Buttermilk Creek Farm includes the main house, guest house, and barns with three resident dairy cows, Petunia, Marigold, and Buttercup. Wes lives in Brynn's guest house after his grandmother died in a fire. He handles social media. There is a resident kitty and Freckles, the dog, a rescue from one of the main support characters, the local vet, Schuyler. This time Schuyler arrives with a Highland cow.

They are excited about the county fair in which Brynn has organized a cheese competition until a farmer's tractor went all AI on him and it ran over a summer worker. He is the first person of interest but then Wes takes the honor when it appears his gun is involved in a second murder. Now it gets nasty, Wes being Pakistani, taking on racist overtones. Then Brynn has a severe accident of her own and the cheese competition turns blue.

Brynn's sister, Becky comes to help her. While they keep negating the role that Chelsea plays as a sixteen-year-old, she certainly isn't an innocent. And while she presents one major theme, the racist theme falls heavily throughout the narrative.

I really enjoy Brynn, the support characters, and the appealing locale. Brynn is compassionate and fiercely loyal. She has an affinity for the animals that is a delight and her passionate approach to artisan cheeses and the farm to table movement is inspiring. My quibble would be the rehashing and overhashing of the major plot points slowing the pace. There is a darker overtone to this well-plotted novel with topical arguments behind the main plot (mostly resolved in conclusion). Appealing recipes at the back. A strong mystery, engaging characters, recommended as a fun, cozy mystery, and I'm looking forward to Book 3.

Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is my unbiased and voluntary opinion.

I am also posting the review to my Goodreads and Twitter accounts and to Amazon and/or B&N accounts upon publication.

I was drawn in by the title because it reminded me of Goodnight Moon, one of my favorite books from my childhood. Also fell in love with the cover art. This book is second in “A Buttermilk Creek Mystery” series. I have not read the first one but it would make a decent standalone book if you’re new to the series like me. The story centers around Brynn, who owns a farm in a little town called Shenandoah Springs. Brynn has three cows, a dog and runs a cheese business from her home with the help of her assistant/apprentice Wes. Everything seems to be going great, then all of a sudden a close friend of theirs named Josh is involved in a ghastly accident, in which Josh’s tractor runs over a farmhand and he is implicated for murder. Brynn knows something isn’t right about it because Josh knows his way around tractors and wouldn’t make a mistake like that. Just when things couldn’t get worse, Wes discovers a person’s body and becomes a “person of interest” in the case. Not too long after that, Wes gets shot at their town’s carnival and Brynn suffers a concussion after passing out from the shock of it all. As weirder events occur, Brynn digs deeper into the mystery with the help of her sister Becky and a few friends, since the concussion renders Brynn somewhat helpless for a while. Upon reading about Brynn is treated in her recovery from the concussion, it made me want to learn more about concussions and the recovery process. The book took a bit for me to get through. However, I became attached to the main characters as I kept reading and was sad when it ended. The outcome towards the end was appalling to me and totally unexpected for a cozy mystery. I will definitely consider reading the first book and any book to follow this one in the series. An ARC was provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
This was a mystery that kept me hooked and wanting more from start to finish. It was the perfect quirkiness and I learned so much about cheese. I loved the relationship of the characters. Great pacing with lots of twists that keep you guessing. I highly recommend.

A unique mystery that just keeps the reader wanting more and more. Everything about this is perfect and quirky from the characters to the setting to the mystery itself. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I cannot wait for more!

Newest Adventure Details:

Where: Shenandoah Springs, Virginia

Who: Brynn

This was my first trip to Virginia to meet Brynn, tour the dairy farm, and attend the first annual cheesemaker contest. Im certainly a cheese aficionado….so this is perfect! I hadn’t been there long, and a mysterious accident occurred on a neighboring farm with a tractor. The whole event seemed really suspicious, made even more so by the fact that the victim was dating the man driving the tractor's teenage daughter. Well that’s usually my cue to join forces to solve the crime….

My thoughts:

I really loved this book. The farm was great with all the hodgepodge of animals...even a foster care cow. I also loved the cheesemaking. The mystery was well written...with lots of twists and turns. I was engaged from start to finish and was guessing the culprit until the very end. I can’t wait to read book 1, so I will be all caught up for the farms next adventure!

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I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Mollie Cox Bryan, and the publisher for this opportunity.

