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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
Batter Off Dead by Maddie Day is the tenth A Country Store Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. However, if you read the series in order, it allows you to get to know the characters and the town. I thought Batter Off Dead contained good writing and developed characters. The book moved along at a steady pace. I like the small-town atmosphere in this series. Robbie Jordan is happily married to Abe and her restaurant is doing very well. The restaurant is busier than ever. We follow Robbie as she goes about her day-to-day life in South Lick, Indiana. I like how the author incorporates Indiana phrases and history of the area into the story. The mystery has two components. It involves a murder in the present and one in the past. Both have a tie to Lt. Buck Bird. There were a handful of suspects in the death of Vi Perkell. Robbie asks questions and listens to diners to gather clues. Robbie needs to be careful, or she could get burned. The whodunit is wrapped up with a tense reveal and all my questions were answered. I like that we get to meet Buck’s father and grandmother. Simone, Buck’s grandmother, is sharp as a tack and a stylish dresser. Grant, Buck’s father, is a sweet man who can no longer see but creates lovely, knitted items. A friend of Robbie’s is pregnant, and it makes her think about the future. I enjoyed my visit to South Lick where I got to catch up with Robbie, Abe, Buck, and the others plus I got to solve a crime. There are recipes at the end for some of the items served at Pans n’ Pancakes. Batter Off Dead is a warm tale with delectable crepes, a cold case, a copycat crime, a crafting club, curious clues, and a caught killer.
madsmcw_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
readwkatie's review
3.0
Say what you want about a cozy mystery but I can’t get enough. I love escaping to the town of South Lick and reading the bustle of Pans N Pancakes or the murder Robbie is trying to solve. These are such feel good books to me and they are such quick reads. I can’t get enough.
kimdavishb's review
5.0
BATTER OFF DEAD is the tenth book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. While this can be read as a standalone, I’ve found it to be a delightful journey following protagonist Robbie Jordan’s character development over the course of the series. And Ms. Day has done an outstanding job in keeping the characters fresh and appealing. In this new release, Robbie is newly married and settling into life with her husband, Abe. I enjoyed getting to see more interaction between the couple this time around. Another core character, whose backstory has been mysterious thus far, is police lieutenant Buck Bird. I was happy to see him take more of a co-starring role in Batter Off Dead, and find out more about his life and his family. The author does an admirable job in weaving Buck’s past into the current day mystery. Set in the small town of South Lick, Indiana, Ms. Day captures the colloquialisms of the residents giving the reader a feel for the area. Her strong descriptive voice helps the reader feel like they’re right alongside Robbie, from friends gathering together, to the wicked heat, to the delicious food served at Robbie’s café.
With a murder set against the backdrop of exploding fireworks, a senior citizen is murdered right amongst her friends. Buck’s blind father sat right next to the victim, who was killed in the same manner as Buck’s mother when he was a kid. Could someone be targeting the seniors? Does someone have a vendetta against Buck’s family? Robbie delves into asking questions and trying to bring comfort to Buck as the past is dredged up. One of the things I like about the Country Store mysteries is that Robbie is a working woman with a strong work ethic. While she gets involved in investigating, her café takes center stage and she doesn’t shirk her duties or her customers. As a result, Robbie is often frazzled by the end of the day but it gives the story a realistic feel. As she finds threads to the clues she seeks, it becomes apparent that the past is connected to the current day murder. Robbie’s tenacious quest for answers and for justice lead to a suspenseful and heart wrenching reveal. But rest assured, Ms. Day leaves the reader with a warm feeling as she hints at what might be in store for Robbie in future books.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With a murder set against the backdrop of exploding fireworks, a senior citizen is murdered right amongst her friends. Buck’s blind father sat right next to the victim, who was killed in the same manner as Buck’s mother when he was a kid. Could someone be targeting the seniors? Does someone have a vendetta against Buck’s family? Robbie delves into asking questions and trying to bring comfort to Buck as the past is dredged up. One of the things I like about the Country Store mysteries is that Robbie is a working woman with a strong work ethic. While she gets involved in investigating, her café takes center stage and she doesn’t shirk her duties or her customers. As a result, Robbie is often frazzled by the end of the day but it gives the story a realistic feel. As she finds threads to the clues she seeks, it becomes apparent that the past is connected to the current day murder. Robbie’s tenacious quest for answers and for justice lead to a suspenseful and heart wrenching reveal. But rest assured, Ms. Day leaves the reader with a warm feeling as she hints at what might be in store for Robbie in future books.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
jenniferdenslow's review
4.0
At Robbie Jordan's country store, business is booming. But so are the community fireworks in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie's ready to mix and mingle with the community that welcomed her to town and enjoy a night out with her husband. But as it often does for the MC in a cozy mystery, murder intrudes and Robbie finds herself trying to untangle suspicious family connections and a shady needlework group to get to the truth.
