Just Plain Pickled to Death

I really like the PennDutch Inn series, but this is my favorite. Magdelena Yoder is a mennonite who owns a bed and breakfast. She is preparing for her wedding when she finds a body in the cask of saurerkraut she has been given.

Magdalena Yoder, the owner of the Penn-Dutch Inn is finally getting married. Not only is she busy planning her wedding, and dealing with her future husband's relatives who are staying at the Inn, but her future father-in-law gives her a barrel of sauerkraut as a wedding gift, which contains the remains of Aaron (the groom's) cousin who has been missing for 20 years. Magdalena doesn't want anything to spoil her wedding and tries to find the killer before the day of her wedding. As always, Myers fills the book with quirky characters, many of whom are suspects. Her books are laugh out loud funny, in fact, I'm still laughing over the last two pages!

Ha...You'll be up all night ! Please try to read Ms. Myers books in order; it will make the family tree much easier to climb. However, think finding your fiance's-cousin's body in a sauerkraut barrell might put a little damper on your wedding? Not in our hero Magdelina's eyes... She's determined a 20 year old murder along with assorted "strange" guests in her PennDutch Inn, are NOT going to cause a minutes delay in her wedding; something she's been waiting for for 40 years! Entire wedding feast receipes were un-real! LAUGHED OUT LOUD ! ! !

Forty-two year old Magdalena Yoder, the owner of the prosperous Penn-Dutch Inn, is finally marrying the man of her dreams, Aaron Miller. The Mennonite has earned the right to be married in white and is determined that her wedding day will be an event to remember. Magdalena plans a traditional ceremony while serving her guests typical Amish-Mennonite dishes. However, a week before the cherished event is to occur, Magdalena finds the dead body of Aaron's cousin, Sarah Weaver, in a barrel of sauerkraut given to them by the groom's father. Though the deceased disappeared over two decades ago, Magdalena instantly recognizes her. As Aaron's relatives gather for the unexpected funeral, Magdalena realizes that she cannot complete her wedding vows until Sarah's killer is brought to justice. With many of the groom's relatives having a motive to kill Sarah, Magdalena knows that she must walk carefully if she is to ever go down the aisle and say "I do". Tamar Myers has written a delightful cozy, filled with enough humor to cause readers to laugh while enjoying every chapter. However, JUST PLAIN PICKLED TO DEATH, also provides an insightful glimpse into the Plain People by authentically contrasting their values and beliefs against the encroaching outside world. This is a special book that is worth reading on two levels, as entertainment and educational. Harriet Klausner