Town in a Maple Madness
A Candy Holliday Mystery, Book #8
By B. B. Haywood
ISBN: 9780425278642
Author website: http://www.hollidaysblueberryacres.com/index.html
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
The “New York Times” bestselling author of “Town in a Cinnamon Toast” returns to Cape Willington, Maine, where blueberry farmer Candy Holliday springs ahead into sleuthing…
The imminent arrival of spring has the locals gearing up for their sweetest celebration ever the first annual Maple Madness Weekend. Along with maple sugar house tours, a community-wide marshmallow roast, and a weekend-long pancake breakfast, restaurants will be serving up special maple syrup dishes. But the weekend festivities are put in jeopardy when things start to get sticky…
One of Candy’s friends is accused of stealing sap from a rival s sugar maple trees, and landscaper Mick Rilke is found dead, floating down the river wrapped up in a fisherman’s net. As Candy taps into Mick’s life, his unsavory side comes to light, as well as a possible connection to both crimes. Now it s up to Candy to follow the flow of suspects to a cold-blooded killer…
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!
Review:
In author B. B. Haywood’s newest installment of “A Candy Holliday Mystery” (#8), Cape Willington, Maine is having a new festival to bring in more tourists. They have added a Maple Madness festival weekend full of tours, marshmallow roasts and tons of good food. Nothing seems to go smooth for the wonderful inhabitants of this quaint small town and this is no different. Since maple syrup is selling for such high prices, it is a really big deal when someone is stealing sap from established sugar maple trees. That is the catalyst that brings protagonist Candy Holliday into the mix. Things just get worse when a body floats down the river and it is murder. Candy has to get on the job and try to save the big weekend.
Candy definitely has to get involved when one of the participants of the maple syrup tours gets in contact with her to complain about someone stealing their sap. Not only did they tap their trees, but there is a chance they overworked them and they may not make it. The worst part is they are pointing directly at one of Candy’s dear friends as the culprit. Candy is a fun main character. I love her fierce concern for her friends and father. No way is she letting her friend (and maybe a bit more than friend) Neil be accused of something she knows he would never do.
Unfortunately just as she is trying to do some investigating, landscaper Mick Rilke is found dead. And no one believes it is anything but murder. Who would want to kill him, well it seems a few people. Candy is called upon to find the killer so the town festival can keep going. This is the first, it has to be remembered for more than murder. Along with Candy’s father and his gang, her friend Maggie and ever present Wanda, Candy will work to find the answers. Things are not always what they seem in their small town. The mystery twists and turns as Candy picks up clue after clue and finds suspect after suspect. In the end, the festival has to go on.
I have to say that installment #8 in author B. B. Haywood’s “Candy Holliday Mystery” series is not my favorite. That said, it had all the elements one usually finds in this enjoyable series. Fun characters, great setting, intriguing mystery, and good food. I felt Town in a Maple Madness was a bit wordy. Lots of descriptive paragraphs, inner turmoil, and not as much action or interaction. Some readers I am sure enjoy this. I am not one of them. I really enjoy the characters in this series and love Candy’s group of friends. I love the town setting. I do think that this is a series that should be read in sequence. Overall a fun read, just a bit too wordy for me.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
