Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Batter Off Dead is the tenth installment in the A Country Store Mystery series set in South Lick, Indiana and featuring Robbie Jordan, owner of Pans 'n Pancakes. Newlyweds Robbie and Abe are gathered with friends to watch the weekly Friday night fireworks including Police Lieutenant Buck Bird. Buck invites Robbie to walk over and meet his father Grant and the other residents of the Jupiter Springs Assisted Living Center. Robbie is delighted to meet Grant and quickly realizes the older gentleman has a soft spot for his neighbor Vi Perkell. Sadly, the fireworks come to an end with Vi dead in her lawn chair.
Robbie is drawn into the murder investigation, which seems to be related to the cold case murder of Buck's mother many years ago. As she digs deeper into both murders alongside Detective Oscar Thompson, Robbie discovers that the common thread seems to center around a decades old crafting group - Stitch and Bitch.
An enjoyable afternoon read with the return of series regulars and delicious sounding recipes, that culminates in the resolution of two murders. The only thing questionable thing for me is how after all of these years living in South Lick, has Robbie never met Buck's wife or even knew that his father lived in town since Buck spends what seems like many hours a day seated at "his" table in the restaurant. I also have a slight problem with the way that Buck talks - why is he the only one in town who seems to have a distinct Hoosier way of speaking?
Robbie is drawn into the murder investigation, which seems to be related to the cold case murder of Buck's mother many years ago. As she digs deeper into both murders alongside Detective Oscar Thompson, Robbie discovers that the common thread seems to center around a decades old crafting group - Stitch and Bitch.
An enjoyable afternoon read with the return of series regulars and delicious sounding recipes, that culminates in the resolution of two murders. The only thing questionable thing for me is how after all of these years living in South Lick, has Robbie never met Buck's wife or even knew that his father lived in town since Buck spends what seems like many hours a day seated at "his" table in the restaurant. I also have a slight problem with the way that Buck talks - why is he the only one in town who seems to have a distinct Hoosier way of speaking?