Maddie Day's Country Store Mysteries are always delightful, and this one doesn't disappoint! Robbie has come into her own since moving to South Lick. Her store attracts locals as well as tourists from as far away as Japan. She's remodeled the upstairs so she can offer rooms to rent. She's married the love of her life and they're ready to think about starting a family. But Robbie always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when a murder happens. Adams does a great job giving us a juicy murder with lots of possible suspects, and the crime is solved in a satisfying way. I think there's a good balance between getting to know what's up in Robbie's life and sleuthing as well.
This book is a great addition to a satisfying series!
Maddie Day's Country Store Mysteries are always delightful, and this one doesn't disappoint! Robbie has come into her own since moving to South Lick. Her store attracts locals as well as tourists from as far away as Japan. She's remodeled the upstairs so she can offer rooms to rent. She's married the love of her life and they're ready to think about starting a family. But Robbie always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when a murder happens. Adams does a great job giving us a juicy murder with lots of possible suspects, and the crime is solved in a satisfying way. I think there's a good balance between getting to know what's up in Robbie's life and sleuthing as well.
This book is a great addition to a satisfying series!
thisandthatwithkaren's review
5.0
Batter Off Dead” the 10th book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. I just love this series!
Part-time sleuth Robbie Jordan must untangle the clues to find the killer of a knitting circle member... In South Lick, Indiana, fine foods and classic cookware can be found at Robbie Jordan’s Pans ’N Pancakes. Unfortunately, her country store also seems to stock up on murder…
I love the setting of South Lick, Indiana and I love Robbie and her staff at Pans N Pancakes they are like one big family. We learned more about Buck and what happened to his mother, and meet a bunch of seniors from Jupiter Springs assisted living. I loved how Robbie was so good with Grant, Simone, and Melissa.
There were enough twists to keep me intrigued and wanting to know how it ends. The plot and story were good and seemed to flow at a good pace.
I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a cozy filled with down home characters and a small town atmosphere.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Part-time sleuth Robbie Jordan must untangle the clues to find the killer of a knitting circle member... In South Lick, Indiana, fine foods and classic cookware can be found at Robbie Jordan’s Pans ’N Pancakes. Unfortunately, her country store also seems to stock up on murder…
I love the setting of South Lick, Indiana and I love Robbie and her staff at Pans N Pancakes they are like one big family. We learned more about Buck and what happened to his mother, and meet a bunch of seniors from Jupiter Springs assisted living. I loved how Robbie was so good with Grant, Simone, and Melissa.
There were enough twists to keep me intrigued and wanting to know how it ends. The plot and story were good and seemed to flow at a good pace.
I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a cozy filled with down home characters and a small town atmosphere.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
pussreboots's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
peggyemi's review
4.0
Batter Off Dead is the tenth book in the Country Story Mystery series by author Maddie Day. This is a cozy mystery series that I very much enjoy so I look forward to each new book that is released. Robbie Jordan is a very likable protagonist and part of what continues to draw me to this series is the depth and maturity of the well-written characters. Robbie and Abe are settling into married life and attending a fireworks show in the park when one of the town's senior citizens is murdered. Before the murder, Robbie is introduced to the victim through Buck's father Grant. When the victim is discovered it raises many questions as the murder is eerily similar to the murder of Buck's mother, which was never solved. I love how Ms. Day allowed us to get to know Buck Bird in this book. We are able to learn more about his history and his character as the story unfolds.
As Robbie starts to ask questions, there are plenty of suspects to choose from, but Ms. Day does a good job of establishing plausible motives for the more prominent suspects. It's up to the reader to follow the clues to see if they can come to the right conclusion. As the mystery winds up and the story comes to a conclusion, Robbie once again finds herself in danger as the murderer tries to silence her. In the end, Robbie prevails and the murder of the senior citizen as well as the murder of Buck's mother are wrapped up nicely.
