This month, I decided to read the first entry of one of the more often recommended Cozy Mystery series from more recent years that I hadn’t gotten around to yet, in this case the first entry of Amanda Flower‘s Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series, Assaulted Caramel. Though this is the first entry in this particular series for me, I have read other books by Amanda Flower before, so I wasn’t surprised by how much I enjoyed this particular entry.
This series combines two things that many Cozy lovers can’t seem to get enough of – a particular food type and a less mainstream, less urbanized way of life, in this case chocolate and the Amish.
Both features get ample coverage, and the sleuth of the entry, Bailey King, provides an excellent protagonist viewpoint. A successful chocolatier in New York City, Bailey is introduced visiting her ailing grandfather, or daadi, whose failing health is making running the family candy shop increasingly difficult. When visiting, she overhears an argument between her grandfather and a local real estate magnate arguing about selling the shop, which daadi strongly opposes. To Bailey and her grandparents’ surprise (but not to ours!), the magnate is found dead shortly thereafter, stabbed by a chocolate cutting knife in the King business’s kitchen.
Naturally, Harvest, Ohio, proves to be full of other eccentric and interesting characters, from the handsome and charming police deputy, to the domineering matriarch dead set on having her daughter married despite the recent murder of the groom’s father, to the local leader of the local quilting circle and her pet potbellied pig, Jethro. These and many other charms of the small town life lead to the conclusion of one of the novel’s ongoing threads, the obvious growing discontent Bailey has with her big city life. She starts the novel in a secret relationship with a man she rarely sees, and while she is up for a big promotion at her big city chocolatier job, she doesn’t seem incredibly keen on pursuing that for most of the novel. This particular culmination is hardly a surprise – it’s the Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series, after all, not the Big City New York Candy Shop Mystery Series!
For anyone who has read another mystery by Amanda Flower (or Isabella Alan, the other pseudonym she writes under), the high quality of the writing is hardly a surprise either. Flower also writes the Magical Bookshop Mystery Series, the Magic Garden Mystery Series, the Living History Museum Mystery Series, the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series, the India Hayes Mystery Series, and (as Isabella Alan) the Amish Quilt Shop Mystery Series.
Also, for those who may be swayed by a sweet tooth, this book does include a recipe, for salted caramel fudge which does sound absolutely delicious.
As a reminder, from now on I’m going to try to announce what I’m reading a month ahead of time, so people can look up the books before I start writing about them. Next month will be the first book in Paige Shelton’s Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series, The Cracked Spine.
Click here to read more posts about the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series.
Christine says
Glad to see this review. Just this week I read my very first Magical Bookshop story – it was fantastic! Looking forward to reading more Amanda Flower.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Christie, so am I, when I have the time! I’ve been trying to read more.
thetarotman says
Christine, I became a big fan of Amanda Flower, because of her “Magical Bookshop Mysteries.”
The second one is entitled “Prose and Cons,” and the third is “Murders and Metaphor,” but that one is only in hardcover, at this time.
I also want to explore her “Magic Garden Mysteries,” too.
Barb E says
I first read Amanda Flower books in my ongoing quest for Amish mysteries. I discovered her under the name Isabela Alan first. I have enjoyed every book of hers I’ve read (and I think I’ve read them all). In fact a few months ago I sent in a recommendation for her Magic Garden series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barb, I haven’t tried that series yet… I’ll have to add it onto my list to read, though that will probably be a while!
thetarotman says
Danna, I have a feeling there are several of us who also have a lot of Cozy Mystery series on the ever-increasing “To Read” list!!
Bek says
I’m back for one day, ONE DAY, and here’s another series that I have to try! While I was gone, I did order 4 more bookcases, so that’s all to the good!
I hope you enjoy the Shelton series as much as I have! MUST get the new one, though.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bek, I certainly hope I enjoy it too!
Melissa says
I have not read any books from this series yet, they look interesting!
Thanks for sharing!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Melissa, you’re welcome! I hope you enjoy the series.
Paula Catherine says
I really enjoy Amanda Flower’s series. I like the contrast between English and Amish. I only made one visit to Amish country, enjoyed it very much. It is true that the Amish craftsmanship is superb.
Her series the Magical bookshop is also very good.
Violet rushes home to Cascade Springs, NY, just a short trip to Niagara falls from Chicago. She is currently finishing her dissertation in literature. Her Grandmother owns a bookstore in this village on the shores of the Niagara River called Charming Books. This charming village has secrets however, beginning with her beloved Grandmother and the bookstore. Violet left this town 12 years ago. While in high school Violet found her best friend on the shore of the river. She had been accused of her murder.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Paula, thanks for the suggestion! I’ll have to try that one as well some time.
MJ says
Gee………………..No surprise hearing from me on this topic. You’ve all heard me singing Flower’s praises many, many times! I’ve been recommending her books since 2012 when I read, “A Plain Death” (Appleseed Creek Mystery). In fact, I just recommended that series to a friend this morning. It’s really an eye-opener to Amish living.
When the publisher hadn’t renewed the series, I was SOOOO impressed when she self-published the 4th book in that series so she could bring it to a conclusion for her readers. 🙂
I enjoy the Magical Bookshop series that several of you mentioned. For those that enjoy this series, be sure to also read the Magic Garden Mystery series (only 2 books, so far).
As I’ve stated NUMEROUS times, I LOVE the Amish Candy Shop series. Danna’s description is spot on with exceptional detail!
I would love to see more books in the Amish Quilt Shop series (Isabella Allen), however the last book was written in 2016, so it’s my guess there won’t be any more.
The two books in the India Hayes series are just so-so, as it seems it’s her first foray into this genre.
It appears she is starting a new series (Amish Matchmaker Mystery) with the first book, “Matchmaking Can Be Murder” to be released December 2019. I’m looking forward to it.
Flower is obviously a VERY prolific writer.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I wish more authors would self-publish the last Cozy in their series when they are cancelled by their publishers. I don’t see why they don’t – unless it’s terribly difficult to do. Also, I have wondered if she possibly stopped writing as Isabella Allen when she discovered that she could add more series to her Amanda Flower moniker… or maybe her publisher insisted that since she is so popular, she should continue as Flower.
Thanks for telling us about Amanda Flower’s new Amish Matchmaker Mystery Series! I just added it to the Soon to be Released, Amanda Flower, Isabella Alan, Ohio theme, quilter theme, and Amish theme pages.
JANM101699 says
I love Amanda Flower and have read all of her series so far. She along with Laura Bradford are my favorite cozy writers.
Amanda recently left her “day job” as a librarian at an Ohio college to focus on writing full time, so my guess is that we’ll see much more from her….which makes me happy.
thetarotman says
Thanks for this news!
I think it is a safe bet that, since Ms. Flower has left her day job to focus on writing full time to focus on writing full-time, zi think we shall see more of her offerings.
laurie says
I have just finished the Hannah Swenson series by Joanna FLuke and loved it. I had picked up book 7 in the series and realized after reading it i needed to start with the first book and follow the series. I would get 4 or 5 books at a time from the library and read them in as many days. I loved that you didnt know till the last few chapters who the killer was..and lets not forget the recipes scattered throughout! I made a few as I was reading the book…I would recommend reading #23 Christmas Cake Murder as the first book it explains how she came to have the cookie shop. It is like a flash back. otherwise start with one and go to #24 cant wait for the next book!