Step into the cozy, captivating world of the Country Store Mysteries, where pancakes sizzle, secrets simmer, and amateur sleuth Robbie Jordan serves up justice in the charming town of South Lick, Indiana. Written by Maddie Day (the pen name of Agatha Award-winning author Edith Maxwell), this delightful cozy mystery series blends small-town warmth, culinary delights, and gripping whodunits, making it a must-read for fans of heartwarming suspense.
With its irresistible mix of quirky characters, mouthwatering recipes, and intriguing mysteries, Country Store Mysteries invites readers to pull up a chair at Pans ‘N Pancakes, Robbie’s beloved eatery, and dive into a world where every murder comes with a side of comfort food. Whether you’re a cozy mystery veteran or a newcomer, this series promises a delicious escape.
How Country Store Mysteries Began
The Country Store Mysteries sprang from Edith Maxwell’s love for southern Indiana, where she earned her PhD in linguistics at Indiana University in the late 1970s. Inspired by friends who transformed a rundown general store in Story, Indiana, into a breakfast restaurant and inn, Maxwell, writing as Maddie Day, crafted the fictional South Lick and its heart: Pans ‘N Pancakes. Launched in 2015 with Flipped for Murder, the series reflects Maxwell’s knack for weaving authentic settings and culinary passion into engaging mysteries, drawing readers into Robbie’s world of sleuthing and skillet-wielding.
The Heart of Country Store Mysteries
The series follows Robbie Jordan, a skilled cook and carpenter who leaves a broken heart behind on the West Coast to start anew in South Lick. In Flipped for Murder (2015), Robbie’s grand opening at Pans ‘N Pancakes takes a dark turn when the mayor’s assistant is found dead, forcing her to solve the crime to save her business. Grilled for Murder (2016) sees Robbie untangling another murder when a flirtatious widow is killed in her store. In Candy Slain Murder (2020), a decades-old skeleton sparks a holiday mystery, while Deep Fried Death (2023) throws Robbie into the chaos of an outhouse race gone deadly.
At its core, Country Store Mysteries celebrates small-town life, with themes of community, resilience, and culinary creativity. Robbie’s eatery, stocked with vintage cookware and buzzing with locals and tourists, anchors the series’ cozy vibe. The mysteries, often laced with pun-based titles like No Grater Crime, blend suspense with humor, while recipes for dishes like cranberry-orange bread add a delectable touch. South Lick’s hilly, artsy charm, inspired by Brown County, Indiana, provides a vivid backdrop that feels both familiar and fresh.
Maxwell’s storytelling shines through Robbie’s fearless yet relatable character, who balances running a business, nurturing relationships, and solving crimes. The series’ light tone and focus on food and friendship make it a comforting yet thrilling read, perfect for curling up on a chilly evening.
Why Country Store Mysteries Resonates
Country Store Mysteries has carved a niche in the cozy mystery genre, earning praise for its engaging plots and vivid sense of place. Fans on Goodreads and Amazon rave about Robbie’s likability and the series’ ability to blend heartwarming moments with twisty mysteries, with reviews averaging around 4.2 stars for books like Batter Off Dead. Maxwell’s Agatha Award-winning expertise ensures each installment delivers suspense without sacrificing coziness, appealing to readers who love authors like Jenn McKinlay or Joanne Fluke.
The series’ lasting appeal lies in its celebration of community and the joy of simple pleasures—like a stack of pancakes or a solved mystery. By rooting its stories in a richly drawn small town, Country Store Mysteries offers an escape that feels both nostalgic and exciting, keeping readers hungry for more.
- First Book: Flipped for Murder (2015)
- Number of Books: 13 full novels and several novellas as of 2023
- Setting: Fictional South Lick, Indiana
- Author: Maddie Day (Edith Maxwell), Agatha Award winner
Grab Flipped for Murder and dive into the cozy, mysterious world of Country Store Mysteries—where every clue comes with a side of pancakes!