Title: Candy Slain Murder
Author: Maddie Day

Ch 56

Pg: 311

Series: A Country Store Mystery

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Publisher: Kensington

Candy Slain Murder is the eighth book in the A Country Store by Maddie Day. And while I did enjoy this one with the Christmas setting unfortunately the mystery fell flat for me because I figured out who did it by the fifth chapter. But still an enjoyable read.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

As December sweeps through South Lick, Indiana, Robbie’s life seems merry and bright like the string lights glistening around town. But strange happenings signal a bumpy ride into the holidays. First a man raises eyebrows at Pans ‘N Pancakes when he claiming to be the long-lost half-brother of Robbie’s assistant. Then a fire destroys the home of a controversial anesthesiologist, exposing skeletal remains in his attic. Helplessly intrigued, all Robbie wants for Christmas is to stop her winter wonderland from becoming a real nightmare. With a decades-old mystery taking shape, can she run as fast as she can in pursuit of a killer who’s harder to crack than a stale gingerbread man?

The author gives us two mysteries that are connected and both are full of suspense, plenty of characters, lots of motives,red herrings, and interesting twists and turns that lead to a conclusion that may or may not come as a surprise as to the revelation of who the killers are. The characters are well written, well-developed, quirky, and relatable which makes them seem lifelike. The author will pull you into the story with the use of her detailed descriptive writing style.

I like that the relationship between Robbie and Abe is still progressing at a nice pace. I like that Robbie cares about her employees and treats them like family so she wants to make sure that Danna's new half-brother isn't going to hurt her and her mother in any way. The one big thing that I didn't enjoy in this book was the author using the book to lecture people about her personal viewpoints about politics, racial issues, and religious tolerance. I will read the next book in the series No Grater Crime to see where Robbie and Abe's relationship will go, and to see what situations the characters will find themselves in.

I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington books for my copy of Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day. It published September 29, 2020.
Oh man, I just love Kensington's cozies, and this fits right in with their wonderful selection! I adored all the talk about food, the recipes in the end, and just all the quirkiness. I thought it was hilarious how she wrote out the accent for Indiana and it made my heart so happy!
I also appreciated how racism and prejudice was addressed and always condemned, I think more books ought to tackle that.
As far as the series goes, this was my first book in the series and I didn't feel too confused about the characters/setting. I would definitely read the rest of this series!

Although Candy Slain Murder was my first time in the Country Story Mystery series, I will most definitely be going back for the earlier stories for this is a charming, engaging story with a down-home appeal… and some intriguing mysteries to try to solve. Since I’m beginning the series here there were, of course, nuances and relationships that I had to figure out along the way. What was absolutely necessary for me to understand in this story was described in dialogue or the narrative. But that did not take away from a really good mystery and the engaging characters I met here.

One skeleton discovered within a burned-out home brings suspicions upon a local anesthesiologist who already had people talking about him will provide lots of digging to get to the bottom of who really is the murderer. And a long-lost (so-called) relative will spin a few yarns, upset a few people, and add a second mystery to challenge Robbie. Since I do not read Cozy Mysteries to sharpen my detective skills but for the story of why and how the crime happened – it was fascinating to watch Robbie sort through the clues and come up with answers. I had my suspect for one, and my suspicions about the second – but you’ll enjoy it all so much more if I don’t give away spoilers.

In all, I had fun with Candy Slain Murder. It’s an engaging story that kept me turning pages, puzzling out clues, and enjoying getting to know the main (and secondary characters) that make up this world. If you love a good puzzle, and Cozy Mysteries are your delight any time of the year, then you’d enjoy this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Although this was not my favorite in the series I still found it a good read which is why I gave it 4 instead of 3 stars. I read cozy mysteries to escape the real world and this one did not let me do that this time around. There was a lot of political views expressed throughout the entire book.