Second book in the Buttermilk Creek Mystery Series

Brynn MacCallister is getting ready for the county fair with her three cows and her cheese making business. While trying to host a cheesemaker's contest a death occurs that ends up not being natural. The prime suspect is Wes, Brynn's new assistant. Now it's up to Byrnn and her friends to prove that Wes is innocent. There are many suspects and unusual weapon used by the killer that narrowing them down is not an easy task. This book deals with real life issues in today's world that we are dealing with right now while still keeping it a cozy read.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters and how it went about solving the mystery. Brynn and her cows make for a great read and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

small-business, small-town, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, family, friendship, rivalry, cozy-mystery

Cows, handcrafted cheeses, county fairs, small farms, good friends and neighbors, and murder, what could be a more winning combination? (I'm from Wisconsin) The first death is weirdly suspicious, the second is definitely murder but it doesn't seem logical that they could be linked. Two very unlikely good people are jailed for the crimes but local law, though well intentioned, doesn't have the resources to do proper due diligence. Enter local cow aficionado and fosterer of a beautiful but grieving Highland cow among others Ms Brynn MacAlister who has a recent history of successful sleuthing. She needs more help from her friends this time because of a very nasty concussion, but no spoilers here.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is one of those definitive "I could not put this book down" books. There were many twists and turns throughout the book - some expected while others threw me for a loop. I can't wait to get back and visit with the gang again!

I enjoyed this book. It's a fast read. The characters are interesting although it took a while to get them all straight in my head. I liked that this book is about cheese and the relationship of the characters to each other. The mystery is interesting and the bad guy was a surprise. #GoodnightMoo #NetGalley

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Goodnight moo is a cozy mystery that you'll enjoy reading as well as getting caught up in the mystery of who is killing the young summer workers. You'll also learn interesting facts about cheese. There's lots of twists that will keep you guessing.

I have never lived on a farm - though I have had family and friends who have. Brief visits as they showed me their settings - the field, the barns, the cheese make, etc. only prepared me in small ways to appreciate the love farmers have for their homestead. Brynn MacAllister has set up a small CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She was operating a small dairy farm whose specialty was cheese. She had grown to love her three Red Devon milking cows, and she was learning to appreciate Jewel, the orphaned Scottish Highland cow she was fostering until a permanent owner could be found. Life was great.

At least until a series of odd events began to define her newly adopted hometown. A teen was killed by a neighbor’s tractor, another was apparently shot by Brynn’s hired hand, ransomware began to infect the town’s computers. And Brynn found herself in the middle of the action. The book has enough intrigue to satisfy both the agriculturally minded individual and the technologically minded expert working in the field. We also learn that even small town America is not as innocent as it might appear. Brynn, along with her family and friends, working with the local police, sheriff’s office, and the FBI, will spend two weeks discovering clues, tracking leads, and solving the crimes - saving more than one person’s life in the process.

The book has an intriguing plot with enough twists and turns to hold the interest of most lovers of cozy mysteries. At times the reading was a bit slow, but whether that was the current pandemic or the nature of the book, this reviewer is not sure. Grab the book and enjoy the ride.
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<i>This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.</i>

This is the 2nd installment in the Buttermilk Creek mystery series. Brynn MacAlister is running a micro dairy farm and is getting ready to host the first annual cheesemaker’s contest. As Brynn is also new to the scene she is hoping this will becoming an ongoing event and will help establish herself in the community. A strange death happens as someone is run over by a tractor and witnessed by Brynn’s friend Willow. Brynn’s assistant Wes later finds another dead body and he becomes a prime suspect. Wes is Pakistani and this leads to many people’s mistrust and racism (rather relative at this point in time). He is shot at the festival and Brynn is injured with a severe concussion and needs the help of her friends and sister Becky who is in town to help track down the killer. This is a good series and deals with real society issues such as racism. Hopefully her family will continue to visit. Look forward to the next in this series.

Great series. The ideal getaway to a quiet little farm with loveable cows, a dog, Brynn the owner and Wes her apprentice cheese maker and friend. Add in a tough veterinarian who has a special way with animals, and a town full of people and you have a calamity waiting to happen. Sit back and enjoy the chaos and the fun as the story weaves a tale of treachery and greed brought down by love and friendship. Love this series, the world building is fantastic. You almost feel like you can pet Petunia along with Brynn. The characters are well crafted and you feel close to the friends of Brynn and dislike the evil doers.

