Kind of a silly, cozy mystery

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

1.5 stars. Had a cute start, but was just too corny for me. I’m sure this book made lots of others happy, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Such a cozy mystery. Shaffer did a great job capturing the public persona of Senator Sanders and the ridiculousness of the plot and antics were just enough.

This was a fun and funny little cozy mystery, obviously staring Senator Bernie Sanders as one half of the dynamic sleuthing duo. I feel like there isn't too much to say about this book, because what you see is what you get. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries or just want to read something a bit absurd between heavier tomes, it could be worth it to pick this one up.

Oh, I almost forgot, there are recipes! Yes, recipes! That was a great little surprise :)

What a fun read! The cover and the title caught my eye, the description drew me in, and the story had me hooked. This was such a fun cozy mystery; funny, witty, unique small town,, kooky characters, and a mystery. The mystery was great too, with plenty of clues and red herrings before a great ending.

When I first saw the book Feel the Bern, the first in A Bernie Sanders Mystery series, while I wasn’t associated with either political party, at the time, I knew who the book was about. Who wouldn’t? And I was entranced, excited, I mean, who has ever taken a popular, currently living politician, and included them in a mystery book? And, a mystery? So, when I was approved to read an advanced copy, months after asking, mind you, I was so excited because I had waited so long. I had tried to forget about the book, having not gotten an advanced copy and, with so many I did have to read, just figured maybe, one day I’d pick it up. But, as I looked at the approval in my email, I wouldn't have to. And, even though I don’t like to read digital, I can't read it as much as print (if you need to know why I’ll personally explain as it is too long to include here), I was determined to get through this book and I started it right away. Let me tell you, it lived up to my hype (IDK if others had hype about it).

The author, Andrew Shaffer has done a wonderful job of taking Bernie Sanders out of real life and inserting him into the pages of a cozy mystery. The books reminded me very much of the Monk books, based on the TV series. Yes, I loved the funny detective so much that I read the books based on the series and some of them were even funnier than TV (the books). I felt the same spirit that was in those Monk books, the many of them they wrote, and if you are as much of a fan of Monk as I am, you will like Feel the Bern too. But, while Monk had all those psychological picadillos that made watching and reading him funny, the Bernie Sanders in the book, he has a certain elder, generational humor, in the book, that brings light to the pages.

However I must warn readers, I don’t know whether the author is a fan of Sanders or not, the book seems to be a fair portrayal of the older man I would believe him to be; while he is not like the bumbling detective, he is a man of a past generation and portrayed as such. For instance, when the main character in which the story comes from says that she doesn't think a hippie would commit a murder that Sanders replies, “Manson was a hippie”, is very much what we would think a man of his age and station to say. And, I must say, I loved that comment so much, I had to stop and mention it to my husband. It was funny (in that strange, dark way that I love). That the author names the B&B they stay in, Eagle’s Nest. Well, I just hoped it wasn’t “subliminal” messaging to readers, to get them to vote for Sanders for President, if he ever runs, in the future. But, even if the book does include propaganda, I didn’t care. It is a new take on something no one has done yet. Even though I’m from Ohio, I still find it very much something I deeply want to read more of.

The main character calls herself Crash Robertson. Yes, even when she introduces herself to Bernie Sanders, when interviewing to be part of his team. Thinking that she got one up on competition, she brings Sanders a bottle of Maple Syrup. Because, well, I guess Bernie Sanders loves maple syrup. Or, at least in Feel the Bern he does. However, in real life I hardly doubt he carries a flask of it in his jacket. But, you never know. All in all, Crash ends up spending a week of her salary on the bottle, outbidding it seems, Sanders himself. But, she covers it up with a lie, saying it was from her mothers store in a small town they both know. That it is Crash’s mom who ultimately gets her the job, that Sanders really wants to be Grand Marshall for the Eagle Creek parade is a surprise to all, especially Crash who hadn’t thought she would be mentioning it.

Bernie’s team consists of many people and as Crash starts her new job, she does not spend any time with the man. Oddly, it is on the very weekend that no one else can be with Bernie from the team that Crash is tasked with “keeping Bernie on task”, the ultimate job of all who work with him. Many of the workers have turned away from Sanders only to find him long gone, far from what he should be doing, off in nature, with others, asking them if they vote. So, on the weekend of the Champ Days in Eagle Creek, Crash’s hometown, she is asked to escort Bernie around. And, although she has been so engrossed in work and school as to not go home in five years, since nothing ever changes in Eagles Creek, she expects everything to go fine and be just like she remembered. Crash has no expectations of what is to come.

Right from the minute they arrive, things seem different. Although the speed limit of Main St. is still 23 mph (though no one knows why) and the sign when you get to the town says, “YOU LOVED HERE, YOU'D BE HOME ALREADY (and no one know what it means), her mother has turned the house into the local bed and breakfast, where she and Bernie will stay, and then, a murder occurs. That the local policeman on the case was once her boyfriend, before he came out and said he was gay, does not seem to help as mysteries surround the case from the beginning.

