Robbie Jordan owns a restaurant and B&B back in Indiana, but right now she's in California, where she grew up, to attend her tenth high school reunion. She's going solo, because none of the attendees are bringing their significant others, so she's spending time with people she knew in high school -- basically her friend Alana, who works in chemistry, and her friend Jason, who's a cybertech for the police department. Who she can do without is the mean girl from school -- Katherine Russom, who obviously is still holding a grudge for some long ago infraction Robbie did to her in high school, that Robbie can't even remember.

While there she's staying at a B&B that offers excellent Mexican food, and she's also sampling much of the local fare that she can't get back in Indiana. But learning more about Agrosafe, the company that Katherine's father Walter owns, and has been peddling to farmers around the area, has her wondering if her mother wasn't a victim of poisoning to get her out of the way. After speaking with a friend of her mother's, Paul, he's soon found dead and Robbie tells the police to check for poison. Now she's on her own mission - to find out more about Agrosafe, her mother and Paul's death, and if either of their deaths were intentional...if only she doesn't get put out of the way herself...

This is the seventh book in the series and I've read all of them. There were a couple of things that bothered me, so I'll get those out of the way first: I've actually never been to a high-school reunion that didn't allow spouses or significant others. It even seems odd that someone would want to go without them. That's half the fun - introducing your spouse to the people you went to school with, so they can put faces to the stories you tell. Also, I didn't like the fact that Robbie didn't have a house sitter and left poor Birdy alone again - with only Danna coming over to feed and water him. The poor baby has to be lonely there by himself. (Yes, cats do get lonely, just like dogs). Then, I've come to the conclusion that Abe isn't her boyfriend, since they're rarely together. They're more like friends with benefits. I get that they both work, but there's always excuses why they can't see each other. If you love someone, you want to be with them. Period. So there's that; and I'm done with my personal opinions. (Yay).

But back to the story: when Robbie has suspicions, she naturally wants to know if her mom died an unnatural death, instead of the brain aneyurism that was listed. So she starts to investigate, and it brings her to the company that Katherine's father owns - a company that might be poisoning people and animals if the farmers use it. A chance encounter with a local woman has her convinced of this, so she investigates further.

But it also puts her in the eye of someone who doesn't want her investigating, and she discovers that she's being followed. While she's able to elude the mysterious car, it's apparent that even the police know what's going on. With the help of Jason and Alana, Robbie gets closer to the truth, which surprises her when answers come from the most unlikely source ever.

The plot was done well, and the mystery was taut with enough red herrings throughout to make us also question Robbie's mom's death. This makes for an interesting mystery that can be read in one evening. It's intriguing to watch Robbie try to put the pieces together without ruffling the feathers of the police and the people who don't want her to investigate. The murderer was also someone who was unexpected, and it really was a senseless death, but then, murder always is. This was an enjoyable book and I look forward to the next in the series. Recommended.

The 7th installment in the Country Store mystery series. Robbie Jordon has gone back home to Santa Barbara for her high school reunion and while looking forward to meeting up with old friends and classmates. She plans to spend a week but she begins to hear rumors about her Mother’s death and that perhaps it was not of natural causes. Her Mother was an environmental activist and when someone from her same group is found dead in a similar way she begins to question what she thought and begins searching for a murderer. Another great installment in this series although she is not in her store. This series just keeps getting better.

Thank you Kensington Books and Netgalley for permitting me to read this book before publication.

Robbie (owner of Pans N Pancakes in Indiana) returns to Santa Barbara, California, for her 10-year high school reunion. She books a B&B for a week so she can catch up with friends and visit her old haunts. Her mother had died two years earlier in Santa Barbara and now Robbie heard that some townsfolk didn’t think her mother had died of natural causes. Then a friend of her mom’s and fellow protestor against a fertiziling chemical turns up dead.

Robbie can’t help but get caught up in the investigation even though the police detective tells her to stop.

I haven’t read a cozy mystery for a long time and this one was surprisingly good. This title is the seventh in the Country Store Mysteries.

Robbie is a very active person, riding a bike almost every where and not relaxing at all while on vacation. The references to what she ate and the recipes in the back of the book got my saliva going so the author did a very good job of writing about food.

The area descriptions also made me want to visit Santa Barbara. I may read more in this series because I really enjoyed this one. I recommend it to all the mystery aficionados.

This was another good installment in the Country Store series. This time Robbie is back in her hometown for her high school reunion. This gives this a good fresh approach in this book. We see new characters as Robbie sets out to solve a mystery that starts with the possibility that her mother's death was not natural. The story progresses well and the characters are interesting. The only thin I felt was lacking is that the ending felt a bit rushes with the solution of the murder and the resaons behind it.

High school reunions always seem to lead to something happening and Robbie is no exception, though with a twist involving her mom's death. Loved this installment of the series.

When Robbie Jordan returns to her home town for a high school reunion, she never expected to hear the manner of her mother's death questioned. After recovering from that bombshell, she start to ask questions...and the man who originally questioned her death, suddenly dies.
She spends her time catching up with friends and asking a lot more questions. The local detective takes her seriously after she is vetted by not only her friend from school, now a tech detective, but also the police chief from the town she now resides in. She is able to clue him in on information, he might not have had and he is able to get the answers quicker.
Ms.Day takes us to Santa Barbara, the reunion and through well described land marks. She rounds out her story with a variety of great characters.
I requested this bit of intrigue from NetGalley and recommend to any cozy lover, but of particular interest to those who are following the Country Store series. I offer my opinion gratis.

First in this series that I have read. Love the title of the book.
Nice cozy mystery.
The main character is likeable. Secondary characters were likeable too.
Wanted a sopapilla when done reading 😀 Great quick read. Wish I had read other books in series first.

What a great installment in this series. I still love the characters and this plot was new and exciting!

Robbie Jordan heads home to Santa Barbara for her 10 year high school reunion. Connecting with old friends brings back memories of her youth and her mother. When she finds out that her mother may not have died from a brain aneurysm, Robbie speaks to a man who believes her mother was poisoned. Paul and her mother were part of an environmental group working to stop a local pesticide company from using a harmful product with negative aid effects for both humans and animals in the area and he believed that pesticide was used to kill her mother. When the man is found dead in his apartment much like her mother, Robbie presses the department to check for the toxin in his bloodstream.

While Robbie never planned to spend her vacation tracking down a killer, it seems vacation had other plans for her. While spending time catching up with her friends they also do a little sleuthing as well. But will Robbie be able to find the answers she seeks before heading back to Indiana or will she be checking out of Santa Barbara for good?

This is a great series and it was fun to have Robbie head back to home town of Santa Barbara. Maddie Day always brings her characters to life as well as the food, which you can almost smell as you are reading. Foodie cozy lovers, this series is for you! Don’t miss the recipes, they sound delicious!

This is my favorite cozy mystery series. Robie Jordan is a very likable character, well all the characters are enjoyable! I wish I could eat at her restaurant.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Kensington Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

It was supposed to be a few days off to spend time at a high school reunion but it would soon turn to murder. For Robbie ends up getting caught up in a rumor about her mother’s death not being of natural death as people thought.

She’ll have to sort out of the the truth and figure who wanted her environmentalist mom dead. Another delightful read.