An old skeleton and a new murder become linked in this intriguing mystery. Robbie can’t help but become involved: she doesn’t look for trouble but it sure finds her. A new visitor to her diner turns out to be someone important to Dana, and a cantankerous doctor offends everyone, but especially women. Abe does his best to keep Robbie safe, and it’s lucky for her that he knows something about self-defense. The surprise at the end of the novel will have readers reaching for that next book, just to see what’s in store for these delightful characters. ( )

I was hoping to discover a new series to read as I always enjoy cozies, particularly when they are holiday themed, but this one was a thumbs down for me. The plot was thin, the murderer was obvious and the dialogue was uncomfortably awkward. I am sure the author thought she was throwing in some really "cute country slang" but they came off as forced and idiotic. She even tried to insert some progressive ideas in it but they were so cursory and superficial it just cheapened the attempt. The recipes weren't even good and the book felt incredibly long even though it was under 300 pages. I will not read more from this author. ( )

Candy Slain Murder is sometimes cute and sometimes serious cozy mystery that would make for a great winter read.

The book is set around Christmas, and definitely has a Christmas vibe to it. However, the Christmas theming is not over the top, which I really enjoyed!

Though there is a large cast list, many of the characters were fairly well-developed. There's also a lot going on with this mystery - the skeleton found in the local anesthesiologist's attic, the emergence of a possible half-brother for one of her employees, the bustle of Robbie's business - yet I didn't feel that any of the stories were half-baked.

If anything, the book could have been condensed in some places to prevent too much drag. For example, there are a lot of scenes of Robbie cooking in her restaurant and it can be repetitive at times.

It was interesting that the author wrote out the drawl of her Midwestern characters as it added character to the story, but I didn't always understand some of the metaphors or local vocabulary used. I can't speak to how accurate it was though as I'm not from that part of the world.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read, and I'd be excited to read more books in this series and from this author in the future.

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CW: There are several instances where characters experience religious discrimination - specifically, Islamophobia. There is also another character in the book who is a known white supremacist and KKK member. Other characters in the book make their opinions known on both issues and stand up for their friends.

I don't think that this made the book 'woke' or 'preachy' or 'PC', as some other reviewers have commented. Rather, I would say the treatment of these social issues wasn't as deeply executed or nuanced as they could have been.

However, I would advise people who do not like cozies with social issues to avoid this book because these issues do come up multiple times.

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It's Christmas time in South Lick, Indiana, and Robbie is looking forward to spending it with her boyfriend Abe and her aunt. But when there's a home fire, and a skeleton is discovered in the attic of a well-known anesthesiologist, it's soon discovered who the remains belong to, and it opens up an entire new line of what happened to this person -- long believed gone from the community on their own.

Then a man appears at Robbie's restaurant, Pans 'N Pancakes, claiming he's the long-lost brother of Robbie's assistant, and no one knows what to think. With guests at the hotel, and ugliness rearing its head over the holidays, Robbie wants to find out what happened to the person to whom the skeleton belonged, and hopes that her assistant isn't being taken in by a con man...

I have read every single book in this series and loved them. Unfortunately, this one really sank the bar when the author decided to turn the book into a political one. I read books to escape from the realities of life, to relax in my home and just enjoy the moment. If I want to read about politics, then I will pick up a book on political science or a non-fiction book. Also, there was a scene between Robbie and her guests that absolutely did not make sense, keeping in line with the book's tone. None of this had anything to do with the book, so why was the question thrown in there in the first place?

This wasn't a mystery. It was a political rant with some mystery thrown in to keep people reading. Sorry, but I lost interest in the book and by the end of it I didn't really care anymore. Hopefully the next one will go back to the way the rest are written. ( )

Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day is the 8th A Country Store Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series. I thought Candy Slain Murder was easy to read thanks to the author’s conversational writing style and steady pacing. The story has developed characters and a charming small-town setting. There is a cast of quirky characters that add humor to the story. It is time for the holidays in South Lick, Indiana. The shops are decked with lights, snow is falling, and it is almost time for the town’s tree lighting ceremony. Robbie Jordan has been run off her feet at the restaurant which is good for her bottom line. We get to see what it takes to run her small restaurant. Her interactions with customers and her employees as well as coming up with the daily specials. Robbie decorates her Christmas tree with help from Abe and Sean. I enjoyed this sweet scene. The romance between Robbie and Abe is progressing nicely. Robbie can imagine spending the rest of her life with Abe and his son, Sean. Danna Beedle is stunned when a man comes into the restaurant and introduces himself as her half-brother. She is looking forward to getting to know him, but Robbie wonders if the man is on the up and up. There are two mysteries to solve this time around. A current one and one from a decade ago. Robbie questions multiple suspects gathering information that she passes along to Lt. Buck Bird and Detective Octavia Slade. I would have preferred a more unique solution. The case wraps up nicely with some suspenseful drama. The book has a very special ending that fans of the series will love. There are recipes at the end for those items that had our mouthwatering while reading this heartwarming tale. Candy Slain Murder is a sweet story with buttery biscuits, a skeletal sibling, handmade hats, a toxic twin, a chilly climate, plus festive fun with family and friends. ( )