Robbie has her hands full getting ready for the Maple Syrup Festival. Her helper is out injured and there's conflict with the recently hired helper, Turner. Sticky situation when the father, also a professor, is the main suspect and disappears. When he reappears, he is arrested. Robbie's interference leads to increased tension for Turner and his family. Mona steps in to help as best she can.

The mystery is solid and there are unexpected turns - the killer isn't obvious until the end. There are tensions in relationships and surprises there as well. I liked Robbie as a main character and she handles situations in ways that are realistic. I also liked Turner as he navigates who he is. This is the fourth in the Country Store Mystery series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

I always look forward to a new release in this series and this fourth book doesn't disappoint. If you haven't read the first three (which you should!), this story is easily read as a standalone novel.

There's a Maple Syrup Festival going on in South Lick, and that means Robbie has her hands full. She is hosting a cooking competition, feeding tourists, and trying to take in some of the festival activities as well. And that's BEFORE she has a murder to solve.

I love the people of South Lick and getting to know more about them in each book. Seeing Robbie's relationship with Abe grow and deepen is fun, and I am looking forward to when Robbie's father and stepmother visit her from Italy. Aunt Adele is a real character, and always good for a few laughs.

There are lots of twists and turns in the plot, leaving the reader guess as to the identity of the killer right up to the minute of the big reveal. Check it out soon if you enjoy a cozy Midwestern mystery.

This is the fourth book in the series. It had a lot of fun one-liners such as: "Did the Pope have purple pajamas?" and "River dirt cheap." Lots of phrazes kept me entertained. There were two leads on who the killer is- but are they? Recipes included.

It’s the National Maple Syrup festival in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie Jordan, local chef and proprietor, holds the kickoff culinary competition in her restaurant and vintage cookware store, Pans ‘N Pancakes. One of the judges, a disagreeable Professor, Warren Connolly, suffers a choking episode, nearly turning a fun day into a disaster if not for Robbie’s beau, Abe O’Neill, who comes to the man’s rescue. Thankfully he was there since Robbie observed that those in close proximity to the professor didn’t move an inch to help him. Tragically, when said professor is found dead soon thereafter, Robbie recalls some of the instances of quarreling between Connolly and a couple of her friends and acquaintances before he met his demise. One of those acquaintances has gone missing, and Robbie’s friends are quickly moving up on the suspect list. Can Robbie find the killer and absolve her friends before she winds up toast herself?

Biscuits and Slashed Browns is Book 4 in the Country Store Mystery series, and I enjoyed it. There were viable suspects and overall it was a good mystery. I chuckled at the Hoosier dialect and comical sayings, such as, “...with a lawyer stuck to him tighter than snot on a hot oven door.” LOL. I have read three of the four books in this series, and while this one was not my favorite, it’s still recommended. For the best experience I would suggest getting acquainted with the characters by starting with Book 1 in the series.

Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Books, and Netgalley, for an E-ARC of Biscuits and Slashed Browns in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

Biscuits and Slash Browns by Maddie Day is the 4th book in the Country Store Mystery series, and another delightful book. Robbie Jordan owns Pans N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana. Pans N Pancakes is a country store selling antique cook ware along with a diner serving breakfast and lunch. Robbie is a likable character, that makes you want to go into Pans N Pancakes for a breakfast and a chat. As the town gets ready for the annual maple extravaganza, Professor Connolly from Boston rubs everyone the wrong way with his know it all attitude, and when he turns up dead Robbie is determined to fine the real killer. I strongly recommend this book/series for cozy mystery book fans. The story is fast paced with a lot of character development and mystery that keeps your attention. I look forward to reading the in the next book in this series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Whenever there is a festival in a tourist town, no matter the time of year, you can expect crowds to descend and the usual pace of activity to quicken. Robbie Jordan has been doing alright with her Pancake restaurant and is glad for some extra help, but when her regular helper is sidelined with an injury, and the father of her new best helper is arrested for murder, it can be difficult to focus only on keeping the tourists fed and happy.
A quick pace drives this cozy mystery where Robbie's nose for trouble, overactive sense of curiosity and loyalty to friends won't allow her to rest until all seems peaceful again. Sadly, the trouble seems to come to her own doorstep.
Full of home grown phraseology and tense moments of worry and sad memories multiplying for Robbie, the reader wants to solve this mystery as much to ease the restauranteur's worry as to find justice.

I accepted this book to review. The opinions are 100% my own

It’s always a delight to open a new book in a long-enjoyed series and visit with friends. Such is the case with BISCUITS AND SLASHED BROWNS, the fourth book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. The protagonist, Robbie Jordan, is a no-nonsense, can-do type of young woman. Not only is she a great chef at her restaurant, Pans ‘N Pancakes, in South Lick, Indiana, but she is also a skilled carpenter. Robbie has a keen intelligence, solving the hardest crossword puzzles (in ink, no less!) and creates her own crossword puzzles when trying to figure out murder mysteries. She is an admirable character who cares for not only her friends but the townspeople and visitors alike. The town of South Lick is preparing for the fifth annual National Maple Syrup Festival and Robbie is gearing up by creating maple themed dishes. I enjoyed the bits and pieces about the maple production along with the description of festivities the town has planned.

When a visiting professor is found murdered after arguing with Robbie’s assistant’s father, Robbie knows she needs to get involved. Even when the family appears to be hiding something and clearly does not want her help, Robbie is driven to find the truth. She feels a compelling urge to protect her town especially when it appears the local law enforcement is on the wrong track. I love how the community rallies behind each other, pitching in to help each other no matter what. The local colloquialisms are quaint and adds to the charm of both the characters and the setting. Ms. Day captures the essence of a small mid-west farming community perfectly, and I could see and experience it all as I read. There are plenty of viable suspects provided to keep you guessing and a suspenseful, dangerous climax wraps the story up for an exciting ending.

Robbie, being such a great cook, serves up lots of delectable dishes at Pans ‘N Pancakes, often with an ethnic culinary theme involved. Fortunately for the reader, the author provides several delicious recipes at the back of the book.

Biscuits and Slashed Browns is a delightful addition to the Country Store Mystery series. It's the 4th in the series and can be read as a stand alone. I enjoy this entire series and recommend the previous books.
In this next in series. our protagonist Robbie finds herself immersed in a dangerous sleuth. While managing her restaurant she has found she has a knack for solving crimes. She did not hesitate to solve the murder of a visiting obnoxious scientist during a maple syrup lecture series.
This next in series has all the right elements of the perfect cozy mystery series. The author has a pleasing writing style and the location of the small town, food and local color are all written to perfection . The sleuth is always well crafted and challenging to figure out. I was unable to part with this book until the end . A great addition to a well loved series.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy which does not influence my personal opinion.

Robbie, the owner of Pans N' Pancakes, finds herself embroiled in another murder this time a well known and hated professor from Boston who is in town for the National Maple Syrup Festival. Unfortunately, the list of suspects is as long as her menu and involves almost everyone she knows. Can Robbie figure out who the killer is before she becomes the target?

I requested this book on NetGalley on a whim because it takes place in Brown County, Indiana which is where my husband and I spent our first mini-moon. A place we fell in love with because of the small town feel and the friendliness of the community. As I read I could picture Pans N' Pancakes in this beautiful little community.

This is the fourth book in the A Country Store Mystery but can very easily be read as a stand alone. This was my first book I have read in this series and I had absolutely no trouble understanding who was who. Robbie is your quintessential girl next door. Everyone loves her and she has the town police eating out of her hand. You cannot stay mad at her. I think she makes the perfect amateur sleuth. Sweet enough to get what she wants but strong enough to follow leads on her own.

Another new series for me to add to my already extensive series I want to get caught up on in 2018.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for a copy to read in exchange for my own honest review written in my own words.

Summary from Goodreads:

"For country-store owner Robbie Jordan, the National Maple Syrup Festival is a sweet escape from late-winter in South Lick, Indiana--until murder saps the life out of the celebration . . .

As Robbie arranges a breakfast-themed cook-off at Pans 'N Pancakes, visitors pour into Brown County for the annual maple extravaganza. Unfortunately, that includes Professor Connolly, a know-it-all academic from Boston who makes enemies everywhere he goes--and this time, bad manners prove deadly. Soon after clashing with several scientists at a maple tree panel, the professor is found dead outside a sugar shack, stabbed to death by a local restaurateur's knife. When an innocent woman gets dragged into the investigation and a biologist mysteriously disappears, Robbie drops her winning maple biscuits to search for answers. But can she help police crack the case before another victim is caught in a sticky situation with a killer?"

My Thoughts:

This cozy mystery series is a personal favorite of mine so I've been waiting impatiently to get my hands on this book. There is just something so delightful about diving back into this series with each book. They have almost become comfort reads at this point as I know to expect mouthwatering descriptions of all sorts of food along with a mystery that keeps me guessing. In this book, Robbie gets involved in the search for a killer after her aunt comes across a body during the Maple Syrup Festival. Robbie's knack for puzzles and natural curiosity always seem to pull her into investigating which in turn leads her into trouble. I loved that with this book we got to see all of the characters that we know and love but also were introduced to a few new ones. My favorite parts of the book though are the times when Robbie is working in her restaurant. I love the little details that are included about prepping the various foods that she is going to serve. The times when she is actually working in her restaurant and interacting with her customers are just so fun to read about!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought it was another good addition to this series. I feel like you basically know what you are getting when picking up these books but that isn't a bad thing. It is just that feeling of visiting with old friends - I look forward to these books so that I can dive into this world once again. It is going to be another long wait for the next book to be released but it will be worth the wait! I'm actually really excited because it looks like we will be getting the fifth book this year as well. You can certainly read this book as a standalone but I would recommend reading the series in order if possible. There are pieces from previous books that you will miss out on otherwise. Overall, this is a cozy series that I highly recommend! One of my favorites and one that I wait impatiently for each new book on.

Bottom Line: Another great addition to one of my favorite cozy mystery series!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

Biscuits and Slashed Browns is another wonderful book Maddie Day's Country Store Mystery series. It is Brown County Maple Syrup Festival time and the town of South Lick, IN is gearing up for several fun events such as cook-offs,sugaring off events, and other celebratory events during the festival. The festival, unfortunately, brought in some judges for the cook-off that aren't exactly well-liked by residents or newcomers to the area or festival, in general. When one of the more boisterous visitors, Professor Connolly, is found dead behind a sugar shack on the property of one of Robbie's employees, the festival becomes less festive - especially when the murder weapon is from the kitchen of one of Robbie's friends. To complicate matters, the father of Robbie's employee goes missing after an altercation with the now dead professor. There is a killer running loose in South Lick and with new detective on the case and Robbie working behind the scenes to figure out what happened and why, there is bound to be excitement, misunderstands, and maybe a bit of disobedience on the part of Robbie.

The plot of Biscuits and Slashed Browns is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing about a lot of different things. The author did a great job adding different plot lines into the story and then connecting them all at the end. The whos, whats, and whys of the story are engaging and the reader will not want to put down the book. There are several characters introduced in the book who could be the killer. I was taken on a suspenseful ride that produced evidence of one character being the murderer then turning around and providing evidence that pointed to someone else. Eventually I was able to narrow it down and pretty much figured out who actually did it but the story was fun and exciting despite having an idea of who committed the murder.

The character development continues on in Biscuits and Slashed Browns as we continue to get to know Robbie, Abe, and the rest of the cast. Robbie is a great main character. She's realistically written as a kind, generous person who had a dream and worked hard to make it a reality. She treats people with respect and dignity, the perfect person to work in a retail/food establishment. She gets involved in things she shouldn't much to the chagrin of the police department but her heart is in the right place. Her relationship with Abe is sweet despite the small bit of tension that crops up in Biscuits and Slashed Brown. All of the secondary characters all have their perfect places within the pages of the novel.

I enjoyed the world building in South Lick, Indiana. The interwoven storylines keep the story fresh, exciting, and engaging. If you are looking for a cozy mystery that is fast paced (never a dull moment) and will keep you on the edge of your seat, I suggest you give Biscuits and Slashed Browns a try!

A special thank you to the publisher for a review copy!

Biscuits and Slashed Browns is a delightful addition to the Country Store Mystery series. It's the 4th in the series, but you don't have to read the other books to know what's going on. A climate change denier scientist is killed. Did another scientist kill him? Did his death have something to do with his estranged daughter? Or was the murderer pushed over the edge by how he judged a baking contest at the National Maple Syrup Festival? It's up to the owner of Pans n' Pancakes, Robbie Jordan to find out. There's intrigue, lots of twists, and some romantic intrigue to flavor this delicious cozy mystery. I enjoyed visiting with the quirky characters and trying to outguess the police. What a fun book! **Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the book. My opinion is my own.

Every time I read a new book in this series, I think it's the best one yet. This one did not disappoint! South Lick is having a maple syrup festival and one of the judges ends up murdered so of course Robbie is going to do her best to find out what happened so that none of her friends ends up being blamed. As always she has to watch her back so the murderer doesn't make her the next headline.

I love how Abe and Robbie's relationship is growing. It's refreshing that he doesn't get on her case for investigating even though he gets worried about her. Danna was away for most of the book and I missed her fun, quirkiness but Adele was there so at least I feel like I got my share of favorite characters that I've grown to love. Turner is a new employee but he fits right in.

I found myself missing Octavia Slade who has been detective in the last two books but this time we have a guy who is local but back from whatever leave he was on.

Like all the books in this series, one of the ongoing themes is family and that it doesn't always have to be people related to you to be your family. That's one of the things I love about cozies, the warm family feeling to be had.

This is a perfect traditional cozy mystery, adding to the quaint series. Setting the bar for 21st century cozies, Day intelligently and seamlessly weaves in political issues without taking away the "escapist" element sought by readers.

Love Maddie days books.
What a great series, brilliant read a lot of drama going on and a good plot . I had sort of guessed who the killer could be but not sue why.
Many thanks net gally and Kensington books for giving me a chance to read and review this book.

An academic conference in small town Indiana on maple tree science brings together a group of scientists plus an obnoxious non science believer. When he ends up murdered, country store restaurant owner Robbie Jordan soon finds herself involved in the investigation which has no shortage of suspects.

The author does a good job of creating the small town feel and humors us with some great sayings. I liked that the conflict was relevant to what is going on now in society without being political.

You could read this book, #4 in the Country Store Mysteries series, as a stand alone. However, I think you'd have a better understanding of the setting and characters if you had read at least one of the first three stories. I received an ARC of this story in exchange for a honest review.

This is my first cosy read by Maddie Day, but I am a big fan of her alter ego’s novels. This was a real treat, and I really need to find time to catch up with the rest of this series.

Robbie Jordan is the proprietor of Pans ‘N Pancakes, a popular store in South Lick for breakfast and lunch. We join her on one of the busiest weeks of the year as there is a conference nearby and lots of extra activity both to entertain those attendees and attract tourists to the area.

The small town setting is perfect for a murder .. plenty of suspects among the residents and visitors. The mystery itself is well thought out and planned – the clues are there. Oh, but the descriptions of food! Plenty of the items are strange to this reader from central Scotland but that didn’t stop my mouth watering and my tummy rumbling. I would be in there each morning for breakfast if Robbie’s shop was local to me!

The language is wonderful and very entertaining – again, not something we hear around these parts every day and my other half has been much amused – and somewhat puzzled – by my turn of phrase whilst reading this one. He better get used to it cos I can’t wait to read more! There is so much going on that you never weary of reading, and by the final page all the loose ends are neatly tied up – my favourite kind of read!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to lovers of ‘cozy’ mysteries. My thanks to the publisher Kensington for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

During the National Maple Syrup Festival, Robbie Jordan arranges a breakfast-themed cook-off at Pans 'N Pancakes. The judges include Professor Connolly, who almost chokes to death at the event, but is saved by Robbie's love interest, Abe. But the next day, Connolly is not so lucky and is found stabbed to death with a chef's knife, and his body is found on the family farm on one of Robbie's workers. Can Robbie help the police crack the case before another victim is caught in a sticky situation with a killer?

This series is like comfort food to me. The town of Salt Lick is wonderfully drawn, and the colorful characters that live there make me laugh and I'm always glad to visit with them again.

Maddie Day draws Robbie as an independent woman who still has her insecurities, and that makes her very realistic. To me she is a person I could be friends with, and I would love to sit down with her with tea and chocolate biscotti.

On the mystery end, I like the way Robbie works with the police. She doesn't see herself as being above them, which added to my enjoyment of the story. The clues were there, and I followed them and figured out whodunit, and savored the ride that took me to the end.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Ms. Day dropped a little clue as to what might be happening, and I'm sure it will be quite an enjoyable tale. Kudos, Ms. Day. I hope we return to Salt Lick for many more adventures.

I received a copy of this book from the publishers through NetGalley.

Another great installment in this cozy mystery series. The mystery was well planned with many suspicious characters that had me guessing until the end. I look forward to the next book in the series where hopefully Robbie's Italian family will play a role.

I finished reading Biscuits and Slashed Browns Friday. This is the 4th book in the Country Store Mystery Series by Maddie Day. This one had a ripped from the headlines feel with two interesting storylines for a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the idea of the environmental side and the medical side of the twists and turns of this mystery. Main character Robbie has her hands full and is kept very busy in this cozy mystery. With staff issues, a maple festival and a town full of scientists, she is already run off her feet, add a murder to the list of things Robbie takes on and you realize just how amazingly complicated her life can become. Good read. I enjoyed the story. This one comes out January 30th.