The morning after a party attended at her country store, Robbie goes down to begin her day and discovers the body of Erica, the party's honoree. She investigates on her own but lets the cops know what she finds. Robbie has theories. Some more farfetched than others. Other things are also happening in town. Robbie has a list of suspects but cannot narrow it down. Who did it? Also, what is that tool she found?

I love these characters. They are like a family almost (probably get along better than some.) Robbie's romance has hit the rocks. I feel bad for her. Not so sure what I feel towards Jim right now. I only hope there is no collateral damage from it. I'm getting to like Buck. He's okay. Wanda's rough around the edges. The story was good. I am no detective. Until it plays out at the end, I did not know who I was looking at for the murder. Am looking forward to reading the next book.

Series: Country Store Mystery, #2
Publisher: Kensington
Published: May 31, 2016
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 304 pages

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Flipped for Murder, enough to give it 4 stars. The idea of an old country store and restaurant, quaint with age and a homespun feel, just gives me this warm glow. I know it's the wrong part of the country and not completely accurate, but I can't help picturing a cross between Luke's Diner in Star's Hollow and Cracker Barrel whenever I picture the interior. It gives me that same small town, everyone's welcome, homey vibe.

Robbie's restaurant is well on it's way to becoming a local landmark. She is catering a private welcome home party for the daughter of a local couple. The daughter is returning home after the death of her husband, Robbie's love interest's twin brother. (Don't you just love small town dynamics?) But Erica, the daughter in question, not only shows up over a hour late to her party, but starts several arguments and is quite the drama queen. But Robbie is beyond shocked when she wakes up the next morning and goes out to find Erica dead on the floor of her store propped up next to the pickle barrel.

For this investigation, the state police are called in and some new characters are added to the mix of the ones from book one.  There is a bit of romantic drama for Robbie, as the new state police detective is the former love of Jim, Robbie's boyfriend. I had a pretty good idea of whodunit, and was ultimately rewarded with being 100% accurate. The side plots added a provocative twist to the story, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I confess, I would have consumed this in one go if life had allowed. This was another great read and I gave it 4 stars.

Netgalley and Kensington provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Robbie Jordan may have had reservations about the murder victim, but she still needs to turn up the heat on a killer if she wants to keep her new restaurant open for business…

In the charming small town of South Lick, Indiana, Robbie has transformed a rundown country store into the runaway hit Pans 'N Pancakes. But the most popular destination for miles around can also invite trouble. Erica Shermer may be the widow of handsome local lawyer Jim Shermer's brother, but she doesn't appear to be in mourning. At a homecoming party held in Robbie's store, Erica is alternately obnoxious and flirtatious--even batting her eyelashes at Jim. When Erica turns up dead in the store the next morning, apparently clobbered with cookware, the police suspect Robbie's friend Phil, who closed up after the party. To clear Phil and calm her customers, Robbie needs to step out from behind the counter and find the real killer in short order…

    

Grilled For Murder is book 2 in the Country Store Mystery series.  It can be read as a stand-alone, the few mentions of the 1st book are explained and don't detract from the current story.  

I really enjoyed the book; the main plot kept me guessing right to the end  I thought the victim could've been introduced a little more before she was killed; all you know about her is that people didn't like her.  A little more depth in the character would've made her death have more of an impact.  I liked the secondary plot, the mystery about the death of Jim's brother.  I hope that will continue into the next book.

It still bothers me that Robbie's store isn't called Pots 'N Pancakes, though.  

Overall, an enjoyable book to a series that's shaping up to be a favorite.

Flipped For Murder

Country Store Mystery, #1

Maddie Day

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: October 27, 2015
Number of pages: 304

In this freshly baked series, author Maddie Day lifts the lid on a small town in southern Indiana, where a newcomer is cooking up a new start--until a murderer muddles the recipe...

Nursing a broken heart, Robbie Jordan is trading in her life on the West Coast for the rolling hills of southern Indiana. After paying a visit to her Aunt Adele, she fell in love with the tiny town of South Lick. And when she spots a For Sale sign on a rundown country store, she decides to snap it up and put her skills as a cook and a carpenter to use. Everyone in town shows up for the grand re-opening of Pans ‘n Pancakes, but when the mayor's disagreeable assistant is found dead, Robbie realizes that not all press is good press. With all eyes on her, she'll have to summon her puzzle-solving skills to clear her name, unscramble the town's darkest secrets, and track down a cold-blooded killer--before she's the next to die...

Review: 

I really think that one of the reasons that I am such a fan of Cozy Mysteries is that you get an in depth peek at the day to day dealings of someone's life.  It's a slice of  a different world, shown all the way down to the nitty gritty. You are stepping into their shoes for the time period it takes to solve the mystery. As someone who loves interesting facts and examining the minutia of various careers, these books just appeal to the nerdy lover of learning in me.

In Flipped for Murder, we explore a small midwestern town via a country store and eatery. Our guide is Robbie Jordan, a recent transplant from California. She has ties to the area in the form of her Aunt Adele. With the recent death of her mother, being near family, in the town where her mother grew up, is supposed to be a balm. Unfortunately, the murder that takes place the evening of her grand opening is less than soothing. Especially when it looks like someone leaves clues to throw suspicion on her.

Once I started reading this, I had a hard time putting it down. The story had a nice flow and did a good job of keeping me guessing on what would happen next. I was a bit surprised at big whodunit reveal. Honestly, I didn't think see the person as being cunning enough to have planned everything. Also, there were plenty of set-ups towards more mysteries being hinted at. I finished this book excited to see what would happen in the next one. There were several recipes at the end, for some of the more interesting foods mentioned throughout for those who enjoy that.

This book is the first in a new series for Maddie Day, a pseudonym for Edith Maxwell, though an experienced author, she is still new to me. Robbie's world was vibrant, well thought out and inviting. I can't wait to go back again. I gave this book 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kensington and Great Escapes for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Giveaway: 

Author Bio:

MADDIE DAY (aka: Edith Maxwell) is a former farmer of a certified organic farm, holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Her short stories have appeared in the anthologies Stone Cold, Fish Nets, Burning Bridges, Thin Ice, Riptide, and The Larcom Review. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts, where she’s currently working on her next Maddie Day mystery when she isn’t out gardening.

To connect with the author online:

Edith Maxwell | Maddie Day | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads