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Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery #8
The Hand That Rocks the Ladle
Barbara Hostetler is sure she's having triplets, until only two come out and she is determined to find out why, hiring innkeeper Magdalena Yoder to catch a baby snatcher. Original.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
19 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Tamar Myers
74 books290 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
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 7, 2018
This is a cute mystery. I liked Magdalena and her inn.
January 22, 2008
Tamar Myers, The Hand That Rocks the Ladle (Signet, 2000)
I'll get this out of the way first and foremost: I like the Den of Antiquity novels better than I like the Pennsylvania Dutch novels. But it's hard to turn down any book that has recipes as a part of its plotline, isn't it?
Myers brings back indefatigable Mennonite heroine Magdalena Yoder, owner of the Penn Dutch Inn and the most unreliable narrator outside the autobiographies of some of those she reports have stayed at her inn. In this episode of her escapades, her cook, Freni, has a daughter who's pregnant with triplets, a husband who's feeling sympathy pains, and a cadre of evil doctors straight out of a Robin Cook medical thriller. When Freni's daughter gives birth to twins, everyone is quick to blame it on her old doctor, who has something of a fondness for the bottle, and probably miscounted the heartbeats. Right? But Freni knows different, and she ropes Magdalena into finding baby number three, despite Amanda having an innful of very odd guests, no cook, and a mysterious stranger she is convinced is Michael Jackson.
The main problem I have with the Penn Dutch mysteries is that the narrative tone just gets under my skin for some reason. The Den of Antiquity books are narrated pretty much like any other novel, but Myers has infested Magdalena Yoder with a voice that stops just this side of annoying; imagine Frances MacDormand's character in Fargo, but with a rural Pennsylvania accent, and I think you'll understand what I'm getting at. It's n full steam here, and undercuts the otherwise fun book (and wonderful recipes for things like Toad Stroganoff. I kid you not). The other problem with it is that one of the main clues to what's going on comes in the first couple of chapters, and might as well have "I'M A CLUE" stamped on it in big red letters, so when you get to the big twist ending, you've seen it coming for the last two hundred pages. Those problems aside, the book is well-plotted and well-paced, and the nutzoid quality of the characters makes it as interesting a read as any of the other Penn Dutch books; still, if you're a Myers newbie, you might want to head for the Den of Antiquity mysteries first. ** ½
I'll get this out of the way first and foremost: I like the Den of Antiquity novels better than I like the Pennsylvania Dutch novels. But it's hard to turn down any book that has recipes as a part of its plotline, isn't it?
Myers brings back indefatigable Mennonite heroine Magdalena Yoder, owner of the Penn Dutch Inn and the most unreliable narrator outside the autobiographies of some of those she reports have stayed at her inn. In this episode of her escapades, her cook, Freni, has a daughter who's pregnant with triplets, a husband who's feeling sympathy pains, and a cadre of evil doctors straight out of a Robin Cook medical thriller. When Freni's daughter gives birth to twins, everyone is quick to blame it on her old doctor, who has something of a fondness for the bottle, and probably miscounted the heartbeats. Right? But Freni knows different, and she ropes Magdalena into finding baby number three, despite Amanda having an innful of very odd guests, no cook, and a mysterious stranger she is convinced is Michael Jackson.
The main problem I have with the Penn Dutch mysteries is that the narrative tone just gets under my skin for some reason. The Den of Antiquity books are narrated pretty much like any other novel, but Myers has infested Magdalena Yoder with a voice that stops just this side of annoying; imagine Frances MacDormand's character in Fargo, but with a rural Pennsylvania accent, and I think you'll understand what I'm getting at. It's n full steam here, and undercuts the otherwise fun book (and wonderful recipes for things like Toad Stroganoff. I kid you not). The other problem with it is that one of the main clues to what's going on comes in the first couple of chapters, and might as well have "I'M A CLUE" stamped on it in big red letters, so when you get to the big twist ending, you've seen it coming for the last two hundred pages. Those problems aside, the book is well-plotted and well-paced, and the nutzoid quality of the characters makes it as interesting a read as any of the other Penn Dutch books; still, if you're a Myers newbie, you might want to head for the Den of Antiquity mysteries first. ** ½
August 13, 2019
Barbara Hostetler had been carrying triplets all through her pregnancy. When the time came for her to deliver, however, she only had twins.
This would have been fine for anyone except Freni Hostetler, who was adamant that something had happened to the missing triplet. She was thrilled with a namesake for Mose, her husband, and a namesake for her son, Jonathan; but she was heart-sick over not having the last triplet, probably a girl, who could have been named after her.
Dr. Gabriel Rosen gives Magdalena a kitten, and she takes care of the kitten as her sister takes care of her dog - in her bra.
Freni implores Magdalena to find the missing triplet. And Magdalena eventually agrees. She begins by asking about the prior doctor's reputation - which ranged from "drunk" to "reputable". In Bedford, Magdalena and Susannah find Dr. Pierce dead in his home. Magdalena also converses with a woman from the local independent church who was promised that her baby would be "given back to the Lord and be raised by prophets" and they would be compensated as well. A young woman pregnant out of wedlock was also targeted in the scheme.
Freni is overjoyed when her grand-daughter is returned to the embrace of the family; not so thrilled when the girl is named for Magdalena. She is somewhat soothed by Magdalena naming the kitten after her.
Recipes
Freni's Butterscotch Chiffon Pie
Easy Snitz Turnovers
Bubble and Squeak
Florence Root's World-Famous Peanut Brittle
Ms. Virginia Wilcox's Chicken Nectarine Salad
Homemade Peach Ice Cream
This would have been fine for anyone except Freni Hostetler, who was adamant that something had happened to the missing triplet. She was thrilled with a namesake for Mose, her husband, and a namesake for her son, Jonathan; but she was heart-sick over not having the last triplet, probably a girl, who could have been named after her.
Dr. Gabriel Rosen gives Magdalena a kitten, and she takes care of the kitten as her sister takes care of her dog - in her bra.
Freni implores Magdalena to find the missing triplet. And Magdalena eventually agrees. She begins by asking about the prior doctor's reputation - which ranged from "drunk" to "reputable". In Bedford, Magdalena and Susannah find Dr. Pierce dead in his home. Magdalena also converses with a woman from the local independent church who was promised that her baby would be "given back to the Lord and be raised by prophets" and they would be compensated as well. A young woman pregnant out of wedlock was also targeted in the scheme.
Freni is overjoyed when her grand-daughter is returned to the embrace of the family; not so thrilled when the girl is named for Magdalena. She is somewhat soothed by Magdalena naming the kitten after her.
Recipes
Freni's Butterscotch Chiffon Pie
Easy Snitz Turnovers
Bubble and Squeak
Florence Root's World-Famous Peanut Brittle
Ms. Virginia Wilcox's Chicken Nectarine Salad
Homemade Peach Ice Cream
November 7, 2016
When Barbara Hosteler gives birth to twins instead of triplets, the family assumes the doctor made a mistake. But innkeeper and Mennonite Magdalena Yoda's cook and cousin insists that there is another baby and she asks Magdalena to investigate. I really enjoy the "Pennsylvania Dutch" cozy mystery series. Magdalena and the supporting cast of characters are hilarious and the mysteries are always good. I will definitely check out the next book in the series!
March 31, 2020
I love this cozy mystery series!
April 15, 2023
Funny and odd Amish mystery
February 26, 2017
This series is full of bad jokes, puns, Amish and Mennonite humor, and a few recipes. Each story has the same main characters, just a slight variation in the mystery in every novel. It's an escape, not great literature.
March 20, 2013
Ever since the fire destroyed the PennDutch Inn, and Magdalena Yoder had it rebuild exactly how it was, she has lost her famous clients. They have gone on to newer pastures. So she has to lower her standards quite a lot, accepting people into her house who would never have been able to pay her fees before. A Doctor (not a medical one!) who totally rubs her the wrong way, a nice Mennonite couple and two sisters from England. But then Barbara Hostetler goes into labor, and Freni has to be there. Which leaves Magdalena with a house full of guests, and no cook.
