Poppy and Mary Ellen Deliver the Goods: Book One of the Frankenmuth Murder Mysteries by Roz Weedman and Susan Todd checks all the boxes of the perfect cozy mystery, an entertaining and gentle read without graphic violence or gory details.
When the Stanley family gathers for their annual reunion in the small-town of Frankenmuth, it’s all fun and games until a double murder case shocks the city and sets the usually quiet town on high alert. Poppy and Mary Ellen, the inseparable pair of small-town sleuths, get to work on cracking the case, while using their connections (and the power of small-town gossip!) to help them along their way. The pair works closely with an out-of-town lawyer and local police presence to unlock clues that propel them forward in their search for the suspects.
In a town where everybody knows everybody there’s no shortage of clues, if you know where to find them, and these two most certainly do. When they’re not tracking down suspects and following leads, you can find this duo fueling up on coffee or squeezing in a mah-jonng fix with their friends.
Poppy and Mary Ellen Deliver the Goods is complete with laugh-out-loud moments, plenty of believable suspects, and a lineup of entertaining and eccentric characters, three of which are Frankenmuth natives Judy Zehnder, Father Bob, and Mayor MaryAnne Ackerman.
The story comes to a hysterical and engaging end when a farm on the outskirts of town becomes the unlikely meeting place for our sleuths and their final suspects. Here, the true power of a close-knit community is put to the ultimate test. Even Poppy’s Boston Terrier, Babycakes, plays a key role in their success. “The book is essentially a love story to Frankenmuth,” explains Susan Todd. The book pays homage to many local businesses around town including Zehnder’s, The Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth Kaffee Haus, Cheese Haus, and Tiffany’s Food and Spirits, to name just a few.
“The amount of community support is overwhelming. And I've had two people offer to be either the killer or a victim in future books,” says Roz.
Weedman and Todd began writing in January of 2022 but didn’t know "who done it" until late in the story. Book two, Poppy and Mary Ellen Deliver the Jokers, is currently in progress. The authors have a five-book series in mind and are making steady progress towards that goal.
“We're really looking forward to seeing what the characters do in book two,” says Roz. “What we can promise is that favorite characters will make a return and will develop different aspects of their personalities and relationships. New characters will appear. Dogs and mah-jongg will always be important. And Frankenmuth will always be the fascinating beautiful town it is—with a touch of murder.”
The cover photo is by a local woman, Cyndi Major. The drawings before each chapter are done by 16-year-old high school student, Lane Trabalka.
The book launch party for Poppy and Mary Ellen Deliver the Goods will take place on April 18 from 5:30-7:30pm in the Danube River Room of the Bavarian Inn Lodge. This event is open to the public with no cost to attend. Appetizers and drinks will be provided by the Lodge. Listen as the authors read selected excerpts from their cozy mystery, buy your very own signed copy, and enter your name in a contest for prize giveaways. This book is sure to impress and delight both locals and out-of-towners alike. You won’t want to miss this!
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