AT WITS’ END by Kirsten Weiss is a fun, quirky cozy mystery that I had the good fortune of reading recently. Sue Witsend (love the play of words in the title!) moves to Doyle, California after inheriting her grandmother’s Victorian Bed and Breakfast. But it’s not your typical bed and breakfast… it has a giant UFO parked on top of the roof! Not only that, the town which is set in the Sierra foothills, caters to UFO enthusiasts and Sue is kept busy with her UFO crazy guests. When one of her guests (who just happens to be the sheriff’s ex-husband) is found murdered in his room and her cousin is one of the top suspects, Sue decides she needs to find answers, especially after the FBI gets involved.
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One of the things that struck me, and I greatly enjoyed, is that the small-town sheriff and the FBI agent are both women. While the two women might be at odds with each other, with Sue caught in the middle, they show strength and ingenuity. There are scenes of humorous entertainment when Sue and the local residents speculate that the FBI agent is actually part of the group “Men in Black”… or would it be “Women in Black” given the UFO connection? Ms. Weiss also includes “backstory” for the town about groups of missing people and even a bar set in the forest that disappeared into thin air. It provides a bit of delicious spookiness that I equate with the whole UFO theory. Do I believe in UFOs? I’m not sure… but the idea does intrigue me!
The murder plot was satisfying with plenty of suspects and the story had an exciting conclusion that effectively tied up the main murder mystery. The supporting characters have their own quirks which adds to the appeal of the story. A mysterious Madame X makes appearances a few times in the story and the author leaves her identity hidden. I’m hoping that with the next book the reader will be given more clues to who she is and what happened to those missing people! I didn’t mind the hanging threads surrounding the subplot since I’m sure more will eventually be revealed.
Running a B & B, Sue serves breakfast to her guests and there’s many delicious dishes mentioned in the book. Fortunately for the reader, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book. Sue’s best friend, Arsen, helps out one morning by creating cheesy scrambled egg stuffed biscuits cooked in a waffle maker. I’ve seen several similar dishes on Pinterest and I’ve long been intrigued and couldn’t wait to try this recipe. I liked that these Waffle Biscuits were very easy to make and would be fun for kids to help make. My granddaughter loved being able to dip them into maple syrup before eating with her hands, which makes these a great on-the-go breakfast. Of course serving with a plate and fork would be totally acceptable too!
Amazon Synopsis
A Doyle Cozy Mystery, by Kirsten Weiss When Susan Witsend inherits her grandmother’s UFO-themed B&B, she’s ready to put her organizational skills to the test. She knows she can make the B&B work, even if there is a faux-UFO in the roof. After all, what’s not to love about a Victorian nestled in the high Sierra foothills? None of her carefully crafted policies and procedures, however, can prepare her for a corpse in room seven – the body of her small-town sheriff’s ex-husband. But Susan has her own plans to solve the crime. In Susan’s mind, Men in Black, conspiracy-crazed old ladies, and an angry sheriff are just part and parcel of catering to UFO enthusiasts. But is there a government conspiracy afoot? Or is the murder a simple case of small town vengeance? Susan must keep all her wits about her. Because the killer isn’t finished, and if she isn’t careful, her fate may be written in the stars.
A special thanks to Kirsten Weiss for offering an e-book copy of AT WITS’ END for one lucky winner! Contest ends Monday, September 25, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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!)
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tube refrigerated biscuit dough
- salt and pepper, to taste
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Over medium-low heat, warm a non-stick skillet.
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In a medium bowl, whisk milk, eggs, salt and pepper to taste.
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Scramble the egg mixture in the skillet until it's still a little wet. Stir in the shredded cheese and remove mixture from the heat.
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Heat a waffle iron and spray with the non-stick cooking spray of your choice. (Arsen prefers butter flavor.)
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Separate the biscuits and split them with a sharp knife, but DON'T COMPLETELY SPLIT THE BISCUITS IN HALF. They should fold open but still be connected, like a butterfly.
