Assault and Buttery
(A Popcorn Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Ohio
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery (November 7, 2017)
An Imprint of Penguin Random House
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425280935
Kindle ASIN: B06W549M59
Repairs are under way at Rebecca Anderson’s gourmet popcorn shop. With production of her tasty treats on hold, Rebecca has plenty of time to read the old diary she discovered hidden in the shop’s walls. It’s a fun peek into her town’s history…until the diary’s abrupt ending leaves Rebecca wondering whether she’s actually stumbled upon a cold case.
Unfortunately for Rebecca, mysteries are popping up right and left. When local busybody Lloyd McLaughlin is found dead, the police suspect he was poisoned by Rebecca’s popcorn. But Rebecca has only made one batch of popcorn recently, and it wasn’t intended for Lloyd. Nothing about Lloyd’s death makes sense—until Rebecca discovers a startling connection between the missing diary-writer and the murdered man.
Now, with her reputation on the line, Rebecca must discover who’s been cooking up murder—both in the past and in the present.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Kristi Abbott takes a unique approach for the third book in this series. We find our protagonist, Rebecca Anderson in jail. She then uses flashbacks to tell how the gourmet popcorn maker ended up there. Between her shop being under construction to repair the damage that happened in the last book, a found dairy from the 50’s, a town council race and a dead body Rebecca has her hands full. It seems her habit of popping herself into police business has pushed Sheriff Dan way too far, he may be her best friend and brother-in-law, but right now he is not her favorite person.
I loved the way this story was told! Rebecca in jail, in a town surrounded by friends, was fun and at times laugh out loud funny. Antics portrayed in this story could only happen in a small town. We learn the details of her incarceration as she tells her story to the woman in the cell across from hers. The why was understandable, the how and the who was surprising, and the prosecutor’s case and the judge’s orders made me a bit upset. It was stereotypical of an earlier time in history. It fit with the story and set forth more than a few comedic scenes, so I understand the reason the author went the way she did for the story.
The story has an even pace, the first half of the book takes us through the past and then catches up to present day. At this point, the pace picks up as we start to look closer at the suspects and their motives. Secrets revealed and more than a few twists had me totally captivated to the last page.
The story is well written and the characters really “POP”. This is my favorite book of the series and I hope it isn’t the last. I am excited to read more about Rebecca and her friends and family.
There are also recipes in the back of the book. The S’mores Popcorn Bars will popping up in our home soon.
You can find out more about Kristi on her webpage here. Like her on Facebook. Follow her on Twitter. Contact her here with recipes ?
Thanks to the publisher I have 2 copies to give away!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Who doesn’t like popcorn and a good mystery? I’m looking forward to reading this book.
Sounds entertaining. Thanks.
Loved the first two in this series. Thanks for the chance to win this one!
I just read this one and absolutely loved it. I’m excited to read the 2 previous books in the series.