Strangled Eggs and Ham

May 1, 2019
Robbie Jordan, proprietor of Pans 'n' Pancakes, a country store, diner, and bed-and-breakfast, stays neutral when developer Fiona Closs petitions the town to build a resort on a beautiful hilltop just outside small-town South Lick, Indiana. Closs' project divides the town, with many of the residents wanting the increased tourism and jobs the new resort would bring, while others, including Robbie's beloved Aunt Adele, prefer to keep the hilltop unspoiled. When attorney Gregory DeGraaf, who represents Adele's group, is murdered, suspects abound, from the developer herself to others who hope to profit from the resort. To avenge Gregory and protect Adele, who has become a target of the murderer, Robbie investigates, finding clues the police missed in their initial search and ultimately identifying the killer. Although it seems unlikely that the police would have missed the clues, Robbie is a sympathetic character surrounded by quirky, well-drawn secondary characters. Framed by the details of running a small business in beautiful Brown County, this series will appeal to readers who enjoy cooking cozies. Recipes included.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)