The fourth book in the Eugenia Potter series continued by Nancy Pickard with notes left by Virginia Rich. I admit I haven't read the other books in the series and only picked this up because Nancy Pickard wrote it. Eugenia Potter owns a ranch in Arizona. She's at her house in Boston when her ranch manager Ricardo Ortega calls to urgently have her return to the ranch though he won't say why. By the time she arrives in Arizona Ricardo and his granddaughter Linda have disappeared. A decent cozy mystery though the villain is a bit too apparent. ( )

Light, breezy, inconsequential but still enjoyable. More predictable than the Jenny Cain series but still a fun read. ( )

Cozy mystery. Spunky widow. Fluff with a side of sagebrush. ( )

Slightly different in tone from Virginia Rich's writing, this is the continuation of her Eugenia Potter series. A problem on Mrs. Potter's ranch brings her back to Arizona, where a valued employee is murdered. Was disappointed that the author seems to be developing a love interest for the character--there has never been one before. ( )

Virginia Rich wrote three mysteries in a series with a pleasant and comfortable protagonist, and an emphasis on food. The series ended rather abruptly with the author died, yet it was picked up again by another writer who was also a fan. She has written the characters faithfully, using Mrs. Rich's notes, and the series holds up just fine.

This isn't a book I would be afraid to read at night, nor will it keep me awake trying to figure out who the killer is. For that matter, it will not make me queasy when I look at raw meat, either. It is, however, a nice, easy-going trek through the Arizona desert. I arrive at my destination about the same time the author tells me "We're there". I enjoy occasional trips like this one, though it is sad to see the people close to Mrs. Potter all kicking the bucket like they are. In this new installment, we at least get to see the setup for future relationships.

Will I read the next in the series? Sure, but it's more of a "why not?" than it is an "OMG when is the next one coming out?" It was enjoyable, very much so, but lighter than I usually read.

PS - Yay for the hard cover edition which has the recipes printed on the flaps! ( )