Monday, August 6, 2018

Death Over Easy: A Country Store Mystery plus a Giveaway!


Death Over Easy (A Country Store Mystery)

by Maddie Day

About the Book

Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Kensington (July 31, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496711236
Digital ASIN: B0776H5T7B
Restaurateur Robbie Jordan is ready for the boost in business a local music festival brings to South Lick, Indiana, but the beloved event strikes a sour note when one of the musicians is murdered . . .

June’s annual Brown County Bluegrass Festival at the Bill Monroe Music Park in neighboring Beanblossom is always a hit for Robbie’s country store and cafĂ©, Pans ‘N Pancakes. This year, Robbie is even more excited, because she’s launching a new bed and breakfast above her shop. A few festival musicians will be among Robbie’s first guests, along with her father, Roberto, and his wife, Maria. But the celebration is cut short when a performer is found choked to death by a banjo string. Now all the banjo players are featured in a different kind of lineup. To clear their names, Robbie must pair up with an unexpected partner to pick at the clues and find the plucky killer before he can conduct an encore performance . . .
Includes Recipes for You to Try!

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.
Purchase Links
My Thoughts

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day is the fifth novel in A Country Store Mystery series.  Robbie Jordan owns Pans ‘N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana.  Robbie currently has her father and his wife visiting from Italy and they are staying in her newly refinished B&B rooms over her restaurant.  It is June and time for the Brown County Bluegrass Festival that is being held in nearby Beanblossom.  It will mean extra business for her restaurant plus some of the musicians are staying in her B&B.  Robbie enjoys an evening at the festival despite Pia Bianchi causing some disharmony.  The next morning Lt. Buck Bird stops by for breakfast and mentions that Pia was found dead at the Beanblossom covered bridge that morning.  She was strangled with banjo strings (ouch). When Sue Berry ends up at the top of the suspect list, Robbie swings into action. Pia managed to antagonize a notable number of people giving Robbie a suspect list longer than an operetta.  Robbie will need to compose the clues into a harmonious tune to pick out the cut-throat killer. 

Death Over Easy is nicely written and has a steady pace which makes for a satisfying reading experience.  I like the characters in the story.  Robbie is a smart, strong woman who has started a new business as well as doing construction on the upstairs rooms to expand her business.   It is sweet that Robbie is finally getting to know her father, Roberto Fracasso.  I wish his wife, Maria spoke better English, so we could get to know her as well.  The town of South Lick is quaint small town with friendly residents.  The author has created a cozy environment.  It is like visiting old friends when I pick up a new A Country Store Mystery.  It is neat how each book features a different theme or event and I enjoy the various vintage kitchen tools mentioned.  There are many pleasing cozy moments throughout the story as Robbie cooks, attends the festival, spends time with her kitten, and interacts with her friends, co-workers, boyfriend and family.  The mystery was straightforward with some misdirection, a handful of suspects, a search through the woods, and a twist at the end.  I like that the local police work with Robbie and are not portrayed as dullards.  While Death Over Easy can be read alone, you would be missing some of the background on Robbie Jordan.  I recommend reading A Country Store Mystery series in order.  There are recipes at the end for a couple of the dishes featured in the story.  Death Over Easy is a charming cozy mystery that will have you eager for the next A Country Store Mystery.

The other novels in A Country Store Mystery series are Flipped for Murder, Grilled for Murder, When the Grits Hit the Fan, and Biscuits and Slashed Browns.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I will feature To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake tomorrow.  Before you depart, make sure to enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter form below or click here.  Also, please take the time to visit the other stops on the Great Escapes Death Over Easy Virtual Book Tour (see schedule below).  Stay cool and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader
TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 1 - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW  


August 2 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

August 2 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW

August 3 – Sapphyria's Books – REVIEW

August 3 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW


August 6 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 7 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

August 8 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 9 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

August 10 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

August 10 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 13 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW  

August 14 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW


1 comment:

  1. Thank you for your review on "Death Over Easy" by Maddie Day and for being part of the book tour.

    Love this author's book and can't wait for the opportunity to read this one. Adore the cover!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete