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Chicken Culprit: A heart-warming and humorous cozy mystery set in Colorado small mountain town. (A Backyard Farming Mystery) Kindle Edition

by Vikki Walton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,816 ratings
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Newcomer Anne gets pulled into a deadly mystery after her quirky neighbor is accused of murder. But cracking this case will ruffle more than a few feathers...and may cause Anne’s dream of a peaceful life in Carolan Springs to be scrambled forever.


Anne Freemont thought her fresh start in the picturesque town of Carolan Springs would be a peaceful new start. But her quaint Colorado dream is upended when her neighbor’s dead body is discovered in his compost pile.

Just when Anne’s nerves can’t be more rattled, her quirky young neighbor, Kandi Jenkins, is accused of the murder. Desperate to clear her name, Kandi begs for Anne’s help. Amateur sleuth, Anne pries into the victim’s past, only to discover Carolan Springs is a hotbed of secrets...and someone is desperate to keep them buried.

With suspects multiplying and danger lurking around every sun-dappled corner, Anne realizes her new life is scrambling towards a deadly conclusion. Can she crack the case before the killer strikes again? Or will her first taste of small-town living leave her permanently over-easy?

Teeming with eccentric characters, a touch of humor, and just a hint of romance, Chicken Culprit delivers a delightfully entertaining mystery that will have you roosting on the edge of your seat! If you’re craving a fun, cozy read with a criminally good plot, grab this clever series starter now!

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  1. Print length
    434 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    February 12, 2018
  5. Reading age
    16 - 18 years
  6. File size
    1191 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

If you're a fan of curling up with a quick, readable mystery, then you'll love Chicken Culprit. And if other books in this new Backyard Farming series are as entertaining as this debut novel, they will prove to be utterly enjoyable. Be ready to immerse yourself in small town living, complete with a few wayward and badly behaved chickens! Lisa Steele, Founder of Fresh Eggs Daily and Author of Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens ...Naturally Chicken Culprit by Vikki Walton is a charming, entertaining and humorous cozy mystery that all murder mystery lovers will surely revel in and enjoy.
Recommended for all cozy mystery lovers and those that want an interesting escape to a small delightful town filled with mystery, intrigue and amusing residents.ChiKLit Cafe Reviewer

From the Author

I'm often asked about gardening and raising chickens. As I love the mystery genre, I thought that I should combine the two into a story that provides insights around backyard farming. While I include tidbits about chickens and eggs in the book, it's just to whet your appetite for learning more about chickens. I hope that you enjoy Chicken Culprit!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B079SS1C4S
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Morewellson, Ltd. (February 12, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 12, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1191 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,816 ratings

About the author

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Vikki Walton

Vikki Walton

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Vikki is the author of the best-selling Backyard Farmyard cozy mystery series, the Texas Taylor mystery series, and the Viviane's Adventures series.

You'll most often find Vikki hiking with her dog, out in her garden, traveling abroad, or writing her next book. She divides her time between Colorado Springs and her numerous homes around the world. Okay, so they’re not really her homes, since she’s a house and pet sitter, but she always wanted to include that in her bio. And so she did.

