Hey, there. Robbie Jordan here. I had the funnest day yesterday. March is kind of a slow month in southern Indiana, and the breakfast rush in my country store restaurant Pans ‘N Pancakes hadn’t been much of a rush at all. Along about ten the bell on the door jangled and in walked three tall customers, an older couple and a woman a few years older than me, so probably in her early thirties, with short red hair.
Here’s what happened after I told them to sit anywhere, since all the tables were empty.
“Where you folks from?” I asked.
The redhead smiled and said, “I’m visiting from Massachusetts. My parents here are professors at Indiana University. My name’s Cam Flaherty.” She extended her hand.
“Robbie Jordan,” I said as I shook hands.
“I’m William Flaherty, and this is my wife, Deb,” the man said. He was a thin lanky type, a lot like my friend Office Buck Bird, second in command in the South Lick police force.
“Nice to meet you all. I guess it must be spring break at IU,” I said. “Massachusetts is long ways off. What do you do there?” I asked Cam.
“I’m an organic farmer.” She shrugged and grinned. “Used to write software. But I like the work, and I have a group of local foods nuts who are really enthusiastic customers.”
“That’s cool. I try to source locally around here, too. Get my meat from Kiss My Grass Farm. I use local maple syrup and cheese, produce in the summer from an Amish farmer, apples and pears in the fall.”
“Tell Robbie what else you do,” Deb urged her daughter.
“Really Mom?” When her mother nodded, Cam went on, “Okay. So I’ve kind of gotten into solving a few murders in my town. They just seem to happen, and, well, if I can help the police, I do. The latest one was a poultry farmer.” She shook her head. “Nicest guy you could imagine. His daughter asked me to help on that case.”
I stared at her. “Same here.” I leaned closer. “I found a body on the floor right over there last fall.” I pointed to the spot. “And my friend and I were cross-country skiing and came across a victim in the ice this January. I’m a puzzler, and it turns out solving a murder is a lot like solving a puzzle.”
Cam cocked her head. “And my programmer brain seems to work the same way.” She smiled. “We should keep in touch, you and me. We could compare notes.”
“Let’s do it.” I held up my hand and she slapped it in a high five. “Not that I’m hoping for any more murders, you understand. Now, what can I get you all for breakfast today?”
Grilled For Murder is the second book in the Country Store mystery series, published by Kensington, May 2016.
Robbie Jordan may have had reservations about the murder victim, but she still needs to turn up the heat on a killer if she wants to keep her new restaurant open for business. . .
In the charming small town of South Lick, Indiana, Robbie has transformed a rundown country store into the runaway hit Pans ‘N Pancakes. But the most popular destination for miles around can also invite trouble. Erica Shermer may be the widow of handsome local lawyer Jim Shermer’s brother, but she doesn’t appear to be in mourning. At a homecoming party held in Robbie’s store, Erica is alternately obnoxious and flirtatious–even batting her eyelashes at Jim. When Erica turns up dead in the store the next morning, apparently clobbered with cookware, the police suspect Robbie’s friend Phil, who closed up after the party. To clear Phil and calm her customers, Robbie needs to step out from behind the counter and find the real killer in short order. . .
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Murder Most Fowl is the fourth book in the Local Foods mystery series, published by Kensington, May 2016.
Spring may be just around the corner, but a cold-blooded killer has put the big chill on the residents of Westbury, Massachusetts. It looks like organic farmer-turned-sleuth Cam Flaherty will have to set aside her seedlings for the time being as she tills the soil for clues in the mysterious death of a local poultry maven.
With the weather getting warmer, Cam should be spending her days pruning blueberry bushes and taking care of the new batch of chicks that just hatched. But murder knows no season. So when her fellow fowl-raiser Wayne Laitinen is found dead at his breakfast table one morning, Cam must put down her trimming shears and put on her crime-solving hat.
The kind-hearted chicken farmer didn’t have any enemies–or did he? A wealthy financier has been working hard to convince him to sell her his land, while a group of animal rights activists recently vandalized his property. Money troubles were threatening to sink his marriage. And a thirty-year-old scandal was driving a wedge between him and one of his oldest friends.
Murder, blackmail, cover-ups. There’s a fox in the hen house. But where? With some help from her off-again, on-again flame, police detective Pete Pappas, Cam will have to crack this case before Wayne’s killer flies the coop forever.
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About the author
Agatha-nominated and Amazon best-selling author Edith Maxwell writes the Quaker Midwife Mysteries, the Local Foods Mysteries, and the Country Store Mysteries (as Maddie Day). A former farmer and doula, she also writes award-winning short crime fiction. Maxwell lives north of Boston with her beau and three cats, and blogs with the other Wicked Cozy Authors.
You can find her on Facebook, @edithmaxwell, Pinterest, and at her web site, edithmaxwell.com.
