In this 2nd book in the 'Amish Candy Shop Mysteries', chocolatier/amateur sleuth Bailey King investigates the death of an Amish woman.
*****
Twenty-seven-year-old chocolatier Bailey King was visiting her Amish grandparents in Harvest, Ohio - and helping out in their candy store, Swissmen Sweets - when her Daadi (grandfather) died from a heart condition. So Bailey decided to stay in Ohio to help her Maami (grandmother) run the candy shop.
At the time of Daadi's death, he was registered to compete in the 'Amish Confectionary Contest' (ACC), which is being held in Harvest this year. Though Bailey is an Englischer (non-Amish) she's being permitted to compete in her Daadi's place.
This doesn't go over well with everyone, and a cantankerous Amish contestant called Josephine Weaver makes a huge fuss, in an attempt to get Bailey kicked out of the contest. However, the judges rule that Bailey is eligible, and Esther continues to fume and scheme.
The first round of the competition is the preparation of black licorice, and Bailey and her Amish assistant Esther make the confection, with the initials SS (for Swissmen Sweets) pressed into each piece.
Meanwhile, Bailey's acquaintance Juliet Brody comes around asking everyone if they've seen her pet potbelly pig Jethro, who's gone missing from the vicinity of the Englischer church. Bailey, who's a bit sweet on Juliet's handsome son, Deputy Sheriff Aiden Brody, joins in the search for Jethro.
When Bailey enters the church she finds a teenage Amish girl called Charlotte Weaver playing the organ.
Charlotte mentions that the instrument sounds odd, and when she goes to examine the organ pipes, lets out a scream. Bailey hurries over and sees the dead body of ill-tempered candy maker Josephine Weaver.
Deputy Sheriff Brody and his team come to investigate, and discover that Josephine, who's allergic to licorice, died from an allergic reaction.
Moreover, a piece of licorice bearing the SS logo is found in Josephine's apron. As in the first book in the series, Bailey fears she'll become a murder suspect, and decides to look for the killer herself.
Thus Bailey is very busy in this novel. She's making candy for the ACC competition; she's manning her booth during the judging; she's helping search for Jethro the pig; she's investigating Josephine's murder; she's assisting her Maami in Swissmen Sweets; and more.
As the story unfolds we get a peep at Amish culture, including the clash between teenage organist Charlotte Weaver and her young Amish bishop, who says God doesn't want her playing the Englischer instrument.
So Charlotte is torn between giving up her passion for the organ or leaving her Amish community. In fact Amish culture is an important factor in the motive for the crime, as we learn when the homicide is solved.
The candies Charlotte prepares for the ACC and Swissmen Sweets, including goodies like green apple fudge; peppermint fudge; lavender blueberry fudge; and chocolate cherry ganache truffles; sound very tasty and add a nice culinary vibe to the cozy mystery.
Green Apple Fudge
Peppermint Fudge
Lavender Blueberry Fudge
Chocolate Cherry Ganache Truffles
I enjoy a cozy mystery every now and then, and this series is a good addition to the genre.
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