Visit Vikki’s author website at https://www.vikki@vikkiwalton.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
2,816 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Vikki Walton Books
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
If you need to get out of your own head for a short read. The story's are fun thoughtful and entertaining! Just right for a cup or two of coffee or tea.
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Beckett Shiona
4.0 out of 5 stars Many Surprising Twists
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2019
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I'd nearly been soured on my favorite cozy mysteries by several dreadful books, but this one restored my faith in the genre. It is well-written, and even I (the pickiest of the picky) could finger only two or three of the very slightest editing fails (i.e., "silent" used where "silence" was meant.) The main character is an intelligent woman, although a bit overemotional (possibly excused by galloping menopause); the secondary character, although likeable, definitely behaves in a manner far too immature for her years--more like an 18-year-old than a woman of age 24. All of the characters are well-rounded and three-dimensional, however, and the hidden backstories on several of them add depth and surprises to the story. I would have awarded the book 5 stars but for two things: first, at the denouement, we find that the main character has made some discoveries, done some sleuthing, that was never presented to the reader; that is irritating, as the reader cannot draw conclusions based on those clues. My second problem was one passage fairly early in the book in which the main character complains that the Sheriff was rude. I found this quite confusing, for there had been no paragraphs describing the moment in which she actually MET the Sheriff. It left me so bewildered that I actually paged back through the story, looking for the paragraphs I'd missed; they didn't exist. This sort of "flying leap" in a novel is confusing and unfair to the reader.
19 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed!
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the cozy, hometown atmosphere and the book was just the right length. Having just finished two “10 book series”, I was glad the book could stand alone, and have additional stories available when I wanted to read them.
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Cathy Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars An Amusing and Heartfelt Story
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2023
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The author immediately gets you involved and interested in the characters charm, wit, and you questioning if they have motives for the death. The main character is sweet, caring, and interested in solving the crime. What a delightful read!
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Catherine Harper
3.0 out of 5 stars Good then...
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book starts out great. It slows down to an almost dead stop (pun intended). I so enjoyed the first part but by the first 25ish page I knew whodunit. Then as I struggled to finish it I thought it would NEVER end.
Her skills early in show elements of a really good cozy mystery. Let us hope she manages to keep it going all the way in #2
2 people found this helpful
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Shirley B
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2023
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I enjoyed the story and felt my heart strings tugged a fair amount. Story is not cutesy as it touches on some really awful real stuff. However the story is well written and is worth the read. Highly recommend.
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hummin' again
5.0 out of 5 stars Chickens, axes and compost heaps.
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2023
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I really enjoyed Anne and the other home town citizens. We learn much about Anne and her adjustment to Carol an Springs. Character development is good but I still was surprised by Anne. Although looking of back I missed a clue. With her new friends she works to clear Kandinsky from the murder charge. I found that the author through an unexpected twist to the ending!
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Hotcha
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024
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I KNEW IT!! I identified the killer before Anne did, but I was shocked when he secret got out of the bag and it was all because a chicken who would not stay out of a neighbor's garden!! NOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO READ BOOK 2!
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Top reviews from other countries

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cinta
4.0 out of 5 stars Muy entretenido
Reviewed in Spain on February 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
El planteamiento me ha gustado. Se deja leer y entretiene. La resolución del crimen es creíble y no me ha parecido nada enrevesado. Aunque esperaba otro final.
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N R
3.0 out of 5 stars A Cozy Mystery
Reviewed in India on July 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
Still reeling from a bitter divorce, Anne moves to a new home in a small mountain town in Colorado to make a fresh start. Rushing out in response to shrieks, the very first morning, she gets to meet her new neighbours, fiery redhead Kandi with her precious chicken, one of a bunch she rears and grouchy old Ralph next door threatening the bird with his axe for ruining his tomatoes. A fall in the compost heap and the aches and pains of moving leave Anne exhausted and shaking, till the kindness of her new community, who all send in welcome gifts, especially Kandi popping in at all times with food and offers of help, warm her heart. Then a murder takes place, with Anne herself, a witness, and Kandi the prime suspect. The local police tend to focus on the visible evidence, not seeking deeper for the motive behind the murder. Anne knows in her heart that Kandi is an unlikely murderer, so she jumps into the investigation despite stiff resistance from the authorities. In the process, she makes some friends and some enemies and finally finds her place in her new hometown.
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Kate Camara
5.0 out of 5 stars lighthearted, funny who dunnit
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2022
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Anne moves to a small town to start a new life and is thrown into a murder mystery which at first seems impossible to solve. But with a little help from her new friends the mystery is solved. This was a nice, easy read and I enjoyed it.
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Deborah1960
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!!
Reviewed in Australia on June 3, 2022
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Loved the whole thing about this book, it kept me up until I finished it.
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Michael Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun escape
Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2022
Verified Purchase
Everyone imagines a complete change of life. This tale of dislocation, misunderstanding and false starts captivates as it challenges the reader to separate the culprit(s) from the good but misguided. Great entertainment.
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