During a cold, snowy, and icy winter, Robbie Jordan continues to serve up country breakfasts and solve murder mysteries. Finding a dead person while out snowshoeing is the last thing she expected, but is a great start to this mystery.
This is book #3 of Maddie Day’s A Country Store Mystery. I am truly enjoying this series. Robbie Jordan is clever and has many admirable talents! On top of a great protagonist, this novel boasts wonderful recipes such as the rich cheese grits.
When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day
Cozy Mystery Book Review
Outline and Tone:
What do The Walking Dead and Bedeviled Eggs have in common? A crossbow. It is a first for me in reading cozy mysteries, but believe it or not, there is a death by crossbow in this novel. Suzanne, Toni, and Petra run the Cackleberry Club cafe and serve delicious food and provide a place where town gossip runs wild. Perhaps that is why local politician, Chuck Peebler, stops by to shake hands and kiss babies (to coin a phrase). While political rivalry is an ongoing thread in this novel, it is not the only plot line. Petra and Suzanne go exploring on the Quilt Trail (which seems like a great idea, or a cinnamon roll trail or a wine trail whatever a small town area is known for) and discover more death. The reader is kept guessing as to who is responsible for these deaths for most of the novel.
The author:
Laura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt. She is a New York Times bestselling author writing Cozy Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Eggs in Purgatory is part of her Cackleberry Club Mystery series. She also writes Tea Shop Mysteries and Scrapbook Mysteries. Her website boasts that TeaTime Magazine declared her one of the most influential people in the tea industry.
What is not to like?:
The three main women are likable, but I don’t feel I know enough about all of them. Petra is a blunt woman who seems to shoot straight, as the saying goes, but I don’t know that much more about her. I hope this character is fleshed out more in future novels.
The verdict:
This cozy mystery was enjoyable for several reasons. The mode of killing (a crossbow) is nothing I’ve read in other cozy mysteries. The idea of a Quilt Trail seems like a great idea (or donut trail or cheese trail!). Ms. Childs has created another fun cozy mystery and I will for sure review the next book in this series.
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Cheese Grits Recipe from Novel
Assemble the ingredients
These rich and delicious grits only require 4 basic ingredients, grits, chicken stock, heavy cream, and white sharp cheddar cheese.
Combine broth and cream in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.
I love highlighting OXO’s Good Grips 7-Piece Nesting Measuring Beaker Set.
The set goes from 1 teaspoon to 1 cup! I love them.
When I need to measure liquids greater than 1 cup, I reach for OXO Good Grips 2-Cup Angled Measuring Cup.
Easy to read measure marks on inside of cup. Dishwasher safe.
Stir in the grits, stirring constantly. Cover the pan and reduce the heat. Simmer for ten to twenty minutes, stirring as needed.
I removed from the heat to stir in cheese.
The cheese melted easily and quickly. At this point, I also added some fresh ground pepper. After stirring it all together, it was ready to spook out into a bowl, I then added more freshly grated cheese and a pat of butter. These grits are fantastic!
This night I was making breakfast for dinner and I served these grits as a side to Hot Mama Frittata.
You could also add sausage, shrimp or even a whole egg on top and serve.
Savory and Rich Cheese Grits for Breakfast or Breakfast for Dinner
Grits with Cheese from: When the Grits Hit the Fan Cozy Mystery
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup whipping cream
- 1 cup Original Grit Girl Stone Ground yellow grits [I used regular grits from my local store]
- 2 cups grated white cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Combine broth and cream in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.
- Stir in the grits, stirring constantly.
- Cover the pan and reduce the heat.
- Simmer for ten to twenty minutes, stirring as needed.
- Stir in cheese.
- Serve with shrimp, eggs, sausage, or whatever you like.[I served these with Hot Mama Frittata, see above]
These Cheesy Biscuits from Flipped for Murder (another Maddie Day book) also make a great addition to a big breakfast or a breakfast for dinner meal.
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