn't want to know either. But guilt-ridden she has no choice but to learn quickly. This character isn't at first very likable; she isn't just an introvert; she is the ultimate loner. She doesn't like people and isn't comfortable dealing with strangers. She's not the touchy-feely kind, and it appears that everyone she comes in contact with is just the opposite.

Throughout the book, Mabel begins to grow; she starts to understand that maybe her issues with people are just that, her issues. Not everyone is out to hurt her or take advantage of her. This doesn't necessarily make the everyday contact easier for her but helps explain who she is or will become. Other characters in this story are garlic lovers and know far more about the process of farming than Mabel will ever know. Emily, Dawn, Charlie, and Rory are great characters that readers will want to know more about.

The setting is not as well defined other than the farm, but there is plenty of room for growth, and not just for the characters. I would like to know more about the layout of the town and the personalities that clearly are obsessed with garlic, and with Mabel's aunt's garlic in particular. Aunt Peggy's death, thought to be an accident by everyone, doesn't take Mabel long to figure out it was anything but an accident. The killer is not necessarily unexpected, but the reveal is action-packed and exciting.

This series is destined to become a favorite with cozy book readers. Garlic will become a must-have spice (or an herb, or a vegetable, depending on who you are) for everyone's pantry. The garlic aspect puts an unusual twist on this cozy. Mabel will continue to grow and evolve, maybe even get a love interest. I am happy to recommend Six Cloves Under and look forward to reading the next one in the series.

A good start for a new series, I loved it.
The cast of characters is well written and likeable, the setting is lovely and the plot is engrossing and enjoyable.
The mystery is solid and kept me hooked.
Can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

When you read a lot of books on a regular basis, you tend to pass instantaneous judgements (on the inside) as to what the final review would look like. It is the side effect of the process. Sometimes though, some jump out and surprise you and force you to reconsider the process by which we analyze things and the time we should give it. This was one such book!

When we first encounter our standoffish protagonist, she has reached her late aunt's garlic farm. She is not emotional about the whole thing and only feels twinges of guilt for years of keeping her distance. A couple of chapters in she continues to moan about all the changes she has to make. I was chastising her in my mind for quite a while till suddenly the I started to 'get' her. It was almost like the plot of the storyline itself. Just like Mabel, who disliked the imposition on her time and the unnecessary responsibilities foisted on her, I learnt to roll with the punches. Mabel grew to understand, what to her was a warped sense of community and she felt like doing her part. The garlic farm requires a lot of work to get the field harvested before the rains, there is the suspicion about her aunt's death, a garlic thief and so many people making almost absurd claims on her time. I would never have imagined it being such a labour-intensive process (not having given this crop much thought). The mystery was quite decent but I was more absorbed in how Mabel learns to talk to people and keep interacting with them for extended periods of time, something she has never felt even the remotest inkling to do previously. 

I will read more in this series if given a chance because it was definitely a unique and well-written start to a new cozy mystery series. 

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This was a much different main character than I've ever read about as well as a different profession both in her day job and inherited farm job. At first, I didn't like her much at all. I mean, who doesn't like hugs? I'm a big introvert, but I like hugging people that are important to me. But as the book progressed, I found that I was agreeing with some of her lines of thinking, and I was even chuckling a little at her dry sense of humor that was sprinkled here and there. Mabel was basically a good person at heart, and I found myself thinking "atta girl" different times as she discovered the right thing to do for all these people who had loved her aunt so much. She was sort of like a computer or robot who did have a human heart after all.

I think Rory was probably my favorite character, because she was just an all-around great friend to people but didn't take lip from anyone or excuses. She seemed like a good mom to her daughter, Dawn too. I can actually see Mabel becoming close friends with her and maybe even friends with Emily. The showdown with the killer was awesome and one I could just picture! I was surprised at the killer but in a way, not really. Now I'm anxious to read on and see what happens next, although I have no idea when the next book might be out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

What a fun start to a new cozy series! I love that the main character is a coder for an app developer, and that she's pretty anti-social...or at least socially awkward. She's still relatable, but is not at all cutesy, which I appreciated. The characters are interesting, and so are the small town dynamics. It follows many of the recent cozy tropes (relative died and main character is suddenly thrown into a new life as a result of inheriting the farm or shop or whatever), but it felt fresh.

My only real complaint was the VERY heavy, clunky foreshadowing of the tractor driving. It was obvious waaaay before the ending that the climactic scene would involve Mabel driving the tractor. And that scene, when it finally came, was completely, laughably ridiculous. Which kind of undermined the feeling of suspense and danger. But other than that, a good read! I look forward to the next book in the series.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Six Cloves Under is the first book in A Garlic Farm Mystery.

