What do you think?
Rate this book
Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery #14
Grape Expectations
An Amish Bed and Breakfast Mystery with Recipes – PennDutch Mysteries #14
Tensions in the Mennonite-Amish community of Hernia, PA are running red. Felicia Baccustelli, an slick city gal, plans to open a wine ‘spa’ in the cozy little town. Not only are the teetotalers of the local community bubbling over with disapproval, but Magdalena Yoder, owner of the illustrious PennDutch Inn and self-appointed boss of everything, worries it could put her out of business!
So when this much-disliked newcomer is found encased in cement, everyone’s a suspect, especially Magdalena. And now that former police chief, Melvin Stolzfus, is in jail himself, a newly appointed police chief takes charge of the case. But he doesn’t seem to understand the subtle nuances of life in Hernia and the town soon turns on him. If Magdalena doesn’t find the killer herself, she may end up in jail with her nemesis, Melvin Stolzfus…or worse!
Tensions in the Mennonite-Amish community of Hernia, PA are running red. Felicia Baccustelli, an slick city gal, plans to open a wine ‘spa’ in the cozy little town. Not only are the teetotalers of the local community bubbling over with disapproval, but Magdalena Yoder, owner of the illustrious PennDutch Inn and self-appointed boss of everything, worries it could put her out of business!
So when this much-disliked newcomer is found encased in cement, everyone’s a suspect, especially Magdalena. And now that former police chief, Melvin Stolzfus, is in jail himself, a newly appointed police chief takes charge of the case. But he doesn’t seem to understand the subtle nuances of life in Hernia and the town soon turns on him. If Magdalena doesn’t find the killer herself, she may end up in jail with her nemesis, Melvin Stolzfus…or worse!
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
13 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
Tamar Myers
62 books293 followersTamar Myers was born and raised in the Belgian Congo (now just the Congo). Her parents were missionaries to a tribe which, at that time, were known as headhunters and used human skulls for drinking cups. Hers was the first white family ever to peacefully coexist with the tribe, and Tamar grew up fluent in the local trade language. Because of her pale blue eyes, Tamar’s nickname was Ugly Eyes.
Tamar grew up eating elephant, hippopotamus and even monkey. She attended a boarding school that was two days away by truck, and sometimes it was necessary to wade through crocodile infested waters to reach it. Other dangers she encountered as a child were cobras, deadly green mambas, and the voracious armies of driver ants that ate every animal (and human) that didn’t get out of their way.
In 1960 the Congo, which had been a Belgian colony, became an independent nation. There followed a period of retribution (for heinous crimes committed against the Congolese by the Belgians) in which many Whites were killed. Tamar and her family fled the Congo, but returned a year later. By then a number of civil wars were raging, and the family’s residence was often in the line of fire. In 1964, after living through three years of war, the family returned to the United States permanently.
Tamar was sixteen when her family settled in America, and she immediately underwent severe culture shock. She didn’t know how to dial a telephone, cross a street at a stoplight, or use a vending machine. She lucked out, however, by meeting her husband, Jeffrey, on her first day in an American high school. They literally bumped heads while he was leaving, and she entering, the Civics classroom.
Tamar now calls Charlotte, NC home. She lives with her husband, plus a Basenji dog named Pagan, a Bengal cat named Nkashama, and an orange tabby rescue cat named Dumpster Boy. She and her husband are of the Jewish faith, the animals are not.
Tamar enjoys gardening (she is a Master Gardner), bonsai, travel, painting and, of course, reading. She loves Thai and Indian food, and antique jewelry. She plans to visit Machu Pichu in the near future.
Series:
* Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery
* Den of Antiquity Mystery
Tamar grew up eating elephant, hippopotamus and even monkey. She attended a boarding school that was two days away by truck, and sometimes it was necessary to wade through crocodile infested waters to reach it. Other dangers she encountered as a child were cobras, deadly green mambas, and the voracious armies of driver ants that ate every animal (and human) that didn’t get out of their way.
In 1960 the Congo, which had been a Belgian colony, became an independent nation. There followed a period of retribution (for heinous crimes committed against the Congolese by the Belgians) in which many Whites were killed. Tamar and her family fled the Congo, but returned a year later. By then a number of civil wars were raging, and the family’s residence was often in the line of fire. In 1964, after living through three years of war, the family returned to the United States permanently.
Tamar was sixteen when her family settled in America, and she immediately underwent severe culture shock. She didn’t know how to dial a telephone, cross a street at a stoplight, or use a vending machine. She lucked out, however, by meeting her husband, Jeffrey, on her first day in an American high school. They literally bumped heads while he was leaving, and she entering, the Civics classroom.
Tamar now calls Charlotte, NC home. She lives with her husband, plus a Basenji dog named Pagan, a Bengal cat named Nkashama, and an orange tabby rescue cat named Dumpster Boy. She and her husband are of the Jewish faith, the animals are not.
Tamar enjoys gardening (she is a Master Gardner), bonsai, travel, painting and, of course, reading. She loves Thai and Indian food, and antique jewelry. She plans to visit Machu Pichu in the near future.
Series:
* Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery
* Den of Antiquity Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 23, 2025
Magadalena is big as life and twice as ugly, she says so herself.
I think she's a lot of fun when she is asked to help the police solve a murder mystery... again. The plans for a luxurious retreat and winery are challenged when one of the new owners of a local farm is murdered. It's up to Magadalena to follow the clues to find the killer.
She is also trying to come to terms with being in love with Gabe, the Babe, and with the possibility of an interfaith marriage.
The fun and trouble never end in Grape Expectations.
I think she's a lot of fun when she is asked to help the police solve a murder mystery... again. The plans for a luxurious retreat and winery are challenged when one of the new owners of a local farm is murdered. It's up to Magadalena to follow the clues to find the killer.
She is also trying to come to terms with being in love with Gabe, the Babe, and with the possibility of an interfaith marriage.
The fun and trouble never end in Grape Expectations.
February 7, 2011
At first I found the protagonist funny. She has a quick wit and it was cute. But that wore thin quickly and it became just plain annoying. The mystery itself was fine, but the characters were so annoying that I didn't really care.
Now on to the kiss of death for me with this book: Her main character harps on and on about using proper English and then destroys both German and Spanish. So here it is, Tarmar Myers, I hope you're reading this: It's 'jawohl', not 'yah voll'. While 'yah voll' is phonetic, it is not correct. Lesson number two: It's problema. With an a. Not problemo with an o. 'No problemo' rhymes, and coutesy of Bart Simpson, it's a common part of American speech, but it's wrong.
Now on to the kiss of death for me with this book: Her main character harps on and on about using proper English and then destroys both German and Spanish. So here it is, Tarmar Myers, I hope you're reading this: It's 'jawohl', not 'yah voll'. While 'yah voll' is phonetic, it is not correct. Lesson number two: It's problema. With an a. Not problemo with an o. 'No problemo' rhymes, and coutesy of Bart Simpson, it's a common part of American speech, but it's wrong.
August 28, 2018
I’m unsure how to rate a book that I both liked and disliked. The mystery was light and fun to follow, and I enjoy snarky comments and turn of phrase as much as anyone, but it was a bit over the top. And enough with the “sturdy Christian underwear”. I’m no prude and I don’t talk about my undies, sturdy or not, as much as Magdalena does. Maybe that’s why a supposedly horsey looking woman has so many suitors/interested fellows?
January 28, 2023
I loved this book so much and the way it was written. It was given to me by my sister who lives in PA, which is where this story takes place. It also mentions tourists from OH, which is where I am from. I felt like this book was meant for me.
February 9, 2008
I can’t stop reading this series. Just like I can’t stop watching repeats of L&O:SVU. It’s a sickness. I’m sure there is a 12-step program somewhere. I’m just not sure I have the strength to stand up & admit my affliction.
January 3, 2023
I found the MC so annoyingly judgemental, petty and full of herself I was hoping she would be killed within the first hald dozen pages. But since she, an inn keeper/ mayor knows more about solving murders than the sheriff i guess that would not happen. This is going straight to my donate pile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2013
Tamar Myers is a hoot and a half!! LOL Those who have read her books will get that reference. I have read 4 of her Penn Dutch Series. All are so funny. It seems like every other sentence I am lol!
September 24, 2019
Magdalena, head of the town council, is dismayed to learn that a neighbor of hers, Ed Gingerich, has sold his property to speculators; that those speculators have plans to build a winery and other tourist attractions - and that she has a new best friend in Agnes, niece of the nudist neighbors. Magdalena goes over to Ed's place, and watches as his attempt at getting out of the land sale falls flat.
Hernia's new town police chief calls on Magdalena to solve the murder of one of the speculators, found in one of the footers. She does this because Magdalena knows the area (and some speculation that the police chief is not an actual investigator.....)
During Magdalena's investigation, she also finds a Mennonite preacher for her church, someone to marry her and Gabe; nearly gets the Sausage Barn shut down; and deals with Alison's shenanigans.
Magdalena returns to Hernia and sets a wedding date.
Recipes:
Stuffed Cornish Game Hens
Grape Glazed Carrots
Concord Grape Trifle
Grape Parfait Pie
Lavender Frappe
Concord Bavarian
Concord Grape Cake
Hernia's new town police chief calls on Magdalena to solve the murder of one of the speculators, found in one of the footers. She does this because Magdalena knows the area (and some speculation that the police chief is not an actual investigator.....)
During Magdalena's investigation, she also finds a Mennonite preacher for her church, someone to marry her and Gabe; nearly gets the Sausage Barn shut down; and deals with Alison's shenanigans.
Magdalena returns to Hernia and sets a wedding date.
Recipes:
Stuffed Cornish Game Hens
Grape Glazed Carrots
Concord Grape Trifle
Grape Parfait Pie
Lavender Frappe
Concord Bavarian
Concord Grape Cake
August 7, 2024
I didn't give this four stars based on the whodunnit, but on the B storyline that ran since the very first book. This is the climax of the battle between Magdalena and her arch-enemy, a local police officer. This conflict was a major driving force of the series.
There's a definite feeling of finality to this book, which makes me wonder if this was was where Tamar Myers originally intended to stop the series. But, of course, she didn't. She'd drag the series out another ten books, in the good old American tradition of writing a decent book series to death.
If you have been reading the series in order, STOP HERE. If you haven't been reading the series in order, don't go beyond this book. The next book is not only excruciating, Meyers actually insults her readers on the dedication page, commanding readers no longer send her any more title suggestions, since they're "not funny."
One more point -- the series is a parody of life in Pennsylvania Dutch country. It is not supposed to be an accurate reflection of that life. It saddens me that this has to be pointed out, since I've read so many reviews of people disappointed in the inaccuracies. It could be that the reviews themselves were trying to be parodies, but I don't hold out much hope for that.
There's a definite feeling of finality to this book, which makes me wonder if this was was where Tamar Myers originally intended to stop the series. But, of course, she didn't. She'd drag the series out another ten books, in the good old American tradition of writing a decent book series to death.
If you have been reading the series in order, STOP HERE. If you haven't been reading the series in order, don't go beyond this book. The next book is not only excruciating, Meyers actually insults her readers on the dedication page, commanding readers no longer send her any more title suggestions, since they're "not funny."
One more point -- the series is a parody of life in Pennsylvania Dutch country. It is not supposed to be an accurate reflection of that life. It saddens me that this has to be pointed out, since I've read so many reviews of people disappointed in the inaccuracies. It could be that the reviews themselves were trying to be parodies, but I don't hold out much hope for that.
June 19, 2025
Fun but flaky cozy mystery.