Giveaway: Edith is giving away a print copy to two lucky winners of either Murder Most Fowl or Grilled For Murder. Leave a comment below for your chance to win. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end June 6, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
I would love to win Grilled For Murder as I enjoyed the first one so much! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh yes please…
I am a huge fan of Edith Maxwell and Maddie Day and love, love, love all of her awesome books!!!! The covers on these two new ones are soooooo AWESOME!!! Sure would love to win so thanks dear Dru for the chance!!!! God bless you!!!!
Loved the post!! Both books look super. Great covers. How does one choose? Both look great. But will go for Murder Most Fowl. Thanks for the chance to get one. Della
Sounds “grrrreat”…and I would love to read anything by this Author. The Reviews really add to the flavor of the book and then I am a big fan of covers…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I really enjoy both series!!!
Love the chance to read either. Thank you for the giveaway. 🙂
Both books sound like winners to me!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Would love to read either one. I love a mystery.
What a great giveaway for a fun series – thank you for the chance to win
Nice to see the two main characters get together. I wonder what kind of trouble they could get into in a week? There may be a short story in that, Edith.
I just read the first book in the Country Store series this weekend! It was great and included a preview of this new book. I am psyched to read it soon! I have read a couple of the other series, but didn’t make the connection that it was the same author! Thanks you Dru for today’s post and education. 🙂 Thanks to Edith for the opportunity to win one of these fun books.
Enjoyed the first two books. Can’t wait for these.
You are a new to me author, and with me living in southern Indiana I really need to read this. Thanks for the chance.
Thanks for a chance to win awesome books. They both sound great.
What a great deal! I’d love to have either NJ ook
Since I am a big fan of cozy mysteries I am always looking for new authors and am thrilled to meet Edith Maxwell aka Maddie Day. I’m looking forward to starting the 2 series. Thanks Dru for the chance.
I enjoy reading books written by Edith Maxwell/Maddie Day. Thank you for this chance!
Would love to win a copy of either book.
Thanks for the chance.
I love both series but I’d prefer “Grilled for Murder” if I’m your lucky winner.
This sounds like a fun book, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
I would love to read either one of these books.
Yay for giveaway! I would love to try a new series!
Both of these books sound great. Thanks for the chance.
I enjoy all of your books very much!! I do not have either of these 2 titles as of yet….so if I win….surprise me! Thanks for the chance
They both sound yummy!
Sounds like a good book.
This post was a great crossover between the two books – I hope these characters can get together in the future! Thanks for the giveaway~
I love Edith Maxwell and her books. Thank for the opportunity to win one of her books. robeader53@yahoo.com
Always looking for new authors to read.l’m a huge mystery reader. Thanks for the chance to win
I just love her books Edith has such a knack for writing mysteries and they are so fun. I am hooked on her Quaker mysteries. Would love to win and review . ptclayton2@aol.com
Love this author. I am dying to win!
Enjoy both series – thanks for the giveaway.
What fun to have the leads from both series “meet”.
EkkKKK! I’m dead!!!
Great blog today Dru! Thank you! I loved the first Country Store mystery & cannot wait to read Grilled For Murder. Thanks for the chance of winning.
Can’t wait to read Grilled for Murder! I loved Flipped for Murder. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for this great giveaway and feature.
I just picked up “Flipped for Murder” and am looking forward to reading “Grilled for Murder “. Would also enjoy reading “Murder Most Fowl”. Thanks for the chance.
One of my favorite authors! Thanks for the chance to win. I love these series.
How fun to have both protagonists meet up. That would be a great book. Thanks for the chance to win either of these great releases!
Looks I great books to read.
What fun seeing these two characters meet. And the books are wonderful as well.
wow, how bout that, these 2 meet, lol sounds like a great read, count me in please
This was a fun short story/blog post! I’d love to win the country store book as I have already bought Grilled for Murder. It was great!
Both of these books are new to me. Would love to win either one. Thanks again for the chance to win books from another new author.
Grilled for murder ! Fun post Dru!!!!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to read!
I loved the first book and would like to read the next installment–there’s nothing better than murder and good food to make a great read.
Oh, these look so good. I know I will be reading all summer ! Thank you to all these wonderful author who share so much with us !
What great books! I’d love to win a copy of Grilled for Murder.. Thanks for the opportunity…
I love reading cozies and these both sound awesome. Always ready to win free books! lol
I would love to win a copy of Grilled for Murder.
Thanks for he chance! I’ve read Grilled for Murder and it was great. Looking forward to Murder Most Fowl.
Great giveaway! Thanks for a chance to enter.
It’s a difficult choice, but I’d love to win the “Grilled for Murder” book. Most exciting.
Wow, looks like great cozy mystery.
What a great post and such a talented author! Would love to win Grilled for Murder! Thanks!
Both books sound great! Thanks for offering this!