Thou Shall Not Grill
Tamar Myers
NAL, Feb 2004, $19.95, 240 pp.
ISBN 0451211158

It is a special time for the residents of Hernia, Pennsylvania, a small Amish and Mennonite town that is home to the PennDutch Bed and Board inn owned and operated by Magdalena Pontulacca Yoder. Hernia is celebrating its bicentennial anniversary and there is no room at the inn because people from all over country want to attend the events, especially the opening of the time capsule that was buried on Stucky Ridge during the 1904 centennial gala.

Before the celebration begins, one of the guests at the inn, Buzzy Porter, is found murdered near Stucky Ridge by a runner, Ron Humphrey. Magdalena is asked by her brother in law, chief of police Melvin Stoltzfus to investigate and solve the murder while he is busy stumping for votes to be elected to the state legislature. Of course Magdalena makes inquiries and learns that many people believe the key to a treasure is in the time capsule and someone is willing to kill to get their hands on it. As she eliminates the suspects one by one she comes closer to a killer who will not hesitate to shoot her if she figures out his identity.

Tamar Myers has a wicked sense of humor and she uses it in various conversations the heroine has with the suspects. Readers will find themselves crying tears of laughter. Long time fans of this series know that Magdalena is not hesitant about expressing her opinions nor is she above charging her guests for services they should not pay for and for the first time her guests call her on it and the results are shocking. THOU SHALL NOT GRILL is a mystery lover's delight.

Harriet Klausner