A small-town cozy mystery where the sweetest prize hides a bitter secret.
Dorothy Meade knows how to spot a dishonest jar of preserves. Spotting a murderer was never meant to be part of the judging fee.
The Cedar Fork County Fair is celebrating its centennial, and Dorothy expects a familiar week of strawberry jam, competitive neighbors, and her beagle Reserve stealing anything left within reach. Then Eula Bram returns after twenty years away, carrying a carefully guarded jar and an old score she intends to settle.
Before judging opens, Eula is found dead beside the canning display. The fair board wants a tragic accident and an uninterrupted celebration. Dorothy sees a scene that doesn't fit the woman she knew—and prizewinning preserves that deserve a much closer look.
With state agriculture inspector Del Rourke offering help and Reserve following his nose, Dorothy starts reading entry cards, old grievances, and the small details everyone else dismisses. Someone has kept a family secret bottled up for decades. Finding out why Eula came back may be the only way to discover who made sure she couldn't leave.
Blue Ribbon Murder opens The County Fair Mysteries with a sharp-eyed older heroine, dry humor, and a culinary whodunit rooted in the rivalries behind the ribbon table.
For readers who love:
• Culinary puzzles involving preserves and family recipes
• Resourceful older sleuths with a dry sense of humor
• Midwestern fairs and neighbors with long memories
• Mischievous beagles and a gentle hint of romance
