STRANGLED EGGS AND HAM, the sixth book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day, brings the reader back to America’s heartland, Indiana. She effectively captures the setting, bringing the location and characters to life, both the good and the bad. The colloquialisms and Midwest accents the characters use sound authentic, and I felt the need to turn on my own air conditioning as they dealt with August heat and humidity. Protagonist Robbie Jordan is a very capable heroine. As owner of the Country Store Pans ‘N Pancakes restaurant and B & B, she has her hands full with hungry customers and overnight guests. But her life becomes even more hectic when a guest is murdered after he agrees to help Robbie’s elderly Aunt Adele stage a protest against a resort development.
I adored the character of Aunt Adele and her protest is quite a hoot. She’s feisty and willing to get involved to right a wrong. At the same time, she’s a caring person helping those in need. It’s obvious that her niece, Robbie, has the same admirable qualities that are displayed throughout the tale. Despite her commitment to working hard and making her business a success, Jordan knows she needs to step in and help find the killer, especially after her aunt is threatened. There were plenty of clues sprinkled throughout the story, while the clash between the residents over the pros and cons of the planned resort brought an emotional component to the story. With a suspenseful reveal, the threads of the mystery were woven together into one satisfying conclusion.
Robbie and her Pans ‘N Pancakes crew, whip up some delectable dishes for the customers. So many mouthwatering dishes are mentioned and fortunately for the reader, Ms. Day provides a variety of recipes at the back of the book. I was drawn to the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins because, well… chocolate! And they were yummy! Here’s a clip from the author, Maddie Day:
Robbie Jordan makes these easy muffins as a breakfast special. She finds baking while the restaurant is closed, or prepping for the day before, is a good time to think about the mystery at hand. Here’s a clip from the book as she starts to make the muffins:
I headed into the restaurant. Busying my hands with cooking often allowed new ideas to bubble up into my consciousness. When my cat perked up and trotted after me, I said. “Yes, Birdy, you can come, too.” I hauled butter, eggs, and milk out from the walk-in, grabbed a couple of big bags of mini chocolate chips, and fired up the wide oven. I mixed the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar—then broke the eggs into a well in the middle and used a fork to stir them in, thinking as I worked.
Amazon Synopsis
Robbie Jordan’s rustic country store is growing in popularity. But when a dead body appears, it turns out that Robbie’s home-style cooking attracts hungry customers—and murder!
While Robbie scrambles through breakfast orders for her expanding clientele at Pans ‘N Pancakes, tempers run as high as the sticky August heat in South Lick, Indiana. Real-estate developer Fiona Closs plans to build a towering luxury resort at one of the most scenic hilltops in Brown County, and not everyone can see the sunny side of the imposing proposition—including Robbie’s furious Aunt Adele, who doesn’t waste a minute concocting protests and road blockades. When tensions boil over and a vocal protester is silenced forever at the resort site, Robbie ditches the griddle to catch the killer. But if slashed tires are any indication, she’ll need to crack this case before her own aunt gets served something deadly next . . .
A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing one winner with a print copy of STRANGLED EGGS AND HAM. Contest ends Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and limited to U.S. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Robbie Jordan makes these easy muffins as a breakfast special. She finds baking while the restaurant is closed, or prepping for the day before, is a good time to think about the mystery at hand. Here's a clip from the book as she starts to make the muffins:
I headed into the restaurant. Busying my hands with cooking often allowed new ideas to bubble up into my consciousness. When my cat perked up and trotted after me, I said. “Yes, Birdy, you can come, too.” I hauled butter, eggs, and milk out from the walk-in, grabbed a couple of big bags of mini chocolate chips, and fired up the wide oven. I mixed the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar—then broke the eggs into a well in the middle and used a fork to stir them in, thinking as I worked.
- 1 cup unbleached white flour
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup dark cocoa
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a standard muffin tin or line with cupcake papers.
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Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
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Make a well and break the eggs into it.
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Stir them with a fork to slightly mix. Add oil, milk, vanilla, and chocolate chips, and mix in with a fork until barely combined.
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Fill muffin tin and bake for twenty minutes or until lightly browned on top. Let cool for ten minutes in the tin before removing.
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I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.