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.

Maddie Day (Edith Maxwell) Interview 071818 by E. B. Davis

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 café, 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 . . .
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776H5T7B/

Death Over Easy is the fifth book in Maddie Day’s (Edith Maxwell) Country Store Mystery series. It will be released on July 31 by Kensington. I interviewed Edith when the first in the series, Flipped For Murder, came out in 2015, and I wanted to catch up with the series.

At the start, California native and chef Robbie Jordan visits her aunt in South Lick, Indiana, falls in love with the town, finds a building to buy, and founds Pan ‘N Pancakes, a breakfast and lunch restaurant in a country store, which also sells antique cookware. From there, the murders begin. It’s a great cozy premise: food, small town, repeat characters, a single woman and amateur sleuth.

Since Flipped For Murder, Robbie’s personal life, intriguing backstory and successful crime-solving keep readers coming back for more. In Death Over Easy, Robbie’s professional life expands by her opening a B & B on the upper floor of the restaurant/store building, which is a natural because she provides breakfast for half the town anyway.

Please welcome, Edith Maxwell, writing as Maddie Day, back to WWK. E. B. Davis

Thanks for having me, E.B. You always ask the best – and hardest – questions. Here goes!

What field did Robbie’s father, Roberto, do his graduate work in? What research did he do in South Lick?

He was studying the geology of the area, which includes a lot of limestone and natural mineral springs. He is from the Pisa area, which also has limestone and hot springs (the leaning tower is built on limestone in 1178). Both places are also hilly, so he would have felt at home in Brown County, Indiana.

The bluegrass festival was held at the Bill Monroe Music Park. Who was Bill Monroe?

He was a well-known mandolin player from Kentucky (the Bluegrass State) who had a band in the 1930s called Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, so he pretty much named the genre.

Did bluegrass have its roots in Appalachia, Kentucky and Tennessee?

Yes, absolutely, with roots in traditional Scottish, Irish, and English music from the immigrants who settled there.

The victim, Pia Bianchi, borrowed money. What was it for?

It was for the graduate music program at Indiana University. She’s friends with Robbie’s friend Phil (see below), who also studies and works there.

A dancer, Beth Ferguson, and her fiddle-playing partner are staying at Robbie’s B & B. What makes Beth so disagreeable? Is she just cheap?

She’s unhappy and frustrated, and she takes it out on others, as many in that situation do.

This set of guests is Robbie’s first. What does she learn from them?

One thing she learns is that she needs a better key system, as well as an outdoor camera to track her guests coming and going. She also realizes B&B guests can complicate her life, but she can use the extra cash from renting the rooms, so she’s going to deal with it.

Must unincorporated towns in Indiana rely on the state police?

On them and on the county sheriffs.

How does Robbie use crossword puzzles to help her solve crimes?

She sometimes mocks up a puzzle so she can see all the people and motives in one place and how they link. She has an orderly, visual mind and a good memory. Puzzling is a natural way for her to think.

What is an IGA? An IPA?


IGA is a chain of independently owned and operated franchise grocery stores. When I lived in Indiana, we had IGA and Kroger’s. IPA is India Pale Ale, a style of highly hopped beer – and my personal favorite. Hops act as a preservative, and they were added to ale when it was being shipped from England to India in colonial days as a way to keep it fresh on the long voyage.

My store had been open for less than a year and it felt like I’d always been here.
I guess that’s a sign of being where you should be.
(Kindle Loc. 243)

Do you think there is a specific place where people belong?

I think people can feel deeply at home in certain places, sometimes inexplicably.

Isn’t fried mush—polenta?

Yes! West Africans eat a form of thick corn porridge, too, as do Brazilians.

Robbie supplies the police with a lot of information. Isn’t she afraid people will stop talking to her?

She doesn’t appear to be. People love her restaurant and so far nobody’s clammed up on her.

Who is Philostrate (Phil) MacDonald when he’s not baking for Robbie? How did he get his name?

It’s a name from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, which Phil’s parents bestowed on him. He’s a graduate student in the IU Music department, and he’s also the part-time secretary there.

In the middle of dialogue, Robbie notices the foliage and sounds in the area. Does this slow the scene’s pace and put the reader in-the-moment?

You tell me!

We have cream pies, which are milk and sugar based, on the East coast. Is it that cinnamon on top that makes them pure Indiana?

I’d never eaten a sugar cream pie before I heard that it is a typical Hoosier dessert. I’ve had chocolate cream pies, of course.

Robbie bikes. Do you exercise, or is it something you wish you would do and give that attribute to your characters?