I was a HUGE fan of the Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries before the term “cozy mystery” was a thing. But I must have read everything she had written when I moved away, never to have returned to the series.
Imagine my delight when I discovered she had written many more books all these years later, so I eagerly picked up where I left off.
Sadly, my infatuation has waned. Myers heavy-handed use of puns seem to have lost their charm. I found myself wondering whether this was a comedy routine rather than a mystery. The plot was thinner than the word play in this book. And, while cute, it makes me think I may have lost my taste for the Amish, at least with this author.
I was a HUGE fan of the Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries before the term “cozy mystery” was a thing. But I must have read everything she had written when I moved away, never to have returned to the series.
Imagine my delight when I discovered she had written many more books all these years later, so I eagerly picked up where I left off.
Sadly, my infatuation has waned. Myers heavy-handed use of puns seem to have lost their charm. I found myself wondering whether this was a comedy routine rather than a mystery. The plot was thinner than the word play in this book. And, while cute, it makes me think I may have lost my taste for the Amish, at least with this author.
August 12, 2017
A naive farmer sells his land to buyers who want to use it for a winery and a hotel in little Hernia, PA. The Amish and Mennonites are tea-totalers and many are against the plan. And when the winery's co-owner winds up dead in the building's foundation, innkeeper Magdalena Yoder is asked by the new chief of police to find out who killed the woman. The "Pennsylvania Dutch" mysteries series is always fun. Magdalena makes a great, humorous heroine. I hope there are more in this series!
June 4, 2017
Grape Expectations is a good book, but it is a slow moving story line, it didn't hold my interest. But when I finish I told myself I would read another story by Tamar Myers. It is a good Cozy Mysteries it just doesn't move real fast, it gives you a lot of information about the characters and the environment that it is set in.
December 2, 2024
Magdalena Yoder is trying to her neighbor undo the selling of his property to outsiders. They want to turn it into vineyard and winery. No one wants that to happen especially Magdalena. But, when the co-owner is found dead at the site, Magdalena is on the case as she knows everyone and most everything in town.
March 16, 2023
Truly one of the worst books I've ever read. The main character is wholly unlikable and self-righteously aggitating. There is so much pointless stuff added into this book, it really should've been 60 pages in total. Don't waste your time.
Want to read
May 13, 2023Boring. Stay away.
July 4, 2023
There were a lot of word puns and reference to religious differences through puns as well. The main character was a Mennonite an the fiancée was Jewish.
August 8, 2023
This was a good quick summer read, but after a while, got a wee tired of the study Christian underwear phrase.
November 24, 2024
This cozy mystery was disappointing. The lead character’s quips got on my nerves instead of making me chuckle.
June 16, 2020
Laugh out loud funny ... definitely would read more by this author. She’s a hoot. My only complaint was that the ending was very abrupt and felt unfinished.
July 4, 2015
I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story, but even though I typically enjoy word play, for some reason the particular style of humor in "Grape Expectations" by Tamar Myers fell flat for me.
Themes of greed and paths to truth seemed to me buried under PG-13 rated puns. I recognize there was a lot of comic exaggeration at play, but I had a hard time believing certain plot points such as a police chief bringing her number one suspect into an investigation. That could be my fault for watching too much CSI.
I also grew a little weary of certain phrases being repeated throughout the book. Most notably, "horizontal hootchy-kootchy," "pedal to the metal," Freni complaining about Magdelena's "riddles" (at least six times in one conversation), and the dialogue tag "wailed." There's even in-story commentary on the latter: "You've got to stop wailing, Magdalena. Only sirens wail." (Page 63). A dislike of repetition is one of my quirks as a reader and won't bother everyone.
In its favor, this is a fast-paced and light-hearted book with tight plotting and lots of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Recommended for mystery readers who enjoy snarky sleuthing.
Themes of greed and paths to truth seemed to me buried under PG-13 rated puns. I recognize there was a lot of comic exaggeration at play, but I had a hard time believing certain plot points such as a police chief bringing her number one suspect into an investigation. That could be my fault for watching too much CSI.
I also grew a little weary of certain phrases being repeated throughout the book. Most notably, "horizontal hootchy-kootchy," "pedal to the metal," Freni complaining about Magdelena's "riddles" (at least six times in one conversation), and the dialogue tag "wailed." There's even in-story commentary on the latter: "You've got to stop wailing, Magdalena. Only sirens wail." (Page 63). A dislike of repetition is one of my quirks as a reader and won't bother everyone.
In its favor, this is a fast-paced and light-hearted book with tight plotting and lots of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Recommended for mystery readers who enjoy snarky sleuthing.
September 6, 2009
Every time I read another book in this series, I feel like I owe someone an apology . . .
This is # 14 in a series that has a few surprises, contrived comedy, and a main character that I'm not sure anyone can figure out.
The mystery aspect in this one was OK, but again the author shakes things up quite a lot. Over the course of the series, characters that were very much a part of the story are sometimes shoved aside by one means or another. I sometimes think that the author, just like me, doesn't quite know what to make of Magdalena.
Now that I've invested the time to read 14 in the series I admit I plan to finish up. Tamar Myers has written 17 of these books, and I wonder how many more there will be? Where will the series end? Will it ever end?
This is # 14 in a series that has a few surprises, contrived comedy, and a main character that I'm not sure anyone can figure out.
The mystery aspect in this one was OK, but again the author shakes things up quite a lot. Over the course of the series, characters that were very much a part of the story are sometimes shoved aside by one means or another. I sometimes think that the author, just like me, doesn't quite know what to make of Magdalena.
Now that I've invested the time to read 14 in the series I admit I plan to finish up. Tamar Myers has written 17 of these books, and I wonder how many more there will be? Where will the series end? Will it ever end?
August 17, 2010
Alcohol is a no-no in the Mennonite community of Hernia, Pennsylvania, but the strange and unexpected events bubbling up in town are enough to make everyone feel a little tipsy. A couple of unprincipled outsiders have bought an old farm at the edge of town, claiming they want to rename the land Grape Expectations and use it to grow fruit. But their real plan is to start a vineyard and open a winery. No one likes the intruders, so everyone's a suspect when the vineyard's co-owner is found entombed in cement. A new police chief can't solve the crime alone, and soon innkeeper and amateur sleuth Magdalena Yoder finds herself on the case--risking her neck with her ear to the grapevine...
November 29, 2016
In the predominately, Mennonite and Amish community of Hernia, Pennsylvania alcohol is frowned upon. Imagine how upset the townspeople are when they learn an area Mennonite farmer has sold his land to outsiders who plan to start a vineyard and winery. They also plan to have a first class resort and spa. When the manager of the new vineyard is found dead in the cement footings, Magdalena finds herself a suspect as the owner of the only bed and breakfast with A list guests.
October 3, 2012
A murderously fun book! A murder takes place in Amish Country and a Menonite sleuth is on the case... Sounds like the start of a bad joke (a priest, a nun and a rabbi walk into a bar...) but Mrs. Myers has a way of pulling you into this somehow believeable story and not letting go. Laugh-out-loud in some parts! Fun, fun, fun!
October 25, 2012
Well..this was a silly and funny book. Set in a town called Hernia.."Our great-great-great grandpa named it. He wanted to name it Hemorrhoid, but he didn't know how to spell it."..and from then on it was funnier and sillier!!!
March 14, 2008
This was my first Myer's book. I think I want better in the future.
June 7, 2009
funny and entertaining as always
June 25, 2011
How can you not love a character who refers to her underthings as "sturdy Christian underwear"?
May 29, 2012
Reminds me somewhat of Miss Marple.
January 16, 2013
Weaker on the mystery side, but a welcome continued shakeup of the cast and dropping of at least some of the standard jokes helped barely eke out the third star.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews