Grilled for Murder

Country Store Mystery #2

by Maddie Day

Someone’s cooking up trouble…

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…

Includes Recipes for You to Try!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2016

About the author

Maddie Day is a pseudonym for Agatha Award-winning mystery author Edith Maxwell.

As Maddie Day, Edith writes the Country Store Mysteries, from Kensington, set in southern Indiana. Maddie lived in the area some years ago and loves writing the adventures of Robbie Jordan, a country store owner and chef in South Lick, Indiana.

She also writes the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, with bike shop owner Mackenzie Almeida and her cozy mystery book group solving murders in a fictional Cape Cod village.

Her new Cece Barton Mysteries series, set northern California wine country, releases in fall, 2023

Please see Edith Maxwell's author page for more information about her other mystery series and her award-winning short stories.

Reviews

[James]

Grilled for Murder is the 2nd book in the Country Store Mysteries written by Maddie Day. I've read the previous book in this series and the entire Cozy Capers Mysteries that the author's written. So far, I think I prefer this series, but both are great. In this collection, Robbie, a ~30-35ish divorced woman, has returned home to South Lick, Indiana and opened a country store and restaurant. She's been watched over by her aunt ever since Robbie's mother passed away a year ago. After a successful opening and solving a murder in the debut book, Robbie's discovered another body in her store, and things are not looking too good for someone she knows.

A wonderful sophomore effort. Robbie's friends are becoming vibrant characters. Her relationship with Jim, a local real estate lawyer, is taking several unexpected turns. Abe is still flirting with her. And her aunt has fallen in love. The country setting is stellar, including all the local Indiana customs, cuisine, and vernacular. The murder mystery was solid, calling into question a death from nearly a decade ago, plus Jim's in-laws who are locals. I enjoy the writing style because it makes you feel like another character in the book, a background townsperson who's enjoying the local flavor. I might even consider going dancing now!

4.5 stars. Hardly anything to dislike. Definitely planning to continue reading this series. There are 7 more to go plus the 2022 release, so I hope to finish them by midyear. At that point, I'll be caught up in Maddie Day's books, but she also writes under another name, Edith Maxwell. I need to look at those books too, but my TBR is way too high already, so I can't add anything until I finish this series. Highly recommended for cozy lovers, midwestern fans, and those who enjoy recipes and foodie stories.

[Elle G. Reads]

5 STARS: Grilled for Murder is another savory novel in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day! I am loving this series- the characters, the setting (an old country store turned breakfast and lunch place), and the sleuthing! Robbie is one of my favorite heroines and I look forward to reading many more of the books in this series! If you're a fan of culinary cozies then this is a series for you. I highly recommend them!

[LORI CASWELL]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It is getting close to Christmastime in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie Jordan has a welcome home party booked at Pans ‘N Pancakes before she can start decorating. Erica Shermer is back in South Lick after the death of her husband, but she sure doesn’t seem to be grieving. I completely understand we all grieve in our own way but flirting with her departed husband’s brother and every other man in the room seems just a bit off. When Robbie finds Erica’s very dead body spread out on the floor next to the pickle barrel the next morning she knows right away there could be plenty of suspects. She just never imagined the police would hone in on her friend Phil. It is up to her to find the clues that will send them in another direction or Christmas in South Lick will be far from Merry.

This second installment to this series was a very fast read for me. Ms. Day’s well crafted mystery drew me right in and didn’t let go.

I really like Robbie Jordan and the place she has created with Pans ‘N Pancakes. A gathering place for the community and great comfort cooking too. Robbie is quick and smart and so friendly. She can easily question several people with simple conversation over breakfast. She also passes along what she knows to the police, although she is putting herself in the line of fire when the real murderer sees she is getting to close to the truth. I enjoyed the dialogue between the characters and the bit Indiana – ish way of speaking added a true local feeling.

This mystery moves along at a good clip. Several twists had me truly wondering if the person I wanted to be the guilty party would actually be the guilty party. You will have to read the story to see if I was right.

There was some unexpected drama on the romantic front too. I am anxious to see how it continues to play out in future stories, regarding both parties.

Grilled For Murder is a down home kind of cozy with colorful characters, a comfortable setting and a fun mystery.

I do suggest starting with Flipped for Murder, but the author gives plenty of detail if you start with this one. The 3rd book in the series When the Grits Hit the Fan will be released March 28. I have added it to my reading schedule.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews]

Flip me over and call me done, GRILLED FOR MURDER is a delicious second book in the Country Store Mysteries!

Book one in this yummy series, FLIPPED FOR MURDER, was so wonderful, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on book two. I have to tell you . . .it was worth the wait! I flew through this book. I couldn’t put it down!

Author Maddie Day aka Edith Maxwell is simply a superb writer. Her stories are entertaining, perfectly penned, and excellent in every way.

GRILLED FOR MURDER is another exceptional example of a true cozy mystery. Colorful characters, picturesque small town setting, and a mystery full of twists and turns, anticipation, and a conning conclusion befitting the entire tale.

You need to pick up a copy of GRILLED FOR MURDER. Grab a copy of FLIPPED FOR MURDER too, if you haven’t read it. You’ll love reading these books back to back.

Check out the wonderful recipes in the back of the book!

[Peter Monn]

I love this series so much!

[Shawna Shaheen]

In 2 nd book. Robbie mother died and now Robbie Aunt Adele and her were just the 2 of them. But she finally found her father after 27 years. Robbie was catering to a welcome home party for Sue daughter Erica. And Paula her pregnant sister Max her husband and close friends and family at her store and Restaurant in Pans and Panckes. For a woman Erica (from that her husband died of sucide) that her family greeted her home after 1 year after he killed hisself. Robbie boyfriend Jim was the twin brother of the man. Jim told Robbie about his brother. (Robbie never met him or Erica. ) Erica was a mean spirit. She had fights with 3 people that night. Tiffany ( a jeweler, Phil a African American man that was an employer of Robbie Jim Robbie boyfriend) Even her parents thought she was ungrateful to a point but still loved her. Robbie found Erica dead in her store the next morning. Octavia a detective was on the case from another county. Come to find out Jim and Octavia had a history together. So Robbie Desoto take up an offer of going to dinner with a guy Abe that in book 1 she was going to date (but she ran into a killer) . Some of the storyline did not get finished. Like the Gingerbread log Cabins contest that she was suppose to enter. But it was an alright story. I might read another one

[Micky Cox]

Who knew that holding a special catered event would lead to the gift of a dead body being left in your restaurant??? Robbie and pals are back in the hot seat when a dead body of a very unlikable person is left in Robbie's cafe! Great mystery with multiple options of who could have done it and entwined with the personal lives of what is going on in the cast of characters lives. Quite well done and the narrator on the audio book does an excellent job of breathing life into the characters and making them feel all that more real! I can't wait to see what happens next in the cafe!

[Diane ~Firefly~]

I'm definitely enjoying this small town and the characters. Robbie is pretty smart and self-sufficient. I think the love triangle hinted at in book 1 might be over, which is a great thing and I like Abe better than Jim anyway.

This time around Robbie finds a body in her store/restaurant and has to make sure no one she cares about is blamed. Good mystery and I definitely read the next one.

[Linda]

Another fun adventure with Robbie! I enjoy the characters and small town setting, and the Midwest definitely came through in the weather they had. The mystery was interesting and the ending exciting. I’m looking forward to the next book already. Recipes are included and maybe I’ll try the apple muffins.

[Vanna]

Story: 4 Stars
Audio: 4 Stars
A super entertaining read with great character drama! 🥪🐱
While the core murder mystery plot and the villain felt a bit predictable this time around, the side character drama completely kept me hooked! Robbie getting dumped by Jim for his ex, plus Abe revealing he has a son from a previous marriage, was so much fun to follow! 😳 I honestly found myself way more enthralled by the personal town drama than the actual mystery investigation. 🤪
It was definitely a super entertaining entry in the series. I'm already placing bets that the next book is going to be even juicier!

[Mary Brown]

Grilled For Murder
A Country Store Mystery, Book 2
Maddie Day
5 Stars


Synopsis:

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…

Includes Recipes for You to Try! (Goodreads)



Review:
This is the second book in the Country Store mystery series and it is every bit as good as the first book in the series. With great characters, setting, romance and suspense, it has everything that I consider necessary to be a fantastic cozy.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in creating characters, settings and suspense with the written word. The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional and are people I enjoyed spending time with. The setting perfectly portrays a small town, with all the quirkiness that goes along with that. There is plenty of small town nosiness with everyone knowing everyone else’s business. But there is also the small town neighborliness and willingness to help each other.

One of the things that I found refreshing about this book is that Robbie does not take a lot of unnecessary chances while trying to solve the mystery. In so many books the protagonist does things that any normal person would not risk doing. At times this can become annoying and unrealistic. Don’t get me wrong, Robbie still does plenty of snooping and clue collecting, but in a much more realistic way. There are still enough suspects and twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. My suggestion to you would be to pick up Flipped For Murder, book 1 and this book, sit back and enjoy your reading. I am already looking forward to reading the next book, when it is released.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jay]

The second book in the Country Store Mysteries series was just as good as the first book and is now quickly becoming a real treat of a cozy mystery series for me to read.

Robbie Jordan is hosting/catering a welcome home party for the daughter of a local family. Things are going well except the guest of honor is late to the event. When she does show up, she ends up causing a wee bit of havoc with some of the other attendees. Which as we later learn is part of her MO from the time that she was a kid.

But when the woman's dead body turns up in the store after she'd left the part, Robbie's puzzle solving brain is soon kicked into high gear. But where to begin when there are so many possible suspects? When her friend Phil is brought in for questioning, things get serious and Robbie is that much more invested in finding the real killer.

The author's expanding world of South Lick, Indiana continues to be a warm and inviting place (minus the murders, of course) and the cast of characters continues to intrigue. From Phil and Danna (Robbie's employee at the Pans 'N Pancakes store), to Buck the local cop with a hollow leg when it comes to food and her various customers, the world of Robbie Jordan makes me want to eat at this sadly fictional eatery.

And while I'm not normally all that keen on the cozy genre's wishy-washy back and forth on the love lives of their characters, the developments on that front in this book proved to be rather interesting as it furthered those running subplots and upped the ante for some characters while revealing some not so likeable character traits in others.

I've found myself reading more and more cozy books lately and while some have been more along the lines of what used to make me dread that type of read, Maddie Day's Country Store Mysteries have been a real literary bright spot.

[Sapphyria]

When I was given the chance to read Grilled For Murder I jumped on it faster than kids on a trampoline. You see, I fell in love with Flipped For Murder, book 1 in Maddie Day's new Country Store Mystery series. Just like in book 1, Grilled For Murder has a plot that has more twists in it that keep you guessing about the demise of Erica Shermer. The author did another spectacular job of weaving several story threads throughout the book. This kept the book from getting monotonous or stale. The entire book is engaging and I couldn't put the book down. Trying, and failing, to figure out who and why was a challenge, which is a good thing in a mystery novel. Many of the characters in the novel, from book 1 and some that are new, could be the murder(s), as many people had motive.

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. The secondary characters all have their perfect places within the pages of the novel.

I enjoyed the continued world building in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie's roots are there and she's able to find out things from her family's past - some good, some bad. The interwoven storylines keep the story 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 Grilled For Murder a try!

Paperback ARC provided by the author, at no cost, in exchange for an honest review.

[M]

This was the first cozy mystery book I have read. I could not of started with a better one. This book is written in such a way that you soon feel like you are a part of the story. It is about a woman who starts up her café and the struggles she encounters in getting it up and running. All seems to be going along fine. That is, until she opens her shop and finds a body inside. The fear is that customers will not come in any longer. The mystery of why this woman was killed in her café and why needs to be answered. Of course this all takes place during the Christmas season. A new love is brewing for the owner of the café and the victim is connected to this man. Everything in the café is home made. The owner is constantly baking up new treats. (Recipes are included in the book.) As she struggles to stay on top of the business, and find a balance between her personal life and the demands of the business and accomplish the necessary tasks of the Christmas season you will find the book to be constantly moving along and grabbing your attention. From page one, I was hooked. When the book ended I felt I wanted more. It is just one of those enjoyable feel good reads.

[Mark Baker]

Robbie Jordan is keeping her restaurant open on a Saturday night for a special welcome home party for Erica Shermer. However, not everyone is thrilled that Erica is back, as Robbie sees when Erica fights with several of the guests. Still, she’s surprised when she comes down the next morning to find Erica dead in the restaurant. What was Erica doing back at the restaurant? And who killed her?

I fell in love with these characters when I read the first in the series, so it was great to be back spending time with them again. The new characters are just as fun and make wonderful suspects. One item introduced as part of the plot was left open, but I can easily see it being resolved in a future book. The main mystery of who killed Erica is well done, giving us a steady dose of clues and suspects until we reach the logical and suspenseful end.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Jason]

I don't know what it is abut the characters in this series, but I absolutely adore them. They are written so genuinely that you can't help but be sucked into their lives and feel for them instantly. A cozy series with real heart! This second installment has Robbie planning for the holidays and up to her elbows in another murder investigation. A new murder, a new man, a pickle barrel, a sandwich press and a lot of tasty food all conspire to keep the reader engrossed until the last pulse pounding moments. A must read for any cozy fan.

[Meg]

A very good continuation to this engaging series.

[Patricia]

I completely enjoyed this book. There were at least four murder suspects, and I was focusing on the wrong one. What a surprise! The character development was exceptional. I am enjoying getting to know the usual characters, and I will positively read book #3!

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews)]

Robbie Jordan is back in Grilled for Murder, the second book in Maddie Day’s Country Store Mystery Series. Robbie is venturing out and has agreed to cater a welcome home party at Pans ‘N Pancakes, her restaurant and country store. The welcome home party is for Erica Shermer, Robbie’s boyfriend Jim’s sister-in-law. The evening gets off to a bad start when Erica is late to her own party and then proceeds to have run-ins with several people in attendance. The next morning, Robbie discovers Erica’s body inside the store. When the police close her store and bring in her friend Phil for questioning, Robbie knows she has to do something. As if worrying about her livelihood isn’t enough, things on the personal front are becoming a little shaky with the arrival of someone from Jim’s past.

I loved Grilled for Murder. It was one of those books I got into from the very beginning and didn’t want to put down. I loved the characters and the way they all look out for each other. The mystery was good, with so many suspects to choose from. The story had me second guessing myself. There were definitely some surprises with this book. I must admit that one completely blindsided me, but in my heart, I’m thinking it was for the best.

Maddie Day has written a well-rounded, easy to follow mystery that will have you immersed from beginning to end. I’m so happy that there are going to be at least four more books in this series. I can’t wait to return to South Lick, Indiana and see what else is in store for this small community. Oh, one other thing I love about this book is that it is a standalone read. If you haven’t read the first book, Flipped for Murder it’s okay. You won’t be lost or confused about anything at all.

**Received a copy from Kensington in exchange for an honest unbiased opinion.**

[Laura]

Robbie Jordan is hosting a welcome back home party for Erica Shermer, at her store/restaurant, Pans 'N Pancakes. Erica seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way. The party ends well, though, and everyone seems happy...well, not everyone.
Sometime after the party ended, someone killed Erica in the middle of Robbie's store, using one of Robbie's antiques. Robbie is worried about how this will affect her business. She also wants to find out who killed Erica, and left her for Robbie to find.
This is the first book of Maddie Day's that I've read, and, as the old saying goes, it won't be the last. The book has a wonderfully comfortable feel to it. The characters are realistic and most of them feel like old friends. Robbie is eager to find the killer, but she step on the toes of the police, which makes her a great character in my book.
The romance between Robbie and Jim is fun, but not overpowering. And Aunt Adele is a great character that adds lots of flavor.
Ms. Day did a great job in crafting this mystery. I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was, but she had me changing my mind several times with well planted clues. I have the first book in the series downloaded and can't wait to read it. After that, I am looking forward to the next installment in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Betty]

Robbie Jordan is catering a party for Erica return to Southwick. It is at Pan and Pancakes. Erica does not appreciate the party and is late. While there, she picks fights with guests and flirts with the men. The next morning Robbie finds Erica dead in the shop portion. The state police close the restaurant for a couple of days. The police arrest Phil because of an inappropriate remark Erica make to him. Tim Shermer, Robbie's current boyfriend, and the homicide officer have met each other 10 years ago. Robbie is not sure about Tim's feelings. As Robbie explores Erica's background she undercovers a secret that will change her life.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. Would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.

