It's a sticky murder. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this cozy murder mystery that revolved around a Maple syrup festival. Robbie's witnesses a couple of people arguing with a visiting professor who is later discovered dead by Robbie's aunt. Robbie's employee at her country shop and her friend are both personally involved in the investigation. Robbie gets involved because of her curiosity and love of puzzle solving. All the while she has to run her country shop/restaurant. I liked the main and side story lines including the little romance side story, it seemed more realistic than in other murder mysteries I've read. Add to this the recipes at the end of the book and you have a wonderful combination for an afternoon curled up on the couch reading.

Biscuits and Slashed Browns is the fourth book in Maddie Day’s Country Store Mysteries series. This is an easy read and it flows smoothly at a steady pace. The storyline is well plotted and the characters are relatable. Ms. Day did an excellent job of incorporating the local dialect in the “spoken” words, but not in the narrative, which I believe adds to the readability of her book and allowed the characters to come to life. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy reading a well-crafted cozy mystery.

Robbie Jordan owns a cafe/antique cookware shop, Pans ‘N Pancakes, in South Lick, Indiana. The town is getting ready for the Fifth Annual Brown County Maple Festival and Pans ‘N Pancakes is hosting the kickoff culinary competition and Robbie is one of eight contestants. During the competition, one of the judges, Professor Warren Connolly, chokes after stuffing a biscuit into his mouth. Robbie tries to get to him, but isn’t able to. Robbie’s boyfriend, Abe O’Neill, and performs the Heimlich on him. Professor Connolly is an arrogant and obstinate know-it-all academic who teaches and researches at Boston College and seems to make enemies wherever he goes, so it isn’t surprising that no one else made a move to help him. The next morning, Robbie’s aunt, Adele, finds Warren’s body behind the woodpile near Sijit Rao’s sugar shack. He was stabbed to death with an expensive chef’s knife that belongs to one of Robbie’s friends and fellow chefs, Christina. Robbie knows she should to keep out of Detective Oscar Thompson’s investigation, but she loves a good puzzle and is determined to clear Sijit’s name since he’s the father of one of her employees, Turner.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Maddie Day has a way with cozies and her Biscuits and Slashed Browns continues to prove that. This is Robbie Jordan’s fourth adventure in South Lick, IN, where she owns the Pans ‘N Pancakes, a combination diner and vintage cookware store. An unpopular professor from Boston, visiting South Lick as a participant in a panel on maple trees during the annual maple extravaganza, has managed to irritate other scientists with his views. The professor is later found murdered, on property belonging to a local expert with whom he argued, by Robbie’s aunt Adele.

As usual, Ms. Day has created an interesting mystery, with several suspects, plenty of twists and a comfortable pace. Using characters close to Robbie as suspects worked as a clever way to share more information about their backgrounds within the context of the story. Ms. Day’s ability to create characters that feel real, including having flaws, is why her stories are so engaging and a joy to read.

BISCUITS AND SLASHED BROWNS by Maddie Day
Warning, may cause insomnia and/or dereliction of chores. My cure for insomnia is a cup of warm milk with a smidgeon of rum and reading to a point where Robbie preps the kitchen for the next morning’s rush and goes to sleep. No cure for neglected chores; they can just wait.

Despite her best intentions and her friends’ warnings, Robbie can’t help turning her puzzle-solving mind to mystery, especially when the shadow of murder falls upon friends she is SURE are innocent. It's a very engrossing book, with many little clues to intrigue. I do appreciate it when murder victims are not nice people . . . one still disapproves of murder, but it's not a tragic loss. Many twists and turns. “Since when did life ever go as planned?” I felt for Robbie when kitchen help fell through and Pans ‘N Pancakes was busy — thank goodness for helpful friends! (Reminded of why I stopped playing Diner Dash, too nerve-wracking with unhappy customers).

In addition to the mystery, there are friendships and cooking and maple syrup making. These people begin to feel like real friends, so I want to tell Betsy about the combination lockbox our Ambulance Service installed to hold front door keys, so she won’t be locked out ever again. I felt sorry for the guy having oatmeal on Italian Day, could some herbs be added so he has something special?

I was intrigued by the Leatherdos multi-tool (I looked it up) but fear it wouldn’t stay in my hair either. I also looked up Gruelle paintings — lovely indeed.

The regional expressions were a bonus pleasure.
If you don’t like this book, “I’ll eat my hat and swallow the feather whole.”
“A river dirt cheap” for now.

Another great addition to the series and very enjoyable, just wish I could see the renovation in progress. Looking forward to Robbie's Dad's visit.

This was a quick, fun read! I can't wait to hear how Robbie's visit with her dad goes. Good mystery. Very enjoyable! Already looking forward to the next one! Maddie Day never disappoints!!

This is an entertaining addition to a fun series. Robbie Jordan is living in South Lick, Indiana where she runs a small breakfast and lunch restaurant. She is enmeshed in preparations for the town's Maple Festival and her restaurant is hosting the judging for a food based contest. One of the judges, Wayne Connolly, is in town for a symposium at the university and has had run ins with several people, both personally and professionally due to his being a climate change denier. During the food tasting Connolly almost chokes to death, only saved by Robbie's boyfriend Abe giving him a Heimlich maneuver. The next day, however, Conolly is found stabbed to death with a knife belonging to Robbie's friend Christina. With her employee Tanner's father, who also argued with Connolly missing, and her friend suspected, Robbie once again puts her sleuthing talents to the test. This is an enjoyable mystery with a plethora of suspects, an engaging lead character and a wonderful look at life in a small town. I highly recommend it.