Robbie is getting Pans 'n Pancakes ready to host it's first event, a welcome home party, as the book begins. The party seems to go well until the guest of honor shows up and has a few disagreements with some of the guests. When Robbie finds her dead body the next day in her store, and one of her friends is being questioned for the murder, Robbie knows that she has to look into the death. I like Robbie and her restaurant and enjoy all of the unique Indiana foods and jargon used in the book. The mystery had some twists that I didn't see coming and kept me guessing. The town and the characters add to the story and make me want to come back for more.

I have read and enjoyed quite a few books in this series. This book is the second. Robbie's Country Store and Restaurant is up and running. The Holidays are coming and she is looking for word to decorating the store. When she finds a dead book in the store she sets out to solve the mystery. I really enjoy the southern Indiana setting and the characters. The mystery was good with a lot of suspects. The solution was good and made sense. I look for word to continuing the series. I have not been reading this series in order. Enjoy

Inside a picture-book town called, South Lick, Indiana, Robbie has taken a country store and transformed it like a butterfly emerging in the spring. The name of this adorable place? Pans 'N Pancakes. Now it might be the center hub of town, but that doesn't mean that murder abounds. The murder weapon? You guessed it, cookware! Robbie will need to shed her apron in favor of a detective's jacket and solve this crime before it's too late!

Title: Grilled for Murder

Author: Maddie Day

Pages: 304

Series: Country Store Mysteries book 2

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Grilled for Murder by Maddie Day is the second book in the Country Store Mystery series. Robbie Jordan has turned a run down store into a successful restaurant and has one solved murder under her belt when another body is found in her store. With her friend and baker Phil the prime suspect. Robbie most work to clear Phil's name before she becomes the killer's next victim.

Even though the police want her to stay out of it and leave the crime solving to them; Robbie can't let her friend take the fall. As the second book in a series, the main characters as well as the setting a small southern Indiana town somewhere between Bloomington and the IU campus and French Lick. I enjoyed this one more than the first one and look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

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.

While the heroine occasionally seems unrealistically Luddite for her supposed age of 27, overall the second book in the Country Store cozy series is a welcome addition to the packed market. The food sounds delicious but doesn't overwhelm the story, and the setting, while charming with plenty of character, is portrayed realistically (often the genre tends towards the zany or overly quirky).

This is the second installation in the Country Store Mystery series and it was as enjoyable as the first one. A 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. Robbie Jordan has had her country store/country restaurant open for a couple of months and she is as busy as ever. She has kept her place open on a Saturday night for a Welcome Home Party for Erica Shermer. Erica was recently widowed and she is back in town. Her parents threw her this party, but everyone is not happy with Erica. During the party there are some rumbles, some arguments and some ill will. When Robbie gets up in the morning, her store is cold and she realizes the window in the door is broken. When she goes to check it out, she finds Erica, dead on the floor of her shop. Why was Erica back at the restaurant? Who killed her? There is no shortage of suspects in this case. Of course Robbie investigates, afterall the victim was found in her store and she can't resist solving puzzles.

I love these characters. Robbie, her aunt Adele and her beau Samuel, Danna her assistant, Phil her best friend, Abe and his brother Don and of course Jim, Robbie's beau. They are all back and as wonderful to one another as before. It is great to be in a small town where everyone sort of knows one another and wants you to succeed. The new characters are just as fun and make wonderful suspects. The mystery of who killed Erica is well done, giving us a steady dose of clues and suspects until we reach the logical and suspenseful end. Robbie's personal life takes a turn and I couldn't help rooting for her. Another great book by Maddie Day, now to read the next one.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It is getting close to Christmastime in South Lick, Indiana. Robbie Jordan has a welcome home party booked at Pans ‘N Pancakes before she can start decorating. Erica Shermer is back in South Lick after the death of her husband, but she sure doesn’t seem to be grieving. I completely understand we all grieve in our own way but flirting with her departed husband’s brother and every other man in the room seems just a bit off. When Robbie finds Erica’s very dead body spread out on the floor next to the pickle barrel the next morning she knows right away there could be plenty of suspects. She just never imagined the police would hone in on her friend Phil. It is up to her to find the clues that will send them in another direction or Christmas in South Lick will be far from Merry.

This second installment to this series was a very fast read for me. Ms. Day’s well crafted mystery drew me right in and didn’t let go.

I really like Robbie Jordan and the place she has created with Pans ‘N Pancakes. A gathering place for the community and great comfort cooking too. Robbie is quick and smart and so friendly. She can easily question several people with simple conversation over breakfast. She also passes along what she knows to the police, although she is putting herself in the line of fire when the real murderer sees she is getting to close to the truth. I enjoyed the dialogue between the characters and the bit Indiana – ish way of speaking added a true local feeling.

This mystery moves along at a good clip. Several twists had me truly wondering if the person I wanted to be the guilty party would actually be the guilty party. You will have to read the story to see if I was right.

There was some unexpected drama on the romantic front too. I am anxious to see how it continues to play out in future stories, regarding both parties.

Grilled For Murder is a down home kind of cozy with colorful characters, a comfortable setting and a fun mystery.

I do suggest starting with Flipped for Murder, but the author gives plenty of detail if you start with this one. The 3rd book in the series When the Grits Hit the Fan will be released March 28. I have added it to my reading schedule.

Summary from Goodreads:

"Robbie Jordan may have had reservations about the murder victim, but she still needs to turn up the heat on a killer if she wants to keep her new restaurant open for business…

In the charming small town of South Lick, Indiana, Robbie has transformed a rundown country store into the runaway hit Pans 'N Pancakes. But the most popular destination for miles around can also invite trouble. Erica Shermer may be the widow of handsome local lawyer Jim Shermer's brother, but she doesn't appear to be in mourning. At a homecoming party held in Robbie's store, Erica is alternately obnoxious and flirtatious--even batting her eyelashes at Jim. When Erica turns up dead in the store the next morning, apparently clobbered with cookware, the police suspect Robbie's friend Phil, who closed up after the party. To clear Phil and calm her customers, Robbie needs to step out from behind the counter and find the real killer in short order…"

My Thoughts:

This cozy mystery series is fast becoming a new favorite of mine and we are only two books in so far! Actually I just found out that the third book in this series is supposed to release in February so that is super exciting. But I'm getting off track here. I actually read this book last year but just never ended up sharing my thoughts on it which is a shame as it was really good. One of the things that I like my cozy series to have is a great cast of characters and these books definitely have that. I love Robbie's character and there are some really great secondary characters as well. The thing I love most about these books though is reading about Robbie's restaurant and the food that she makes. What is it about me that loves these foodie cozies so much? Especially when I'm not much of a cook myself! I cannot seem to get enough of them though, and I just adore reading about the delicious foods that Robbie is always making. It is no wonder that I'm always so hungry while reading though!

I really enjoyed the mystery portion of this book also. Sometimes with cozies it is easy to lose interest in the actual mystery but I never seem to with these books. I won't say anything specific as it would be considered to be a spoiler but I really like what the author did with Robbie and Jim's relationship. I can't say anything more than that but let me just say that I was happy with the way things went. I'm curious as to how everything will play out in that upcoming third book (cue gimme hands that are anxiously awaiting book three). This book turned out to be quite the page turner - or since I read it on my trusty kindle what would I call that? Anyways, it was really good and I found myself pulled away into Robbie's world of food whenever I was reading. I enjoyed the way this book ended and it was just an overall really great read!

Ultimately just writing up my thoughts on this book has me pining to continue on with this series right now! It has everything that I enjoy in a cozy mystery series which is why I keep coming back for more. I'm excited to see what kind of troubles that Robbie can get herself into next. I'm eager to get back to the small town of Salt Lick, Indiana and read about the delicious foods that Robbie is cooking up. I just want more and that is always a sign of a really great book! I can't say enough good things so obviously I recommend. You don't have to read the series in order but I would say that you should if possible. It definitely will enhance your overall reading experience (and besides there are only two books so far). Highly recommended!

Bottom Line: A mouthwatering follow-up to the first book in this cozy series. I need more!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher through NetGalley.