Cheesemaker Brynn MacAlister is a sucker for stray animals. Now besides her three cows and her dog, she is fostering a lonely, shy, shaggy HIghland cow. Hoping her first annual cheesemaking contest is a success, Brynn is sidetracked by first an fatal accident on a nearby farm and then a shooting involving her assistant Wes. When Brynn is injured with a concussion, she is sidelined from pretty much everything including the now canceled cheesemaking contest. Not to be deterred, Brynn is determined to clear Wes from the murder charges. Is the underage Lolita part of the problem or is she an innocent victim? With her sister Becky's help, Brynn figures out the mystery. This is an interesting series, but I would never want to be a farmer.

I now want to visit a small cow farm! Brynn is a strong woman and I love seeing her really come into her own. This book had an even crazier mystery!

The plot of “Goodnight Moo” was thought provoking. An unusual murder weapon was used that I'd never read about before. It certainly made it more difficult to prove motive, and opportunity, for sure! I adore all the animal characters—the cows, the dog, and the cat—they all have parts in the story that add to the home, hearth, and family aspect. A couple of times, I bogged down and temporarily lost interest in the plot; however, I soon picked up the pace again and enjoyed the final outcome. I enjoyed the humor, too! Love those cows! 😊 Recipes provided after the story.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Goodnight Moo is such a charming cosy mystery, especially if you love cows, cheesemaking and farming. I love several of the characters, cows included, especially as they're well developed. I also liked the subtle addressing of racism and how it affected Wes, especially as it's an important topic to deal with.

Overall, it's a fast paced and engaging read which I would recommend people to read.

It's time for the county fair and everyone is excited especially about the new cheese shed & cheese competition, but something sinister is lurking beneath the surface when summer workers start popping up dead and Brynn's assistant, Wes, looks like he is going to be on the hook for murder. The group leaps into solving the crime before Wes either ends up in prison or his dad swoops in and takes him back home! This series is intriguing as it deals with some very serious real life issues such as sex trafficking and racism while keeping it firmly in the cozy mystery genre. It's an interesting approach while still keep it a light touch and entertaining. I'm definitely intrigued to see what happens next in Brynn's cheese world!

Goodnight Moo is the 2nd book in the Buttermilk Creek Mystery series written by Mollie Cox Bryan. I became acquainted with the series through a blog tour company that I regularly follow, and I read the first book in this series last year. When this one became available via NetGalley, I definitely wanted to continue with the series. If you enjoy cozies, farm settings, and learning about cheese-making, then this one is for you.

In the last book, Brynn inherited her grandmother's farm in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. She moved there, solved a crime, and situated herself as a committed community member. Her family lives out of state, but in this one, sister Becky visits after Brynn gets a concussion at a local fair. A tractor driver runs over a teenager who'd been dating his daughter. Then another person is shot and killed. At first, one person is arrested, then it appears like Brynn's right-hand man, Wes, is guilty. It doesn't help that the town is a bit racist; Wes is Pakistani, and because of his skin color, everyone assumes he's guilty. Another person is assaulted while Wes is in jail, and then a string of credit card thefts begin to happen. What's going on here?!?

This is a fun series. The relationship between Becky and Brynn is quite strong. I like the balance they bring to one another, and I hope Becky comes back again soon. It's nice to have family around, and I wonder whether their parents will visit in a future book. I also really enjoy the farm setting... especially the 3 cows, plus Jewel, a new one Brynn is fostering. Last time, one of the cows had lost its calf during birth. This time, another cow is pregnant. How will they all get along? The side stories are quite endearing, and I enjoy that there isn't a big amount of romance. While I do like those types of books too, the absence makes this series stand out from the others.

It's light, straightforward, and uncomplicated, in terms of the cast. The mystery is full of twists. Even I had a hard time guessing... often assuming it was one person before changing my mind. By 2/3 thru, I guessed whom it was, but I will admit, I wanted it to be someone else. This person annoyed me in how (s)he treated Brynn, and as a result, I wanted to see him/her thrown in jail. In the end, I came around a little bit, but not a whole lot. Seeing the backdrop in this story compared to what's happening in real life across America these days was enlightening. Though the book is definitely not political or focused on racism, there's enough to make you nod your head that the author is doing her part to show what's wrong in society. Big kudos to her for weaving this piece in the story in a minor but important way.

I look forward to the third in the series, and I hope Brynn begins to take care of more animals than cows. Maybe we'll even get to see some vegetable planting in the future. While I love all the focus on cheese, it makes me too hungry sometimes. A very fun series to start with... and I see potential here. Looking forward to the next one to pop even more so I can give it 5 stars! We're getting much closer in this second installment. Thanks for a fun afternoon's read.