2.5*

This cozy mystery, set in Minnesota, avoids most of the pitfalls (or more accurately my pet peeves) of this subgenre by which so many of the recent examples I have read are plagued. The writing could be better but I wouldn't mind reading another in the series. ( )

A quick read with some witty one-liners and quirky characters. The setting is at a small-town state fair in Minnesota.

After the yearly state pageant, the dairy queen is crowned and announced at the state fair. At the opening ceremonies of the fair, while in a rotating booth having her likeness carved in butter, the power goes out in the exhibition hall. When the lights come back on, the newly-crowned queen of dairy is laying dead. Turns out, she was poisoned.

The book follows the lead character, Mira who is on-site reporting on the state fair. Mira happens to be from the same small town as the dead pageant queen and feels compelled to try to solve whodunit and why. She's joined by the mayor of her small town, the fantastically-named Kennie Rogers, as well as an older woman sharp of tongue and of mind.

There's a fight scene in the haunted house, some mutton riding, hair-stealing, a possible sexual encounter between Neil Diamond and one of the older characters, and much more. Also, there's a subtle interweaving of the evils of corporate 'farming' which adds meat and heft to the plot without getting preachy.

This won't become part of the canon of classic literature any time soon, but don't let that stop you. Kind of like cotton candy at the fair, this is a sugary-treat read; however, reading the entire series might be an overindulgence.

(Note: I will try to get my hands on March of Crime though, because murder and lifelike doll collectors are a perfect match.) ( )

This cozy mystery, set in Minnesota, avoids most of the pitfalls (or more accurately my pet peeves) of this subgenre by which so many of the recent examples I have read are plagued. The writing could be better but I wouldn't mind reading another in the series. ( )

Battle Lake native Kirsten Pederson has been crowned Mildred Mary, Queen of the Dairy, but before her reign can begin, she is murdered. Mira James the local librarian of Battle Lake and part-time reporter for the Battle Lake Recall newspaper is at the fair to report on the various events and now she must find a killer.

Another cozy mystery from Jess Lourey a fun who-dun-it. ( )

The winner of the Milkfed Mary beauty contest, Ashley Pedersen, dies while having her image sculpted in butter at the Minnesota State Fair. Mira James, librarian and part-time journalist for the local paper in Battle Creek, Ashley's home town, is covering the State Fair for the paper and gets drawn into investigating what happened.

This was a Kindle freebie and at first I had my doubts but there were some amusing parts and some quite tense moments as well. I also learnt a lot of American slang I hadn't been familiar with so it was quite an educational read as well. I'll put the first in the series on my wishlist but am in no great hurry to get it. ( )