Flipped For Murder

Maddie Day

Nov 2015 · A Country Store Mystery Book 1 · Kensington Cozies

About this ebook

First in the Country Store Mystery series—include recipes! “A nice cozy mystery with lots of comfort food and suspense.”—Rainy Day Ramblings

In this freshly baked series, author Maddie Day lifts the lid on a small town in southern Indiana, where a newcomer is cooking up a new start—until a murderer muddles the recipe . . .

Nursing a broken heart, Robbie Jordan is trading in her life on the West Coast for the rolling hills of southern Indiana. After paying a visit to her Aunt Adele, she falls in love with the tiny town of South Lick. And when she spots a For Sale sign on a rundown country store, she decides to snap it up and put her skills as a cook and a carpenter to use. Everyone in town shows up for the grand reopening of Pans ’N Pancakes, but when the mayor’s disagreeable assistant is found dead, Robbie realizes that not all press is good press. With all eyes on her, she’ll have to summon her puzzle-solving skills to clear her name, unscramble the town’s darkest secrets, and track down a cold-blooded killer—before she’s the next to die . . .

“What a terrific debut! This deliciously clever cozy—set in a deceptively charming little town—is fresh, intelligent, and delightful. A winner!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author

“You’ll flip for this mouth-watering new series. Maddy Day serves up a tasty mystery with a side of scenic country charm.”—Leslie Budewitz, two-time Agatha Award-winning author of the Spice Shop Mysteries

Ratings and reviews

Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day is the first book in the new Country Store Mystery series. It is opening day for Pans ‘N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana. It is a restaurant that sells breakfast and lunch as well as having a country store that sells vintage kitchenware. Roberta “Robbie” Jordan is excited to finally have her dream become a reality. Robbie had been working for the Nashville Inn for the last three years (since moving to Indiana from California). Stella Rogers, assistant to the mayor, gave her a hard time in obtaining the necessary permits to open Pans ‘N Pancakes (her son wanted the same location). Stella has held the position in the mayor’s office since she was in her twenties (which means she knows a lot of secrets). Her opening day is a success. When Robbie comes back from a date with Jim Shermer, Buck Bird is waiting for her. Buck is second in command at the police department. Stella Rogers was found dead in her home with one of Robbie’s cheese biscuits stuffed in her mouth (Stella purchased extra biscuits to take home). Robbie is considered a person of interest. Someone does not want Robbie to succeed in her new venture. Robbie wants to stay out of jail so she starts looking into Stella’s life to see who wanted her dead. Turns out that Stella had made a lot of enemies. Robbie uses her crossword puzzle skills to figure out who killed Stella Rogers and is trying to frame her for the crime. After twenty-seven years Robbie finds out the identity of her biological father. Her mother never told her about him and now she is deceased. Will Robbie be able to connect with him? There is also an adorable little kitten named Birdy (his meows sound like cheeps). I found Flipped for Murder to be a good cozy mystery. I enjoyed the characters (and thankfully, there are not too many and they are not too quirky), the town of South Lick (a typical small town), and the mystery (it is a medium level mystery). The author provided some great clues the lead the reader to the killer (she also provided some information that could lead the reader down the wrong path). I did like the side mystery of Robbie trying to find out information about her father. It gives the reader more insight into Robbie. I give Flipped for Murder 4 out of 5 stars. I look forward to the next book in the Country Store Mystery series. I would like to see the characters fleshed out a little more (we did not get many details on Robbie’s past and really no details on Jim Shermer) and a more complicated mystery (I have only been stumped once this year). There are some nice recipes at the end of the novel (cheese biscuits included) and a preview of the next book in the series. If you like to read cozy mysteries, you will love reading Flipped for Murder! I received a complimentary copy of Flipped for Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

Agatha and Macavity finalist author Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef who knows both Indiana and Cape Cod intimately. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and blogs with the Wicked Authors and at Killer Characters. Day lives with her beau north of Boston, where she gardens, cooks, and devises new murderous plots. She hopes you’ll find her at maddiedayauthor.com.