[Liz Caldwell]

Robbie Jordan is doing what she loves, operating Pans 'N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana. Until someone leaves a dead body in her store. Too many of Robbie's friends and acquaintances are suspects, so Robbie sets about trying to figure out what happened, over the objections of the state detective, a woman who has a past with Robbie's boyfriend.
This is the second book in the author's Country Store Mystery series. Day has done a nice job of creating the South Lick community, with family, friends and complex characters. Robbie sometimes goes off half-cocked, and while you want to shake some sense into her, you also understand her decisions.
The only complaint I have is that the next book in this series is a year away.
I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Doward Wilson]

Meet Robbie Jordan and her friends in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie owns and operates Pans 'N Pancakes, a breakfast and lunch diner. While starting opening prep she finds the body of the guest of honor from the previous night's catered party. Getting her business opened back up and dispelling bad vibes from being a crime scene put Robbie right in the middle of the investigation. With the help of friends and family, she disturbs someone enough to try and kill her. These are delightful characters with a fun background. The murder is well plotted and will keep you guessing right to the end. This series gets better with each book and I am looking forward to Book #3. Recipes are included and they are mouthwatering!

I won this book in a contest from the author/publisher. This is my honest opinion and fair review.

[PugMom]

Grilled for Muder is the 2nd book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. Robbie Jordan is serving up pancakes and biscuits to her friends and neighbors and having the time of her life. Unfortunately, a killer cooks up a murder and leaves the body in her restaurant! Robbie definitely feels that she should find out who killed Erica. She was a woman who seemed to have more enemies than friends so there's no shortage of suspects. Things aren't always as they seem and there are lots of twists and turn throughout the book. It will keep you guessing up until the very end! I am very much enjoying this series and eagerly await the next book!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Carla]

This is the second installation in the Country Store Mystery series and it was as enjoyable as the first one. A 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. Robbie Jordan has had her country store/country restaurant open for a couple of months and she is as busy as ever. She has kept her place open on a Saturday night for a Welcome Home Party for Erica Shermer. Erica was recently widowed and she is back in town. Her parents threw her this party, but everyone is not happy with Erica. During the party there are some rumbles, some arguments and some ill will. When Robbie gets up in the morning, her store is cold and she realizes the window in the door is broken. When she goes to check it out, she finds Erica, dead on the floor of her shop. Why was Erica back at the restaurant? Who killed her? There is no shortage of suspects in this case. Of course Robbie investigates, afterall the victim was found in her store and she can't resist solving puzzles.

I love these characters. Robbie, her aunt Adele and her beau Samuel, Danna her assistant, Phil her best friend, Abe and his brother Don and of course Jim, Robbie's beau. They are all back and as wonderful to one another as before. It is great to be in a small town where everyone sort of knows one another and wants you to succeed. The new characters are just as fun and make wonderful suspects. The mystery of who killed Erica is well done, giving us a steady dose of clues and suspects until we reach the logical and suspenseful end. Robbie's personal life takes a turn and I couldn't help rooting for her. Another great book by Maddie Day, now to read the next one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Emmalynn]

Good followup with so many changes. Robbie is catering a homecoming for Jim’s sister in law, the widow of his twin brother who allegedly died by suicide a year prior. Erika is not a nice person and soon alienates a lot of people including Phil, the baker at Robbie diner. After insulting him with a racial slur, Erika is found d murdered later that night in the middle of the diner and Phil is tagged as the main suspect. An old girlfriend of Jim ends up being the the lead investigator which creates upheaval in Jim and Robbie’s relationship. ( he was a jerk for the way he handled this situation) but Abe is there to pick up the pieces :).

Who killed Erika? With a town filled with suspects, it’s hard to narrow down the culprit when even her own family disliked her. And did her husband really commit suicide?

