Biscuits and Slashed Browns (A Country Store Mystery)
by Maddie Day
Synopsis
For country-store owner Robbie Jordan, the National Maple Syrup Festival is a sweet escape from late-winter in South Lick, Indiana—until murder saps the life out of the celebration . . .
ReviewAs Robbie arranges a breakfast-themed cook-off at Pans ‘N Pancakes, visitors pour into Brown County for the annual maple extravaganza. Unfortunately, that includes Professor Connolly, a know-it-all academic from Boston who makes enemies everywhere he goes—and this time, bad manners prove deadly. Soon after clashing with several scientists at a maple tree panel, the professor is found dead outside a sugar shack, stabbed to death by a local restaurateur’s knife. When an innocent woman gets dragged into the investigation and a biologist mysteriously disappears, Robbie drops her winning maple biscuits to search for answers. But can she help police crack the case before another victim is caught in a sticky situation with a killer?
Robbie has her hands full getting ready for the Maple Syrup Festival. Her helper is out injured and there's conflict with the recently hired helper, Turner. Sticky situation when the father, also a professor, is the main suspect and disappears. When he reappears, he is arrested. Robbie's interference leads to increased tension for Turner and his family. Mona steps in to help as best she can.
The mystery is solid and there are unexpected turns - the killer isn't obvious until the end. There are tensions in relationships and surprises there as well. I liked Robbie as a main character and she handles situations in ways that are realistic. I also liked Turner as he navigates who he is. This is the fourth in the Country Store Mystery series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
About the Author
Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-nominated author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts.
As Edith Maxwell, she writes the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Midnight Ink). You can find all Maddie's/Edith's identities at www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every weekday with the other Wicked Cozy Authors at wickedcozyauthors.com. Look for her as Edith M. Maxwell and Maddie Day on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter.
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