Book 15, 2022

When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading When the Grits Hit the Fan at work today. It's the third installment in author Maddie Day's "Country Store" mystery series. The story is told in first person pov by the main character, Roberta "Robbie" Jordan. This is the first book I've read in the series, and the author did a fine job of providing enough backstory to not make me feel like I was floundering.

Winter means less tourism dollars in South Lick, IN, but Robbie is keeping her restaurant, Pans 'n Pancakes, afloat by hosting monthly dinners for IU's Sociology department. At one such dinner, things become heated when Professor Charles Stilton ruffles the feathers of some of his fellow academics, including Robbie's good friend, Lou. When she and Lou go snowshoeing the next morning and find Stilton, dead under the lake's ice, Lou becomes a suspect in the murder investigation. Convinced Lou didn't kill anyone, Robbie sets out to prove she is innocent. To that end, she begins asking around about the professor, and what she learns is he was an abrasive person who made enemies wherever he went. Not only do Robbie's inquiries earn the wrath of the local police, but she also receives a threatening note. Convinced she's closing in on a killer, Robbie is determined to put the pieces of the puzzle together, even if she places herself in danger.

This was a fun story. A lot of people had motive to kill ol' Charlie, including members of his own family. Robbie is an engaging character, tough and loyal. I especially appreciated that her love interest was not someone involved in law enforcement. Can I get a "Hallelujah!"? Beyond her amateur investigating, we also see Robbie doing normal things, such as working at her restaurant, doing some demolition on the building in preparation for renovations, and spending time with her significant other. I was kept guessing up to the last chapters as to who "dunnit", and the resolution was satisfying.

Favorite lines:
♥ "Them two got along about as well as two weasels in a sack."
♥ A lot of people my age mostly read on their tablets, but I liked the heft of a real book in my hands.

Very good, and I will certainly look for more in this series. Four stars