Gruel and Unusual Punishment

I thought this book was the best out of the Pennsylvania-Dutch mysteries Tamar Myers has written. In my opinion, it kept me interested right to the end. I especially like the part where Magdalena's ex-husband shows up. I liked how more of the town was involved, it gave the plot a nice twist. I recommend this book to any who enjoys a good humored mystery.

Another hilarious mystery from Mrs. Myers! Magdalena is at it again trying to solve yet another mystery, this time death by food cooked at her inn! Who would want to poison Clarence Webber? Well, practically everybody it turns out. Good luck trying to figure out who-done-it as Mrs Myers writing will keep you guessing! A fast paced very fun read!!

Gruel and Unusual is another charming Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery starring Magdalena Yoder. Tamar Myers has a wonderful sense of humor! Her books begin with some of the funniest opening lines I've ever read! Plus, the recipes are terrific!

I love Magdalena Yoder - I admit that I'm more attracted to the quirky characters and the one-liners than to the mystery itself, but I thought the saga of the late Mr. Webber and his marital shenanigans was clever and intriguing. Magdalena's developing romance with Abe the Babe continues to fascinate; one hopes she will have better luck than she did with Aaron.Although I followed Magdalena's investigation of the murder with interest, I was a little disappointed that the author didn't develop the relationship with Alison a little more fully - particularly since the chapter that introduced Alison was used as the "teaser" in the back of the paperback edition of The Crepes of Wrath. I was expecting more and hope Alison's story will be developed in future PennDutch Inn books. I have read several reviews of other PennDutch Inn books in which the reviewers complained that Magdalena "wailed" too much - and indeed, she does seem to wail quite a bit. I was amused to see at least three places in Gruel and Unusual Punishment where another character said to Madgalena, "You sure do wail a lot," or words to that effect. The only fault I will find with Gruel and Unusual Punishment is sloppy editing. Early in the first chapter, Magdalena says that she got the recipe for the shrimp and grits dish that did the unfortunate Mr. Webber in on her "vacation in Charleston, South Carolina." Later she remarks on having been to the Inland Sea in Tennessee on her "only vacation." These two statements aren't necessarily contradictory, since it would be entirely possible to visit both Charleston and the Inland Sea on the same vacation from Pennsylvania, but when Magdalena is preparing to go to Maryland in the course of her criminal investigation, she states that "the only time I'd been out of Pennsylvania was to go to Ohio." Ms. Myers' editor should have caught this.All in all, I enjoyed Gruel and Unusual Punishment as much as I enjoyed all the other PennDutch books - which was a lot. I look forward eagerly to the next one.

Tamar Myers has another hit on her hands in this latest Magdalena Yoder mystery! Full of laugh-out-loud one-liners, views of a fascinating culture and just plain fun. It's almost as good as a vacation.