Shortly before the grand opening of the Wildcove Museum, the museum director is found murdered and recently discovered historical letters missing. Was the killer someone who held a grudge against the museum director or were there something in the letters the killer doesn't want no? The murder investigation is put on hold when one of Marley's chefd is the victim of a hit and run the same night as the murder.
It isn't long before Marley realizes that there is a connection between the murder and the hit and run.

I have previous books in the series, and I am looking forward to reading them

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed reading it the plot was interesting and the characters made me want to know more about them. I highly recommend.

I love each visit to Wildwood Cove. Marley takes a some of her free time away from the Pancake House to volunteer to get a local museum up and running again. When one of the volunteers is found dead and some mysterious letters missing, she once again adds amateur sleuth to her job description. As always I found both the characters and the mystery engaging. I was hooked and guessing until the very end. I look forward to the next installment in this great series.

This summer, Wildwood Cove is hosting Wild West Days, to celebrate the town’s storied past. A wealthy and longtime resident has given the town a generous bequest to update Wildwood Cove’s museum. Volunteer, Jane Fassbinder has taken over the reins as director and while sorting through some donated material, she has come across some letters, love letters, from the Jack of Diamonds, a notorious thief who plagued Wildwood Cove over a century ago. When Jane is found dead, bludgeoned with an antique clothes iron and the letters are missing, Marley McKinney-Collins, owner of the Flip Side pancake house, jumps in to investigate. The more Marley snoops, more residents find themselves injured. One of her employees is injured in a hit and run and an elderly lady is attacked in her home. Someone is determined to keep that correspondence buried deep in the past, and unless Marley can sift through the likely suspects, she too could end up being nothing but history.

I enjoy the Pancake House Mystery series and this book was another winner. Marley is recently married, but that doesn't change her life much. She is trying to hire more people for the restaurant so she has more time to spend with her new husband, but she ramps up her sleuthing to figure out what is happening in her town. The characters in this series are well developed and I find that they all add something to each story. There are plenty of clues and suspects for both the murder and the hit and run, some helpful, some red herrings. I like that Marley keeps the police informed of what she uncovers, and doesn't take a lot of chances. The police in this series are well-liked members of the community and are depicted as doing their jobs well, not bumblers like we see in many cozy series. As the crimes are solved, I was correct about the culprit, but I had no idea of the motive. The mysteries surrounding Jane’s death and Tommy’s accident are well thought out, evenly paced, and compelling from start to finish. I was sorry to hear that this is the last book in this series, and it was definitely one I enjoyed. I definitely recommend this series to those who enjoy a well plotted culinary cozy mystery.

Marley McKinney-Collins owns the Flip Side pancake house, a favorite with locals and tourists alike. She's volunteering to help the historical museum move to their new home, with Jane Fassbender, a volunteer who's temporarily filling the director's position, taking the lead. While helping out, Marley can't help but hear Jane arguing with several locals -- especially Evangeline, who thinks because she has money and her family is from Wildwood Cove, can make better decisions than Jane. It seems that while Marley doesn't have a problem with Jane, others do. But then there's a donation of some old love letters, and it turns out they may be from a notorious thief nicknamed the Jack of Diamonds. Marley wants to know the contents, but she has to settle with Jane telling her that after she reads them first, she will share with Marley.

Then there's the fact that Marley's business is booming, and she needs to hire more help, as she only has two servers and two cooks. She hopes to hire someone soon, since one of her servers will be going off to college. But when Jane is murdered, everything is put on hold. Then one of Marley's employees disappears, and now she's becoming worried, wondering who would hurt her kind employee. Without trying to dig too much into the murder, she wants to help, and the only way to do that is to do some sleuthing herself. As long as she can stay under the radar, a killer won't look at her, right?...

In this latest installment of the Pancake House Mysteries, Marley is making some changes in her life -- some small, some big. But she's determined to make things work. At least until the murder occurs and her employee goes missing. Then she's trying to find answers without upsetting the sheriff, who happens to be her husband Brett's uncle Ray.

I love the fact that Marley doesn't do anything stupid, like breaking and entering, or stealing things that could turn out to be evidence. Anything she finds she shares with Ray. It's smart and keeps her on his good side. She's intelligent enough to reason things out, even if she doesn't put them together right away. (I did before she did, but then again, the clues were there and I knew what I was looking for). Marley asks questions but not intrusively, and tries to keep everyone happy so as not to damage her business reputation. It's a decent quality, and isn't annoying like some protagonists' questions are.

When Marley begins to put everything together, she figures it out almost too late. The reason for the murder becomes apparent, and as it is supposed to be, the murderer is apprehended and there is a good ending all around. There is only one thing that wasn't resolved, but I do hope to see this done in another book. All in all, an enjoyable book that can be read in one night, and worth it. Recommended.

The plot of the book was such a great page turner. The plot of the book was very well written. I truly cannot wait to read another wonderful book from this author.

This is book 8 in the Pancake House Mystery Cozy series and the town is gearing up for the Wild West Festival. the local museum in now renovated and the locals are moving the artifacts into the beautiful new home. Marley finds volunteer Jane dead after she was moving a trove of old letters from local legend, Jack of Diamonds. Someone is determined to find the rest of the letters and will stop at nothing to get them. This book could be read as a stand alone but you may want more context about the Flipside Pancake cafe and the locals. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Marley and Brent are enjoying married life. The Flip Side is packed making Marley realize she may need to make some staffing additions soon. But soon becomes sooner when one of her staff is knocked out of commission by a hit and run driver. That is not all that is going on. There has been a murder at the Museum where Marley has been volunteering. The victim is a rather abrasive woman who did not understand the sting of her words. Needless to say, there are a few likely suspects and Marley feels connected to the crime.

She feels an even stronger pull when she learns that old letters she and the victim discovered are missing. She is convinced that the disappearance is connected to the murder and possibly to the hit and run. But how? What was in those letters that could be so damning that it would drive someone to murder more than one hundred years later?

As it turns out, the secret is the letters is a doozy and there will be attempts made to recover the letters before the secret is revealed. It will turn into a life and death chase. Will Marley be able to uncover the truth before something deadly occurs? As with all the other outings of this series, the reader is swept along with a good mystery and some endearing characters. I like and respect Marley. She has a good head on her shoulders and while her curiosity can put her in danger, she is never cavalier. In fact, when she realizes she might be in danger from one individual she tries to avoid confrontation. It helps build the tension and keep up the suspense. Five purrs and two paws up.

Marley McKinney-Collins, owner of the Flipside Pancake House, has been volunteering at the local historical museum while it relocates to a larger building. While there, she is with Jane Fassbinder, the director, when they discover love letters from the Jack of Diamonds, an 1800s thief/cat burglar. When Ms Fassbinder is found murdered and the letters are missing, Marley sets out to find the murderer and recover the letters.

This was a really fun mystery with all the references to the past. The characters are continuing to evolve and the food description leave my mouth watering.

A Wrinkle in Thyme by Sarah Fox is book eight in the Pancake House Mystery. It can be read as a stand alone.
This well written Cozy has plenty of plot twists and suspects. The characters are likeable. There is romance, humor, family, friendship and a surprise .ending.
When a murder occurs and one of her employees is found in a ditch, a victim of a hit skip, Marley feels there is a connection and sets out to find the murderer. When break ins and residents getting hurt starts occurring she knows it's connected but is she next to be taken out.
There are recipes included.
I was given an ARC from Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Another great installment in this series. Marley is helping out at the museum when the curator is found dead. Do these old letters have anything to do with it? Marley must help find the killer before it is too late

A Wrinkle In Thyme
Pancake House Mystery, Book #8
Sarah Fox
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Sarah Fox continues her USA Today bestselling series with a delicious new cozy mystery set around the Flip Side pancake house in the quirky beach town of Wildwood Cove—a treat for fans of culinary cozies by Joanne Fluke.

Murder is on the menu in the latest Pancake House Mystery, as a treasure trove of old letters spurs a killer to take some unsavory action. . . .

This summer, Wildwood Cove is hosting a special event, Wild West Days, to celebrate the town’s storied past. Wildwood Cove’s museum is also getting a new lease of life thanks to a longtime resident’s generous bequest. Several locals, including Marley McKinney-Collins, owner of the Flip Side pancake house, offer to transfer artifacts to the beautiful restored Victorian that will become the museum’s home. But there’s an unappetizing development when a volunteer, Jane Fassbinder, is found dead—bludgeoned with an antique clothes iron.

Marley can never resist a piping hot mystery, and this one seems especially intriguing. Jane had recently unearthed some love letters from the Jack of Diamonds, a notorious thief who plagued Wildwood Cove over a century ago. As more locals meet with dangerous “accidents,” it seems that someone is determined to keep that correspondence buried deep in the past. And unless Marley can sift through the likely suspects, she too could end up being nothing but history. . . .

Includes pancake recipes right from the Flip Side menu!

Praise for Sarah Fox’s Wine and Punishment

“Readers will cheer this brisk, literate addition to the world of small-town cozies.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Hits all the right notes—a unique setting, friends and family, an intriguing mystery, and even the promise of romance.”
—Sofie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of the Second Chance Cat mysteries.

“Draws readers into the fold of suspects in Shady Creek and doesn’t let go until the culprit is uncovered. There are laugh-out-loud moments, hold-your-breath moments, and moments when you’ll think you have the mystery figured out, but the surprises keep coming!”
—USA Today bestselling author Amy M. Reade (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Marley is enjoying getting ready for the Wild West Days, a celebration honoring Wildwood Cove. But, there is a murder and a hit-n-run
accident and Marley finds herself involved in both. She will have to rely on her wits and the help of her employees to try and figure it out.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it took me on a great adventure, one I did not want to end. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. I had the killer on my radar, along with a couple of other people.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I really like Marley and her friends, they feel like friends.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This series is absolutely fabulous. The books are adorable and fun to read. I thought the characters were very likeable. The plot was tricky and it took me awhile to figure out who did it. It really kept me on the edge of my seat. It is definitely worth checking out.

A Wrinkle in Thyme Earns 5/5 Frittata Fracas…Clever Entertainment!

Marley and her husband Brett are helping get situate the new digs for the Wildwood Cove Museum including moving in all the artifacts that highlight the town’s history. The Victorian had been willed to the museum and its grand opening is set for the final day of the Wild West Days event. But, all is not well. Jane Fassbender, the interim curator, has been running afoul of one too many disgruntled people: a colleague wanted the promotion given to Jane, the Wild .west Days committee complains about Jane’s overreach, the nephew of the original owner feels entitled to the property despite a judge’s ruling against his claim, and a candy heiress and major donor’s demands are a thorn in Jane’s side. Sorting through a box of donated items, Jane discovers a set of letters penned more than a hundred years by a infamous thief. So, what will be law enforcement’s focus when Jane is found bludgeoned? Marley knows where she’ll focus her attentions, but that may bother a murderer.

Sarah Fox has again penned a clever drama for the eighth book in her Pancake House Mystery series with several conflicts and an exciting discovery any of which may have a reason to commit murder. The first-person narrative, my favorite, is well-written with plenty of engaging misdirection and mayhem, endearing connections and friendships, and descriptive language for the small seaside community, eclectic characters, and mouthwatering treats. The banter reveals a lot about the various personalities, as well as presents clues, theories, and engaging emotions. Motives are plenty and suspects all seem worthy of consideration, and although I had an inkling about the motive, there were enough twists, turns, and other possible conclusions that my inner Sherlock was totally entertained and surprised. Realism is a key element for me, and Sarah did well to go beyond an engaging set of clues and avenues to explore and reasonable amateur investigative methods with side stories that add to the enjoyment: Sienna’s trepidation about going away to college, the restaurant needing to increase its employee numbers, the “family” discussion, and wild Wild West Days! All great fun along with recipes to ease that “grumbly tummy” from all the pancake, sticky bun, and frittata talk. Straight from The Flip Side’s kitchen: Raspberry Orange Pancakes, Thyme for Breakfast Frittata, and Strawberry Rhubarb Crêpes. Also enjoy a peek at chapter one from “Claret and Present Danger,” book four in her Literary Pub Mystery series.

Marley Collins is settling into newly married life in Wildwood Cove, Washington, and thinking about expansion, especially with springtime bringing an influx of customers to her pancake house, The Flip Side. It isn’t just the nice weather that’s providing so much extra business, though: the town is also throwing a Wild West Days festival that coincides with the move of the Wildwood Cove Museum to new, better quarters. Marley has volunteered to assist in setting up the museum, so between being busy with that and the pancake house welcoming more customers, could definitely use a few more hands on deck at The Flip Side.

Marley’s need to hire more staff takes an unexpectedly awful turn when her assistant chef, Tommy Park, is seriously injured in a hit-and-run while walking home from photographing a Wild West Days charity ball. But even worse happens that very same night to Jane Fassbender, the museum’s interim curator, who is bludgeoned to death in the new building. Could these two violent crimes possibly be related? And could either have anything to do with the discovery of centuries-old love letters between a long-dead outlaw and one of the town’s former luminaries?

This was another absorbing installment of the Pancake House mystery series, written with Sarah Fox’s trademark style and empathy. It’s always a pleasure to read how Marley and her now-husband Brett team up to solve mysteries together: I really love how they have each other’s backs. A Wrinkle In Thyme also includes a lot more of The Flip Side staff’s personal lives, with several delightful surprises to offset the murder and mayhem that rack the town otherwise.

As always, delicious breakfast recipes were included. Of the three here, I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Strawberry Rhubarb Crepes

Crepes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
4 eggs
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Butter or oil for greasing pan

Sift flour and sugar into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in half the liquid ingredients. Whisk until smooth. Add the remaining liquid ingredients. Whisk until smooth again.

Optional: Refrigerate batter for up to six hours.

Heat crepe pan or small skillet over low heat for several minutes. Grease lightly. Increase heat to medium and leave for 1-2 minutes. Pour ¼ cup batter into the pan. Tilt and swirl to coat the pan. Cook until lightly browned. Remove from pan.

Filling:

2 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup water
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large saucepan, combine the rhubarb, water, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Add the lemon juice and strawberries. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is tender, approximately 15 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract and remove from heat.

Spoon filling onto crepe, roll, and top with whipped cream.
END QUOTE

First of all, I want to say that these were extremely delicious, and I’m 100% glad I made them (as was my family, who gobbled up the fifteen or so crepes I made from this recipe in record time.) That said, how do other people make crepes so quickly? The entire process for me took upwards of three hours, and I was exhausted by the end of it. Perhaps that is my own fault for waiting for the pan and butter to heat for two minutes between each pouring of batter?

One way in which I’m glad to take my time with this recipe, though, is in letting the batter rest before cooking. In general, setting the covered batter aside for an hour is good for letting out any bubbles, as that makes for a smoother crepe. It also gives you time to whip up the filling, in this case the strawberry-rhubarb compote. I’d never worked with fresh rhubarb before, and honestly really enjoyed the tart scent that came with prepping the stalks. The rhubarb cooked down with the strawberries so beautifully, too. My kids actually sneaked small bowls of just the filling to enjoy when they’d had enough of crepes!

Next week, we head back cross-country to try out some delicious soup while investigating the death of a shady lawyer. Do join me!

This is a charming enjoyable series that I always look forward to returning to. The author has created a world of great charcters, fun food and always a well crafted sleuth. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.

A Wrinkle in Thyme by Sarah Fox is the 8th book in A Pancake House Mystery Series. I highly recommend this entire series. Marley is the owner of popular breakfast cafe "The Flip Side pancake house" in Wildwood Cove. The author writes of the small town as atmospheric and charming. In this next in series the town is preparing for a Wild West Days event that focuses on the town history.

When a murder occurs of a Museum volunteer Marley is involved and sure she can solve the case with her expertise at working on murder cases. Soon suspects abound and red herrings are many as Marley finds herself possibly in danger as she nears solving the case.

As always a fun read, great charcters and fun food additions . Well done to the author.

I really enjoy the A Pancake House Mystery series by Sarah Fox. The characters are memorable, the locale is engaging and the mysteries are expertly executed. I only have a small problem with Marley making 'inappropriate choices'. Why does she ignore her husband, her husband's uncle, and her own good sense and run into dangerous situations? I don't get it. I still love the series and look forward to more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is a wonderful series. The 8th installment is a delightful story focused on the Wildwood Cove Museum, the town’s Wild West Days Festival, the murder of the interim museum director, and possible stolen historical documents. It’s a great must-read!

This 8th book in the Pancake House cozy mystery series from Sarah Fox is another winner. This time, focusing on a museum in town, along with the town's Wild West Days.

Absolutely love this series. It's getting better with every book.

Highly recommended for cozy fans!!