I do try to get vigorous exercise every day, usually power walking. I have been biking more lately, but not on her level – I hate riding up hills. Both my adult sons are serious cyclists, though, so I can consult with them on terminology and parts.

Could Detective Henderson and Robbie become friends?

I think they might. I like Anne Henderson.

Isn’t buckwheat—wheat? How is buckwheat soba GF?

No, it isn’t wheat, as it isn’t a grass. It’s a different kind of plant grown for its grain-like seeds.

How has Robbie changed since the first book?

She’s become a better restaurateur, for one. She’s also growing confident in her relationship with her boyfriend, Abe, and is loving getting to know her father. In terms of solving crimes, she’s getting smarter about not venturing into dangerous situations alone. Nobody wants to be labeled Too Stupid to Live!

I hope readers will find me on my web site, at the Wickeds’ blog, and on Facebook (Maddie Day has her own page). Thanks for stopping by!

Readers: Where is your favorite B&B? What’s the best breakfast you’ve eaten out?

Princess Fuzzypants here: This has been an enjoyable series as Robbie continues to grow her pancake restaurant cum antique kitchen utensils emporium. She has opened a few bed and breakfast rooms above the store. Amongst her first guests are the father she discovered recently and his wife, assorted other participants in a local bluegrass festival and a murderer. There are lots of suspects for the first victim who has managed to tick off most of the people she knew. The second one is a bit harder. Might there be two murderers or just one?
Robbie is a heroine who often works well with the local police and often at odds with others in charge. She is perceptive and smart but she is also wise enough to know her limits and not afraid to ask for help. In fact, it is something that works in her favour when she is confronting the bad guy. While there must be a suspension of disbelief when reading fiction, it it goes too far off track, it can make you root for the villain instead of the heroine.
Robbie, as always, is ably assisted by her team, her boyfriend, her aunt, assorted locals and of course, her cat. It’s been fun dropping by her establishment and I look forward to doing it again soon.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.

Well developed characters within a picturesque setting. I enjoyed the country feel aspect. Awesome writing.
Thank you #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Author Maddie Day won me over with the first tasty book in this series, FLIPPED FOR MURDER. With her easy, flowing style of writing, she pens a story that draws the reader in, holding them captivated until the very last word. DEATH OVER EASY is more proof of that.

I enjoyed my time back in South Lick, Indiana, with protagonist Robbie Jordan, and all the great characters that make up the town. It’s been a treat watching them, and the entire Country Store Mystery series evolve.

The mystery element itself was so well done. I was seriously chasing the wrong trail for quite some time. In the end, I did guess right, but that’s not something I mind. It makes me feel like I’m finally developing my sleuth senses. Who am I kidding. I had it narrowed down with a 50/50 shot of being right. I lucked out. 😊

As delicious as the first four installments, DEATH OVER EASY was a buffet of murder, mystery, and mouth-watering meals. The perfect recipe for a cozy mystery.

A Country Store mystery set in Indiana. You get lost in the story of Robbie running a country store/café and all of the beautiful recipes making you drool. Robbie has experience of murder in the town and cannot stop been a regular Nancy Drew when new murders occur at the local music festival. When the murderer hits a bit close to home with Robbie she needs all her wits about her to follow the clues and suspects she has written down into a crossword. You will enjoy the closeness and interaction of the characters and plenty of suspects for the murders.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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 Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival in neighboring Beanblossom is always a hit for Robbie’s country store and café, 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.

The mystery is full of twists, turns, and suspects that will have the reader guessing who the guilty party is until the surprising conclusion. The characters are well written, well developed, and believable which makes them very lifelike. The author does such a nice job of describing the characters and all the places in town and festival, it's like you can see what is going on throughout the book in your head.

I like how the author has continued to let Robbie be a smart character who uses her brain, so she doesn't rush into danger on purpose, and is smart about her investigating. I did like when she was looking for her father and boyfriend at the music festival Robbie got some backup in the form of a security guard when she suspected they might be in danger. I also liked that Robbie and Abe's relationship is still going strong and looks like it will continue into the next book in the series. I one thing I hope the author will have Robbie's relationship with her father keep growing and not have it fade into the background.

I got an ARC if this book from Netgalley and Kensington for my honest review.

Another cozy series that just gets better with each book. I really love going back to the small town and catching up . Now the Cafe/store is turning into a B&B. Let the mystery begin. Love the writting style and the character development. I hope this series has many more installments in the future

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day is the fifth book in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie's country store and cafe are a big hit. She opens her small bed and breakfast just in time for the annual bluegrass festival. Two of her first guests are her dad and her stepmother. When a performer is found murdered, her family members are among the many suspects. After a second body is found, Robbie wonders if there could be more than one killer. This particular book focused on the bluegrass festival. Robbie is a strong cozy mystery heroine who spends more time in her business than most. The mystery kept me going from one suspect to the next. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Synopsis:

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 Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival in neighboring Beanblossom is always a hit for Robbie’s country store and café, 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 . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Robbie is smart, hardworking and knows what she wants in life. Right now she wants to make her bread and breakfast a success. She also wants to spend quality time with her boyfriend, Abe. And when someone at the music festival is killed, she wants to figure out what happened and nail the culprit. It will not be easy but she feels she is up to the task. I enjoyed spending some time with her father and his wife and her employees. The secondary characters added to the story.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and painted a clear picture of South Lick, Indiana and all of the town folk. The place is oozing southern charm and gossip, where everyone knows everyone’s business. I would like to rent a room in Robbie’s Bed and Breakfast and be a part of all the action.

The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the book. There were numerous clues to sift through and motives to consider when trying to solve this mystery. I think the ending will surprise you, which is always a good thing.

I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. The whole series is great and I encourage you to start reading it.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Dollycas's Thoughts

It's time for the Brown County Bluegrass Festival and Robbie bed and breakfast has its first guests, including her father Roberto and his wife Maria. She is excited about all the business that the festival is bringing to her country store and café, Pans ‘N Pancakes too. But when one of the musicians is murdered things turn grim.  The murder weapon is a common thing for this crowd, a banjo string. Who choked the life out of the performer and is anyone else in danger? Robbie is going to do all she can to find out.

I have been almost as excited as Robbie to have her father come for a visit. His and his wife's tiny connection to the victim has them playing more of a role in the mystery than just a subplot to the main story. I enjoyed the way they traveled the area a bit on their own but still were able to spend quality time with Robbie. Robbie was busy with the cafe and her snooping too, but all the plots and subplots worked very well together. The pace is brisk and the pages seemed to fly.

Again, the character development was excellent. Readers get to see the main characters move forward and get a clear picture of the new characters as well. This is something Maddie Day does so well. It is so easy to get involved in everything the characters are experiencing.

I really enjoyed the music festival theme. It was a great way to introduce Robbie's new B&B. She did learn she still has a few bugs to work out before her next guests arrive, but it is a fun way to bring new characters to the series. It also gave a great backdrop for the surprising dangerous reveal of the killer. I was happy to see Robbie used some common sense instead of rushing in on her own, but there were still those nail-biting moments and the visions of the horror movie type eyes through the fingers thinking, "don't go in there".

I have enjoyed this series from the start. The author always gives readers a wonderful who-dun-it and I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next.

Another great venture back to Indiana! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and see what adventures were to be had with Robbie, Abe, Adele and the rest of the amazing gang of characters that make up the world surrounding the Pans n' Pancakes Country Store and Restaurant. This book was well written and thought out and the mystery was so well designed. I had no idea about the "whodunit" until the murderer literally jumped from the shadows. Sadly, there was more than one murder to figure out in this story, so it made the truth twice as hard to uncover. Again, the characters keep getting better and better and I love the relationship development taking place! Another great addition to the Country Store Mystery series...I can't wait to see what is next!

Robbie, Adele, Buck and crew are back! In the next town over, the yearly Bluegrass Festival is going full force. Pan's 'N Pancakes is busier than ever with the opening of her bed and breakfast upstairs and all the festival goers. Unfortunately, one of the musicians is found dead in the beautiful covered bridge outside of town. Will Robbie help catch the murderer before tragedy strikes her once again?

I am so estactic to find this series set in Brown County, Indiana which is a scant two hours away from me. It's fun to read about places I know and have been to when visiting Brown County. I wish I could visit Pans 'N Pancakes the next time I am in Brown County. The dishes discussed are very appetizing to read about so I am sure they are delicious in real life. The author shares the Asian Noodle salad at the end of the book that I am excited to try.

I did appreciate the author cleaning up the language/grammer used by the locals. The story flowed much easier. A lot of the sayings used I have heard before so that was interesting to see an author use them appropriately.

Robbie and Abe's relationship continues to progress nicely and takes a little more precedence in this book than the others. Thank you to the author for not having a love triangle for Robbie. So refreshing and enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Absolutely incredible cozy mystery novel! We catch up with Robbie just as the festival is starting and her dad is visiting. Things are going great with the store and B&B until another dead body is found with a distant link to her dad plus a friend is even closer. Robbie finds herself investigating even after a second body is found until she finds herself as well as loved ones in danger. Once again Maddie Day truly captured the Hoosier charm of Indiana with her amazing characters and charming town. Even a few murders can't make it any less perfect. Really a must read for fans of culinary cozy mysteries. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

Robbie Jordan has renovated several rooms above her Pans 'N Pancakes restaurant and turned the Country Store slash cafe into a B&B in South Lick, Indiana. She's excited about the annual music bluegrass festival in Beanblossom, and is hosting a few of the festival musicians as well as her Italian father, Roberto, and his wife.

It doesn't take long, however, for things to turn a sour note when one of the musicians is found dead. Robbie's boyfriend Abe played a trial set with the victim and it would seem she was a person you either loved or loved to hate. Pia was in Robbie's puzzle group (definitely a new one for me!), but she didn't know her well. Pia was definitely on a rant prior to death, owing money and arguing about it, unhappy with the music set she was playing with Abe, and unhappy with the event coordinator. With the way she was boosting tension, I'd have strangled her myself.

There are twists and turns, characters perhaps fully fleshed in previous series installments somewhat lacking here, and a protagonist with a very nosy attitude but fairly keen sense of business. Part of Robbie's staff includes Danna, who has a boyfriend Isaac who exhibits PTSD periodically and seems suspect by default.

The dialect in some of the dialogue (to me) sounded more like uneducated backwoods than Indiana (and I stumbled reading it). Otherwise, the storyline progresses well and maintains the plot, just that I couldn't develop an invested interest in the protagonist and never really did get to know her boyfriend, or her aunt Adele.

I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and appreciated the opportunity to read and review this cozy mystery. Recommended for all familiar with the author, the series, and those who enjoy cozy mysteries with a crossword puzzle flavor and good southern Indiana recipes.

This is the 5th book in the Country Store Mystery series. Each book in my opinion is delightful. I have enjoyed the series since the beginning and highly recommend it for all mystery readers.
i received a ARC for review and my opinions are my own.
What is so endearing about this series is the location and small town setting of South Lick Indiana (great name!). Its a place we all want to visit.
Robbie Jordan owns Pans N Pancakes which is a country store selling antique cook ware along with a diner serving breakfast and lunch. Robbie is a very smart protagonist and a enjoyable fun character As Robbie is excited about opening her bed and breakfast her Dad and his wife come to visit as she is helping the town prepare for a Bluegrass Festival and is booking rooms for the festival. When one of the performers is murdered at the festival, Robbie is on the case. She has excellent sleuthing skills and soon has suspects on her radar amid the preparations and opening her Bed & Breakfast while running the diner and her store. She wears many hats.
The author has a pleasing writing style that is fast paced with a lot of characters supporting the story. The mystery was well crafted and a excellent addition to the series. I look forward to the next in series by this favorite author and returning to this charming setting of small town life and crime solving .

I know I've said it before but this series just gets better and better! Every time I read one, it's like going "back home...to Indiana" and I'm not even from there! But that's how good of a job the author does in painting the hometown feeling for the small fictional town of South Lick, IN in the very real Brown County.

Robbie Jordan and her team were gearing up for the Bluegrass Festival and all the awesome business it would bring to her little country store and restaurant--and now her B&B. She'd succeeded in turning the upstairs into three B&B rooms, which were filled for the festival. One room was her very own Italian father, Roberto, and his wife. Robbie had recently found out that she had a living father and had previously visited him and his wife in Italy (this wasn't in one of the books, just mentioned.) When not one but two murders of locals hit the small town during the festival, Robbie hasn't really got time for physical investigating, but she still does a lot of questioning and dutifully reports everything she finds to the detective on the case, Anne Henderson. This detective is all business but she does show appreciation for tips that Robbie passed along to her.

I saw that someone else called the showdown with the killer "heart stopping" and I do have to agree! It was definitely exciting and I just couldn't tap that Kindle fast enough to get the pages turned! I wasn't happy until the exact end when I read the final outcome--ahh relief that everyone was now safe and the killer or killers were put away for a long time.

It seems like we got a really good sampling of all the favorites in this book. Adele and Samuel made several appearances and Phil brought in his yummy desserts, even staying to make brownie ice cream sandwiches. We got to see a lot of Abe and Robbie together, and the mayor herself even made an appearance with her very own bluegrass band. From what I'd read of the mayor before, this really seemed out of character and I could just see her 20-old-daughter, Danna (Robbie's employee) cringing from embarrassment, lol. The festival seemed a lot of fun when there wasn't a murder going on and I was glad to see Robbie got her B&B up and running. I'm pretty sure there's another book coming and as usual, I can't wait!

Death Over Easy is the 5th book in the Country Store Mysteries. Robbie has opened the bed and breakfast located above her store/cafe just in time to house some of the participants in the nearby Blues Festival. Robbie's father Roberto and his wife Maria are visiting and are also staying in the B&B. Between her father's visit, her guest in the B&B, and the cafe clientele, Robbie has been very busy. The chaos ratchets up even more when one of the participants in the Blues Fest is found dead by banjo string and people dear to Robbie are on the suspect list. Now she has to run her cafe/store, continue learning the ropes on running a B&B, find time to spend with her father, and figure out who committed murder. The author does a great job introducing characters with motive and means.

The plot of Death Over Easy is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing about a lot of different things. The author did a great job adding different plot lines into the story and then connecting them all at the end. The whos, whats, and whys of the story are engaging and the reader will not want to put down the book. I was taken on a suspenseful ride that produced evidence of one character being the murderer then turning around and providing evidence that pointed to someone else. I wasn't really able to narrow down the suspect list too far or figure out who actually committed the murder, making the reveal a surprise. The story was fun, exciting, and full of suspense.

The character development continues on in Death Over Easy as we continue to get to know Robbie, Abe, the rest of the townsfolk, and now her long lost father. Robbie is a great main character. She's realistically written as a kind, generous person who had a dream and worked hard to make it a reality. She treats people with respect and dignity, the perfect person to work in a retail/food establishment. She gets involved in things she shouldn't much to the chagrin of the police department but her heart is in the right place. Her relationship with Abe is sweet and just a small part of the story. Their romance does not overshadow they mystery or take over.
All of the secondary characters all have their perfect places within the pages of the novel.

I enjoyed the world building in South Lick, Indiana. I was able to easily vizualize the story and I felt like I was there. The interwoven storylines keep the story fresh, exciting, and engaging. If you are looking for a cozy mystery that is fast paced (never a dull moment) and will keep you on the edge of your seat, I suggest you give Death Over Easy a try!

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day is the 5th book in the Country Store Mystery series, and another delightful book. Robbie Jordan owns Pans N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana. Pans N Pancakes is a country store selling antique cook ware along with a diner serving breakfast and lunch. Robbie is a likable character, that makes you want to go into Pans N Pancakes for a breakfast and a chat. As Beanblossom gets ready for the annual Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival, Robbie is excited about opening her bed and breakfast and her dad and wife visit. Unfortunately when one of the performers is murdered at the festival, Robbie is on the case. I recommend this book/series for cozy mystery book fans. The story is fast paced with a lot of character development and mystery that keeps your attention. I look forward to reading the in the next book in this series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This reminds me of a little restaurant with a gift shop inside from my hometown. The cozy feel of the restaurant, where a lot of the locals frequent in the mornings to gather over coffee, and breakfast before heading off to work, or the fields, or where ever their day was taking them. When people have out of town guest, they bring them for a meal, where they sit and talk and catch up, they introduce them to town. Maddie Day has done just that in the fifth instalment of her Country Store series.

Robbie Jordan is the owner of Pan N Pancakes, with a little country store gift shop included, in her small Indiana town. Robbie has also renovated her second floor with a small B&B, and just in time, as Beanblossom the neighboring town is having its annual Bluegrass festival. Not only are a few of her guest, some of the musicians playing at the festival, but her father, Roberto and her step-mother Maria have come for a visit from Italy.

While at the festival, Roberto and Maria notice a girl, Pia, who looks like another girl, whom Maria knows from her town in Italy. While they discuss her they realize she is the twin who left Italy and hasn’t been back since.
While at the festival Pia is sitting-in Robbie’s boyfriend, Abe’s band. Right before they are to go on, everyone sees Abe and Pia arguing. The band plays their set and nothing is seen or heard any more of the argument between the two. That is until the next morning Pia’s body is found…dead.

As the investigation unfolds, there seem to be a lot of suspects as to who had motive to kill her. Robbie, who has “helped” solve a couple of murders, swears she doesn’t have time to get involved with the case, suddenly is pulled in when her boyfriend, friends, guests, are among the suspects.

I like the characters as well as the plot, the story moves at a good pace, and it’s easy to follow along without reading the other four books in the series. The murder is pretty easy to figure out, but the story of the characters keep you intrigued as well as the motive as to what happened to Pia.