fast read very simple case and simple read. I will read more from this author and not make any critical judgment yet. ( )

There is nothing like a luxury resort to ruin the natural landscape of things, and Adele isn’t going to let that happen - not in her backyard! Robbie tries not to take sides, but she will help her aunt, at least somewhat, though she doesn’t want to get involved with civil disobedience. The murder of one of the volunteers who was against the resort brings on more tension, and things really heat up. Lines are drawn, and so are guns. There are tense moments throughout, as well as an exciting conclusion to this story. Robbie’s boyfriend is away for most of the story, and the focus is on the diner in the shop and the fight about building the resort. It was nice to read about some different characters, but it will also be nice to see more of Robbie and Abe together in future installments. ( )

Roberta "Robbie" Jordan owns Pans 'N Pancakes, a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, in South Lick, Indiana. She's had it for a little over a year, and is happy with the way her business is growing. Right now her new bed and breakfast has only three guests - a married couple and Gregory DeGraaf, an attorney who's on vacation.

When Gregory hears about a developer in town who wants to plan a new resort that will change everything from traffic and noise, he wants to help the group who's protesting, which includes Robbie's aunt, Adele. But when Robbie's friend Lou, who's been getting close to Gregory, finds his body - and he's been murdered - now the police are looking to find a killer, and one who might not yet be done...

This is the sixth book in the series, and I have read them all. Unfortunately, I also believe that it's the weakest. While I still enjoy Robbie and the rest of the characters, it's almost as if the author decided that because she couldn't find a decent "role" for characters to play, she'd find ways to keep them out of the picture. For example, Robbie's boyfriend Abe is MIA in this book, being out of town for a conference. He works on telephone wires. What kind of conference would take him out of town for a week? (No offense to people who are linemen; without them we wouldn't have phones, etc.; and it can be dangerous at times). I also found it odd that a woman in her thirties has never heard the term "cherry picker" before nor knew what it was.

Then, it bothered me that some things were never explained, which I will put in a spoiler below so as not to ruin the book for those who haven't read it yet:

You can read the spoiler here:

https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2020/05/strangled-eggs-and-ham-country-store.h...

I also didn't understand why Mike was so angry with Robbie. Robbie had nothing to do with the protests against the resort, and she had no influence with anyone. Maybe if Mike were angry with Barb I could understand it, but anger-by-proxy because Adele is her aunt? Seriously?

In the end, I already knew who the killer was, but I still felt a bit disappointed in this book compared to the others. Hopefully in the next book things will get back to their groove.

Robbie Jordan’s rustic country store is growing in popularity. But when a dead body appears, it turns out that Robbie’s home-style cooking attracts hungry customers—and murder!

While Robbie scrambles through breakfast orders for her expanding clientele at Pans ‘N Pancakes, tempers run as high as the sticky August heat in South Lick, Indiana. Real-estate developer Fiona Closs plans to build a towering luxury resort at one of the most scenic hilltops in Brown County, and not everyone can see the sunny side of the imposing proposition—including Robbie’s furious Aunt Adele, who doesn’t waste a minute concocting protests and road blockades. When tensions boil over and a vocal protester is silenced forever at the resort site, Robbie ditches the griddle to catch the killer. But if slashed tires are any indication, she’ll need to crack this case before her own aunt gets served something deadly next . . .

Yikes! There was a lot going on in this installment of the Country Store Mystery series. It was almost hard to keep up with the run-around plot.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* ( )

Strangled Eggs and Ham is Book 6 in the popular A Country Store Mystery series. Even though there is a murder for Robbie Jordan to solve in each book, Maddie Day’s storytelling is so good that they read more like “A Day in the Life of Robbie” with a murder woven in. The story moves deliberately along with suspects present but no one really popping up too soon as the favorite, giving you time to fully immerse yourself into the story and enjoy it. Very satisfying.

I grew up in Indiana and feel right at home when reading one of the Country Store Mysteries. A few words in and I am already hungry and want to be at Pans ‘N Pancakes having breakfast. Then I remember the humidity – it’s often oppressive and can make you cranky. Maybe even murderous.

Even though suffering when it’s humid (or Midwest-cold!) Robbie has made a full life for herself in Salt Lick, Indiana. Her country store, restaurant and Bed & Breakfast are thriving, and she is surrounded by her Aunt Adele and good friends and staff, and a boyfriend, although he is only present via telephone this entry in the series. She’s somehow managed to be involved in solving several murders in the short time she’s been here, and it’s interesting to watch her approach: Robbie structures her thinking about the murders like a puzzle with Q&A. Unique.

In Strangled Eggs and Ham a new resort is going to be built at the town limits. The advocates and the protestors have squared off, and it’s serious. Someone is murdered, threats are made and things get violent. Robbie is determined to get to the bottom of it before anyone else, like her beloved Aunt Adele, is hurt.

You can jump in and read any book in the series as they stand alone just fine, but I recommend reading the entire series in order. In addition to the terrific titles and covers, you’ll get the backstory, history and progression of events and friendships, plus the fun of more murders! Once you’re caught up with this series, check out everything else written by this author. Equally engaging.

Thanks to author Maddie Day for providing an advance copy of Strangled Eggs and Ham for me to read and provide my honest review. I love this series. I always feel at home – I, too, used to say wash as if it rhymed with borscht minus the T. Took me many years to break the habit and I still sometimes slip into it. ( )