SCONE COLD DEAD is the thirteenth book in the Country Store Mysteries by Maddie Day. This newest release finds protagonist Robbie, heavily pregnant with her first child. The book explores the theme of transitioning and close family ties, be they blood ties or those of friendship. Robbie is a hard worker, dedicated to her restaurant and shop, Pans ‘N Pancakes, but with her upcoming baby, finds her focus shifting. I admire all the core characters and the way they pitch in to support each other, both emotionally and physically. It is often heartwarming as they celebrate the good things that come their way and commiserate over things that are painful. The author captures the descriptions of the restaurant and the setting, as well as the individual personalities of the characters and brings the story to life on the pages.

With such a joyous occasion coming up, Robbie and her family are looking forward to welcoming the new baby into the family. No one expects tragedy to strike but, unfortunately, a man, newly arrived in town, is found dead on Robbie’s aunt’s farm. With her aunt being investigated as a suspect, Robbie can’t stand by and wait for law enforcement to clear her name. Yet, being so close to delivery, Robbie knows she has to be as safe as possible to protect herself and her child. It’s not such an easy thing to do when investigating a potential murder, but she does her best asking questions around town and digging into the deceased past. There are several twists I didn’t see coming, but given Robbie’s “delicate” condition, there was less action than in previous books. Despite the slower pace, the author makes up for it with the wonderful characters and the emotional depth they display, resulting in a highly satisfying read.

Running a restaurant, there are all sorts of mentions of food. Fortunately, for the home cook, there are several recipes at the back of the book to try out. One of the recipes I couldn’t wait to try was for Apple Cider Muffins, a popular breakfast special served at Pans ‘N Pancakes. Chock full of flavor thanks to a generous amount of cinnamon and apple cider to keep it moist, these pair well with a tall glass of cold milk or a steaming mug of coffee or tea. These delicious muffins are perfect for a quick breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or an after-school treat!

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

Robbie is just weeks away from giving birth. While her husband Abe scrambles to get the house ready for their baby’s arrival, Robbie makes last minute arrangements to keep her shop and restaurant, Pans ’N Pancakes, up and running when she’s on maternity leave. And it seems Robbie and Abe aren’t the only ones grappling with anxiety—a stranger is causing a stir in town and Robbie’s Aunt Adele appears unusually preoccupied at the baby shower . . .

But when someone finds a body in the ram field on Adele’s sheep farm, it’s Robbie’s turn to be worried. Especially after Chief Buck Bird uncovers a troubling link between Adele and the possible murder victim. Robbie has no choice but to knit the clues together and solve this mystery before anything else gets flocked up . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for offering a print copy of SCONE COLD DEAD to one lucky winner! Contest ends April 13, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.