Between a Wok and a Hard Place (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Tamar Myers (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery | Publication Date: March 1, 1998

Ever since her new husband flew the coop, Pennsylvania Dutch inn owner Magdalena Yoder has had plenty of time to kill. But the suspicious death of an Asian tourist proves that time is not the only thing around here that's getting murdered! Magdalena follows the trail to the local Amish community where a dangerous secret is being concealed, and a killer who's really using his noodle awaits! .

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Signet (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451192303
• ISBN-13: 978-0451192301
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #956,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tamar Myers, who is of Mennonite background, is the author of the Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries and the Den of Antiquity series. Born and raised in the Congo, she lives in North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but a character change doen't make sense, January 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Between a Wok and a Hard Place (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

After driving her husband, Aaron, to the airport, Magdalena Yoder, a Mennonite businesswoman and owner of the prosperous Penn-Dutch Inn, finds the body of an Asiatic woman lying in the street. Since the police chief is incapacitated, he deputizes Magdalena, who has experience investigating murders, to officially examine what happened.

Soon, an Amish boy is shot to death. Magdalena concludes that he must have witnessed the first murder. The other person who was in the buggy with the deceased lad was also shot and lies unconscious in a nearby hospital. Magdalena continues her investigation even as she receives a personal shocker from Aaron.

Tamar Myers is renowned for her Pennsylvania Dutch cozies and the authentic recipes interspersed throughout her books. BETWEEN A WOK AND A HARD PLACE is a well written who-done-it that would please mystery fans as a stand alone or first novel. However, as the fifth book in the Yoder series, this story will disappoint fans because of the radical personality change of Aaron (mindful of Booby wakening up after a nightmare), thereby, negating the past and making the sub-plot seem more like a contrived device. The trademark heroine's acerbic humor and a superb mystery still exist, but may not prove to be enough for Ms. Myer's numerous fans.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good fortune, February 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Between a Wok and a Hard Place (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I had missed this one in my collection, so I had to buy it and fill in the blanks. As always, Ms. Myers kept me chuckling the whole way through. Once I got started, I literally couldn't put it down. I was glad to find out the details about what happened to Aaron (the rat!). I love her characters (especially Freni) and the humor is terrific. I'm ready for another one!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Fortune Predicted for This Book, February 26, 2002

By 

Ann Sherry (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between a Wok and a Hard Place (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I don't know how she does it, but Ms. Myers has written yet another truly entertaining book in this - her 5th in her Penn/Dutch mystery series. Her new marriage ends in this one, which is an important reason to read these in order (so why doesn't the publisher put the Number on them?). Each page is engaging; her writing and wit superb. However in this book I found it to be somewhat weak in plot (that's why the 4 stars). The book is not a disappointment, though, as she carries it thru with her unique sense of humor and just plain talent. Don't miss it!