[Tari]

In anticipation of book 4 in this series, I decided to read this one and will follow up with the next one. I had read an excerpt the author provided and wanted to make sure I was completely up to date on the characters before reading the new one coming out this month.

I loved returning to South, Lick IN. It's after Thanksgiving and people are starting to think about Christmas. One of the local girls, Erica, had returned home a few months ago so her parents threw a homecoming party at Robbie's cafe and store. The guest of honor was not a well-liked person by anyone except her parents but quite a few people showed up for the food and festivities. Next morning, Robbie finds Erica dead by her pickle barrel.

Since there is no lack of suspects in this case, Robbie knows it will be a hard one to crack but she's not too anxious to come face to face with another murderer. The state police are called in this time so Buck, the sheriff and sort of father figure to Robbie can't really share all that he'd like to about the investigation so he just good-naturedly tells her to be careful and let the state people do their job.

Robbie and Jim's relationship changes at this point but I won't go into details. They still seem happy. Abe pitches in some more and something else is revealed about him as well.

This time I actually did guess the killer! But I credit the author for planting the right clues. It was still fun to read about the take down which was excellent. Let's just say Robbie's self-defense class came in handy!

Everyone gathered in the store to hear Robbie tell about it and the phone call she received was truly in the spirit of a Christmas wish coming true.

[RO G'ma]

Grilled For Murder is the second book in Maddie Day’s Country Store Mysteries series. The story is well developed and flows smoothly and the characters relatable. Ms. Day did an excellent job of incorporating the local dialect in the “spoken” words but not in the narrative, which I believe adds to the readability of her book and allows the characters to come to life. There were plenty of twists and turns and no adult language, graphic violence, or sexually explicit situations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading light, cozy mysteries.

Robbie Jordan owns a cafe/antique cookware shop, Pans 'n Pancakes, in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie is catering a belated homecoming party for Erica Shermer. Erica isn’t a very nice person and during the party, she offended several people and made unwanted advances toward several of the men in attendance. The next morning Robbie discovered the stained glass window in her front door broken and Erica’s body on the floor next to the old fashioned pickle barrel. The police begin their investigation but because South Lick is a small town, Octavia Slade, a state homicide detective, arrives on scene and takes over. Octavia tells Robbie to keep out of her investigation but Robbie loves a good puzzle and is determined to solve this one and clear Phil’s name.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

[Becky Lewis]

"Hope they reserved an auditorium!!...Who didn't have a problem with Erica?" With snarky,snappy dialog like this, new-to-me cozy author Maddie Day grabbed my attention and held it fast. I heartily enjoyed Grilled for Murder,#2 A Country Store Mystery, set in the hills of Brown County, Southern Indiana. Having lived in the hills of southern Ohio, I felt like the author did a great job with the local color and dialect. There were a few phrases I felt may have added even more flavor, but maybe we'll see more in upcoming books.

One thing I watch for in cozies is how much the owner (so often the protagonist owns their own shop) actually spends at work. I was happy to be able to almost watch Robbie cook through her days at her breakfast/lunch eatery and the smells were tickling my nose. The descriptions were THAT good!!

The sense of community was certainly right on. Day wove the fabric of the village people's lives together in a way that only exists in an area such as "the almost south."

The only thing I did not like was that Day created a character who loved Bible study but had no compunction about sleeping with his beau. People who profess to believe the Bible need to live by it.

Looking forward to the next book. Day's writing style is just a joy to read and immerse myself into the character's world. Ready for more food and mayhem!!

[Debbie Erickson]

I was delighted to receive a copy of Grilled For Murder, the second book in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie Jordan has moved back to South Lick, Indiana to open a country store/restaurant. The morning after Robbie caters a Welcome Home party the body of the guest of honor turns up dead in her store.When one of her good friends and part time employees is one of the suspects, Robbie sets out to solve the puzzle and find out who the real murderer is. The characters in this book are well developed and really add to the storyline. Octavia Slade, the state detective, is sent to investigate and warns Robbie to stay out of the investigation, but Robbie is determined to find out why the body was left in her store. I especially like that the writing transported me to this small town in Indiana. The writer has a knack for incorporating nuances that are found in the midwest into the story and dialogue. This is a fast and enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.