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Culinary Competition #6
Pancakes & Pandemonium
From USA Today bestselling author Janel Gradowski comes her latest recipe for murder...
Culinary whiz turned reluctant amateur sleuth Amy Ridley is excited to enter a cooking competition featuring her favorite breakfast treat—pancakes! But while she's up to her elbows in batter, she's hit with one unexpected twist after another. First her estranged mother shows up and then just as quickly vanishes again after barely saying hello. Then a vicious storm zeroes in on her small town of Kellerton, Michigan. There is damage everywhere, and one person is killed...but not by the storm.
Amy and her mother have had a strained relationship, but when Mom is tagged as the prime suspect in the murder of her former high school rival, Amy can't help but get involved. Yes, her mother can be annoying, but she's not a ruthless killer... is she? Aided by her charismatic husband, Amy sets out to find the truth. In a town without power and still recovering from the storm, she suddenly finds herself in a cat and mouse game where not everyone may make it out alive!
**Recipes Included!**
Culinary Competition
Pies & Peril (book #1)
Chicken Soup & Homicide (book #2)
Christmas Canapés & Sabotage (short story)
Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes (book #3)
Barbecue & Bad Juju (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)
Fudge Brownies & Murder (book #4)
Banana Muffins & Mayhem (book #5)
What critics are saying about the Culinary Competition
"Janel Gradowski creates a deliciously enticing environment in FUDGE BROWNIES & MURDER...has definitely whetted my appetite, both for brownies and more of this fun series!"
~ Fresh Fiction
"PIES & PERIL is the perfect cozy to curl up with in your favorite chair or at the beach while enjoying some sun. It’s teeming with a lot of charm and great characters along with many tidbits of delectable goodies perfect for any foodie...sure to please any reader who loves their cozy mysteries!"
~ Peeking Between the Pages
Culinary whiz turned reluctant amateur sleuth Amy Ridley is excited to enter a cooking competition featuring her favorite breakfast treat—pancakes! But while she's up to her elbows in batter, she's hit with one unexpected twist after another. First her estranged mother shows up and then just as quickly vanishes again after barely saying hello. Then a vicious storm zeroes in on her small town of Kellerton, Michigan. There is damage everywhere, and one person is killed...but not by the storm.
Amy and her mother have had a strained relationship, but when Mom is tagged as the prime suspect in the murder of her former high school rival, Amy can't help but get involved. Yes, her mother can be annoying, but she's not a ruthless killer... is she? Aided by her charismatic husband, Amy sets out to find the truth. In a town without power and still recovering from the storm, she suddenly finds herself in a cat and mouse game where not everyone may make it out alive!
**Recipes Included!**
Culinary Competition
Pies & Peril (book #1)
Chicken Soup & Homicide (book #2)
Christmas Canapés & Sabotage (short story)
Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes (book #3)
Barbecue & Bad Juju (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)
Fudge Brownies & Murder (book #4)
Banana Muffins & Mayhem (book #5)
What critics are saying about the Culinary Competition
"Janel Gradowski creates a deliciously enticing environment in FUDGE BROWNIES & MURDER...has definitely whetted my appetite, both for brownies and more of this fun series!"
~ Fresh Fiction
"PIES & PERIL is the perfect cozy to curl up with in your favorite chair or at the beach while enjoying some sun. It’s teeming with a lot of charm and great characters along with many tidbits of delectable goodies perfect for any foodie...sure to please any reader who loves their cozy mysteries!"
~ Peeking Between the Pages
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2018
19 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Janel Gradowski
23 books61 followersJanel Gradowski grew up, and still lives, in the mitten of Michigan. She is a wife and mother whose writing companion is a crazy Golden Retriever named Cooper. In the past she has worked many jobs. Renting apartments, scorekeeping for a stock car racetrack and selling newspaper classified advertisements are some of the experiences that continue to provide inspiration for her stories. Now she writes fiction and is also a beadwork designer and teacher. She enjoys cooking and is fueled by copious amounts of coffee.
Her work has appeared in many publications, both online and in print. She is the author of three series. The Culinary Competition Mystery Series stars Amy Ridley, a former hair stylist with a passion for entering cooking contests. Her first women's fiction series is The Bartonville Series. Each volume contains stories ranging from flash to novella length. All of the stories are set in Michigan every volume contains accompanying recipes. The 6:1 Series features themed collections of her stories that are based on the title's theme.
Her work has appeared in many publications, both online and in print. She is the author of three series. The Culinary Competition Mystery Series stars Amy Ridley, a former hair stylist with a passion for entering cooking contests. Her first women's fiction series is The Bartonville Series. Each volume contains stories ranging from flash to novella length. All of the stories are set in Michigan every volume contains accompanying recipes. The 6:1 Series features themed collections of her stories that are based on the title's theme.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 19, 2021
Sadly this appears to be the final book in this series. I enjoyed my last visit to fictional Kellerton, Michigan.
January 9, 2018
This is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery Series. The characters are entertaining, the story and mystery interesting and adventures in culinary competition. I hope there will be many more adventures in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
September 24, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this latest book in the Culinary Competition Mystery series.
Amy Ridley entered The Flipping for Freedom contest at the February Fun Bazaar to help raise funds for a nearby women's shelter. While there, a big storm comes along and knocks out all the power in Kellerton, Michigan. When the storm is over, Amy and her husband, Alex, find a dead body. It is amazing the detail the author goes through as this small town works together to survive the cold temperatures and almost a week with no electricity. I almost forgot there was a murder!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Amy Ridley entered The Flipping for Freedom contest at the February Fun Bazaar to help raise funds for a nearby women's shelter. While there, a big storm comes along and knocks out all the power in Kellerton, Michigan. When the storm is over, Amy and her husband, Alex, find a dead body. It is amazing the detail the author goes through as this small town works together to survive the cold temperatures and almost a week with no electricity. I almost forgot there was a murder!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
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January 9, 2018Spoiler Free Review
This is the sixth book in the series. The books follow Amy Ridley aspiring cookbook author and foodie. As in all cozies Amy has a predeliction for finding trouble i.e. dead bodies. She also has a compulsion to solve the mystery. Janel has created an interesting setting and has populated it with a group of characters that for the most part you wouldn't mind meeting. This particular book is pretty timely given the weather around the country right now as it takes place in a blizzard (ok snow event).
The differentation I like to make is that many people can write a book but what I am looking for is someone who can tell a story. Janel can tell a story. The books are well written and well edited and make for entertaining reads. I found the series quite a while back and have enjoyed them all.
I was given an advance copy of the book and have voluntarily posted this review. The opionins in it are solely mine.
This is the sixth book in the series. The books follow Amy Ridley aspiring cookbook author and foodie. As in all cozies Amy has a predeliction for finding trouble i.e. dead bodies. She also has a compulsion to solve the mystery. Janel has created an interesting setting and has populated it with a group of characters that for the most part you wouldn't mind meeting. This particular book is pretty timely given the weather around the country right now as it takes place in a blizzard (ok snow event).
The differentation I like to make is that many people can write a book but what I am looking for is someone who can tell a story. Janel can tell a story. The books are well written and well edited and make for entertaining reads. I found the series quite a while back and have enjoyed them all.
I was given an advance copy of the book and have voluntarily posted this review. The opionins in it are solely mine.
September 27, 2017
full review soon
July 6, 2018
funny cozy mystery series set in my momma's home state
January 11, 2018
I loved it! I have enjoyed this series from the beginning but Pancakes & Pandemonium is the best by far. It may be that I connect with the inconveniences and worry because we experienced some of the same difficulties and kindness with Harvey, but I really believe that what they faced as a result of the storm and how they faced it showed all of the characters in the same light it does when real people face adversity. Ms. Grabowski is just that good.
February 22, 2018
The ideal weekend whodunnit! When Caroline, the organiser of the town’s bazaar is found stabbed in the car park, it falls to local chef and recipe book author Amy to find out what happened.
As the local town’s folk are busy trying to restore normal routine after its worst storm history, Amy has her suspicions about who might be guilty of such a cold blooded act; could it have been Caroline’s ex-husband, her not so secret new man, or perhaps someone else?
Amy and her Mum have never got on well and having been the last person seen with the dead woman, Amy’s Mum soon finds herself at the top of the list of suspects.
Providing warm food for the locals while the gas and electric supplies are damaged, Amy has the chance that try out some of her new recipes: vegetarian pumpkin chilli, Greek potato pancakes and peach cobbler. These recipes are also included at the end of the book. If you love a good whodunnit and have an interest for cooking and good food then this is the perfect read for you.
November 23, 2017
A Pancake contest, a Freak Storm which knocks out electricity and a murder!
What more could anyone want than everything in one! A pancake contest to benefit a womens shelter is held in Amy's town of Kellerton, Michigan and Amy's estranged mother shows up there after years away, when a crazy freak storm knocks out the power to the whole town. Amy's old high school rival is found dead when the storm blows over and Amy's mother becomes a chief suspect in the murder. Amy with her husband Alex have to work hard to figure out who the real murderer is. With many twists and turns and lots of red-herrings, this case could be the one that is Amy's hardest. I love this series and the characters of Amy and her husband Alex are well-developed and easy to like. I received an ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own!
What more could anyone want than everything in one! A pancake contest to benefit a womens shelter is held in Amy's town of Kellerton, Michigan and Amy's estranged mother shows up there after years away, when a crazy freak storm knocks out the power to the whole town. Amy's old high school rival is found dead when the storm blows over and Amy's mother becomes a chief suspect in the murder. Amy with her husband Alex have to work hard to figure out who the real murderer is. With many twists and turns and lots of red-herrings, this case could be the one that is Amy's hardest. I love this series and the characters of Amy and her husband Alex are well-developed and easy to like. I received an ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own!
January 15, 2018
Pancakes and murder, what a combination. Another mystery finds Amy and as she solves the case, she is also challenged with dealing with some family issues. The supporting plot was so engaging that I, at times, forgot that there was a murder to solve, I think that is how the author distracts me from being able to figure out whodunnit, very clever indeed. :) I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the series.
March 22, 2018
Although this book was fairly short, it was interesting and I enjoyed the characters good and bad. I liked the story line but I only gave it 3 stars due to the fact that as soon as I got into the story the book was over. I wanted more story to stay hooked. Overall I enjoyed and would read other books in the series also.
December 29, 2017
Pancake competition turns deadly. A powerful storm wreaks havoc on the town. Mother and daughter relationship is destructive. Completely surprised by the culprit. The author provided a copy for my voluntary review.
January 13, 2018
Loved the book. It was very entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews