Book Review: Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day (Country Store Mysteries #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters and mystery in a fun setting

Cons: None worth dwelling on

The Bottom Line:

Start your morning with

Delightful book featuring

Breakfast and murder

You’ll Flip for This Series Debut

Over 10 years ago, I was on a trip with friends in Arkansas, and for breakfast every day, we went to a little store that also served breakfast.  It was fun and delicious.  I couldn’t help thinking of that when I was reading Flipped For Murder, the first in the new Country Store Mystery series.  See, main character Robbie Jordan has just opened a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch in addition to selling kitchen gadgets.  It’s a cozy setting I thoroughly enjoyed as I devoured this book.

After months of hard work, Robbie is finally ready to open Pan ‘n Pancakes, in the small town of South Lick in southern Indiana.  If the crowds on opening day are any indication, she is going to have a successful business.  Customers seem happy with her food, and the crowds never die down until after the lunch rush is over.

Unfortunately, that afternoon, Stella Rogers is shot in her home.  Stella worked at city hall and went out of her way to make Robbie’s life miserable when Robbie was tring to get the needed permits to remodel her restaurant.  In fact, Stella was pretty much always disagreeable, and most of the town didn’t like her.  But Robbie is the first person the police question since one of Robbie’s signature cheesy biscuits was found stuffed in Stella’s mouth.  Because Robbie doesn’t have an alibi, she begins to worry that her status as a murder suspect could affect her business.  Can Robbie find the killer before all her hard work is ruined by gossip?

The book does a great job of introducing us to Robbie’s world.  It opens on the restaurant’s opening day, and as we are introduced to the characters who will play an important part in the book, it’s never overwhelming.  In fact, I didn’t have any trouble keeping them all straight as the story went along.  The core characters of the series are very charming, and I can’t wait to spend more time with them.

Now this isn’t to say that the mystery takes a long time to get going, either.  Stella is shot fairly early in the book, and it doesn’t take Robbie too much more time to start poking around on her own to save her reputation.  The plot twists in some unexpected directions, and I had a hard time putting it down until we reached the logical and exciting climax.

I have never been to Indiana, although I’ve been close in Kentucky and Ohio.  Still, I felt like I was in that part of the country as the small town and surrounding area were described.  Heck, it made me want to jump on a plane and go visit in person.  The author’s interest in linguistics really shows as several characters have very particular speech patterns, but that never got in the way of the story.

I love breakfast foods (possibly because I don’t get to eat them very often since 6 days a week I’m running out the door for work at the last minute).  The talk of the food Robbie was making in her diner always made my mouth water.  If you fall into that camp as well, you’ll be thrilled to know that the book includes recipes for cheesy biscuits, pancakes, and brownies.  Yum!

Flipped For Murder has atmosphere and charm to spare, with great characters and an intriguing story.  I’m already hungry for more.

Enjoy more helpings with the rest of the Country Store Mysteries.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.