A Poisonous Pour - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a recent release. A Poisonous Pour by Maddie Day is the third book in the Cece Barton Mystery series and was released this week!

 

Blurb:

It’s Memorial Day weekend and Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley is buzzing with activity. For Cece, business at Vino y Vida is going great, as is her romance with new beau, Benjamin. Meanwhile, Cece’s neighbor, Richard Flora, is stirring up controversy with his newest article, an exposé of Regan Greene, power-hungry director of a valley district organization. Also in the mix is the town’s big classic car show, paired with wine tastings . . .

At the show, Cece spots Regan, who is displaying her restored green ’72 Thunderbird convertible. As Cece pours tastes, she witnesses several heated discussions with Regan—including an argument with wine afficionado and new Colinas hardware store owner Greg Jardis. Otherwise, all goes smoothly—until Sunday brings shocking news. Regan has been murdered . . .

Rumors fly that Richard may have orchestrated the homicide—or even committed it. But Cece knows that’s absurd. And others in Cece’s orbit seem to have discomfiting connections to Regan, from Cece’s employee, Dane, to her winemaking teacher’s sister, Yolanda, to Colinas Mayor Guittierez. And after Yolanda visits the wine bar, Benjamin says he recognizes her from a road race.

Determined to clear Richard’s name, and failing to extract any clues from detectives, Cece once again enlists her twin, Allie, as her partner-in-sleuthing. But they’ll have to act quickly, before the trail goes
sour . . .

Murder Uncorked - A Review

 

MURDER UNCORKED by Maddie Day
The First Cece Barton Mystery

 

Manager of the wine bar, Vino y Vida, widow Cece Barton is getting used to living in the small town of Colinas, California. Living close to her twin sister is just one of the perks. After hearing an argument at the bar, she soon learns that one of the men has been murdered. The same man with whom she's had unpleasant business dealings. When the brusque detective starts implying Cece could be a suspect and when Cece realizes that the good looking man staying at her sister's B&B could be the killer she decides to look into things herself. After all, it wouldn't be the first time.

 

While MURDER UNCORKED is the first book in the series there are several references to Cece being involved with solving a murder. It turns out there is a prequel in the anthology CHRISTMAS MITTENS MURDER. I wish I would have read this short story that introduces Cece first. Although MURDER UNCORKED certainly works fine without knowing the introductory details, since there were several references to it, I would have liked to have read it first.

 

I like the relationship between Cece and her twin, Allie. I also appreciate her dealings with her nephews and the fact that her relationship with her daughter is not the best. One of my favorite relationships though is between Cece and the VOM, Very Old Man, her neighbor Richard. It was also nice seeing a variety of ethnicities represented. The mystery was well plotted with nice diversions. Cece is an intelligent protagonist and I like how she handles herself.

 

MURDER UNCORKED is a full bodied mystery with a host of interesting characters in a unique setting. I look forward to visiting this charming town again!

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day. This book is the first in the Cece Barton Mystery series and will be released next week.

Manager of the wine bar, Vino y Vida, widow Cece Barton is getting used to living in the small town of Colinas, California. Living close to her twin sister is just one of the perks. After hearing an argument at the bar, she soon learns that one of the men has been murdered. The same man with whom she's had unpleasant business dealings. When the brusque detective starts implying Cece could be a suspect and when Cece realizes that the good looking man staying at her sister's B&B could be the killer she decides to look into things herself. After all, it wouldn't be the first time.

Murder at the Taffy Shop - A Review

Review

MURDER AT THE TAFFY SHOP by Maddie Day

The Second Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery

Beverly Ruchart is not a pleasant person. It seems as if Olean and perhaps one other person in Westham like the woman. When Mac Almeida goes to meet her friend Gin for their morning walk, she finds Gin hovering over Beverly's body. Beverly's very dead body. Mac's book club is excited to try to solve yet another murder and Mac is more than happy to share all the information they find to the State Police Detective. But when evidence is found implicating Gin, Mac goes into overdrive looking for suspects, of which there are plenty. Will Mac and the Cozy Capers Book Club find enough evidence to exonerate one of their own? Or will Mac's snooping simply land her in the crosshairs of a killer?