At first everything seems to be allright, the guests all pitch in (except for the Doctor), and look after themselves. But when Barbara only has two boys come out of her, and not the third one who surely will be a daughter, a granddaughter for Freni who will share her name, Freni is terribly upset. And she blames the hospital staff for loosing her grandchild. Magdalena has no choice but to promise her she will look into it. Surely it must have been a medical mistake made by Dr. Pierce who told them she was pregnant with triplets. But when some of the stories don’t add up, she knows there is more. Especially if some Amish lady is pregnant as well, and she finds out they are giving away their child to God. There has to be something fishy about that!
Magdalena also gets a surprise gift from her would-be boyfriend, the handsome Doctor Rosen, and she is quite taken with it. She has to “cure” her sister from being like a normal housewife, and to go back to her own flaky self, and they even have to work together for a while, when they discover a dead body.
I did like the mystery part a lot, and Magdalena gets into even more scrapes in this book. Getting assaulted by a woman with a shovel in a store, accused of trying to steal her man. Of course her brother-in-law still tries to arrest her for being in the wrong place at the wrong time Magdalena manages to keep out of any real trouble.
I am looking forward to the next book, and what will happen with Magdalena and her neighbours and family.
7 stars.
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
At first everything seems to be allright, the guests all pitch in (except for the Doctor), and look after themselves. But when Barbara only has two boys come out of her, and not the third one who surely will be a daughter, a granddaughter for Freni who will share her name, Freni is terribly upset. And she blames the hospital staff for loosing her grandchild. Magdalena has no choice but to promise her she will look into it. Surely it must have been a medical mistake made by Dr. Pierce who told them she was pregnant with triplets. But when some of the stories don’t add up, she knows there is more. Especially if some Amish lady is pregnant as well, and she finds out they are giving away their child to God. There has to be something fishy about that!
Magdalena also gets a surprise gift from her would-be boyfriend, the handsome Doctor Rosen, and she is quite taken with it. She has to “cure” her sister from being like a normal housewife, and to go back to her own flaky self, and they even have to work together for a while, when they discover a dead body.
I did like the mystery part a lot, and Magdalena gets into even more scrapes in this book. Getting assaulted by a woman with a shovel in a store, accused of trying to steal her man. Of course her brother-in-law still tries to arrest her for being in the wrong place at the wrong time Magdalena manages to keep out of any real trouble.
I am looking forward to the next book, and what will happen with Magdalena and her neighbours and family.
7 stars.
© 2013 Reviews by Aurian
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
June 24, 2009
Magdalena Yoder is the proprietress of the Penn-Dutch Inn in Hernia,Pennsylvania. Her cook Freni's daughter in law going to have triplets any day now. To everyone's surprise there are twin boys born, with no sign of a third baby. Freni ask Magdalena to find out what happened to the third baby. When one of the characters is murdered, Magdalena asks too many questions and almost becomes a victim herself.
I like all the books in the Penn- Dutch series and this is one of the better ones. The humor is outstanding and there is so much of it, that I almost feel like I should go back and reread the book because I know I missed some of the jokes!
Another thing I liked is that Magdalena's sister, Susannah, became more of a character and less of a cliché in this book. There were some nice moments between the two of them, where, they actually bonded. There is also a hilarious scene in a diner involving Susannah's dog, Snookums, that is laugh out loud funny.
There is also a lot of information on the Amish and how they live in this book, more so then in the earlier books in the series. That was a nice addition and I hope she keeps it up in later books.
If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you will love this one.
I like all the books in the Penn- Dutch series and this is one of the better ones. The humor is outstanding and there is so much of it, that I almost feel like I should go back and reread the book because I know I missed some of the jokes!
Another thing I liked is that Magdalena's sister, Susannah, became more of a character and less of a cliché in this book. There were some nice moments between the two of them, where, they actually bonded. There is also a hilarious scene in a diner involving Susannah's dog, Snookums, that is laugh out loud funny.
There is also a lot of information on the Amish and how they live in this book, more so then in the earlier books in the series. That was a nice addition and I hope she keeps it up in later books.
If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you will love this one.
May 31, 2009
They say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. After having read so many of the Tamar Myers novels, I was beginning to wonder if I was insane. In this book, however, the author has made the series more enjoyable for me. Yes, there were some of the same old jokes repeated, but in this book they were pretty much all at the beginning. It reminded me of a family member (my paternal grandmother) on whom I could count on telling the same few stories each time I saw her - but then moving on to other topics.
