"Terrific Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery"

In the Amish-Mennonite town of Hernia, Pennsylvania, population 1877, Penn Dutch Innkeeper Magdalena Yader is not having an easy time of it. Her sister's husband, the former chief of police, is in jail awaiting trial for allegedly murdering the local preacher. Her sibling is torn between still loving him and wanting male companionship. Her fiancé Gabe, a Jewish man, who settled in Hernia to get away from New York City, can't find anyone who will marry them because of their conflicting faiths. Since Magdalena is the richest and nosiest person in Hernia she wins the election for mayor and promptly appointed two Californians to replace the former chief and his deputy Zelda who is in love with him. To make matters worse, Magdalena has recently found out Zelda is her half sister.

However, the greatest calamity to unfold in Magdalena's mind is learning that the GRAPE EXPECTATIONS Resort is opening up. They are going to serve liquor which is going to incense the locals and they are going to be fierce competition for her, which makes her furious. It makes somebody else more outraged because somebody kills one of the owners. The new chief of police smartly turns Magdalena loose to investigate in the hope that she can ferret out the killer.

Any Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery is a special treat but GRAPE EXPECTATIONS is especially fun and funny. The wise cracking innocent heroine interrogates people seeking clues that will eventually solve the case but for the most part she is insulted and ignored, but she does make a new friend, the town gossip who gives her the final puzzle piece that brings the whole picture together. Tamar Myers is at her audacious best and her local recipes are the icing on the cake.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 31, 2006

Summary

Includes recipes!

A couple of unprincipled outsiders have bought an old farm at the edge of the Mennonite community of Hernia, Pennsylvania. They say they want to grow fruit, but their real plan is to start a vineyard and open a winery. This scheme is a serious affront to the teetotalling Mennonites, so everyone's a suspect when the manager of the vineyard is found entombed in cement. A new and inexperienced police chief can't solve the crime alone, and soon Magdalena Yoder finds herself on the case—risking her neck with her ear to the grapevine.