Premeditated Peppermint

Bailey has found a place for herself in Harvest as she helps run her grandmother’s candy shop. Her new life is disrupted by the arrival of her ex-boyfriend Eric who wants to film an episode of his show in town and in her shop. To top it off, he wants to rekindle their relationship to help his ratings and to soften his image. She refuses, but out of curiosity she goes to hear what Eric’s executive producer Rocky Rivers has to say. When Bailey goes to meet her, she finds her ex-boyfriend standing over Rocky’s dead body. He claims to be innocent, and as much as she doesn’t want to, she believes him. Proving his innocence is difficult when she discovers Eric’s past relationship with Rocky and his current relationship with the make-up artist. Bailey dives into the investigation and learns of Rocky’s surprising ties to the Amish along with a failed production company and several suspects with motive.

Bailey’s past catches up to her when she walks into her shop, which provides a source of humor and closure as she gets to directly face the relationship that sent her to Harvest. The two sides of her life conflict when she receives a chance to get some of her old life back, but at the possible cost of her new one. It’s exciting to see Bailey’s journey to this decision. The most fun moments don’t come from her sleuthing, but rather from the little aspects of the daily life in the town, which includes her not-quite-boyfriend’s mother already planning their engagement, getting a part on a TV series for a pig, and getting to play Mary in the Nativity at the church. The sleuthing elements are fun and eccentric as she teams up with her best friend who masquerades as her manager and the two use this to sneak into places. Amanda Flower delivers a funny mystery full of twist that never misses a beat with plenty of heart, danger, comedy, and candy.

Premeditated Peppermint is the third book in the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries series.