B. B. Haywood

B. B. Haywood writes the Candy Holliday Mystery series, cozy mysteries set in the fictional seaside village of Cape Willington, Maine. Town in a Strawberry Swirl, published by Berkley in February 2014, is the fifth novel in the sequence. It follows farmer and occasional investigator Candy Holliday during the community's strawberry season, when the disappearance of one resident and the death of a berry grower unsettle the village. Candy's father, Henry “Doc” Holliday, becomes involved, bringing their family partnership into the inquiry. The book includes recipes, a feature that complements the series' recurring attention to local food, festivals, and agricultural life. Earlier installments revolve around blueberries, lobster stew, pumpkin celebrations, and other Maine associations, while later titles continue Candy's cases. The 320-page Berkley cozy mystery continues Candy Holliday's coastal sequence through another seasonal investigation. Town in a Strawberry Swirl uses a seasonal harvest to connect village relationships, property questions, and Candy's practical knowledge of her neighbors.