Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 10/10/2015 + 458 more book reviews

Flipped for Murder is the first installment in the Country Store Mystery series featuring Roberta "Robbie" Jordan. Robbie has quit her faced past job in California, ditched her cheating ex and moved back to South Lick, Indiana. Robbie has opened Pans 'N Pancakes, a combination kitchenware store and café.

On the day of the Grand Opening of Pans 'N Pancakes Robbie is feeling hopeful that her lifelong dream will be a success. With the help of her Aunt Adele and close friend Phil things are running smoothly until the Town Mayor, Corrine Beedle and her assistant, Stella Rogers arrive. Stella is a sourpuss of a woman who put Robbie through the wringer during the massive renovations and permitting process required to open the new little store.

Rejoicing in the glow of a successful opening day, Robbie is excited to be out on a date with her real estate lawyer, Jim Shermer enjoying a lovely dinner and dancing. Things take a sudden downward spiral when they return to Pans to find Officer Buck Bird waiting for them. Stella Rogers has been found dead with one of Robbie's signature cheesy biscuits stuffed in her mouth and Robbie's lucky pen laying nearby.

As the newcomer in town Robbie becomes the chief suspect in Stella's murder. Determined to clear her name and save her new business, she takes the investigation into her own hands. Stella has made a lot of enemies over the years in her position as the mayor's assistant and it looks like she's been doing a bit of blackmailing on the side. But, who is trying to frame Robbie and why? Is it Ed Kowalski, owner of Kowalski's Country Store and Robbie's competitor in the next town, or Roy Rogers, Stella's son who has a beef that Robbie bought the building that he had wanted?

There is an interesting subplot in addition to the main mystery. In the course of her investigation Robbie discovers the name of her father whom she had never known. Roberto Fracasso was the Italian foreign exchange student who had been involved with Robbie's mom in high school.

Following the lines of most traditional cozy mysteries, Robbie takes in a little stray kitty she names Birdy, and finds herself in the midst of a triangle of romantic feelings. I'll be looking forward to the next in the series "Grilled for Murder" to see how things develop with her newfound father, to see which man she chooses and of course to see what the next adventure for Robbie and her friends will be.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While I was not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

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