It seems right as the case would begin, it is promptly closed, when the autopsy is issued. And, when a copy of the report is left anonymously for Bernie to find, when the Senator discovers that the victim has drowned in maple syrup, well, that is no natural death, indeed. So, why has the case been closed? Why has it been ruled a natural death? A little clue comes in the hair of Crash’s policeman friend/ old boyfriend, when readers get to the part of his hair gel. It's surprising, in a way, I guess. Men will put anything on their hair nowadays. And they call women vane?

Also, Eagle Creek has always been proud to buy and support local produce. That they have no chain stores, or big business that residents buy from is a source of pride to the locals. So, when Mr. Wardlow, a Silicon valley success story, swoops in and begins to buy up all the struggling maple farms in the area, no one says a word; even when all the workers on them will be robots. Maybe it was that Mr. Warlow has come to Eagle Creek and sponsors Champ Days, backing an all you can eat breakfast that supports the local firefighters. It is definitely not the aging, shirtless, heroes the public has come to see at the breakfast though, as they all dine on Maple Syrup that was Maple syrup in name only (what MINO means, Maple In Name Only, a new term for me). But, at least Bernie gets to use that flask as he does at the “beefcake breakfast”, slaughtering his flapjacks only in the best. No high-fructose corn syrup for anyone with the Senator!

Feel the Bern was the first in a new cozy mystery series and a totally new take on a current and popular politician. If not just for the inventiveness of using a person like that, in a mystery series, you have to read this new release. But, the story was over and above awesome, Crash Robertson and Sanders teaming up to give readers a good time, good mystery and a great story!

Happy Reading

Dollycas's Thoughts

It was supposed to be a quiet weekend for Senator Bernie Sanders but he decides to head to Eagle Creek Vermont to be the parade marshall for their fall festival and host a few speaking engagements. Surprisingly his intern Crash Robertson is from Eagle Creek and her mom runs the local store/restaurant/B&B so she is pegged to be his staff for the weekend. Basically to keep him on schedule and out of trouble. It is not as easy as it sounds especially when a local banker's dead body is found floating near the dock on Lake Champlain.

The police quickly close the case declaring it an accident. Then the good senator receives a leaked copy of the autopsy report showing the man was in fact, murdered. It isn't long before cozy mystery lover Bernie Sanders is on the case and Crash Robertson is doing everything she can to keep up with him. Suspects are plenty in this little town including members of Crash's family. Bernie is all about justice and he isn't going to give up until he gets justice for the murdered man. Crash's political career could be over before it starts and a quiet weekend in Eagle Creek could be Bernie's final event unless they can catch the killer before the killer catches them.

________

I am not sure if Bernie has time to read cozy mysteries but it sure makes this book fun. Amateur sleuths Crash and Bern are taking names and chasing clues. I read and reviewed Hope Never Dies a couple of years ago so I knew what to expect from Andrew Shaffer and he didn't disappoint.

Bernie, maple syrup, mittens, and murder, what could be better?  He really captured Bernie, I could hear all the words in Bernie's voice as I was reading, especially when he was pontificating lines from speeches the man actually gave in real life.  I felt for Crash as she tried to keep him on task but it sure was funny. The man was up for anything.

Like any good cozy mystery, this one was filled with quirky characters, several suspects, twists,  turns, and a few red herrings. It is also filled with many laugh-out-loud moments. Picture Bernie ringing up customers at the general store or him attending the local "Beefcake Breakfast" or him explaining how to solve a murder based on cozy mysteries he has read like, There Will Be Bud: A Cannabis Beach Bakeshop Mystery.

There is a truly heartbreaking theme in this book that isn't funny at all. The town of Eagle Creek's economy is dire as all the small maple farms are being taken over by a conglomerate. Bernie does his best to save the fictional town but it does shine a light on a real-life problem.

Feel the Bern is a sweet hilarious cozy mystery, heavy on the sweet with maple syrup everywhere and a political twist. When things get too stressful or crazy in government, a book like this by Andrew Shaffer is a Perfect Escape. I still have Hope Rides Again: An Obama Biden Mystery on my TBR stack and with all the crazy in Washington I will be moving it closer to the top. I hope Mr. Shaffer has more stories in the works. We are going to need them.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a clever, fun take on a murder mystery and politics, letting both aspects exist with slightly more preference on murder mystery. It helps that I do love Bernie!

This was not the comfy, cozy mystery novel that I thought I was getting into. Instead... it was just stupid maple syrup puns, talking about democrats and socialism, and a weird plot that ended up being incredibly boring. I love Bernie Sanders the Man, but Bernie Sanders the character was so annoying and repetitive that I kept wanting to close the book. I am not a fan of Crash either, as she was very bland.

Honestly, all you need to know is that it's really not worth your time, but the recipes in the back seemed pretty good.

