Deborah T. (nysbikergirl) reviewed Flipped For Murder (Country Store, Bk 1) on + 97 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a great new series. I have not been interested in a cozy series in a while, just not any good options that hooked me. But this one , I really enjoyed. Some highline for me, are the realistic, quaint southern Indiana vernacular. The country store is interesting, but the restaurant, cooking, and menu give the book a fun, foodie theme that goes down well. I like Robbie, and her main characters. They don't have, as some cozies do, outrageous, unnatural, annoyingly goofy characteristics that have ruined other cozy series for me. The local law man, is actually somewhat likeable, and the main murder mystery keeps the reader turning the pages. I ordered the 2nd installment as I was ending this first one.
Jody M. (jodymcgrath) -
Helpful Score: 1
Robbie Jordan has worked so hard to open up her country store restaurant Pans and Pancakes, and it is finally paying off when business begins to boom during her grand opening. The job is long hours and hard on the body but it has always been her dream. When the assistant to the town's mayor is found dead, with one of Robbie's special cheese biscuits shoved in her mouth, she becomes a person of interest in the case. With her dream just starting to be realized, and knowing that town gossip could kill that dream in a second, Robbie sets out to puzzle out who killed Stella and why they would want to frame her for it.
This was a pretty standard cozy mystery, which isn't to say it wasn't good, there was just nothing outstanding about it. Robbie was likable, but she had a few too many TSTL moments. She was independent and feisty though, which I admired. They introduced a love interest, Jim, who I didn't really care for. He seemed like he didn't belong in the Indiana setting, and he was too boring. Perhaps the second love interest, maybe, will be more fun. If the author takes it that way.
Many of the townsfolk were very interesting, some with good back stories, some just introduced to maybe expand on in later novels. The descriptions went a little overboard sometimes. The would describe in detail her biking gear, and it had no relevance to the story. This happened with a lot of ordinary actions. It is weird that it did not get edited out.
Even though the book was a little rough, I liked it enough to read the next installment Grilled for Murder. Hopefully now that the setting and characters have been introduced, the flow will be a bit better. If you like normal cozy mysteries, you will probably enjoy Flipped for Murder.
This was a pretty standard cozy mystery, which isn't to say it wasn't good, there was just nothing outstanding about it. Robbie was likable, but she had a few too many TSTL moments. She was independent and feisty though, which I admired. They introduced a love interest, Jim, who I didn't really care for. He seemed like he didn't belong in the Indiana setting, and he was too boring. Perhaps the second love interest, maybe, will be more fun. If the author takes it that way.
Many of the townsfolk were very interesting, some with good back stories, some just introduced to maybe expand on in later novels. The descriptions went a little overboard sometimes. The would describe in detail her biking gear, and it had no relevance to the story. This happened with a lot of ordinary actions. It is weird that it did not get edited out.
Even though the book was a little rough, I liked it enough to read the next installment Grilled for Murder. Hopefully now that the setting and characters have been introduced, the flow will be a bit better. If you like normal cozy mysteries, you will probably enjoy Flipped for Murder.
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Enjoyed the first in this series, look forward to the next one and hopefully more of Birdy the cat in the story.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Flipped for Murder is the first installment in the Country Store Mystery series featuring Roberta "Robbie" Jordan. Robbie has quit her faced past job in California, ditched her cheating ex and moved back to South Lick, Indiana. Robbie has opened Pans 'N Pancakes, a combination kitchenware store and café.
On the day of the Grand Opening of Pans 'N Pancakes Robbie is feeling hopeful that her lifelong dream will be a success. With the help of her Aunt Adele and close friend Phil things are running smoothly until the Town Mayor, Corrine Beedle and her assistant, Stella Rogers arrive. Stella is a sourpuss of a woman who put Robbie through the wringer during the massive renovations and permitting process required to open the new little store.
Rejoicing in the glow of a successful opening day, Robbie is excited to be out on a date with her real estate lawyer, Jim Shermer enjoying a lovely dinner and dancing. Things take a sudden downward spiral when they return to Pans to find Officer Buck Bird waiting for them. Stella Rogers has been found dead with one of Robbie's signature cheesy biscuits stuffed in her mouth and Robbie's lucky pen laying nearby.
As the newcomer in town Robbie becomes the chief suspect in Stella's murder. Determined to clear her name and save her new business, she takes the investigation into her own hands. Stella has made a lot of enemies over the years in her position as the mayor's assistant and it looks like she's been doing a bit of blackmailing on the side. But, who is trying to frame Robbie and why? Is it Ed Kowalski, owner of Kowalski's Country Store and Robbie's competitor in the next town, or Roy Rogers, Stella's son who has a beef that Robbie bought the building that he had wanted?
There is an interesting subplot in addition to the main mystery. In the course of her investigation Robbie discovers the name of her father whom she had never known. Roberto Fracasso was the Italian foreign exchange student who had been involved with Robbie's mom in high school.
Following the lines of most traditional cozy mysteries, Robbie takes in a little stray kitty she names Birdy, and finds herself in the midst of a triangle of romantic feelings. I'll be looking forward to the next in the series "Grilled for Murder" to see how things develop with her newfound father, to see which man she chooses and of course to see what the next adventure for Robbie and her friends will be.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While I was not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
On the day of the Grand Opening of Pans 'N Pancakes Robbie is feeling hopeful that her lifelong dream will be a success. With the help of her Aunt Adele and close friend Phil things are running smoothly until the Town Mayor, Corrine Beedle and her assistant, Stella Rogers arrive. Stella is a sourpuss of a woman who put Robbie through the wringer during the massive renovations and permitting process required to open the new little store.
Rejoicing in the glow of a successful opening day, Robbie is excited to be out on a date with her real estate lawyer, Jim Shermer enjoying a lovely dinner and dancing. Things take a sudden downward spiral when they return to Pans to find Officer Buck Bird waiting for them. Stella Rogers has been found dead with one of Robbie's signature cheesy biscuits stuffed in her mouth and Robbie's lucky pen laying nearby.
As the newcomer in town Robbie becomes the chief suspect in Stella's murder. Determined to clear her name and save her new business, she takes the investigation into her own hands. Stella has made a lot of enemies over the years in her position as the mayor's assistant and it looks like she's been doing a bit of blackmailing on the side. But, who is trying to frame Robbie and why? Is it Ed Kowalski, owner of Kowalski's Country Store and Robbie's competitor in the next town, or Roy Rogers, Stella's son who has a beef that Robbie bought the building that he had wanted?
There is an interesting subplot in addition to the main mystery. In the course of her investigation Robbie discovers the name of her father whom she had never known. Roberto Fracasso was the Italian foreign exchange student who had been involved with Robbie's mom in high school.
Following the lines of most traditional cozy mysteries, Robbie takes in a little stray kitty she names Birdy, and finds herself in the midst of a triangle of romantic feelings. I'll be looking forward to the next in the series "Grilled for Murder" to see how things develop with her newfound father, to see which man she chooses and of course to see what the next adventure for Robbie and her friends will be.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While I was not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
A main character who can rescue herself.
Linda R. (wolfie123) - , reviewed Flipped For Murder (Country Store, Bk 1) on + 422 more book reviews
An easy, quick read!
