A Broth of Mystery and Intrigue
One spoonful of Tamar Myers’ novel, Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth, and you’ll be hooked! This isn’t just another mystery book. It’s a hearty blend of humor, drama, and faith that will leave you craving more. It is #1 in Myers’ Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery series.
A Taste of Amish Life, Sprinkled with Laughter
Myers invites us into the serene, yet peculiar world of the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish/Mennonite community. The protagonist, Magdalena Yoder, is no ordinary innkeeper. She’s a witty, sarcastic, and God-fearing woman who unexpectedly finds herself solving crimes. Magdalena’s character offers a tangy blend of faith and humor, making this Christian mystery novel a page-turner!
Too Many Characters, or Just Enough?
At first, the title Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth might make you think there’s an overload of characters. But wait until you read the book. Each character, suspect or not, adds an exciting layer to the narrative. They’re not just filling the pages; they’re essential ingredients to the broth!
And here’s the kicker – the two groups of guests at the PennDutch Inn for the week are: 1) deer hunters and 2) animal activists. Hunting season has begun. The carnivores have their guns oiled and ready to go. The herbivores are there for only one reason – to keep the hunters from shooting “Bambi.”
A Story that Simmers
This novel doesn’t rush. Like a well-cooked broth, the story simmers slowly, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Every new revelation, every clue, and every interaction is a surprise, adding to the overall flavor of the narrative. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, Myers drops another potato into the pot, thickening the plot even more!
The Secret Ingredient: Faith
Throughout this puzzling WhoDunIt, Myers weaves in threads of Christian faith, typically with a touch of wry humor. Magdalena is never preachy or overbearing. Quite the opposite! Although she often alludes to the tenets of her faith, she has a realistic understanding of the fact that people (herself included) often don’t live up to their ideals.
Myers’ Pennsylvania Dutch mystery series gives readers a glimpse of the Amish/Mennonite community’s faith and resilience. In spite of Magdalena’s tongue-in-cheek flippancy, which can be hilarious, she is securely grounded in her Biblical convictions. You will find that Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth is a mystery novel that tickles your funny bone and honors your faith, all at the same time!
Character List
This list carefully avoids spoilers. Names and descriptions below reflect the original information given about each character. Main characters are listed, along with a few minor players.
PennDutch Inn RegularsMagdalena Yoder – 43 year-old Mennonite – owns controlling interest in the PennDutch Inn until Susannah proves herself “competent and productive” – then they will be equal partners
Susannah – Magdalena’s 33-year-old sister who ran off and married a Presbyterian after the death of her parents – now divorced, she is irresponsible and Magdalena is endlessly critical of her
Papa and Mama Yoder, deceased – the parents of Magdalena and Susannah died 10 years earlier in a highway smash-up, their vehicle being sandwiched between a truck full of running shoes and a tanker full of milk – previously Mr. Yoder had been a dairy man and Mrs. Yoder sold eggs – they may have already passed on to Glory, but you’ll hear a lot about Mama and Papa, especially Mama
Mose Hostetler – 73 years ole, a kinsman and handyman for the inn – Amish instead of Mennonite
Freni Hostetler – Mose’s wife – the crotchety cook for the PennDutch Inn
PennDutch AnimalsShnookums – Susannah’s tiny dog
Pertelote – Magdalena’s boldest hen
Matilda and Bertha – milk cows
Guests for the Week1 Heather Brown – photographic essayist for a magazine – mothlike appearance – does not eat with the rest of the guests
Herbivores - Members of A.P.E.S. - Animal Parity Endowment Society, in other words, animal rights activists:2 Ms. Jeanette Parker – a vegan (eats only fruits, vegetables, and grains) – a redhead
3 Linda McMahon – friend of Ms. Parker – a lacto (a vegetarian who eats dairy products, but no eggs or fish) – young and kind of mousy
4 Joel Teitlebaum – eats eggs, but no meat, fish, or dairy products – a sculptor from Philadelphia – tall and skinny – snacks on sunflower seeds
Omnivores5 Garrett Ream – U.S. Congressman – tall, dark, and handsome
6 Lydia Johns Ream – socialite and wife of Garrett – an heiress and daughter of a senator – classy
7 Delbert James – the Congressman’s aide, a speech writer – seems impassive
8 Billy Dee Grizzle – eats meat – a contractor – attached to A.P.E.S. even though he eats meat – quit hunting after he mistook his 11-year-old daughter, Jennifer Mae, for a deer and shot her
Some Hernia, Pennsylvania, folksJeff Myers – Chief of Police – has a wife: Tammy, and children: Sarah, David, and Dafna (Side note: I learned very recently that author Tamar Myers is married to Jeffrey Myers. She and Jeffrey have three children – Sarah, David, and Dafna, according to encylopedia.com.) Chief Myers is about to leave on vacation three hours after his appearance in the book, so the solving of the murders is left to his underlings.
Alvin Hostetler – lawyer
Melvin Stoltzfus – acting Chief of Police in the absence of Chief Myers
John – Mose and Freni’s son who now runs their farm while they work for Magdalena
Barbara – John’s wife – 6 feet tall – always at odds with Freni
Samuel Nevin Yoder – owner of Yoder’s Corner Market – a relative of Magdalena’s father
Doc Shafer – veterinarian
Harold P. Smith, III – a “full-time people doctor” and the “epitome of arrogance”
Ed Houlihan – county coroner, a trained pathologist
Recipes
The book includes these recipes:
• Freni Hostetler’s Chicken and Dumplings
• Freni Hostetler’s Buckwheat Pancakes
• Susannah Yoder Entwhistle’s Boiled Cookies
• Joel Teitlebaum’s Famous Broiled Bananas
• Doc Shafer’s Cocoa Mocha Cake
Your Next Read Awaits
Be warned: If you don’t have a sense of humor or if you take your mysteries seriously, you’ll probably want to skip this one. Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth is more in the category of a sitcom than a drama. But it’s a fun read and the nuts who make up the cast will make you laugh. So, grab your spoon and get ready to savor every drop of this tantalizing tale!
recommend.
If you’d like to check out book #2 in the Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery Series, here’s a link to my review of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Crime.
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Here are links to my blog indexes, which will make it quick and easy for you to find another post to read.
Blog Index – Lists blogs 1-35
Blog Index 2 – Lists blogs 36 to the latest post
Here is a downloadable Character List: