It’s a lovely spring day when Robbie Jordan and her Aunt Adele go antiquing for finds to add to the country store portion of Robbie’s Pans ‘N Pancakes cafe. There’s a definite chill in the air, however, when they run into Francis and Hattie Sand, an older couple who still blame Adele for the death of Francis’ son two decades earlier. To add to the awkwardness, the Sands reveal that they’re the ones behind the revitalization of the store across the street from Pans ‘N Pancakes, and that they plan to open an upscale antique business on their new property.

Robbie, being an optimist, is pretty sure that the Sands will be serving a far different audience from those attracted to the vintage kitchenware her store already features. Even if their clientele does overlap, most of her income comes from the cafe anyway. But when some of her merchandise goes missing after the Sands drop by, Robbie’s belief that her new neighbors are as happy to coexist as she is begins to waver.

Then the very worst happens: a rash of folks are taken to hospital with food poisoning, and their only commonality was dining at Pans ‘N Pancakes. Robbie has to shut down her cafe as the state investigates, but she’s pretty sure that the root cause was a batch of mushrooms delivered by her regular supplier, FH Foods. When she discovers that FH Foods’ owner is Orland Krueger, and that his wife Krystal is not only the Sands’ daughter but also the chef-proprietor of the food truck that’s just parked itself right across from her closed cafe, she can’t help but wonder whether someone in the extended Sand family is out to get her. After one of her regulars dies from the food poisoning, resulting in charges of negligent homicide being drawn up against her, Robbie will have to go into full detective mode in order to clear her name. But will her investigations hit far closer to home than she could possibly expect?

This intriguing mystery was a return to form for Maddie Day as she handles hot topic social issues with sensitivity and grace. I definitely did not expect the plot to go the way it did, and genuinely grieved at the deaths that occurred. I do rather wish that the denouement of the mystery had been shown on the page, but was delighted that the continuing romance between Robbie and her fiance Abe was given space at the end to truly shine.

There were seven food and drink recipes included of yummy items described in the narrative, and I decided to try out the one that inspired the title:

QUOTE
Grated Everything Fritters

2 medium potatoes
½ cup broccoli florets
1 small onion
1 medium carrot
½ cup cheddar cheese
¼ cup ham, cut into inch-long slivers (omit for vegetarian version)
2 eggs, beaten
⅓ cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon curry powder

Preheat oven to 400 F. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Grate potatoes (a food processor makes quick work of the grating.) Roll in a clean dishcloth and wring dry. Steam broccoli in microwave for two minutes and chop finely.

Grate onion, carrot, and cheese. In a medium bowl, mix together vegetables, cheese, ham, and eggs. Stir together flour, salt, pepper, and curry powder, then stir into other mixture.

Scoop out a half cup of the mixture and flatten into four-inch disks on the parchment paper. Leave a quarter inch between disks; they will not spread.

Bake for twenty minutes. Turn and bake ten more minutes or until browned and crispy. Enjoy plain or top with salsa, sour cream, or ketchup.

Serve hot for breakfast, on a toasted sandwich roll for lunch, or with a green salad for dinner.

Variations: add fresh chopped herbs, sliced green onions, grated and squeeze-dropped zucchini; substitute sweet potato instead of regular; use a different kind of cheese.
END QUOTE

I love this healthy, kitchen-sink cross between an omelette and a hash-brown patty! This recipe is such a great way to use up leftover vegetables and meat: I actually doubled it in order to better utilize some of the extra ingredients I already had at home. The curry powder adds an extra kick of flavor to it, as well. My only regret is that I probably didn’t wring out the potatoes as well as I could, which resulted in a less than crisp patty. It was still very tasty, though I should definitely wring my grated potatoes out more thoroughly the next time I make this dish.

Next week, we start getting into the spirit of spooky season with a trio of murderous novellas, while whipping up a delicious party treat. Do join me!

Robbie Jordan's life is more stressful than usual, with tainted mushrooms in her restaurant and new neighbors who threaten her livelihood and her peace of mind. Not to mention her upcoming wedding.

And what's up with the disappearance of those antique graters?

Robbie's friends and family are sympathetic characters and the story draws us into their lives, as well as presenting an intriguing puzzle. The book finishes up with tasty-sounding recipes.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Country Store series. But this one was so enjoyable, that I’ll definitely be reading more ... even going back to the first one in the series. The characters are well developed, the mystery is intriguing and keeps you interested, and the recipes will have your mouth watering. This was a wonderful book to curl up with a glass of lemonade in a rocking chair on the porch and get lost in all of the antics.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

No Grater Crime is the ninth book in Maddie Day’s Country Store Mysteries series. This clean read flows smoothly at a steady pace. The storyline is well plotted and flows smoothly, and the well-developed characters are three-dimensional. There’s no shortage of twists and red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy reading a well-crafted cozy mystery.

Robbie Jordan owns a café/antique cookware shop, Pans ‘N Pancakes, in South Lick, Indiana. Things are going pretty well for the café and as Robbie prepares for her wedding day until she discovers that the owners of an antique shop that’s opening across the street from Pans ‘N Pancakes, Francis Sand and his wife, Hattie, have an unpleasant history with Aunt Adele, and things go downhill from there. Robbie is devastated when her friend, Lieutenant Buck Bird, tells her that several people who had breakfast at the café were ill and that one elderly gentleman, Jeremiah Ward, had to be hospitalized after eating the breakfast special, a mushroom and Gruyére cheese omelet. When Mr. Ward passes away, the café is temporarily closed down and Robbie believes she’s being targeted.

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

Book 9 I the Country Store Mysteries, I missed a couple in the series, but it was easy to pick up. Robbie and Abe are getting married! Some small details still to take care off, but all is set. A new antique store is opening across the way, some items from the Robbie’s store disappear, a bad batch of mushrooms makes customers sick and this shuts down the Country Store, … Robbie can’t sit still and dives into the mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a copy in exchange of my opnion.

This is the 9th book in the Country Store Mystery series and it's a great addition. Robbie has her hands full this time around. Her wedding is a month away, one of her customers gets food poisoning and dies, and she has a new competitor across the street and they also have a food truck. The book is full of good food, quirky characters and a great location. I hope there are many more to come.

No Grater Crime by Maddie Day is the 9th A Country Store Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series (but you will be missing out on some cute country cozy mysteries). Robbie Jordan is getting married in a month and still has some details to finalize. Her life becomes complicated when customers become ill after eating her mushroom omelet. Her restaurant is shut down leaving Robbie with unanswered questions and a dead patron. To top it off, some of her vintage implements have disappeared and a food truck opens across the street. No Grater Crime is a cute story that is action packed. I have been looking forward to Robbie and Abe’s wedding. They are such a sweet couple. I thought the author captured the area with her word imagery (of South Lick, Indiana) plus the dialects, dialogue, and references to nearby cities. It is funny how people call items by different names depending on what area of the country they are from. One example is soda. When I lived in Ohio, we called it pop. When I moved to Florida, I was told it was soda. I like that the author includes different examples. The mystery was interesting. There are multiple suspects in this whodunit that easily could have done the deed including Abe’s ex-wife. I had a good time following the mystery and seeing how it turned it (I love to solve the crimes). I would have liked a more thorough wrap-up. I was also baffled as to why Robbie never reported the missing items. It seemed odd. The ending will delight fans of the series. No Grater Crime is an enticing tale with mortal mushrooms, a purloined utensil, a lookie-loo, food truck trouble, and a wonderful wedding.

It’s time for an annual trip to South Lick, Indiana. This time we visit during spring and wedding season. Robbie is preparing for her wedding to Abe and not everyone is happy with the wedding. Mainly, Abe’s ex who is Sean’s mom, and a relation to the new antique shop owners across the street. When a Pans and Pancakes customer dies, Robbie is the prime suspect. As she starts investigating she learns of the tangled family web. Can she find out what is going on before she spends her wedding night in jail?

This series always makes me smile as I love the descriptions of the Bloomington, Indiana area. It is a beautiful area to visit. The real Story Inn is mentioned and if you ever get a chance to visit you must.

My only issue with the book (and I had the same issue in the previous book) is there is a small political agenda feel. I read cozy to escape the real world. It wasn’t bad but it is there. I did appreciate the author writing the story after the pandemic shut down and not during.

I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Robbie Jordan is about to walk down the aisle with Abe in this, the ninth mystery in the Country Store series. She will not only become a wife but also a step mother to Abe's son. It's a lot to juggle but that's not all. She owns Pans 'N Pancakes, selling yummy food and antiques kitchen wares. Life is humming along nicely until a new business moves in across the street and then things go sideways. It's an antiques store and the owners give off an odd vibe. Soon valuable items grow feet and leave her store, some cafe patrons fall ill and, to top it off, one diner dies from an omelet made with poisonous mushrooms. Of course all attention is focused on Robbie and the cafe is shut down until the facts are uncovered. Needless to say she is highly motivated to find the killer - fast. Did the mushroom switch and the missing antiques have anything to do with the new neighbors and the new food truck traveling around town? Hope the answers come before she and Abe walk down the aisle
I have really enjoyed this series having read each one as its been published. Each is like a letter from friends, updating me on how their lives are progressing. Each character has developed from book to book and they have become friends. The mystery is always good with twists and turns to keep me guessing to the end but the major pleasure I get from the series is from the characters and their stories. Together it makes for a welcome reading escape.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for givingme an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 9th installment in the Country Store Mysteries. Robbie Jordon lives in South Lick Indiana and is going to be married to Abe in about a month. Robbie is at an outdoor market with her Aunt Adele when they run into a couple from South Lick Francis and Hattie Sand but it is apparent that they do not like her Aunt. Robbie and Adele also learn that they will be opening an antiques store across the street from Robbie’s store and restaurant Pan’s N Pancakes. Sunday morning the restaurant is packed and Robbie and her team of Danna and Turner are having a hard time keeping up. The special is a mushroom omelet but when several customers later get sick and one even dies Robbie begins to wonder what is going on. Robbie later learns that her the food distributor she uses happens to be the daughter (Krystal) and son-in-law (Orland) of Francis and Hattie. Also that day Hattie stole some items from Robbie’s store. Robbie’s restaurant is closed down until the health department can get to the reason for the death and people getting sick but Robbie knows it has to be the mushrooms. A food truck appears outside the new store being opened by the Sands and learn that Krystal is running the food truck and would love to keep business away from Robbie. Robbie is feeling like all this is getting a little personal and when she learns that Abe’s ex Jan is Orland’s twin sister she has to begin to think could she be behind all of this. However, when Jan later dies she is struggling to find out who would have the motive. This was a great story and kept me engaged the entire time. It was nice to have the story continue thru to the wedding after the murderer was caught. Looking forward to what is next to come.

No Grater Crime by Maddie Day is the 9th book in the Country Store Mystery series, and another delightful book. Robbie Jordan owns Pans N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie and her staff are concerned when items start missing from their store, and their diners are getting sick. When one of their customers dies after eating a poisonous mushroom omelet, and Pans N Pancakes gets closed down, Robbie is determined to find the truth. This book kept me guessing until the end. 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 a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

No Grater Crime is book #9 in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day.

This is the first book I’ve read in the series and I was able to read it as a standalone book, though I look forward to starting at the beginning of the series to see how Robbie and Abe’s relationship developed.

Robbie Jordon is getting married soon when customers get food poisoning in her restaurant and items are stolen from her shop. Robbie has an idea of who it could be, but can she and Buck prove it?

It was a really fun book to read and was hard to put down. Robbie and her friends and family are wonderful characters. It was a real page turner and kept me guessing. There were events that completely surprised me. I can’t wait to catch up on the previous book and read future ones.

Thank you to the author, Kensington, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Robbie has alot on her plate: one of her customers gets sick and dies after eating at her restaurant, the Health Dept shows up, and a new antique store and food truck have moved in across the street. And she's getting married in a month. Robbie's gonna have to work overtime to solve the possible murder of her customer and deal with her competition.

Excellent book with an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing. The story is well-paced, and the characters are engaging and believable. I love Robbie, her fiance, Abe, his son Sean, and all of her friends and staff. This is one of my favorite cozy series.

Many thanks to the publisher, Kensington, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Another wonderful addition to this fun series. Thank you to the publisher, author and Net Galley for the opportunity.

Robbie's cafe Pans N Pancakes is a very popular cafe with a fun vintage cook wear shop included. Her shop is well loved by the locals and very successful. When a new shop, a antique shop prepares to open near her shop all of a sudden she has strange occurrences and difficulties occurring. Her new neighbors are not friendly and may be purposely causing her difficulties. Things get stranger when a breakfast truck parks outside her shop and a elderly customer suddenly dies after eating at her cafe. Now the cafe must close while Robbie struggles to solve the murder and save her cafe from ruin. This is a wonderful series with a great sense of community and kindness at the heart of the charcters. I love how all the charcters add to the intrigue in this mystery. The mystery kept me reading into the night and the conclusion was pleasing as well as surprising . A wonderful next in series. Thank you to the author for this delightful series.

No Grater Crime by Maddie Day (pen name of the author Edith Maxwell)
Book nine in the Country Store Mystery Series
I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and this book is no exception. I love Robbie’s Aunt Adele and the quirky words she uses such as anyhoo. I really like the flavor of the locale, especially the food. I think I gained weight just reading this book. Oh, andI liked the mystery too even if it wasn’t very mysterious as to who the culprit was.
Big changes are coming in Robbie’s life and I’m looking forward to see what happens next. And the ending brought a few tears, it was so sweet and just right for the characters and the setting.

This is the 9th Country Store Mystery. I have read every book. I enjoy how the author makes each story unique. Each has Robbie’s puzzle solving mind at work but each puzzle/mystery has different elements. I enjoy visiting Pans ‘N’ Pancake and catching up with the locals and life in South Lick, Indiana. The food sounds good, making me wish I could visit for breakfast.
This mystery starts with food poisoning that ends in death. It seems one step removed from direct murder but it still sets Robbie’s mind to work looking at angles and motives. The group behind the poisoning seems obvious so it is interesting to see how the solution plays out.
I think it was funny that Robbie says she is trying to avoid TSTL (too stupid to live) actions. I would have to say I didn’t feel the need to yell at the book, which I admit to doing with other books when the main character does something really dumb.
There was a calm to the feeling of the book to me. Robbie is preparing for her marriage to Abe. Abe sounds like the nicest guy. I’m glad the author included the wedding. It finishes the story well.

No Grater Crime
A Country Store Mystery, Book #9
Maddie Day
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Robbie Jordan’s Pans ’N Pancakes boasts delicious eats and the best vintage cookware finds in South Lick, Indiana. And now, for a limited time, there’s a new special featured on the menu—murder!

Ever since meeting the wary owners of an antique shop opening across the street, Robbie has been scrambling to manage weird incidences plaguing her café and country store. Pricey items vanish from shelves without explanation, a fully equipped breakfast food truck starts lingering around the area each morning, and loyal diners mysteriously fall ill. When an elderly man dies after devouring an omelet packed with poisonous mushrooms, Robbie must temporarily close down Pans ’N Pancakes and search for the killer with a real zest for running her out of business—or else.

Includes Recipes for You to Try! (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Robbie is taking care of Pans ‘N Pancakes and finishing up plans for her wedding. She also has to keep an eye on the new owners of an antique shop that is opening soon. Some of her cookware has gone missing and a diner is killed after eating an omelet. She will have to figure out what is happening before it ruins her wedding day.

The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the descriptions pulled me into the story and took me on a great ride. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough clues to sift and suspects to consider.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

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

I was so pleased with this latest installment of the series! For some reason, the last couple or so hadn't been the same to me as always, but this book was right on point and took me back to the reason I fell in love with this series in the very first book.

Wow what a wild mystery! I'd have been so mad at that darn woman opening up a food truck in front of my place if I was Robbie. She has much better control than I do, lol. Although with Robbie's past track record, she does have to tread lightly or look like a killer. I had to giggle when she said she was trying harder not to do too-stupid-to-live moves. I do recall a few of those she's had in the past, lol. But she's definitely learned a lot over the past nine books! Now if only that darn phone of hers wouldn't sprout legs and run back to her car! ;)

I had a feeling of who was behind everything, but to me the fun of the whole thing was proving it and finding out the why and who else might've been involved. There was one small sad moment, then there's another moment you might want a tissue or two, but for a very happy occasion!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

No Grater Crime is the ninth book in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day.

While shopping at a flea market, Robbie and her Aunt Adele meet up with Hattie and Felix. Robbie notices that they are not acting like “old friends.” As they talk, Hattie informs Robbie that she and Felix will soon open an antique shop across from Robbie’s cafe. Robbie also learns that Hattie and Felix’s daughter plans to operate a food truck in front of the antique store. Robbie is finally able to get out of her aunt why her relationship with them seemed off. Felix’s son was being bullied and asked Adele for help, but the support didn’t happen soon enough, and he committed suicide. Felix has held Adele responsible for his death.

The next day, Hattie and Felix came into Robbie’s cafe with friends to eat and were quick to point out their daughter’s food truck. Soon, an elderly gentleman who was eating an omelet becomes ill and is taken to the hospital. He later dies, and his death was attributed to eating poisonous mushrooms. The county health department comes and shuts down the cafe until an investigation on how this happened is completed. As Robbie is closing up after the health department leaves, she notices that some of the items she had gotten at the flea market are gone. The last person she saw in that area was Hattie.

With the cafe shut down, Robbie set off to see if someone was trying to shut her business down, trying to kill her, or was it just an accident. She suspects the company she orders her food and wisely changes suppliers. Robbie gets Aunt Adele and her fiancee, Abe, to help with her sleuthing. She hopes to solve the murder quickly as she would like to get her business opened, and, most notably, her marriage to Abe is fast approaching.

The book is descriptive enough that the reader feels like they are there. It has an enjoyable cast of believable and well-developed characters. The book is well-developed and plotted. The book contains enough red herrings that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the murderer was.

The book also contains delicious-sounding recipes.

I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this delicious series.

I loved this story! There was so much going on. From the poisoning of the guests, the new neighbors on the street, to wedding planning, it kept me glued to the book the whole time; I didn't want to put it down. Robbie was super busy fighting crime and making breakfasts but she still had time for tender moments with family and friends. There was a perfect balance of mystery and community in this one and it had a satisfying ending. I did figure out who the killer was before the end but I think the book was written that way.