Mabel is an App developer and likes her life of solitude in remote Maine. She is soon saddened to learn that her Aunt Peggy has died, she hasn’t seen her aunt in nearly 10 years but has kept in touch through Christmas and birthday cards and emails. Aunt Peggy’s lawyer informs her that she has inherited her garlic farm, Stinkin’ Stuff Farm. Mabel packs the car and heads to Western Massachusetts intending to put the farm up for sale since she has no idea of running a farm or real desire to do so. She might have to interact with people and that is not one of her strong points. She finds when she arrives she has no cell phone service or is there any internet.

The next morning Mabel finds the neighbor in the kitchen preparing breakfast and soon another friend of her aunts arrives. They soon tell her that the garlic has to be harvested within the next four days or the rains that are coming, will the rest to rot. While getting ready for the harvest, she starts asking questions about how her aunt died. The more she hears, the more she is convinced that her aunt didn’t die from natural causes
as was reported by the coroner. She needs to learn why her aunt was at the back end of the property late, late at night and who was stealing garlic from the fields and trying to sabotage her fields. Mabel soon learns that her aunt was well respected in the small community of West Slocum and many are hopeful that the farm will continue to harvest the best garlic on the East Coast.

I enjoyed this book. I’ve had gardens in the past, but never attempted to grow garlic and enjoyed learning about the growing process. The story is well-developed and written. The characters are well-developed, likable and interesting. Because of Mabel being an introvert, I had a hard time getting into her character at first. Most everyone was so willing to help her that she was able to come out of her “shell” before long. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end as to the murderer.

There are also delicious sounding recipes in the book.

I will be sure to watch for the next book in this delightful new series.

Yowsa! Mabel knows next to nothing about farming- she's an app developer- but her aunt Peggy died and left her a garlic farm in West Slocum, a town she where she knows no one. Mabel has spent her life as more or less a hermit (well- social distancing!) communicating with others chiefly by email, so asking for help is hard. She really really needs help because the garlic has to be harvested and shipped to the people and businesses who have purchased it. Mabel also suspects Peggy was murdered so she needs to sort through the townspeople. It's a good start to a cozy series and if it seems like there are a lot of characters, that's because we don't know yet who will be important to Mabel in the future. No spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I liked that Mabel is different from the usual cozy heroine and the garlic info as well as the mystery of course!

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the A Garlic Farm Mystery by Gin Jones.

I never thought a garlic centered storyline would be so thrilling!

Mabel is an internet savvy app designer. She has come to town to deal with all the details after her Aunt Peggy’s untimely death. Aunt Peggy was a garlic farmer with the best garlic on the East Coast. And someone wants Peggy’s award-winning crop for themselves. Everyone is a suspect since Mabel doesn’t know anyone and her radar for people who would take advantage of her has always been a bit wonky.

I am totally digging this series. Not sure why all the farming stories have been my thing lately since I have the blackest green thumb there is. Plus I am allergic to nearly everything on a farm: hay, dirt, dust, grass, trees, horses, cats, dogs, etc.

I could resonate with Mabel’s experience here. I would be just as baffled as she was. It is one thing to get thrust into the middle of a harvest season when you don’t know the ropes, but to be also stressed about whether or not your aunt was murdered… that took this to a whole new level for me.

In a first book in a series, you get a lot of characters thrown at you in a short period of time. We will get to know them all better at some point since I am sure this series will just grow by leaps and bounds. It was unputdownable for me. Plus, I felt like there was this spark between Charlie contractor and Mabel. It may have been my imagination but I could sense the heat from a hookup that was bound to happen someday.

The only thing this story lacked for me was a good love interest. Plus it was new and different to have a police officer who was not in that role. Heck, I even suspected both him and his wife at one point in the story. The whodunit part of this was amazing. I wish there had been a few more clues at the beginning pointing me toward the killer just to get that “ah-ha” moment when the villain is revealed.

I totally can’t wait for the next book in the series!

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I really wanted to love this book as it sounded like it was right up my alley. Throughout most of Six Cloves Under, I really disliked the main character, Mabel, who is an app developer. Mabel basically disliked other humans and here she was in a new town where she inherited her aunt's garlic farm and really needed friends to help harvest the crop. Mabel only wants to get the crop harvested, get the place sold and get back hoem. But as she learns more and more about her aunt's life and death, she begins to think her aunt may have been murdered.

Mabel's character does soften towards the end of the book and you are left wondering if her attitude will totally turn around and if she'll stay and make some friends. Too late, too little for me. If there is a sequel I may pick it up and see out of curiousity.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in return for an honest review. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page.

This was a different protagonist than I am used to in cozy mysteries. Mabel Skinner is an app developer and doesn't know squat about garlic. However, she must learn quickly when her aunt dies and leaves Mabel her garlic farm. Mabel thinks something besides the garlic smells funny at Stinkin' Stuff Farm. She is soon convinced her aunt was murdered. She not only has to keep her boss happy, bring in her garlic crop in three days, and figure out where to bury her aunt, she must quickly learn if her aunt's death was murder or a natural death.

Mabel is far more introverted than most cozy mystery protagonists. She would much rather work through the night by herself than deal with farm work at the crack of dawn, but it is what it is. I think this might have made me only give this three stars just because it is so different than most cozies. The writing is very good, however, and I look forward to seeing Mabel come out of her shell a bit more.

Six Cloves Under by Gin Jones is the 1st book in A Garlic Farm Mystery series, and it's off to a great start. Mabel Skinner has just inherited her aunt Peggy's garlic farm after her sudden death. Mabel likes computers, not farms. Mabel arrives at the Stinkin Stuff Farm in Massachusetts, and has three days to get the entire crop harvested before the rain comes and destroys the plants. Mabel suspects that her aunt's death was not accidental, and someone is stealing her garlic crops. Stinkin Stuff Farm grows the best garlic around. Mabel is determined to find out who killed her aunt, while making sure the garlic gets picked. It took me awhile for me to like Mabel, and get through her selfish attitude. I am really looking forward to the next book. I recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Six Cloves Under is the first book in A Garlic Farm Mystery series.
The story is set in the small town of West Slocum. We meet Mabel Skinner who is a computer app designer. Mabel's aunt has passed away and left her Stinkin' Stuff Farm, a garlic farm!

Mabel hopes to go to the farm and clean things up and get back to her home as soon as possible. Unfortunately for Mabel, the garlic crop is ready to be harvested and the whole town is counting on that garlic crop.

After discovering her aunt's journals, she thinks someone might be stealing the garlic!

I loved this book! This was a new author to me and I really enjoyed how different it was.

I love how the author explained the growing and harvesting of garlic, something I had never read before.

The characters were well developed and the plot was perfectly paced with some surprises.

I look forward to the next book in this series and more of Mabel.

This is the first in the new Garlic Farm mystery series. At first I had a hard time getting into this one. Mabel Skinner has inherited her Aunt Peggy’s garlic farm (Stinkin Stuff Farm..love the name) just at harvest time. She is an app developer who is anti-social and typically works during the night and sleeps during the day. She is definitely not your typical cozy small town friendly heroine. Perhaps her anti-social ways were a little weird to me but she really begins to grow on you as she becomes acclimated to what is needed to harvest her Aunt Peggy’s garlic and then she begins to ask questions about where she was when she died, where is her phone etc. You come to understand Mabel and grow to like her and she wants to do the right thing. It was a good solid mystery and will be interested to see what happens next with her. I will definitely get the next in the series.

This is a new author for me. Mabel inherits her aunt's garlic farm. When ste has the police look into a suspicious murder. They do but hopefully before someone else is killed. To hear more read the book.

a wonderful start to a new series. Full of well rounded characters and a full bodied plot that will leave you guessing until the end. If a reader is looking for a fun read that keeps you engaged, look no further.

I enjoyed getting to know Mabel Skinner, and I really liked the mystery surrounding the garlic farm.
As an introvert, I immediately connected with Mabel, understanding her desire to be alone, and appreciating the effort she made to honor her aunt.
I think this has the potential to become a very popular series. I look forward to reading more.

An entertaining and well written cozy mystery. Good plot and quirky characters. I look forward to reading more books in this series. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Mabel is an app developer who likes to work nights, alone in her room, and to sleep days. Then she inherits her aunt's garlic farm. She heads to the country to sort things out, figuring it'll take a day or two.

She lives her whole life online, and suddenly she can't even check her email regularly. She prefers her own company, and suddenly she has people in her housed and night. She's also beginning to wonder about her aunt's death. The official story doesn't hang together... and why is it so hard to get answers to her questions?

There's a suspiciously handsome official, a mysterious garlic thief, a prescient cat, and a lot of messy emotions before Mabel gets to the truth. Will she survive to tell the story?

Mabel is a convincingly written introvert in a genre in which anyone who doesn't spend most of their time chatting about murders is automatically a suspect. The agricultural community is full of strong and quirky characters, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if Mable stayed on the garlic farm and got a little more sociable in future installments of the story. The story is well-written and will keep your attention to the end.