When a new antique store opens up across from Robbie’s restaurant, Pans ‘N Pancakes, direct competition also appears in the form of a food truck. While the saying “competition makes you better” can be true, this competition comes with drama. Robbie has to deal with grudges, shoplifting, and sabotage. She deals with all of that while still serving fantastic breakfast specials including Lemon Rosemary Scones. These are moist and just the right level of flavor.
This is book #9 of the Country Store Mystery series. The cozy mystery novel features Robbie and her restaurant, store, and B&B, Pans ‘N Pancakes. A subtitle for this novel could be “Beware of Mushrooms”. Robbie, Lieutenant Buck, and the rest of her close friends need to figure out how poisonous mushrooms made their way into her kitchen.
Lemon Rosemary Scones
from a cozy mystery:
No Grater Crime
by Maddie Day
Book Outline and Tone:
Robbie’s restaurant is so busy, she and her two assistants can barely keep up. And then, tragedy strikes. Robbie creates a special mushroom omelet but it causes patrons to get sick and the health department closes her restaurant for an investigation. This begins a mystery involving other business owners in Salt Lick, IN and Jan, Robbie’s fiance’s ex-wife. Whew! Tangled webs of relationships and hurt feelings are everywhere. The investigation is hampered by a decades old grudge and a kleptomaniac stealing from Pans ‘N Pancakes.
Author Maddie Day has created a clever mystery with many plausible suspects. Main character Robbie does what she does best in slyly investigating, but this time it is to keep her livelihood (the restaurant) in good standing in the community. All of this is happening just weeks before Robbie and Abe are scheduled to get married. The characters are realistic and not just likeable, but loveable. I wish there was a Pans ‘n Pancakes in my town. The way people rave about the food offerings makes me hungry every time I read A Country Store Mystery.
Another reason this is such a great series is the level of inclusion and acceptance among the characters. In the last novel, Candy Slain Murder, a character who practices Islam was introduced, and defended from harassment. In this novel there are church goers and non church goers who accept each other with love. We are also introduced to a transgender man who is the brother of one of Robbie’s good friends. The best part about it, the fact that this man made a transition is not a major storyline. Similar to the television show Schitt’s Creek, people are just accepted as who they are without judgement. May we all look at people as people and offer love for them, just how they are.
The Best Quote:
“I gazed at the little mushroom pies. It could prove deadly for anyone to eat them. When Sean returned to the kitchen, I grabbed the platter and stuck it under the table, sliding it back along the floor so the tablecloth hit it. Maybe they were fine to eat–and maybe they weren’t.”
Point of View:
The novel is told in first person point of view from the perspective of main character, Robbie Jordan.
The Author: Maddie Day
Maddie Day is one of my favorite authors to follow on social media. She posts regularly on Twitter @edithmaxwell. She also has a large following on Instagram and Facebook. Like so many authors, Maddie Day is a pseudonym for Edith Maxwell. She has at least six book series that can all be found on her website which is elaborate and has inside information and reviews for all of her books.
What is not to like?:
The tension is kept at a low cozy mystery level. It makes for enjoyable light reading, but at no point was I truly worried for main character Robbie.
The verdict:
The lemon and rosemary scones are moist and tasty, not dry and crumbly. I added a bit of fresh squeezed lemon to increase the lemon flavor, I recommend you do that too. The novel series is a good wholesome read with characters that grow with each novel. I recommend this series!
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Lemon Rosemary Scones
Assemble the Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 410°F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a food processor, add the flour, baking powder, salt,
and sugar. Pulse until combined.
Spread the butter on top of the dry ingredients. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Add the rosemary and lemon zest and pulse until combined. Transfer to a large bowl.
Add the buttermilk and egg over the flour mixture and stir, using a rubber spatula, until just combined.
OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set LInk
Flour a work surface and transfer the dough on it.
Knead for 1 minute.
Using your hands, pat the dough into a circle and cut into wedges. Arrange scones in a single layer on the prepared cookie sheet.
Brush tops with milk, then sprinkle with sugar.
Bake until the tops are golden brown, for 12-15 minutes.
Let scones cool completely.
Lemon Rosemary Scones
Ingredients
- 2 cups unbleached white flour, sifted
- 1 TBSP baking powder
- 3 TBSP sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 TBSP cold butter, cut into small cubes
- 1 TBSP fresh rosemary, finely minced
- zest of one lemon
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 410°F.
- Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, add the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Pulse until combined.
- Spread the butter on top of the dry ingredients. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Add the rosemary and lemon zest and pulse until combined.
- Transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the buttermilk and egg over the flour mixture and stir, using a rubber spatula, until just combined.
- Flour a work surface and transfer the dough on it.
- Knead for 1 minute.
- Using your hands, pat the dough into a circle and cut into wedges.
- Arrange scones in a single layer on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Brush tops with milk, then sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake until the tops are golden brown, for 12-15 minutes.
What would I do differently next time?
Next time I would add more lemon by squeezing lemon juice into the dough or adding more zest.
Here are some other fantastic breakfast recipes.
Double Blueberry Pancakes from Fatal Reservations by Lucy Burdette
Orange Scones from Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day
Apple Bacon Egg Bake from Death of a Bacon Heiress by Lee Hollis
Eggnog Oatmeal and Eggless Nog from Christmas Cocoa and a Corpse by Maddie Day