I enjoy this series and will continue to stop in at the Pans "N Pancakes to see what new mystery is in store for Robbie Jordan.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by the manner in which I received this book.
As Robbie starts to ask questions, there are plenty of suspects to choose from, but Ms. Day does a good job of establishing plausible motives for the more prominent suspects. It's up to the reader to follow the clues to see if they can come to the right conclusion. As the mystery winds up and the story comes to a conclusion, Robbie once again finds herself in danger as the murderer tries to silence her. In the end, Robbie prevails and the murder of the senior citizen as well as the murder of Buck's mother are wrapped up nicely.
I enjoy this series and will continue to stop in at the Pans "N Pancakes to see what new mystery is in store for Robbie Jordan.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by the manner in which I received this book.
lolasreviews's review
4.0
Batter Off Dead is the tenth book already in the Country Story Mystery series by Maddie Day and this is still one of my favorite cozy mystery series. Batter Off Dead has again more of Robbie's personal life, as well as another mystery. Robbie is now living together with her husband and she's still running her store.
The start of the mystery hit me a bit harder than most cozies as I thought the way the murder took place felt quite gruesome with a blind person sitting right next to the victim while she got killed. Luckily after that the focus is more on finding who did it than the way she got killed. Even so for some reason this mystery didn't fully grasp me. It also felt that for a long time Robbie wasn't really getting anywhere, clues are slow to come in and no suspects get ruled out till the end when the murderer is revealed. Then the end confrontation with the murder felt kinda forced with how Robbie went somewhere alone for something she hadn't thought of before. And the only way she solved the mystery was because of that confrontation. I thought the reveal of the murderer made sense and I liked seeing it all fall on it's place.
Despite the mystery not gripping me as much I still had a great time reading this book. I really enjoy reading about Robbie's daily life seeing how she handles her restaurant, reading about all the food they make and seeing her interactions with friends, family, acquaintances and suspects. I like Robbie and I like the daily life aspect of these cozies. I also think Robbie handles the investigation quite smart most of the time.
To summarize: Another good installment in this cozy mystery series. While the mystery didn't grip me as much in this book, I enjoyed reading about Robbie's daily life, the people around her and her restaurant. The mystery started off a bit gruesome with the way the murder took place and I thought there wasn't as much progress throughout the book for the mystery. I didn't like how the confrontation at the end took place and how that was the only reason Robbie solved the mystery. I did like seeing how everything fell on it's place at the end and the reveal made sense. I liked reading about Robbie and how she's now living together with her husband, her daily life and work at the restaurant are fun to read about.
The start of the mystery hit me a bit harder than most cozies as I thought the way the murder took place felt quite gruesome with a blind person sitting right next to the victim while she got killed. Luckily after that the focus is more on finding who did it than the way she got killed. Even so for some reason this mystery didn't fully grasp me. It also felt that for a long time Robbie wasn't really getting anywhere, clues are slow to come in and no suspects get ruled out till the end when the murderer is revealed. Then the end confrontation with the murder felt kinda forced with how Robbie went somewhere alone for something she hadn't thought of before. And the only way she solved the mystery was because of that confrontation. I thought the reveal of the murderer made sense and I liked seeing it all fall on it's place.
Despite the mystery not gripping me as much I still had a great time reading this book. I really enjoy reading about Robbie's daily life seeing how she handles her restaurant, reading about all the food they make and seeing her interactions with friends, family, acquaintances and suspects. I like Robbie and I like the daily life aspect of these cozies. I also think Robbie handles the investigation quite smart most of the time.
To summarize: Another good installment in this cozy mystery series. While the mystery didn't grip me as much in this book, I enjoyed reading about Robbie's daily life, the people around her and her restaurant. The mystery started off a bit gruesome with the way the murder took place and I thought there wasn't as much progress throughout the book for the mystery. I didn't like how the confrontation at the end took place and how that was the only reason Robbie solved the mystery. I did like seeing how everything fell on it's place at the end and the reveal made sense. I liked reading about Robbie and how she's now living together with her husband, her daily life and work at the restaurant are fun to read about.
gwenm's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0