One Bad Apple by Shelia Connolly

West Central Massachusetts is great country for growing apples. But Meg Corey is only there to tidy up and sell the house her mother inherited from great aunts. Retail development which would wipe out the orchard on the property doesn’t matter to her—but a dead financier in her new septic tank leads to involvement in the community. The romantic interest is, for a change, not a police office but Meg’s neighbor, the local plumber and handyman. This is not a cooking mystery, but there are a few recipes at the back.--MM
 

Through a Glass, Deadly by Sarah Atwell

How refreshing to find a mystery with all the main characters over the age of 35, and set in Tucson instead of the heroine’s small hometown. Emmeline Dowell is a glass-blower with her own studio and shop, and far more sensible that most romantic mystery characters. Thanks to the recent glass-blowing demonstrations at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, I understood the glass processes described, which added to my enjoyment. I’m looking forward to more in this series. --MM