I really enjoyed this book, the fifth book in the Country Store Mystery series. I have not read all the books, however I had no problems jumping into this book like a standalone.

The story is about Robbie Jordan, owner of a restaurant/country store called Pans N' Pancakes in South Lick, IN. This is near and dear to my heart, because even though South Lick is fictional, the other towns where the story is set like Bloomington and French Lick are real. I have read very few mysteries set in Indiana, where I'm from, so this is a nice change of pace.

I enjoyed this story because in this story, Robbie is really initially trying to stay out of the investigation, but gets sucked in anyway. Locals and visitors hail her as a great sleuth and they look to her for answers to these small town murders.

I thought this was a fun read. I enjoy the way the author writes and I look forward to more books in the series! I'd recommend this book to any cozy mystery lover.

A good book. Well written with great characters and a good plot. The storyline flows and the mystery is enjoyable. I highly recommend.,

I would like to thank Kensington Books for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book, via Netgalley. The decision to read this book is my choice and any reviews given are obligation free.

Hello, yes, I’m back… reviews are still not as regular as I’d like them to be, but let’s get going with another fantastic book by one of my favourite authors. And yes, this is another book I read in the last year or so and am only just leaving a review for now. Slack of me I know… Especially as it’s just become 2021!

Don’t worry, one of my Neuro Divergent superpowers is to be able to remember books I’ve enjoyed for years to come as if I’d just read them. Don’t believe me, challenge me some time. ;-)

Okay, let’s get to it!

‘Death Over Easy’ is book 5 in Maddie Day’s ‘A Country Store Mystery’ series. In it we get to know Robbie’s father and his wife, get to immerse ourselves in more local culture and music of South Lick and, of course, get some rather yummy recipes at the end of the book. ;-) On top of that we get shown a little Bluegrass music, thrown a few red herrings and, of course, get lumped with a murder or two.

As with the other books in the ‘A Country Store Mystery’ series, all these things were mixed together and balanced perfectly. Just the right amount of this and a touch of that. We get to learn more about not just Robbie, but her estranged father, life in Brown County, music, and love. Seriously, all the right things to balance out murder and crime to make a cosy mystery just that: cosy.

As to the book nerd side of things? Well, I did receive an ARC and so didn’t expect a perfectly polished piece. All the same, the usual high quality I’ve come to expect from Kensington Books was there. Perfect formatting for Kindle on my various devices, barely a glitch or typo missed by the editor. Good formatting and editing, even for an ARC, always makes me like a book just that little bit more, as it means the publisher is offering quality work, not just churning things out to try and make a profit.

Would I recommend this book to others?

Yes I would, but I’m sure you’ve already guessed that. I would, however, not recommend it as a standalone. It’s a great addition to an already enjoyable series and to do the book, the author, and the reader justice, I feel it should be read as part of the series and not just on its own. But I say that about all books in a series. I’m not a fan of reading them as standalone books. You miss out on so much!

Would I buy this book for myself?

Yes I would, in fact I have bought other books in the ‘A Country Store Mystery’ series to ensure I read them all in order. ‘Death over easy’ is definitely one I would buy if I’d not been able to get the ARC. As an eBook (my preferred format) they are well priced and definitely something my budget can afford. No overpriced eBooks here!

In summary: ‘Death over easy’ is a fantastic addition to the ‘A Country Store Mystery’ series, and also an enjoyable window into South Lick, Brown County, and Robbie Jordan’s life. Highly recommended.

Until next time,

Janis.

Love this series and wish I could visit Robbie's restaurant. Always a treat to read. I look forward to revisiting Indiana soon.

This was a very intriguing mystery. I wasn't sure who the killers were. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in this series.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

This is such a great series! I love the small midwest town, the diner and the fun characters (especially Buck!) and I'm a huge fan of Bluegrass, so it already had a bunch of elements I love. I loved "meeting" Robbie's father and stepmother at long last and they were involved in the story thanks to a tie to the murder victim, so they weren't just background noise. A great, quick paced plot revolving around a pair or murders kept me turning pages and the exciting conclusion made for a really satisfying read.

There is so much to love about Death Over Easy, a wonderful Country Store Mystery featuring the Pans 'N Pancakes Cafe and Country Store with its just-opened upstairs Bed and Breakfast, a bluegrass festival, a great cast of characters, and murder. Robbie Jordan has her plate full with everything going on with her cafe and store, visiting family, the B & B, and the festival, but is enjoying her new business venture. However, when some of the B & B's guests become murder suspects, an uneasy Robbie decides she needs to get to the bottom of things.

I felt transported to South Lick, Indiana when reading this book, with its great atmosphere, Indiana colloquialisms, and mouth-watering recipes. It was fun learning about bluegrass music, and the festival in the neighboring town of Beanblossom, Indiana makes a great backdrop for this story. This book was an enjoyable page-turner, and I highly recommend it.

I don't know what took me so long to read this book - I loved it! Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The setting and characters were wonderful. The plot was entertaining and engaging! I can't wait for the next one in the series!

Death Over Easy is the fifth book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. I love that this is a stand-alone read. Maddie does a nice job of filling in the blanks for anyone who hasn't read the series before.

Death Over Easy finds Robbie Jordan's Italian father, Roberto Fracasso, whom she recently connected with and his wife Maria visiting her in South Lick, Indiana. Their visit just so happens to coincide with the Bluegrass Music Festival. This is also the first time Robbie has opened up her bed and breakfast to guests. The three rooms are conveniently located above Pans ‘N Pancakes, Robbie’s restaurant/store. In addition to her father and his wife, Beth Ferguson and her partner Ed Molina are renting a room. The third room is being rented by Chase Broward, a local councillor who has ambitions of running for Senate.

Things seem to be going smoothly until everyone is out for the first night of the festival. Abe O’Neill, Robbie's boyfriend, gets into the very public argument with Pia Bianchi, a singer and student at the local college. Pia seems to have a knack for being rude and rubbing people the wrong way. She also seems to be a user and manipulator. Pia convinces Sue Berry, the lady in charge of the festival, that they are friends and gets Sue to loan her a large sum of money that Pia refuses to pay back. In a strange coincidence, it turns out Roberto and Maria know Pia’s family back in Italy. When Pia’s body is discovered, Robbie can't help but wonder who would have killed Pia and why. It seems the suspect list is pretty long. Unfortunately, Pia’s life isn’t the only one to end in this installment of the Country Store Mystery series. A beloved member of the community is also killed. Questions about who and why continue to mount and before Robbie knows it, she and the people she loves are in danger.

Maddie Day has once again written a good mystery with Death Over Easy. I love returning to South Lick and spending time with Robbie, her friends, and family. If I'm being honest, I figured out part of the whodunit but I kept questioning myself. There is a stunning development that I didn’t see coming. I cannot wait to return to South Lick. Oh, and since Robbie owns Pans ‘N Pancakes you can be sure to find some tasty recipes in the back of the book.

Another 5 star offering from Maddie Day, in this the fifth outing for Robbie, she has finished all the work to allow her to open as a B & B and just in time for the annual Bluegrass Festival, which means some of the participants are staying above Pans 'N Pancakes (mind you she DID hold back the best room so that her father, Roberto, and his wife, Maria, can also stay), everything seems to be going smoothly until a few altercations happen at the Festival, all of which involve one particular person, the problem is she ends up dead, well and truly murdered the following day and with a Plethora of suspects (some of which are staying at the B & B!) that would be bad enough but then there is another death, and the Police need to figure out if this is a copycat killing or do they have a serial killer on the loose around South Lick.

With Pans 'N Pancakes becoming an unofficial office for the local Police, Roberto and Maria ending up staying longer than they thought (although that bit was nice for Robbie) and even more suspects Robbie wants to find out what happened and why so that she and her assistants can get back to doing what they do best, cooking the best breakfasts and lunches in the area.

Robbie has had the best little restaurant in South Lick, Indiana and now she is turning it into the best little B&B. Her debut coincides with the annual Blue Grass festival bringing in all sorts of business for both the B&B and the café which features breakfast and lunch. Some of her first guests include performers and her very own Dad whom she had only recently become acquainted with after a lifetime of not knowing who he was. What sounds like a picture perfect start to a new venture turns deadly when a guest is found strangled by a banjo cord. So many suspects to choose from and not just the banjo players. There is the vet with PTSD, jealous former partners, and a handful of others. Local police make way for the big boys who are actually listening to Robbie as she sifts through the flour for her pancakes and the clues for her answers. Great story, am loving how this series is developing as each character is introduced.

I have been enjoying this series and this one did not disappoint. Pan's and Pancakes is open for business in South Lick Indiana and the Beanblossom Blue Grass festival is in full swing. This weekend is also her first weekend open as a BB and her father and his wife are visiting from Italy. When a local musician is found dead and her father's wife and other BB guests are all suspects she sets out to solve the crime. I like it that Robbie does actually work her business. She investigates by keeping her ears open and just listening. Everything that she learns she passes along to police. Since many of the suspects are staying at her BB the police do a lot of their investigating and interviewing there. The characters and the small Indiana Town setting are fun. The mystery was good and the solution made sense. However it was easy to figure out. This series does not have to read in order. It was a quick enjoyable read and I look for word to reading more in this series. The recipes in the back sound good too.

There is so much going on in Robbie Jordan's life in South Lick, Indiana. She has just opened the B&B portion of her business, her father and his wife are visiting from Italy and in nearby Beanblossom the Bill Monroe Blue Grass festival is in full swing. When one of the performers is found murdered and several of her guests are on the suspect list (including her father and his wife), she takes it upon herself to ask questions and snoop around. Shortly after she begins her sleuthing, another prominent member of the community is also killed, garrotted with a banjo string, the same as the first victim.

It is great to read this series and meet up with all my favourite characters. Adele and Samuel made several appearances and Phil supplied his yummy desserts. We got to see a lot of Abe and Robbie together, and it is nice to see how their relationship is growing. Even the mayor had her part in her own bluegrass band. I found that rather humorous, as she always seemed so straight laced. Danna, Robbie's assistant not only was working, but her boyfriend was a suspect and she made several appearances. There was a bit of a reference to PTSD in the story, but it was not a focal point, just a fact. The reveal of the killer(s) was amazing. Once the mystery started to be unraveled, I couldn't wait to find out who was responsible. Not only did Robbie find herself in danger, but so did some of the others close to her. A fantastic ending and it is going to be tough to top this one in her next book. Bravo Maddie Day. The publisher, Kensington Publisher, generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Death Over Easy is the fifth book in this series, but my first one read. The backstory is sufficiently explicated, and the characters are engaging enough that I intend to catch up with previous books. As to this one, Robbie Jordan runs a breakfast restaurant and small B&B in Indiana when a bluegrass festival comes. Her newly discovered father and wife from Italy have come for a visit when an Italian music student is discovered nearby. Another new cozy series to add to my list of favorites.

I enjoy this series, Country Store. This is book 5 I've read all the previous books and this one is a great catch up for all the characters and has Robbie's father visiting from Italy with his wife. Robbie found out him after her mother died and they are now getting to know each other. The Bluegrass festival is in town and several of the performers are renting rooms from Robbie in her newly opened B&B. Murder again finds South Lick, Indiana and Robbie helping the local police solve 2 crimes. This series is a good read and presents a good mystery. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Title: Death Over Easy

Author: Maddie Day

Series: Country store mystery book 5

Chapters: 49

Pages: 304

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Death Over Easy is the fifth book in the Country Store mysteries by Maddie Day, Robbie Jordan has finally gotten her bed and breakfast part of her restaurant and country store up and running. Just in time for the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival in Beanblossom to bring in customers. The Bluegrass Festival in this book is based on an actual festival I believe by the same name. I actually been to it.
Robbie has sworn off solving murders but yet another one seems to have landed in her lap, and it is sort of personal because her boyfriend Abe happens to be a suspect. And to top it all off her father and step-mother are visiting from Italy. Robbie is in a race to find the killer before she or someone she loves becomes the next victim.
Like with all of the previous Country Store mysteries I enjoyed this one as well. I love reading about the trouble that Robbie and her friends get into. Though I believe South Lick is a fictional Southern Indiana small-town. I can picture the town and the surrounding area in my mind as I am reading. As I grew up just across the river from southern Indiana in Kentucky I'm familiar with the area. Reading these books are like taken a mini vacation. Death Over Easy is a quick and enjoyable cozy mystery and I would recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day takes place at a Bluegrass Music Festival in Indiana. There are two murders which have to be solved and Robbie Jordan sets out to do just that as one of the performers is found choked to death by a banjo string in Robbie’s new bed and breakfast. This was a cleverly weaved book with lovable characters. The backdrop portrayed a pleasant small town atmosphere. Well done and well worth the read. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Death Over Easy wasn't my favorite in this series by Maddie Day. It was just ok. I did enjoy the visit with Robbie's father and stepmom but the story kind of dragged.

This is an interesting cozy mystery. Likeable characters and a great setting for the story add to an intriguing plot with lots of twists and turns. I liked this author’s writing style. The dialogue between characters flows well. This is a clean cozy mystery with no foul language. I enjoyed this story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy this series. From the quaint shop to the characters there is never a dull moment in my mind while envisioning this story line. Robbie is back and ready for a grooving good time, till well… death enters. She was on cloud nine with the chance to expand into her B&B and then wham! Enter the death and mystery.

Now as far as mysteries go this one winds up the staircase and back. Let me tell you the scene with the murderer is epic. Truly, there should be an award for the best encounter and climatic scene in a mystery, this book has it. Your eyes might pop out! I couldn’t believe that it was this good, so I read it again. It didn’t disappoint. I have to say I was truly thrilled and delighted to read this book.