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Stuff the biscuits with the egg and cheese mixture. Press the biscuit edges together and seal the eggs inside.
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Place a biscuit in the waffle iron. Let the lid close gently, but don't smash the biscuit flat or force the lid to close completely.
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After one minute, fully close the waffle iron, flattening the biscuit. Continue cooking two more minutes.
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Remove the cheesy-egg-biscuit from the waffle iron and cook the rest of the biscuits, one at a time.
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I used Pillsbury Grands Biscuits and they held 1/2 egg each. If you use large biscuits I would recommend scrambling 4 eggs.
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I was provided a copy of this book with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A strong maybe, wouldn’t want to rule anything out!
UFO’s? Maybe.
Oh this one caught my eye a little while ago because of the awesome cover and the story sounds great too. After reading your review I am even more curious about this books. The whole focus on UFO’s sounds very interesting and good to know the mystery was a good one. The waffles sound delicious too! And thanks for the giveaway, I just entered 🙂
I have never encountered one but there are reports that one part of our county is famous for seeing UFOs. It has always
fascinated me the stories that share information on this topic. Thanks for the giveaway.
What unusual and interesting subject matter for a cozy. I can’t day that I don’t believe as I have close family members who had a very real experience year ago while driving down to Florida to relocate fir a number of years. I keep an open mind about everything too.
I like the waffle biscuit idea but I know our two youngest grandkids would mist likely not even want try them. But it would be fun for an adult breakfast I think. Thank you for always having such great posts and posting such fun and different recipes Kim.
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of the book.
I’m going to say maybe, strange things have been known to happen ,lol
This is where I grew up. I can’t say that I am a firm believer, but I don’t completely discount it as I saw my own fair share of odd phenomena out there. http://www.openminds.tv/utah-witness-recounts-ufo-encounter-near-military-base/37178
Maybe
Um sure maybe there are other beings somewhere besides Earth. Those waffles look yummy, even a Martian would probably agree! 😉
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
– Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio”
I agree
Ummm, this recipe looks amazing! I wonder how bad I’ll screw it up on Sunday. hahahaha!!!! As for UFOs…I’m going with maybe and probably. I mean really…we can be the only ones.
I just discovered Kirsten a week or so ago and immediately downloaded Bound on my Nook. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet but I’m excited.
Maybe on the UFO”S and thank you for coming to this site as you are a new author to me and would love to read your book in print. I get excited when I get to like a facebook page as I know that this is a new author ! Thanks Kim .
I think it’s a possibility about UFOs. It’s hard to imagine that humans and earth are the only ones in the universe. Thanks for the review and the contest.
UFO– unidentified flying object– yes. Whether alien or not, now that is a maybe. ?
I do not doubt that there could be life on other planets; I’m just not sure any would come here.
Maybe on the UFO’s. Thanks for the chance.
UFOs — Maybe.
I have never seen a U.F.O., however, since I have experienced ghosts anything is possible.
No. Sometimes at night when I see the lights from a plane I say its a UFO but I don’t really think there is any out there. And thank you for a chance to win an e-book copy of At Wits’ End.
Looks like a fun read.
UFO’s – maybe
UFOs? Yes, there are things people see that can’t be explained. But are they from alien planets? I don’t think so.
I would like to think Yes! Thanks for the chance
I was visiting my Mom in her high rise and I saw some weird flashing lights out one of the windows — however, they were coming from the direction of the State Fair of Texas, so I would say probably not ~
One can never rule it out. So maybe.
This seems like an interesting and fun read. I’ve never really considered IT Is but anything is possible.
This will be a great recipe to us when the grandkids come!
UFO’s – why not?
Thanks for a good sounding recipe.
Maybe – I’ll believe it when I see it.
I loooooooooove the cover of this book. The recipe looks interesting! never considered eggs INSIDE, only peanut butter on outside. LOL
maybe
nope!
Yes!
Pft, yes! Has to be!
Anything is possible!!! Thank you for the chance ?
It’s a NO for me. 🙂