Restaurateur Robbie Jordan is ready for the boost in business a local music festival brings to South Lick, Indiana, but the beloved event strikes a sour note when one of the musicians is murdered . . . June’s annual Brown County Bluegrass Festival at the Bill Monroe Music Park in neighboring Beanblossom is always a hit for Robbie’s country store and café, Pans ‘N Pancakes. This year, Robbie is … Pancakes. This year, Robbie is even more excited, because she’s launching a new bed and breakfast above her shop. A few festival musicians will be among Robbie’s first guests, along with her father, Roberto, and his wife, Maria. But the celebration is cut short when a performer is found choked to death by a banjo string. Now all the banjo players are featured in a different kind of lineup. To clear their names, Robbie must pair up with an unexpected partner to pick at the clues and find the plucky killer before he can conduct an encore performance . . .
Includes Recipes for You to Try!
more
I don’t know what took me so long to read this book – I loved it! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. The setting and characters were wonderful. The plot was entertaining and engaging! I can’t wait for the next one in the series!
Author Maddie Day won me over with the first tasty book in this series, FLIPPED FOR MURDER. With her easy, flowing style of writing, she pens a story that draws the reader in, holding them captivated until the very last word. DEATH OVER EASY is more proof of that.
I enjoyed my time back in South Lick, Indiana, with protagonist Robbie Jordan, and all the great characters that make up the town. It’s been a treat watching them, and the entire Country Store Mystery series evolve.
The mystery element itself was so well done. I was seriously chasing the wrong trail for quite some time. In the end, I did guess right, but that’s not something I mind. It makes me feel like I’m finally developing my sleuth senses. Who am I kidding. I had it narrowed down with a 50/50 shot of being right. I lucked out.
As delicious as the first four installments, DEATH OVER EASY was a buffet of murder, mystery, and mouth-watering meals. The perfect recipe for a cozy mystery.
The Bill Monroe bluegrass festival in BeanBlossom, IN, is underway, and Robbie Jordan, owner of Pans n’ Pancakes, is excited since the venue will provide opportunities for a few musicians and dancers to stay at her newly opened little B&B in South Lick. Her boyfriend, Abe O’Neal, is one of the performers at the festival, and she’s proud watching him from the audience. But when she and other observers see him arguing with one of the band members, and then that same member is found dead the next day, Robbie gets involved in the investigation since the suspects include her boyfriend, her father and a couple of guests staying at her Inn.
Death Over Easy is Book five in the Country Store Mystery series. I enjoyed it despite having absolutely no knowledge of bluegrass music, banjos and whatnot. One of my favorite things about this series is revisiting with recurring characters, particularly Buck Bird, an incredibly tall, lanky Detective with a bottomless pit appetite and a deep Hoosier accent. He pronounces the victim, Pia Bianchi, as Ms. by-ON-chee. And says things like, I Knowed It. I like it when several of the characters in a mystery book are potential suspects, and when some of the characters think the victim was a great person, while others feel the person was the absolute worst. This was how it went in Death Over Easy. I kept trying to ascertain the true nature of the victim’s character. And even though I had an idea who the murderer was fairly early on, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book.
Loved it! Just as I have loved the previous books.
The wonderful residents of South Lick are unique folks. In this installment you find Robbie has finished the upstairs of her business and has opened up a B&B. Her father and his wife have come for a visit just in time for a music festival. Where a night of entertainment turns into murder. Robbie and associates help to capture not one but to murderers. I’m looking forward to the next book.
A bluegrass festival is going on in the nearby town of Beanblossom and Robbie’s father and his wife are visiting from Italy in this latest book. Robbie has also now opened her upstairs room for a bed and breakfast. When a banjo player is found murdered, several people Robbie knows are suspects. Her parents actually knew the woman from when she lived in Italy. Another body is found murdered the same way. Is it the same killer or a copycat? Robbie tries not to get involved, but of course she does. This was a great book with a great theme of a bluegrass festival. Delicious recipes included! I love the characters in this series and can’t wait to see what’s next for Robbie and with her and Abe!
Death Over Easy by Maddie Day is the fifth novel in A Country Store Mystery series. Robbie Jordan owns Pans ‘N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie currently has her father and his wife visiting from Italy and they are staying in her newly refinished B&B rooms over her restaurant. It is June and time for the Brown County Bluegrass Festival that is being held in nearby Beanblossom. It will mean extra business for her restaurant plus some of the musicians are staying in her B&B. Robbie enjoys an evening at the festival despite Pia Bianchi causing some disharmony. The next morning Lt. Buck Bird stops by for breakfast and mentions that Pia was found dead at the Beanblossom covered bridge that morning. She was strangled with banjo strings (ouch). When Sue Berry ends up at the top of the suspect list, Robbie swings into action. Pia managed to antagonize a notable number of people giving Robbie a suspect list longer than an operetta. Robbie will need to compose the clues into a harmonious tune to pick out the cut-throat killer.
Death Over Easy is nicely written and has a steady pace which makes for a satisfying reading experience. I like the characters in the story. Robbie is a smart, strong woman who has started a new business as well as doing construction on the upstairs rooms to expand her business. It is sweet that Robbie is finally getting to know her father, Roberto Fracasso. I wish his wife, Maria spoke better English, so we could get to know her as well. The town of South Lick is quaint small town with friendly residents. The author has created a cozy environment. It is like visiting old friends when I pick up a new A Country Store Mystery. It is neat how each book features a different theme or event and I enjoy the various vintage kitchen tools mentioned. There are many pleasing cozy moments throughout the story as Robbie cooks, attends the festival, spends time with her kitten, and interacts with her friends, co-workers, boyfriend and family. The mystery was straightforward with some misdirection, a handful of suspects, a search through the woods, and a twist at the end. I like that the local police work with Robbie and are not portrayed as dullards. While Death Over Easy can be read alone, you would be missing some of the background on Robbie Jordan. I recommend reading A Country Store Mystery series in order. There are recipes at the end for a couple of the dishes featured in the story. Death Over Easy is a charming cozy mystery that will have you eager for the next A Country Store Mystery.