I am excited for the next book as I cannot wait to see how Robbie adapts to her new role with her love.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This is the second book of Maddie Day's I have read and it was another wonderful frolic through the town of South Lick, Indiana. There is a lot to enjoy about this book series. The genteelness of the people, everyone is for the most part super friendly and I love the sense of community. I myself, live in the Midwest so it's nice to see someone who actually does it justice. Everyone always thinks that Midwesterners are a bunch of Country Bumpkins who don't know a whole lot and are rude. That's actually not true. We are some of the nicest, hardworking, gentle folks you'll ever come across. Are there bad apples in the batch? Of course! Aren't there some everywhere? Absolutely! I dearly love how Maddie Day captures the goodheartedness of the folks there.

I love Robbie. She is a lot like me. Need to have everything set up so that you can do what you need to do. I love the restaurant. I wish Pans N Pancakes was a real place. I could definitely see myself eating there. Funnily enough, the other book of this series I read was the other Christmas book lol.

The whole town is great. I would move there in a heartbeat if it was a real place lol. The thing I like about Robbie is that she just wants to help because she cares so much about her town and the people in it. It's not because she's nosey or has nothing else to do but because she wants to protect those she loves. And you can really see that.

I love Abe and Sean so much. The ending of this book was just fantastic. It really made me excited for the next book. Will I get around to reading the rest of the books? Absolutely! And I cannot wait. These books are so easy to read even if you haven't read the others in the series. It's like a warm bath, you just slide right into the story and I love that! This book definitely has put me in the Christmas cheer and I am sitting here smiling because of it. Plus, it makes me hungry. I love all the recipes in the books and I appreciate the fact that Maddie Day puts them in the back so you don't have to go thumbing through the book to find them again.

The mystery is great to. I had an idea who I thought the killer was but not exactly how they would pull it off and the great thing was that in the end everything fit together so you don't have to wonder at parts of the story that do not make sense.

Everything in this story is great. I love this series very much. I love books with a happy ending!

I was given this ARC by NetGalley to review for my own honest opinions. All opinions are my own.

It was so good to be back in South Lick at Pans 'N Pancakes for this book!

When a body is found in a burning house, can Robbie help the local police find out what happened in this cold case? But when they find the dead body's twin sister murdered a couple of days later, this small town mystery heats up quite a bit.

I love Robbie so much! She is such a fun character and I love reading about her. I loved being back with all of the South Lick characters. I forgot how much I loved them during the last book. I liked the details in this book and all the different parts of town we get to see. I do wish that the push back against the racist customer was more forceful. I feel like it was just a passive response. I liked that the book tried to confront the racism that is rampant in our country, but I just feel like it needed to be stronger. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next one!

This is book 8 in the Country Store Mystery series and can be read as a stand alone. Set in small town Indiana, Robbie's store/diner is busy as the holidays approach. When a fire exposes a skeleton in the attic of a local doctor it's his wife who disappeared many years ago. Not much later her sister is found dead. Several new characters and returning old ones make this a good cozy to solve. Romance also takes center stage. The recipes look pretty good also. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the most recent offering in the "A Country Store Mystery" series by Maddie Day. This was a Christmas story, so there is a bit more cozyness but not as much as I would have hoped. However, I still very much enjoyed this story with not one, but two mysteries to solve during the holiday season. Shortly after the story begins, a young man enters Pans "N Pancakes claiming to be Dana's half-brother, who was given up for adoption when he was born to an unwed Mayor Corrine Beedle. Robbie doesn't feel right about this man and wants to find out more about it. The second mystery involves a skeleton found in the attic of a house that has a fire. It is the body of the missing wife of the Doctor that owns the house. He claims she left him years earlier and has no idea how her body ended up in the attic, of course, Robbie does not believe that story at all. She has some serious investigating to do in order to get South Lick's holiday celebrations back on track.

This is one of my favourite cozy mystery series. It is also one that I am actually caught up on. I always enjoy the restaurant atmosphere and Robbie's relationship with her staff and the locals who come to eat at Pans 'N Pancakes. When it comes to dialogue I love some of the sayings used by the locals, they always make me smile. Robbie is a likable and relatable protagonist, who doesn't jump blindly into sleuthing and leave her business in the hands of others. The mystery was solid and kept me guessing. The culprit was one of the main suspects, so the reveal didn't come as a huge surprise. All in all, this is a wonderful addition to the series, with well-developed characters, delicious sounding food, a small-town setting, and well-written mysteries.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed this series from the first visit to Robbie’s pancake and pans emporium. It’s been fun following the various relationships develop between her, her aunt, her employees, and her friends. She has always been a heroine who manages the tightrope between exciting danger and outright stupidity. Her place has also become the go-to spot when a murder is committed and there are going to be two of them in which she becomes embroiled. They just happen to be 20 years apart and involve twins.

I enjoy the easy camaraderie between Robbie and Buck, the local cop. While there is still some gristle between them, she is also developing a rapport with Olivia the State Detective brought in to investigate. They have an uneasy history but both have a respect for each other. It is another example of how much of this series hinges on relationships. Be it unexpected and newly discovered family or romantic pairings or just good old fashioned community spirit, it is one of the things that I enjoy most about the stories.

I confess I twigged to the killer early on but dismissed it when it seemed too obvious. However, there were a number of other highly possible candidates thrown in so it was not until the end that I realized I was right in the first place. It was a big tease and I liked it. Five purrs and two paws up.

This book is the eighth installment in Maddy Day's "Country Store Mysteries" - enjoyed it immensely.

The story presents two separate mysteries - but are they connected? If so, then how?

The story was quite entertaining. Loved this so much because I felt so connected to the story and also to the characters, they felt so real. And it has such a cozy vibe to it, perfect read for the holiday season. The mystery is very intriguing, hard to put down once you start reading it. It has some recipes too which is one of my favorite things in a book.

Thanks to netgalley and publisher for the review copy. It was a pleasure to read it.

The Christmas holiday season is ramping up in South Lick, Indiana, and Robbie Jordan, owner-operator of restaurant, country store and B&B, Pans ‘N Pancakes, is busy trying to keep up with demand on all her business fronts. When a handsome young man comes in looking for her assistant Danna Beedle, Robbie isn’t the only person shocked to discover that Danna has a half-brother she never knew about. Apparently, their mother had given up her baby for adoption after his father was killed in a tragic accident. Now Marcus has come looking for his birth family, and perhaps the wariest person involved is Robbie, who is related to the Beedles only by mutual affection. While she whole-heartedly approves of family reunions, she can’t help feeling protective of her large-hearted young assistant.

These concerns are swept aside, at least temporarily, by the shocking discovery of a skeleton in the attic of the burned out house of local doctor William Geller. All signs point to the skeleton being all that’s left of Tina, the wife who allegedly ran out on him a decade ago. The sudden death of Tina’s twin sister Toni, a woman who never liked William, muddies the waters further, especially when the disagreeable William gets into a loud altercation with Marcus at Pans ‘N Pancakes, all but accusing the newcomer of murder.

Robbie doesn’t want to investigate but can’t help getting involved either. As she tries her best to limit her inquiries to the most seemingly harmless, she begins to worry that a killer might be tracking her movements. Is it just paranoia making her see assailants in the shadows? Or is someone really out to stop her for good, as ugly truths and rumors surface about the residents of South Lick and their loved ones?

So on the one hand, I really enjoyed how Maddie Day stresses inclusion and grace in her story, even bringing in several Muslim characters, who are few and far between in the culinary cozy genre: kudos for even thinking of us! I wasn’t super thrilled by their actual representation though, particularly of the half-black Muslim with stereotypical anger management problems. While I can see where Ms Day was perhaps trying to play on the prejudices of certain of her readers in order to drive home how Muslims are no more or less violent than the average non-Muslim, I didn’t care for the way vague reports of an angry past were used as a reason to cast doubt on one person’s character, especially when contrasted with the “there’s good in everyone” grace extended to the avowed current member of the Ku Klux Klan! I very much admire much of Ms Day’s writings, especially in the Quaker Midwife series she writes under the name Edith Maxwell, but I found myself dismayed by the blithe “why can’t we all just get along?” attitude here that covertly apportions equal blame to victims for conflicts instigated by their oppressors. Harmony and unity are wonderful aims, but should never come at the expense of every person’s right to equal participation in a fair and free society, regardless of religion or race.

That aside, this was another entertaining installment of the series, that included, as always, a good number of recipes featured in the narrative. Of the six, I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Teriyaki Chicken Wings

2 cloves garlic, minced
5 ounces sugar
½ cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon sherry
2 pounds chicken wings or wingettes (the tiny drumstick parts), trimmed of excess fat

Line the bottom of a broiler pan with foil and place slotted top or a rack on top.

Combine garlic, sugar, soy sauce, ginger, and sherry and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Add chicken and mix, then heat through in a large skillet on medium until chicken is tender, turning frequently.

Drain, nice to broiler pan top or track, and finish under broiler until crispy.

Serve warm or at room temperature.
END QUOTE

This was an extremely delicious dish! Of course I added more garlic, as is my wont: this recipe certainly allows for a little tweaking that way. I do wish more precise timing had been given for the instructions, though. I wound up cooking the chicken on the stovetop for fifteen minutes, then putting the wings under the broiler for about seven minutes on each side. While the chicken that resulted was super tasty, it didn’t come out quite as crispy as I’d liked. Other recipes online recommended the time I used, and since I didn’t want to burn anything by going for much longer than I did, I had to make do with chicken that was delicious but less crispy than I’d prefer. A clearer guideline from the get-go would have been very helpful. That said, the sauce was so very craveable, and I definitely saved it to go with a side of rice for the wings.

Next week, we continue with our Christmas slate of culinary cozies by making the cutest cookies while catching a cunning killer. Do join me!

Candy Slain Murder: A Country Store Mystery
By Maddie Day
Kensington
October 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

It looks like it’s going to be a rocky Christmas for Pans ‘N Pancakes Country Store and Café owner Robbie Jordan. A fire at the home of Dr. William Geller has uncovered the remains of a body, and it doesn’t take long before they are discovered to be that of his missing wife Kristina. The abrasive anesthesiologist claimed that “Tina” ran out on him over a decade ago, although her twin sister Antonia had her doubts. “Toni” has her own muddled history with a past spouse, and her resentful stepson isn’t shy about making his own accusations about the death that cost him his inheritance.

The questionable family relationships among the twins and their spouses aren’t the only surprises popping up in South Lick, Indiana, as the Country Store’s assistant Danna Beedle has her own unexpected family discovery. The baby that Mayor Corrine Beedle gave up as an infant has returned to meet his birth family, and Marcus Vandemere is anxious to meet his half-sister. Less welcoming is the aforementioned Dr. Geller, whose white supremacist ties to the K.K.K. have him targeting the young man whose Quaker upbringing eventually led to becoming a Muslim. Since Pans ‘N Pancakes is the gathering place for sharing news and gossip, Robbie uses her time between slinging pancakes and serving her customers to make her own inquiries into the secrets of the twins and their families.

The Christmas setting serves as the perfect setting for this 8th in the series that delivers as many homespun meals as it does heart-warming moments of humor. While the murder mystery plays out in the background, the more compelling action occurs between Danna and her newfound brother. The holiday season that brings together loved ones also allows them to share different cultures and beliefs, making this a novel that brings together readers instead of pushing them apart. Robbie’s romantic life continues on the upswing as she gets to spend more time with Abe O’Neill and his son, and her Aunt Adele has her own sizzling senior relationship speeding merrily along. After the recent reunion with her father and meeting his family in Italy, Robbie is content to settle back in her new life full of comfort food, southern colloquialisms, and genially nosy neighbors. Recipes to warm the soul during the Christmas holiday ensure that this is a satisfying and rewarding read designed to cheer up any mystery-loving Scrooge needing an escape.

Candy Slain Murder is the eighth book in Maddie Day’s Country Store Mysteries series. This clean read flows smoothly at a steady pace. The storyline is well plotted and flows smoothly, and the well-developed characters are three-dimensional.

Robbie Jordan owns a café/antique cookware shop, Pans ‘N Pancakes, in South Lick, Indiana. It’s Christmastime, and Robbie is looking forward to enjoying the holiday season and spending time with her boyfriend Abe and his son, Sean, but is experiencing a vague sense of foreboding. Things are hopping Pans ’N Pancakes when a young man enters the store looking for Robbie’s employee, Danna Beedle. As it turns out, the young man, whose name is Marcus Vandemere, claims to be Danna’s half-brother, saying that their mother, Corrine Beedle, the Mayor of South Lick, gave him up for adoption twenty-six years ago. Meanwhile, when a fire occurs at the home of Dr. William Geller, an anesthesiologist, skeletal remains are discovered in his attic. The bones are identified as belonging to Dr. Geller’s wife, Kristina, who he claimed left him over a decade ago. Then, just days after the fire, Kristina’s twin sister, Beltonia, is murdered, and Robbie wonders if the two deaths could somehow be connected. Robbie loves a good mystery and solving puzzles and can’t stop herself from asking questions and doing a little snooping. She shares her findings with Lieutenant Buck Bird and Detective Octavia Slade.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

The author wrote such a compelling story. I really enjoyed the plot of the story. The characters seemed so real and make the reader like they are part of the story plot.

Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day is the 8th book in a series. This is the first book I have read by this author. This book was a fun read and I will go back and see what Robbie and South Lick are all about. While I can ignore certain topics in a book that I do not agree with, some of the themes may be off putting to some who do not want to be preached at in a fiction story.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my honest review. *****

The holiday season is in full-swing at Robbie Jordan's "Pans & Pancakes" restaurant in South Lick, Indiana, with hungry patrons and the staff working hard to fill all of their orders. But the Christmas cheer takes a dark turn with a house fire exposing a human skeleton and a mysterious stranger's arrival to town with unclear motives. Robbie's sleuthing goes on the front burner when yet another murder happens; could it be connected to any of the other strange events?

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed all the previous books in this excellent series. The characters meld together so well; I feel like I'm connecting with old friends. The mystery is intriguing and I didn't want to put the book down! It was very touching to watch the progression of Robbie's romance with Abe and his son Sean. She takes great pleasure in finding a special Christmas gift for Sean and they all have fun decorating the restaurant together. I look forward to many more adventures with Robbie!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.

It's busy at Robbie Jordan's Pans N' Pancakes with the normal Christmas bustle when a young man claims to be the unknown brother of her friend/coworker, Danna. Then a large fire in town exposed a skeleton in the attic sets the whole town abuzz followed by a murder. Robbie launches into did ing the killer when suspicion lands on the long lost brother. Peopled by engaging characters, this cozy series takes you on an enjoyable ride full of clues and recipes while solving the.murders.

Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day is the 8th A Country Store Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series. I thought Candy Slain Murder was easy to read thanks to the author’s conversational writing style and steady pacing. The story has developed characters and a charming small-town setting. There is a cast of quirky characters that add humor to the story. It is time for the holidays in South Lick, Indiana. The shops are decked with lights, snow is falling, and it is almost time for the town’s tree lighting ceremony. Robbie Jordan has been run off her feet at the restaurant which is good for her bottom line. We get to see what it takes to run her small restaurant. Her interactions with customers and her employees as well as coming up with the daily specials. Robbie decorates her Christmas tree with help from Abe and Sean. I enjoyed this sweet scene. The romance between Robbie and Abe is progressing nicely. Robbie can imagine spending the rest of her life with Abe and his son, Sean. Danna Beedle is stunned when a man comes into the restaurant and introduces himself as her half-brother. She is looking forward to getting to know him, but Robbie wonders if the man is on the up and up. There are two mysteries to solve this time around. A current one and one from a decade ago. Robbie questions multiple suspects gathering information that she passes along to Lt. Buck Bird and Detective Octavia Slade. I would have preferred a more unique solution. The case wraps up nicely with some suspenseful drama. The book has a very special ending that fans of the series will love. There are recipes at the end for those items that had our mouthwatering while reading this heartwarming tale. Candy Slain Murder is a sweet story with buttery biscuits, a skeletal sibling, handmade hats, a toxic twin, a chilly climate, plus festive fun with family and friends.

Love the small Indiana town and the restaurant setting. Although it was not my favorite by this author, I enjoyed it and always love the Christmas setting. The author creates wonderful characters and this series has some of my favorites.