Ah, Oktoberfest in Bavaria. Giant mugs of beer. Alpine hats. Gents in lederhosen. Ladies in dirndls. Oompah bands. Bratwurst. Piping-hot pretzels. Cold-blooded murder.
I suspect that murder isn’t a typical feature of Oktoberfest, but no matter where I lead my group of Iowa seniors, murder always seems to follow.
I’m Emily Andrew Miceli, escort to a core group of globetrotting seniors whose lengthy bucket lists include lots of foreign travel. Our current tour is taking us to Germany, where the musicians in our group are scheduled to play a few polkas in the celebrated beer tents of Munich. My parents are joining us for this trip, so I’m holding my breath that Mom can rein in her compulsion to alphabetize everything and that Dad won’t break his neck while viewing every inch of real estate through the narrow lens of his camcorder. I also have to keep Mom away from my independently minded grandmother, because Mom delights in micro-managing Nana’s schedule, which really sets Nana’s false teeth on edge. Good thing my husband is accompanying us, too, because if things start to go south, I might need reinforcements.
But really, Oktoberfest in Bavaria! What could possibly go wrong? Well, other than a run in with unexploded World War II ordnance, the tragic death of the most beloved member of the musical troupe, a string of emergency room visits that upset the entire dynamic of the tour, a terrifying new challenge for my dad, and a guest psychic whose uncanny predictions hit more raw nerves than she’d bargained for. But did anyone other than yours truly find it odd that she failed to predict the most shocking incident of all?
As we explore all the touristy sights from picturesque alpine villages, to the circus atmosphere of Munich’s Hippodrom beer tent, to the grandeur of Mad King Ludwig’s fairy tale castle, it’s becoming obvious to both Etienne and me that a killer walks among us, but our search for clues is going nowhere fast. It’s difficult to ferret out a killer when you’re being foiled at every turn by guests whose ultimate goal is to protect the well-guarded secrets they’d hoped to take to the grave with them. And don’t even get me started on Bernice. I don’t care if her sudden physical transformation has left her looking like a million bucks. No way is our next trip going to include an overnight shopping spree in the jungles of New Guinea!
You can read more about Emily in From Bad to Wurst, the 10th book in the “Passport to Peril” mystery series, published by Midnight Ink. The first book in the series is Alpine for You.
About From Bad to Wurst
It’s Oktoberfest and the globetrotting Iowa seniors are sharing their Sounds of Music adventure with several oompah bands whose dream of performing in a famous German beer hall is about to be realized. But when a deadly relic from wartime Munich rains disaster on the group, their dreams are shattered—until an unlikely guest offers them new hope.
The tour hits a sour note when tragedy strikes a guest who knew the musicians’ most guarded secrets. Was the death an unfortunate accident or something more sinister? As the group travels from the beer tents of Munich to the fairytale castle of Mad King Ludwig, Emily strives to restore harmony. But with the situation escalating out of control, could the gang be looking at a terrible end to their German interlude?
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on December 12 for your chance to win a print copy of FROM BAD TO WURST. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
About the author
After experiencing disastrous vacations on three continents, Maddy Hunter decided to combine her love of humor, travel, and storytelling to fictionalize her misadventures. Inspired by her feisty aunt and by memories of her Irish grandmother, she created the nationally bestselling, Agatha Award-nominated Passport to Peril mystery series, where quirky seniors from Iowa get to relive everything that went wrong on Maddy’s holiday. From Bad to Wurst is the tenth book in the series. Maddy lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and a head full of imaginary characters who keep asking, “Are we there yet?” Visit Maddy at www.maddyhunter.com.
Thanks for the chance to win. I have read a couple in this series and am starting at the beginning now.
Bad to Wurst sounds really fun. Thanks for the opportunity to
win.📖
This sounds like great fun. My daughter is in the Bavarian area now. Thank you both for the chance to win a copy.
Thanks for the chance to win this fun sounding book
What fun! I’m looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the review and giveaway!
Love to read this one. Sounds like so much fun.
Looks great!
Have been in Bavaria during Oktoberfest and it was fun. This book sounds equally as much fun.
This is such a fun series!
Oh, I need to check this series out! The Oktoberfest trip sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win a copy of your latest book.
This is a new author for me. Thanks for the review. Also thanks for the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
I love it when a cozy has a different setting than just in a small town. I have been to Oktoberfests before but never in Germany! Would love to win this one. Thank you for the chance!
CaroNWong(at)aol(dot)com
What fun! We used to go to a German restaurant that had the best wurst and an ompah band! It was so much fun.
Okay, I can deal with the wursts, the beer and the pretzels. You can keep the Alpine hats. Gents in lederhosen. Ladies in dirndls and the Oompah bands.
I do love the series but do not own a single one of them. I managed to snag them at my local library and enjoyed laughing my way through each one of them. Toss my name into the magic hat Dru.
I’ve LOVED every one of your books and sure this willbe another winner!!!!!!
I’ve laughed my way through all the books in this great series! So looking forward to the ones yet to come. Thanks for providing such enjoyment for all of us, Maddy Hunter!
What an intriguing book! I have never been outside the States and this sounds delightful, except for the murder of course.
I haven’t read any of this series. It sounds fascinating. Might as well start at this end please.
love Octoberfest, cant wait to read this book,
Now that is a tasty title. Great cover. Always up for a good mystery.
Delightful cozy which I would enjoy. Thanks.
Sounds like a great read.
Bad to Wurst looks like a fantastic read. New author. New series. So exciting. Learned of so many new ones here. I look forward to getting to know you and your series better Maddy Hunter. Hoping to get this first read in anew series. Thanks for this chance
I’m always so excited to learn about a new series. This one sounds like FUN!
Bad to Wurst sounds like a terrific book, looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh my. Her whole family is along? Good luck with that!
Love the title. sounds like a fun read.
thanks.
Globe-trotting seniors – count me in~!
I’d love to visit Germany for Oktoberfest. Here’s my chance to do so vicariously. Thanks!
Another series I have to get back to.
Thanks for the chance. Just recently discovered this series.
i bought all your books. i like the humor in them.
This book looks like a winner.
The title of this book got my attention. My mom is from Wisconsin and is of German descent. I grew up eating brats at least once a month. I still have them at least once a month. Also, her parents had a tavern in Milwaukee. So this is a book I really want to read. My brother was stationed in Germany for two years and I would love to find out what happens at Octoberfest.My brother can’t seem to remember.
I love this series! !! Thanks for the chance to win.
Thank you, everyone, for throwing your name into the ring. This is the book that I spent all last December revising, because when I read the first draft, I realized I’d forgotten to include a plot! Not much holiday cheer for me last year. But this year, I give you the finished product, complete with plot. Hope you enjoy the story and my crazy seniors. maddy
New series for me – thanks for the giveaway.
Oh my I have to read this one and check out the series. I love and miss visiting Germany. My mother is from there and we would visit her family. I would love winning this book!! Thanks for the opportunity!!
Longtime fan hete! I’d love to win the latest adventure!
I have many in this series and look forward to ready this one. Thanks
Sounds like a fun read.
This book is on my Wiah List….
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Contest is closed.