Unlike a lot of mysteries that I have read, the main character, Dani Greene in Jessie Crockett's MAPLE MAYHEM, is not your typical heroine, which makes for a hilarious story. For one she is shorter than average, very youthful, and has very little experience with men. At least that is what her sister and most of the townspeople would tell you. Everyone is looking out for Dani and giving her advice on Graham who is a conservation officer and has an interest in her. But he is not the only one with eyes for her. While trying to see where things stand with Graham, Knowlton has been doing everything possible to make her his wife.

However, Dani is trying to get to the bottom of some vandalism of some of the locals syrup productions. She was heading a cooperative group with some of the locals that will help cut the cost of production but someone does not like her ideas. What started out as a vandalism investigation turns out to be a murder investigation killing off the one person that everybody thought was responsible. With the resistance of support at times from the officer that was left in charge, Dani is now trying to solve the mishaps to everyone's properties as well as a murder without getting herself in a sticky situation.

MAPLE MAYHEM written by Jessie Crockett is one novel that will have you chuckling throughout its humor. Dani has a way of making light of even the gloomiest problems. The Sugar Grove Mysteries is a new mystery series with MAPLE MAYHEM being the second. Here is one reader that is hoping there is more to come. I have fully enjoyed reading this mystery and had no way of imagining who Crockett's villain would be at the end. What a surprise!

MAPLE MAYHEM is a great novel about a small town that is full of surprises, great characters, and maple syrup. All you need to bring with you are the pancakes and a sense for adventure.

Book Summary

In Sugar Grove, New Hampshire, people are serious about their maple syrup—especially Dani Greene, whose family owns the Greener Pastures sugarhouse. But when murder disrupts the small-town sweetness, Dani pores over clues to draw out a killer... Despite being a fourth-generation syrup maker, Dani isn’t stuck in the past. She’s starting a new agricultural cooperative that reduces costs for every syrup producer who joins. Everyone considers it a sweet deal except the die-hard curmudgeon Frank Lemieux—and when a saboteur starts targeting supporters, everyone suspects Frank. But it turns out they’re barking up the wrong tree when Dani finds Frank murdered in his own sugarhouse. As the sabotage continues, she realizes that Frank was framed. With the help of her family, and a handsome official from the Fish and Game Department, Dani must catch the killer before another syrup maker kicks the bucket.

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