The majority of people who knew the victim in MURDER AT THE TAFFY SHOP didn't like her. Heck, in the first scene she's mad at a puppy! Even her grandson seems to only tolerate her for her money. Thus when her body is found we have plenty of suspects. Suspects Mac is going to engage in order to shift the blame from her bestie, Gin, who found the body. 

Strong characterization of even the minor players leads to an engaging mystery. It also shows how much Maddie Day can draw her readers in. In the first book in the series I felt that Mac's boyfriend, Tim, seemed to good to be true. The second book proved me right. Tim brings in a major character relationship subplot. He really made me angry with his petulant behavior regarding what he wants from their relationship. While Tim really rankled me, I grew to love Lincoln and Abo Reba even more. Belle continues to make me laugh and she certainly earned her frozen grapes in the Second Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery.

MURDER AT THE TAFFY SHOP is a character driven mystery that focuses on family. Love, a few laughs, and an action packed confrontation with a killer make this an enjoyable second outing.

Recipes Included.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Murder at the Taffy Shop by Maddie Day. This book is the second in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series and was released yesterday!

Beverly Ruchart is not a pleasant person. It seems as if Olean and perhaps one other person in Westham like the woman. When Mac Almeida goes to meet her friend Gin for their morning walk, she finds Gin hovering over Beverly's body. Beverly's very dead body. Mac's book club is excited to try to solve yet another murder and Mac is more than happy to share all the information they find to the State Police Detective. But when evidence is found implicating Gin, Mac goes into overdrive looking for suspects, of which there are plenty. Will Mac and the Cozy Capers Book Club find enough evidence to exonerate one of their own? Or will Mac's snooping simply land her in the crosshairs of a killer?

Murder on Cape Cod - A Review

Review

MURDER ON CAPE COD by Maddie Day

The First Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery

Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida appreciates her life as a small business owner in the Cape Cod hamlet of Westham. Her bicycle rental and repair shop is always busy, she has a wonderful boyfriend, and her cozy mystery book club keeps her mind active. Walking home from a book club meeting she stumbles in the fog, only to realize that she's tripped over the dead body of the local handyman. She also realizes the knife in the dead man looks just like the custom one her half brother owns. Her book club friends are eager to solve a murder mystery, just like their books, while Mac has reservations. But, to protect herself and her brother she decides to organize her fellow sleuths and look into the matter. With so many people discretely investigating, no one could get hurt, right?

The first Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery introduces us to a charming new protagonist. Mac is down to earth, resourceful, and willing to cooperate with the police. A best friend who owns a taffy shop to walk with every morning, an enterprising librarian, a minister father, an astrologist mother, a social grandmother, and a variety of friends create a great foundation to not only support each other, but solve a mystery together. I love dogs and adore cats, but it's nice to see a different type of companion animal in a mystery. Belle, an African Grey parrot. is both sassy and loving, providing an extra layer of character development. Another fun aspect to the series is that Mac's book club is for cozy mysteries! It not only references current books in the genre, it also shows the prejudice some cozy readers face from certain book people!

While MURDER ON CAPE COD is definitely a cozy mystery, and not a bit dark, not everything is perfect in this cozy world. I appreciate the real life touches added to this book, including ex cons and having a main character who is a recovering alcoholic. I also enjoyed meeting characters who happen to have varied ethnic backgrounds, from Cape Verdean to Wampanoag!

MURDER ON CAPE COD brings together a diverse cast of characters in an appealing tourist town. Intelligent snooping by friends and family ensure both a successful investigation and a great start to a new series.

Recipes Included.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day. This book is the first in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series.

Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida appreciates her life as a small business owner in the Cape Cod hamlet of Westham. Her bicycle rental and repair shop is always busy, she has a wonderful boyfriend, and her cozy mystery book club keeps her mind active. Walking home from a book club meeting she stumbles in the fog, only to realize that she's tripped over the dead body of the local handyman. She also realizes the knife in the dead man looks just like the custom one her half brother owns. Her book club friends are eager to solve a mystery, just like their books, while Mac has reservations. But to protect herself and her brother she decides to organize her fellow sleuths and look into the matter. With so many people discretely investigating, no one could get hurt, right?

Biscuits and Slashed Browns - A Spotlight

I'm not sure how I got behind in this delightful series, but I did. Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day. This book is the fourth in the Country Store Mystery series and was released earlier this year. ow to find time to catch up!

From the back cover:

For country-store owner Robbie Jordan, the National Maple syrup Festival is a sweet escape from late winter in South Lick, Indiana-until murder saps the life out of the celebration...

As Robbie arranges a breakfast-themed cook-off at Pans 'N' Pancakes, visitors pour into Brown County for the annual maple extravaganza. Unfortunately, that includes Professor Connolly, a know-it-all academic from Boston who makes enemies everywhere he goes-and this time, bad manners prove deadly. Soon after clashing with several scientists at a maple tree panel, the professor is found dead outside a sugar shack, stabbed to death by a local restaurateur's knife. When an innocent woman gets dragged into the investigation and a biologist mysteriously disappears, Robbie drops her winning maple syrup biscuits to search for answers. But can she help police crack teh case before another victim is caught in a sticky situation with a killer?

Recipes Included.

When the Grits Hit the Fan - Spotlight & Giveaway

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release. WHEN THE GRITS HIT THE FAN by Maddie Day is the third book in the Country Store Mystery series and was released March 28th.

Synopsis

Despite the bitter winter in South Lick, Indiana, business is still hot at Robbie Jordan’s restaurant. But when another murder rattles the small town, can Robbie defrost the motives of a cold-blooded killer?

Before she started hosting dinners for Indiana University’s Sociology Department at Pans ‘N Pancakes, Robbie never imagined scholarly meetings could be so hostile. It’s all due to Professor Charles Stilton, who seems to thrive on heated exchanges with his peers and underlings, and tensions flare one night after he disrespects Robbie’s friend, graduate student Lou. So when Robbie and Lou go snowshoeing the next morning and find the contentious academic frozen under ice, police suspect Lou might have killed him after their public tiff. To prove her friend’s innocence, Robbie is absorbing local gossip about Professor Stilton’s past and developing her own thesis on the homicide—even if that means stirring up terrible danger for herself along the way . . .

 ****************************************************************************

About The Author

Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-nominated author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts.

As Edith Maxwell, she write the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Midnight Ink).
You can find all Maddie’s/Edith’s identities at www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every week day with the other Wicked Cozy Authors at wickedcozyauthors.com. Look for her as Edith M. Maxwell and Maddie Day on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter.

Purchase Links

Amazon  B&N 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flipped for an Interview & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Maddie Day to the blog today. Maddie, who also writes under the name Edith Maxwell, is starting a new series. Flipped for Murder is the first in the Country Store Mystery series and was released October 27th.

Kathy: When I was a kid my parents and I would often take drives out to the country. I'd love it when we'd find old fashioned country stores. We'd always stop in to look around, and usually buy something. I'd especially loved finding the old fashioned candies. What is your favorite commodity found in a country store?

MD: I like the pickle barrel and the chess board set into a table, and I incorporated both of those into Robbie Jordan's store.


Kathy: Is Pans ‘n Pancakes, the country store in your new series, based on a real country store or is it solely the product of your imagination?

MD: The inspiration is the Story Inn in Story, Indiana, which some friends bought and fixed up a few decades ago. It's under other ownership now, and isn't just a breakfast place anymore, but it gave me the idea for the series. Story is also in Brown County, where I set fictional South Lick.


Kathy: Robbie Jordan has skills as both a cook and carpenter. Do you?

MD: I'm a pretty good amateur chef and love cooking. I have done some carpentry in the past but really simple stuff. However, I live with a skilled carpenter, so I've seen those skills in action.


Kathy: The Country Store Mystery series is set in a small town in southern Indiana. Why choose this location for your new series?

MD: I love the midwest and lived in southern Indiana myself for five years while earning a doctorate at Indiana University. People are friendly, the pace of life is slower, and there's a sense of community you don't always find on the coasts. My Maxwell roots go back five or six generations in that part of the world, too.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

MD: I love reading them! I got tired of reading books written by men about men, where I had to suffer through lots of comments about legs and boobs. Many cozies are written by women with female protagonists, so I decided to write one (or a dozen...).


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MD: My first two mysteries, the Lauren Rousseau Mysteries, also feature an amateur sleuth but are more of a traditional mystery, with darker themes. And no recipes. ;^)


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

MD: The Country Store Mysteries (written as Maddie Day) take us into Robbie Jordan's life as a chef/owner of a small town country store restaurant, her encounters with murder, and the community, both supportive and at times suspicious, of South Lick, Indiana. In the Local Foods Mysteries, organic farmer Cam Flaherty is faced with local foods enthusiasts, the vagaries of growing organic produce year round, and locally sourced murder. In the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (debuting in April 2016), Rose Carroll hears secrets as she attends the births of both rich and poor, which helps her solve crimes in an 1888 Massachusetts mill town. And the Lauren Rousseau Mysteries (written as Tace Baker) feature a contemporary Quaker linguistics professor coping with intrigue and danger in a small Massachusetts coastal town as well as the college campus where she teaches.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

MD: Possibly Rose Carroll, my historic midwife. But really it's too hard to choose - just as choosing your favorite child is!


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MD: I wanted to reach a wider reading audience than I could if I published independently, and so far it's working. Also, self-published books are typically not eligible for awards.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

MD: Anais Nin, Dorothy Sayers, Simone de Beauvoir, and Dame Agatha Christie.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MD: I am reading Death on the Trek, the manuscript of Kaye George's second pre-historic mystery, and next up will be Sheila Connolly's latest Apple Orchard mystery, A Gala Affair.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

MD: I garden, cook, take fast walks, and read mysteries. I also love weather and maps, and have lived abroad all over the world in the past.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

MD: Black beans, French roast decaf, dark chocolate, and cheese.


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

MD: Yes! I'm in the lucky position to have three multi-book contracts. The second Country Store Mystery, Grilled for Murder, will be out in late May, as will the fourth Local Foods Mystery, Murder Most Fowl. Delivering the Truth, the first Quaker Midwife Mystery, releases April 8. That series is contracted for at least two more, and the other two for at least one more. For now I'm putting the Lauren Rousseau Mysteries on hold.


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

MD: I love the magic of telling stories, especially when things flow through my fingers and the keyboard that I had no idea I was going to write. And my other favorite thing is meeting readers, and having people from across the world whom I have never met tell me they liked my book and ask when the next one is coming out!


Kathy: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

MD: My pleasure. Thanks so much for having me over. I hope readers will find me on Facebook, twitter, and on my web site and keep in touch.

*******************************************************************************

Review

Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day
The First Country Store Mystery

Robbie Jordan has just opened her dream, Pans 'N Pancakes, a combination country store specializing in antique cookware and breakfast and lunch comfort food restaurant. Not only is Robbie the owner and head cook, but she restored most of the cabinetry herself, a skill taught by her recently deceased mother. Helped by her Aunt Adele and friend, Philostrate, Robbie's grand opening is a huge success culminating in dinner and dancing with her good looking real estate lawyer. However, her happy day comes to a troubling end when she finds the police waiting for her. Stella, mayor's aide and problematic thorn in Robbie's side, at least in regards to permits for her business, is found murdered...with one of Robbie's cheesy biscuits stuffed in her mouth!

The past plays a major part in Flipped for Murder, and not just the antique cookware. Old relationships, current animosities, and burgeoning friendships, all play a part in the town and the mystery. There's more to South Lick, Indiana than meets the eye. There's a backstory of intrigue which we learn slowly. We see glimpses and piece things together as Robbie does.

The opening of the Country Store Mystery series is just as successful as that of Pan 'N Pancakes. The combination of comfort food and cookware set against a midwestern background with secret undercurrents create a satisfying read.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day. This book is the first in the Country Store Mystery series and will be released October 27. Robbie Jordan has just opened her dream, Pans 'N' Pancakes, a combination country store specializing in antique cookware and breakfast and lunch comfort food restaurant. Not only is Robbie the owner and head cook, but she restored most of the cabinetry herself, a skill taught by her recently deceased mother. Helped by her Aunt Adele and friend, Philostrate, Robbie's grand opening is a huge success culminating in dinner and dancing with her good looking real estate lawyer. However, her happy day comes to a troubling end when she finds the police waiting for her. Stella, mayor's aide and problematic thorn in Robbie's side, at least in regards to permits for her business, is found murdered...with one of Robbie's cheesy biscuits stuffed in her mouth!