The Final Tap by Amanda Flower is the second book in the “Living History Museum” mystery series. Publisher: Midnight Ink, May 2016

March on Barton Farm can only mean one thing: maple sugar season. To combat the winter slump, resilient director Kelsey Cambridge organizes a Maple Sugar Festival, complete with school visits, pancake breakfasts, and tree tapping classes. Kelsey hires curmudgeonly maple sugar expert Dr. Conrad Beeson to teach the classes, despite misgivings over his unpleasant demeanor. It’s a decision she ends up regretting when, before the first tree can be tapped for sap, Dr. Beeson turns up dead.

The maple sugar expert’s death threatens to shut down not only the Maple Sugar Festival, but also Barton Farm itself. Kelsey must solve Dr. Beeson’s murder to escape the increasingly sticky situation.

This was an enjoyable read and once again Kelsey finds herself involved in a little amateur sleuthing, all done while dealing with a festival and her ex’s shenanigans. The author does a very good job in detailing this whodunit with an intriguing storyline where the suspects run rampant and it’s up to Kelsey to sort it all out, which she does in the fast-paced and action packed drama. The steps to the killer’s identity propelled me forward and I love the twists and turns presented. The author also infused the history and process of maple sugar into the story which along with the murder mystery enriched the telling of the tale. Kelsey is a likable protagonist who is surrounded by a good supporting cast. Boasting good conversations and the perfect backdrop of a living museum, I found this story to be entertaining and I look forward to the next happenings on Barton Farm with Kelsey and the gang.