If Fried Chicken Could Fly (Country Cooking School Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Paige Shelton (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 3, 2012 | Series: Country Cooking School Mystery (Book 1)

At Gram's Country Cooking School, Betts and Gram are helping students prepare the perfect dishes for the Southern Missouri Show-Down, the cook-off that draws the first of the summer visitors. Everything is going smoothly until they discover the body of local theater owner Everett Morningside in the school's supply closet, and Everett's widow points an accusatory finger at Gram. Now, Betts has to dig deep into Broken Rope's history to find the modern-day killer-before the last piece of chicken is served...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If Fried Chicken Could Fly has terrific characters, including a wonderful ghost, and a perfect setting for a series involving ghosts."
Lesa Holstine, Lesa's Book Critiques

"If Fried Chicken Could Fly simply warms your spirit with delicious homespun goodness."
Diane Morasco, the original review appeared first on Blogcritics.

About the Author

Paige Shelton spent lots of years in advertising but now writes novels full time. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and son. When she’s up early enough, one of her favorite things is to watch the sun rise over the Wasatch Mountains.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425245853
• ISBN-13: 978-0425245859
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1.3 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paige Shelton is the national bestselling author of the Farmers' Market Mysteries and the Country Cooking School Mysteries. She grew up in the Midwest but moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, after college. Paige enjoys reading, listening to music from the 80s, and watching way too many zombie movies with her husband and son.

Farmers' Market Mysteries, in order:
1 - FARM FRESH MURDER
2 - FRUIT OF ALL EVIL
3 - CROPS AND ROBBERS
E-book only, short story special - RED HOT DEADLY PEPPERS
4 - A KILLER MAIZE
5 - MERRY MARKET MURDER, (December 3, 2013)

Country Cooking School Mysteries, in order:
1 - IF FRIED CHICKEN COULD FLY
2 - IF MASHED POTATOES COULD DANCE
3 - IF BREAD COULD RISE TO THE OCCASION (August 6, 2013)
4 - TBA
5 - TBA

Young Adult
CLOCKWORK

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun new series.... January 3, 2012

By A. Farage

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is the first in a new series and Paige's fourth mystery.

Betts spent some time in Law school but returned to Broken Rope, Missouri, to assist her grandmother, Miz, at "Gram's Country Cooking School". Broken Rope is an area full of history and folklore. It is also home the to Southern Missouri Show-down cook-off that will start the summer tourist series.

When Betts and Gram discover the body of the theater owner in the school's supply closet, they realize that things are about to get interesting in town. To complicate matters, Betts learns her high-school sweetheart is back in town, Gram is arrested, and Betts has to dodge gun-fire. But it's the arrival of Jerome, a mysterious cowboy, that really has Betts shaking her head.

Betts realizes that she needs help to find the killer. She enlists the help of Jake, her friend and member of the Historical Society, as it appears that the past may hold answers to the murder.

I really enjoyed reading this book and meeting everyone in Broken Rope. I hope we don't have to wait too long to visit with them again. The recipes also look yummy.... I'm sure that I'll trying several.

Thanks, Paige, for another great series.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This New Series! January 19, 2012

By L. Rigod

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I will begin this review with the simple mention that I do enjoyed books written by Paige Shelton. That being said, I now have to admit, I think this new series "A County Cooking School Mystery" is my favorite right off the debut novel.

The premise is gentle and fun. The mystery is solid and even though the motive becomes visable early on, finding the culprit was just a purely enjoyable adventure with laughter along the way.

We have an introduction to our new sleuth, Isabelle "Betts" Winston. She is working for her Grams, Missouri Anna Winston. They operate "Gram's Country Cooking School" in Broken Rope, Missouri. This is an old west town known for it's past villians, thiefs, hangings, and shoot-outs. In fact the town has adopted the dress code of the 1850's as a tourist draw. Naturally you expect a specter or two floating about. You will not be disappointed.

The cooking class has a mild fire. After sending home the students Grams and Betts go to clean up and find a body that leads to a treasure hunt from the past.

Who is master minding the current day search and why are they killing people? I laughed from page one and continued enjoying this book past the reveal and through the delicious sounding recipes. The book felt very authentic to me. Now to await the next one out soon I hope.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Smokin' New Series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! January 4, 2012

By Lori Caswell TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Dollycas's Thoughts
Everyone loves their grandma's cooking. My grandma even ran a restaurant for awhile. Gram reminds me a lot of my Grandma Lue. She also made the best fried chicken. The whole idea of a country cooking school fascinates me. I was just a teenager when my grandma passed away so I never really had a chance to learn from her but do have a few of her recipes in my recipe box.

I have to say the appearance of Jerome Cowbender did surprise me but as he became a major player in the plot I couldn't imagine the story without him. I now understand how sometimes characters just appear in these stories without the author's control. He was a brilliant addition to a wonderful story.

The story has a perfect mix of cozy fixings, with a "surprise ingredient", blended expertly to make a culinary masterpiece for our reading pleasure.

The town of Broken Rope seems to have more than it's share of quirky residents, which means plenty of fodder for future installments of this new smokin' series!!!!