A town wide picnic is all fun, food, & games—until Kate McKenzie stumbles onto another body… forward to beginning this tradition. Things start off terrific, with the kids competing for great prizes, and the parents getting all the picnic eats ready.
Until a bit of discourse enters the scene and disturbs the family-friendly vibe of the day.
Things seem to settle down again, thankfully, and everyone returns to their previous high humor. However, as everyone drifts toward an after-lunch spectacular show, Kate stumbles onto a different kind of spectacle—a dead body. And this time she and Keith find themselves slapped into the middle of the mystery. They must capture the killer before the murderer flees. Or before another killing occurs…
Please note: This title originally appeared in a much shorter version in a multi-author short-story anthology, when it was titled “Organized for Labor Day Foul Play.” New content has been added to this novelette release.
Organized for Picnic Panic is an end-of-summer holiday novelette in the popular Organized Mysteries series from USA TODAY bestselling author Ritter Ames. The series features a small town New England setting and interesting characters, along with humor, strong family and friendship ties, and absorbing cozy mysteries.
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The agent hadn’t been likeable, and she had done deplorable things to climb the ladder of success. Regardless, Kate still had some pity for her.”
Kate and Keith have this one as during the town-wide Labor Day blowout, a not-so-beloved agent is found dead following a rather public disagreement. Will this spoil their romantic getaway? Unless you can get Robin-Hero to spill the catnip, you’ll have to read it and find out.
In this, the 6th book of the series, Ritter Ames proves that she can think outside the picnic basket….and with the tips and tricks after the story, even I, a former professional cook, can learn a thing or two. Highly recommended 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
Another wonderful story by Ritter Ames! The Organized Mystery series always has tips scattered throughout, with a recap at the end. This is no different as Kate’s family, and her BFF Meg, are attending Hazelton’s Labor Day Picnic. Everyone is enjoying themselves until a heated argument breaks out among a few of the town’s members. It’s business as usual and the fun continues. Meg decides to watch after their kids as they take off for one of the shows. As Meg leaves, Keith, Kate’s husband, joins her for a quite lunch just the two of them. They are both looking forward to a banquet they will be attending the next evening. During their picnic clean up, they come upon a body. Once again Kate is involved in a murder investigation. Usually Meg is involved, this time it’s Keith. Will Kate and Keith find the killer before the killer can take off?
Although this is a short story within the series, it delivers quite the punch! Ms. Ames was able to create a cleaver plot, involve secondary characters, and wrap up the murder. I am always impressed with her writing, and especially enjoy her Organized Series! The tips are great! Who doesn’t like tips on organization? With picnic arriving around the corner for Labor Day Celebrations, pick up your copy today. You will enjoy the mystery and make your picnic life easier.
As always, this visit in Vermont was wonderful. A novelette, Organized For Picnic Panic is no less entertaining, it is packed with the charm that I have come to expect from Ritter Ames’ writing. Kate McKenzie and her bestie Meg have great tips for better picnics and their food ideas are ones I intend to try! Though we saw less of Meg this time, the husbands, Keith & Gil have the chance to be involved with this mystery. Hazelton , Vermont is the place to be when you want to spend time with friends, and have a bit of excitement!
I received a copy of this book as an ARC, but I did purchase my own as well—it is just that good—and I want to support an amazing author!
All the books in the Organized series have great ideas for organization. I have read most if not all of them. The organizational ideas in this book–I will probably use several of them! I bet you will too. And not only for picnics!!
Kate seems to be a magnet for finding dead bodies. You would think at a town picnic every body would be happy–but obviously not!
The dead woman really was not a nice person and she and Kate actually had words. Well Kate, being a good and conscientious person, was taking all the trash from her group to the dumpster—and there was that woman–dead!
There was no way I could feel bad about the dead woman–but could sympathize with the person who murdered her!! This was a really fast read–almost but not quite the length of a novella.
If you are looking for a short, quick read with a great plot and lovable characters, Organized for Picnic Panic by Ritter Ames is for you. At a community Labor Day picnic an unscrupulous woman causes a scene, then is murdered. In addition to being a perfect summer cozy murder mystery, Ritter Ames adds organizational hints to have your picnic humming along as smoothly as her storyline. I highly recommend this series, or anything by Ritter Ames.
Organized for Picnic Panic is as great as all the books in this series which I have loved from the beginning. I especially enjoyed the fact that the Keith and Gil got in on the mystery a bit; this time Meg got left out of the fun? but someone had to watch the kids. The book is short and covers only one day but Ritter Ames can do more with one day than some authors can with a year. The story is well developed and well plotted and includes my favorite characters; it is just right.
The community Labor Day picnic brings lots of fun and food and one little murder. Talk about a kill-joy but the family had had a fun morning before Kate and Keith discover the body. The everyday events and exchanges are as fun for me as their investigation. Reading the books in this series is like spending time with friends, except for the murder part.
Note: a shorter form of this novel was including in an anthology in 2016.