Gen Z intern Crash Robertson has been tasked with keeping her boss, Bernie Sanders, out of trouble on a weekend trip to her home town of Eagle Creek. Pretty much only known for maple syrup, glorious leaves, and that one time a goat was almost elected mayor, Crash is hoping this will be an easy job that ends with a glowing letter of recommendation. Her hopes are dashed when she stumbles across the body of the town's second biggest villain, the community banker. Can she keep the senator-turned-detective Bernie safe while at the same time solving the town's first murder in decades?

I've missed the hijinx of our current president and former president in the Obama/Biden mysteries, and Feel the Bern slides in and fills that hole neatly. There are madcap adventures, high stakes, low stakes, and enough humor to keep you laughing as you read (or listen!). Full of eccentric characters from the tech bro who has bought up all the maple farms in the area to Mrs Mayor who still hasn't lived down almost loosing to a goat, to the Bloom sisters that run the local maple syrup product store, you'll fall in love with almost all of them (I dunno, I think the banker maybe deserved to bite it, considering). If you have liked Andrew Shaffer's books in the past, or just enjoy funny mystery books, you'll definitely love this one!

🍁 Feel the Bern by Andrew Shaffer 🔍

What a fun cozy mystery with a Bernie Sanders twist this was! I do not have much cozy mystery experience so didn’t know what to expect from this Vermont mystery, but I was cracking up the whole way through!

This is a fictional Bernie Sanders mystery where he and his Gen Z intern go to Eagle Creek, Vermont for some events at a fall festival on Lake Champlain and they get a lot more than they bargained for (a maple based murder, to be specific).

This book is so charming, funny, and very in line with the politics that the real Bernie Sanders has been preaching his entire career. If you’re looking for a light mystery with some great banter, I highly recommend!

Thank you to @netgalley for the copy of this book, my opinions are my own!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I really, really enjoyed this cosy mystery!

Honestly, I had to get it because of the title and the cover, but I think the cosy mystery genre has grown on me!

The book was witty, fun to read and very cosy indeed! I cannot wait for the next one already, for a little happy mystery reading, nothing too heavy, yet still enjoyable.

A well-deserved 5 stars from me.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

I really wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one, but the cover drew me in. I'm so glad I took a chance on it.

Is it cheesy? Of course it is.
Is it fun? SO much fun.

Bernie Sanders, in his mittens, tracking down a maple syrup thief? And finding a body? And still managing to fight for the little guy?

I am here for it. I can't wait for book 2.

Feel the Bern by Andrew Shaffer. What a wonderful surprise. This book was so entertaining and believable. I enjoyed it all very much. What a great team of sleuths these two would make. Thank you for the chance to read this novel.

Okay, this was a cute, quirky Vermont-set murder mystery, where Senator Bernie Sanders (who also likes to read quirky mystery books in his spare time) and new intern Crash end up solving a mystery in her hometown. I mean...it's very entertaining and full of Vermont-isms, including a Ben and Jerry, maple syrup, and lost of small town New England-ness. And of course, there's...MURDER.

I thought it was very entertaining, and the end of the book even shares some Vermont-style recipes. It's a real treat for a Bernie or mystery fan or someone who likes oddball little books. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

It doesn’t really matter how you feel about his politics; there’s just something wonderfully entertaining about lovably meme-worthy Senator Bernie Sanders. And in Feel the Bern, the first (completely fictional) Bernie Sanders Mystery by author Andrew Shaffer, all of the Senator’s quirks come out while he and his intern set out to find a killer.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery

Feel the Bern: A Bernie Sanders Mystery by Andrew Shaffer….this book is an exciting and humorous mystery which follows Bernie Sanders as he encounters a series of strange occurrences while on the campaign trail. The quick-witted detective work of our hero manages to uncover clues that lead him ever closer to solving this peculiar case. With plenty of political references scattered throughout for added flavor, readers will find themselves enthralled in this thrilling adventure from start to finish. All in all, Feel the Bern: A Bernie Sanders Mystery is an excellent read suitable for any fan of mysteries or political satire! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Ich bin nicht dazu gekommen das Buch zu lesen bevor die zeitliche Frist abgelaufen ist. Daher kann ich leider keine Meinung zum Buch abgeben.

Such a fun read! This was the cozy mystery I didn't know I needed. As soon as I finished I had to track down the author's other books.

Murder She Wrote with Bernie Sanders and an intern in small town Vermont. There's lots of maple syrup, local politics, and a little bit of murder. That's really all you need to know about this book.

I had previously read and loved Shaffer's two books with Obama and Biden solving mysteries and this book has a lot of the same dry wit and humorous situations. I loved the Vermont setting and jokes and admittedly, I know less about Bernie Sanders. I enjoyed this funny book but think true followers of politics or Sanders would love it even more. This is the best kind of political book- one that's funny and fictional and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy for review.