Brynn MacAlister is gearing up for the first-ever cheesemakers’ festival in her town and she has her hands full with all the work involved. Wes Scors, the grandson of her dear and departed friend, Nancy, has been an enormous help to Brynn with running her dairy farm, setting up for the contest, and most importantly, cheesemaking. Unfortunately, a tractor accident leaves a young man dead and now gossip is that the tractor driver, Josh O’Connor, may have murdered the young man over his daughter, Chelsea. Worse yet, ransomware is infecting all the local computers and another death follows the tractor death. Brynn is determined to solve this murder, but she’ll need some help from family and friends to do so.

GOODNIGHT MOO is the second book in the Buttermilk Creek series and can be read on its own merits. However, it’s better appreciated if one has read the first book, CHRISTMAS COW BELLS, because of the storyline involving Wes. Mollie Cox Bryan does helpfully provide the back history for readers who like to just dive into a series, but I suspect Brynn’s emotional angst over the situation will have a greater impact on readers who are familiar with the first book.

I love visiting the Shenandoah Valley with Brynn! She’s such a fun character and her loyalty to her friends is admirable. And oh, who can’t help but fall in love with Jewel, the sad orphaned Scottish Highland cow, that Brynn fosters?  Brynn’s heart aches for Jewel’s loneliness and sadness and the reader can’t help but feel the same empathy.

Mollie Cox Bryan makes me want to try the various cheeses she describes- and I’m not even a fan of cheese unless it’s on pizza or quesadillas! While I don’t know the first thing about cheesemaking either, Mollie Cox Bryan’s vivid descriptions are both entertaining and informative. And boy, do I love the delicious recipes that Brynn and Wes make with their organic and locally grown products!

GOODNIGHT MOO is an excellent cozy mystery that highlights both the joys and hardships of rural farming communities. I love that Mollie Cox Bryan doesn’t shy away from addressing darker issues like racism, computer hacking, and even the medical impacts of concussions. GOODNIGHT MOO takes some risks within the genre by tackling some tougher issues, but the depth and realism of both the storyline and the characters are phenomenal because of it. Bravo, Mollie Cox Bryan, for another well-done tale!