Robbie Jordan owns Pans 'N Pancakes restaurant, and is hosting one of the Brown County Maple Festival's events there. When she meets one of the judges - Professor Warren Connolly - she's not impressed. The man is arrogant and obnoxious. He's already had a disagreement with one of Robbie's regular customers, and also the father of her employee Turner, Dr. Rao. But when he's found dead by her Aunt Adele - murdered - there are suspects that hit a little too close to home. He was found on Dr. Rao's land, and killed with a knife belonging to her chef friend Christina. There's a detective who's investigating that isn't forthcoming with information, and Robbie is determined to do a little probing on her own to prove the two innocent and find out who hated Connolly enough to kill him. But since he was a man with secrets that are slowly coming to the forefront, and so are her friends, she's going to have to be careful or she might find herself not only piecing a puzzle, but being the next one to get sliced permanently...

This is the fourth book in the series and I think I've liked it the most. While it wasn't all that involved as far as having tons of action, it was still an interesting book to read. Robbie still isn't sure of her relationship with Abe, having been burned a couple of times in the past, and she's also afraid she might ruin her relationship with her newest employee, Turner. But she forges ahead, because she doesn't want Christina to be suspected, and she wants to help Turner's family. Her heart is in the right place, but sometimes her actions make things go awry.

Robbie, for her part, I do think acts a little too hastily, and since she does get involved, I would like to see her either tell someone where she's going every time she decides to do something rash, or take someone with her. It would show a little more responsibility on her part. Saying that, I do like the characters of Buck, Abe, and Adele quite a bit. They seem to be a little more level-headed than Robbie and keep her grounded somewhat. It would also be nice for her to either spend more time with her cat, Birdy, (they do get lonely) or at least get a second one so they'd have a playmate. The poor thing is alone almost all the time.

Anyway, the murder itself was done nicely, and even though I knew the identity of the killer early on, it didn't stop my enjoyment of the book, since I like to see how the protagonist puts everything together. When the ending comes there was a dicey climax that kept me reading, and I am glad to say that all in all it was satisfying when the book ended. Recommended. ( )

Robbie Jordan is back in the fourth "Country Store Mystery". She is one of my favourite protaganists. She is smart, loves to solve puzzles, has some flaws, is loyal and caring and is in a burgeoning relationship. I also like how she recently found her father and is also developing a relationship with him and his family. She does not inject herself into investigations unless she has a good reason and is usually welcomed by the small town police force.

This visit to South Lick, Indiana finds them celebrating Maple Syrup. It is a festival that involves a baking contest and activities out at the local maple tree farm. Robbie's newest employee, Tucker, is the son of the farm owner. When a visiting professor, Warren Connolly, ends up dead at the farm, after a public argument between him and the owner of the farm, a fellow professor as well, Robbie tries to find the real culprit and get Tucker's father released from jail. Her friend and chef, is alos being investigated as it appears it was her knife that was found with the victim. With some drug busts also going on and Robbie short handed due to Danna's soccer injury, she has her hands full.

I love the townsfolk in this series. They are all supportive of one another, although gossip still reins. The sayings that both Buck, the sheriff and Robbie's Aunt Adele come up with, have me chuckling throughout the book. The Pans 'N Pancake store is a great setting for these stories. An old time country store that serves breakfast and lunch as well as selling old time and antique kitchen implements is just the thing to make these stories seem real. The relationship of Abe and Robbie is sweet and developing at a nice pace. I so hope things continue for them. Overall, this was a great story, well written, great pacing that kept me hooked until the end. I will say I pretty much figured out the murderer about halfway through, but the reasons for the murder were still a surprise. I definitely recommend this wonderful Cozy Mystery book and the series as well. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

When Professor Warren Connolly is murdered during the Brown County Maple Festival the police have plenty of suspects, including Christina James who has a very good reason to hate him. Country store owner Robbie Jordan is convinced that Christina is innocent and decides to help the police find the real killer. But she needs to be careful or she may be the next victim.

“Biscuits and Slashed Browns” (love that title!) is a nicely done cozy mystery. This is the first book I have read in Maddie Day’s Country Store cozy mystery series so the characters and setting were all new to me - I have to say I liked them quite a bit. I love the country store/diner setting more (which is really more diner than country store) - I swear I could smell and taste the food as I was reading the book! The characters are equally well done - I liked Robbie even if she was a bit too nosy at times (and only in a cozy mystery will a character continually text clues to the police!). The other characters are also nicely done - I love the colorful turn of phrases that some of them use! The murder is well plotted with plenty of suspects - this is the type of book where the motive for the killing made me sad in more ways than one.

“Biscuits and Slashed Browns” is a nicely done cozy mystery. ( )

I received an ARC of this book from netgalley and Kensington Publishing.

In this latest installment of the Country Store Mysteries series we find Robbie Jordan thrust into murder and mayhem, as the town is getting ready for the Maple Mayhem Festival. Robbie is hosting and entering her biscuits in a contest for best breakfast item using maple syrup as one of the ingredients. Also going on during the festival is an academic conference about maple tree sciences. During the festival Robbie's aunt Adele discovers the body of Warren Connolly with his throat cut, on the maple farm that belongs to Dr. Roa whose son works for Robbie. When her friend Christina becomes a suspect in the murder when one of her knives goes missing, Robbie knows she has to help clear her name and find the killer before someone else is murdered.

Maddie Day provides the reader with an exciting and well plotted story, and.characters that are enjoyable and start to feel like old friends that you love to visit with. ( )

I received an ARC of this book from netgalley and Kensington Publishing.

In this latest installment of the Country Store Mysteries series we find Robbie Jordan thrust into murder and mayhem, as the town is getting ready for the Maple Mayhem Festival. Robbie is hosting and entering her biscuits in a contest for best breakfast item using maple syrup as one of the ingredients. Also going on during the festival is an academic conference about maple tree sciences. During the festival Robbie's aunt Adele discovers the body of Warren Connolly with his throat cut, on the maple farm that belongs to Dr. Roa whose son works for Robbie. When her friend Christina becomes a suspect in the murder when one of her knives goes missing, Robbie knows she has to help clear her name and find the killer before someone else is murdered.

Maddie Day provides the reader with an exciting and well plotted story, and.characters that are enjoyable and start to feel like old friends that you love to visit with. ( )