"Humorous amateur sleuth"

Unlike those in Lancaster and similar towns, the Amish and Mennonite of Hernia are not a tourist attraction and the townsfolk want to keep it that way. There is only one place to stay when visiting Hernia and that is the PennDutch Inn, a place where the rich, famous and powerful flock to when they want to get away from it all. The owner Magdalena Yoder is looking forward to a visit from George Clooney but due to a misunderstanding she winds up with business Mogul Colonel George Custard, his cook and his chauffeur.

Magdalena is horrified to learn that the Colonel wants to build a five star hotel that will cater to society's blue bloods. She embarks upon a campaign to have the zoning variance issued by her brother in law revoked. When she returns from a meeting, she finds the Colonel dead, a victim of a gunshot to his head. Her brother-in-law the chief of police asks Magdalena to investigate, but with so many suspects not wanting Custard's hotel in their area, solving the crime is proving quite difficult.

CUSTARD'S LAST STAND is a humorous amateur sleuth novel with no violence or bloodshed. There are numerous suspects, but none apparently with a strong enough motive to kill. The heroine's knowledge of the town's history enables her to find a path towards solving the case, but even with that Magdalena has plenty of work left. Tamar Myers once again provides a fascinating cozy that is a delicious one sitting shoe fly pie.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 10, 2003

Summary

Kentucky Colonel George Custard thinks Magdalena's hometown of Hernia, Pennsylvania is perfect...so perfect in fact, he has decided to build his new mega five-star hotel there. And if everything goes according to plan, roads will be widened and wealthy tourists will start pouring in by the thousands. But not everyone thinks this is such a good idea, as the new superstructure will surely destroy the town's quaint and quiet ambience. Meanwhile, Hernia has another unwelcome guest to worry about, after wild reports that Bigfoot is roaming the area.

At a town council meeting, several vocal citizens arrive to protest Custard's project, including Magdalena. Soon after, the colonel is found murdered—shot to death at the PennDutch Inn. No one minded telling him off, but killing him off is a different story. With the police investigation going nowhere, Magdalena takes it upon herself to find out who caused Custard's last stand. She must stay one step ahead of both the rumors and the builders to solve the case, restore peace—and save her beloved town...