Magdalena has many crosses to bear – a sluttly sister, Susanna, who is divorced from all things, a Methodist; a grumpy Amish cook who is quitting or being fired constantly; and an innful of deer hunters. Only some of these hunters turn out not be hunters, but activists determined to stop the deer hunting. And, even worse, most of them are vegetarians and do not want the Pennsylvania Dutch cooking for which the inn is famous. Add in two dead women – one who is clutching her mother's Dresden-pattern quilt in her death grip – and Magdalena has her hands full.

Through all the shenanigans of the paying customers, Susannah and Freni (the cook), Magdalena divides her attentions between a not-too-intelligent Congressman and his regal wife, the Congressman's lackey, and the hunting activists who include an old lover of the politician and her daughter (his daughter, too?), and too attractive males who pull Magdalena's heart strings. Just because she is Mennonite and maiden does not mean she is blind, too.

Magdalena does solve the murder mysteries, but only after a passel of incidents occur. The humor of this off-beat tale shines through the characters. None are stereotypical; all are cleverly drawn. Even without the Pennsylvania Dutch recipes, this cozy mystery is well worth reading. It's a real hoot!

--Kay Black