How to Read the Country Store Mysteries
The Country Store Mysteries, penned by Edith Maxwell under the pseudonym Maddie Day, follow Robbie Jordan, a talented cook and carpenter who opens Pans 'N Pancakes in fictional South Lick, Indiana. Because characters grow, marry, and build lives together over the course of the series, it is highly recommended to read these books in publication order.
Country Store Mysteries Book List
Here is the chronological publication list of the Country Store Mysteries, integrating both the 13 full-length novels and the key holiday novellas:
- Flipped for Murder (2015)
- Grilled for Murder (2016)
- When the Grits Hit the Fan (2017)
- Biscuits and Slashed Browns (2018)
- Death Over Easy (2018)
- Strangled Eggs and Ham (2019)
- Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse (2019) – Novella (published in the Christmas Cocoa Murder anthology)
- Nacho Average Murder (2020)
- Candy Slain Murder (2020)
- No Grater Crime (2021)
- Batter Off Dead (2022)
- Scarfed Down (2022) – Novella (published in the Christmas Scarf Murder anthology)
- Four Leaf Cleaver (2023)
- Deep Fried Death (2023)
- Scone Cold Dead (2025) – The final novel in the series
Where to Start and Reading Tips
If you want the absolute beginning of Robbie's journey, look for the prequel short story "Pickled", which is featured in the multi-author anthology That Mysterious Woman: A Shaker of Margaritas. However, the best starting point for most readers is the first novel, Flipped for Murder, which establishes Robbie's move from California to Indiana, the opening of Pans 'N Pancakes, and her first amateur murder investigation.
Novellas and Shared Anthologies
While Maddie Day does not write co-authored novels, she has collaborated on holiday-themed anthologies published by Kensington. These books feature novellas by multiple authors sharing a common theme:
- Christmas Cocoa Murder (2019): Includes Day's novella Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse alongside stories by Carlene O'Connor and Alex Erickson.
- Christmas Scarf Murder (2022): Includes Day's novella Scarfed Down alongside stories by Carlene O'Connor and Peggy Ehrhart.
These novellas are canon and fit neatly into the timeline between the main novels (indicated in the list above).
Is the Series Finished?
Yes. The author chose to conclude the Country Store Mysteries with the 13th full-length novel, Scone Cold Dead, released in 2025. This book resolves all ongoing character arcs and wraps up Robbie Jordan's story.
Other Cozy Series by Maddie Day
If you finish the Country Store Mysteries and want more from the author, you can explore her other contemporary cozy series:
- Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery: Set in Cape Cod and featuring Mackenzie "Mac" Almeida.
- CeCe Barton Mysteries: Set in California wine country and starting with Murder Uncorked.
Under her real name, Edith Maxwell, she has also written the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries and the Local Foods Mysteries.