If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I enjoyed this Country Cooking School Mystery by PAIGE SHELTON. IF MASHED POTATOES COULD DANCE takes place in Broken Rope, Missouri. It seems like everybody knows the other person in this small town. It's nice when people are personal friends with the police in the town. Betts is the main sleuth. Betts talent is being comfortable in the presence of ghosts. They are also comfortable with her. There is more than one ghost, but Sally Swarthmore is the one in the forefront. Sally went to her death being blamed for the murder of her mother and father. This is a takeoff from the true story of Lizzie Borden who many years ago was accused of killing her parents. Lizzie Borden was acquitted.I fell in love with Sally almost immediately. She's not a cruel or unruly ghost not even pushy. She would like to find her diary, and I think she's happy seeing the Monroe House again. I thought the reason for the murder of Sally's parents was very interesting and made for a good motive. My only discomfort was the fact that the reader doesn't get to see a bit of the play that's going on in town about Sally Swarthmore. I like onstage mysteries in plays. I also felt there needed to be more meals cooked and served in the cozy. After all, it's "A Country Cooking School Mystery. Otherwise, this is a cozy you won't want to miss. I am looking forward to reading another one.paigesheltongramcookingschool By the way, there are quite a few wonderful potato recipes at the end of the book. I think this is the best advice Gram could ever have given Betts. "Don't get attached to them, Betts. They come and they go. They don't have any control over any of it. Neither do you." Gram, of course, is talking about the ghosts. I just returned from my second trip to the quirky midwest town of Broken Rope, Missouri, in If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance. Paige Shelton‘s second book in the Country Cooking School Mystery series is a fast, fun read with a difficult double mystery to solve.Betts and Grams are roped into hosting a busload of foodies for an impromptu cooking lesson and sleepover. All is going well, until two of the foodies go missing and one turns up dead with a broken rope around his neck. (BTW I had no idea who was behind the foodie murder and kidnapping until the very last pages of the book.)Betts is plunged into this murder/kidnapping after her best friend, Jake, discovers the dead body.But the problems of the present aren’t the only ones Betts faces.The ghost of Sally Swarthmore, Broken Rope’s notorious ax murderer, entreats Betts and Grams to help her discover if she is guilty of killing her parents.Sally is an intriguing character whose true story begs to be told. I’m a sucker for ghost stories and I love love love this element of Ms. Shelton’s mystery. You want to believe in Sally’s innocence despite her guilty verdict in life.Betts and Jake are a crime solving duo I’d be thrilled to join. I love tagging along while they put the pieces together.I’m dying to try the potato recipes in the back of the book too!I can’t wait for book 3 to learn more about Betts’ abilities with ghosts and spend more time with the colorful characters of Broken Rope, Missouri!
What do You think about If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance (2012)?
Absolutely brilliant! This is the second book in the series and it is as good as the first one.
—tessie
This one has ghosts who are almost real. I could read more but don't need to.
—Carlie27
Love the ghosts and their personalities.
—dkay0272