I enjoyed this mystery, and I enjoyed Magdalena and her relationship with Freni more than I had in previous books in the series. Perhaps it took awhile for Ms. Myers to explore who Magdalena should be?
I'm finding that I do enjoy the books in this series more after reading something deep and weighty. Great lunch-time reading at work when I need a bit of an escape and definitely nothing too serious!
I enjoyed this mystery, and I enjoyed Magdalena and her relationship with Freni more than I had in previous books in the series. Perhaps it took awhile for Ms. Myers to explore who Magdalena should be?
I'm finding that I do enjoy the books in this series more after reading something deep and weighty. Great lunch-time reading at work when I need a bit of an escape and definitely nothing too serious!
October 28, 2011
I really like Tamar Myers mysteries. This one is a Pnnsylvania Dutch Mystery so is about Magdelina Yoder. Freni Hostetler is Magdelina's right hand person at the Inn. Freni's daughter-in-law is expecting triplets. When the babies are born, there are twins, not triplets. How can this be? Freni forces Magdenlina into figuring out what happened. No one except Freni is sure than any crime has been committed. I enjoy the tongue in cheek sense of humor that Tamar uses. In this story there is a mystery guest that no one ever sees. But when he leaves there is evidence of someone who liked to eat (even peanut nut butter and banana sandwiches) and liked to play guitar....any guesses who this might be??? Can hardly wait for my next Tamar Myers story !!
May 20, 2009
Mennonite Magdalena Yoder is an Innkeeper in Amish country and
vows to help her elderly Amish cook/friend Freni find Freni's missing
3rd baby who went missing when only twins were claimed to be
born to her son and daughter in law. Magdalena is pretty amusing
as she investigates against resistance from the medical community
and eventually unravels a kidnapping operation. Colorful characters
makes this a fun read.
vows to help her elderly Amish cook/friend Freni find Freni's missing
3rd baby who went missing when only twins were claimed to be
born to her son and daughter in law. Magdalena is pretty amusing
as she investigates against resistance from the medical community
and eventually unravels a kidnapping operation. Colorful characters
makes this a fun read.
January 3, 2013
How I Got It:
- One of two books I grabbed on impulse from a bargain bookshop. Cost: 65 pesos
What It's About:
A young woman gives birth to twins, contrary to the triplets the entire family had been anticipating, based on the prenatal examinations. And so an elderly woman had been tasked to find the missing baby, if there really was a third one.
How It Made Me Feel:
Kinda disappointed. The synopsis held so much promise. Maybe that's what dark comedies are all about.
- One of two books I grabbed on impulse from a bargain bookshop. Cost: 65 pesos
What It's About:
A young woman gives birth to twins, contrary to the triplets the entire family had been anticipating, based on the prenatal examinations. And so an elderly woman had been tasked to find the missing baby, if there really was a third one.
How It Made Me Feel:
Kinda disappointed. The synopsis held so much promise. Maybe that's what dark comedies are all about.
February 22, 2010
Fun, fun, fun. A quirky read, with characters who keep things exciting. I love the main character, who is unique in her own way. The story line is ok, kind of predictable, but the characters bring this story to life.
July 10, 2014
Magdalena investigates when her cousin/friend/cook Freni's daughter-in-law Barbara has twins instead of triplets. Freni is convinced that the original doctor's assertion of triplets was correct and that someone has hijacked little Freni (her namesake). And the fun begins!!
October 14, 2008
This is another great Penn Dutch cozy mystery with lots of drama and suspense and good intrigue and delightful recipes.
July 18, 2011
A book that starts with, "Amish men rarely get pregnant.", must be good - right? Bleck. Not amusing, unless maybe you're 80.
Read
October 5, 2013funny as usual - enjoyed it a lot.
March 17, 2014
Freni's daughter in law having triplets.
Then when the day comes she has twins.
Was there a third? If so, where is she?
Cute.
Then when the day comes she has twins.
Was there a third? If so, where is she?
Cute.
February 10, 2016
I really liked this book.
March 28, 2017
Great laughs and a wonderful read.
July 3, 2018
HOOPLA E BOOK
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews