First and last cozy from this author that I’ll bother with. My problem with the story?

* so much stupidity in all characters except the sleuth;
* bias against masculine men;
* bias against military;
* a doctor who violates privacy of patients;
* a heroine who, in spite of promises not to say anything, immediately blabs yhat privacy information to several other characters;
* a confused mish-mash of a shop that is a restarant/yarn shop/tea room/book store (c’mon, just pick and go with it!);
* a sleuth who, in real life circumstances, would have found her behind in jail for interferring with an investigation.

I love cozy mysteries, but I have noticed a trend among newer authors to neglect research and/or ignore reality in the telling. I also find it terribly annoying when the MC whines about “not understanding how this keeps happening to them. How ‘bout: you’re a nosy idiot who continues to insert yourself into situations that are none of your business? ( )

A quick enjoyable romp in a small Midwestern town.

The mystery is first-rate, with lots of misdirection.

The recurring characters are excellent and worth another visit. The trio of female owners is a winning team.

The combination restaurant/book shop/knitting shop is charming but highly unrealistic. So I just reminded myself that this is fiction, written in a world I wish existed.

In other words, I shouldn't try to open a similar store and expect to be profitable.

There are recipes at the end though I didn't try any. ( )

When Suzanne decides to take a thermos of chili to Sam at the hospital, she walks into an armed robbery. After the thief kills the security guard and injures the receptionist, Suzanne throws the chili at the thief who makes a remarkable getaway. Suzanne and her friend Toni will get into a couple of situations as they "assist" Sheriff Doogie and his deputies into the investigation into the robbery and into a series of truck hijackings. I pegged the killer early on, and the red herrings never really threw me off. It's a fun cozy mystery although pretty low on the believability scale. ( )

Different series by Laura Childs. Kind of a mix of Theodosia with a dash of country thrown in. Bit more country... ( )

What started as a routine visit to bring some dinner to her doctor boyfriend at the hospital turned tragic when an active shooter robbed the pharmacy and killed the security guard. Quick thinking by Suzanne likely saved lives when she chucked the thermos full of hot chili at the shooter. Now Suzanne, with a little help from her friends, wants to find the killer. Warnings by the sheriff about the dangers involved in snooping around doesn’t faze Suzanne at all. And since she feels no constraints about legalities, she feels free to go places the sheriff can’t. Add in some delightful secondary characters, like Toni and Junior for some comic relief and the result is an interesting story of down-home life as well as a good mystery. No what the series is, Laura Child’s doesn’t disappoint her readers. ( )