The Hand That Rocks the Ladle (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) [Paperback]

Tamar Myers (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery | Publication Date: March 1, 2000

The PennDutch inn has seen its fair share of murder. But when triplets turn out to be twins, innkeeper Magdalena Yoder must sift out a cradle robber....

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As sweet as a piece of brown-sugar pie... Magdalena is so likable". -- Booklist

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Signet (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451197550
• ISBN-13: 978-0451197559
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #806,760 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

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mystery that tickles the funny bone, March 1, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hand That Rocks the Ladle (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) (Paperback)

In Hernia, Pennsylvania Magdalena Yoder owns and manages the famous Penn Dutch Inn. Though in the center of Amish-Mennonite country, Magdalena has catered to many of our nation's rich and famous. Rather well off due to her successful business, Magdalena is very devoted to her relative Freni and the woman's spouse Mose. The couple is excited that their daughter-in-law Barbara is pregnant with triplets.

However, in the delivery room something unusual happens that changes Freni's elation to worry. Barbara gives birth to twin boys as witnessed by the delivery room doctor, the nurse, and Freni's son. The doctor insists the physician who claimed that Barbara was carrying triplets was simply wrong. Freni believes a third child was born and is now missing. She pleads with Magdalena, who has solved a mystery or two, to investigate. Neither one is aware that danger awaits the amateur detective.

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE LADLE, the eighth installment in the Magdalena Yoder culinary regional mysteries, retains the freshness and humor of the previous seven novels. Tamar Myers continues her mastery by painting an insightful look at the Amish and Mennonite cultures. In a religious way, the very human Magdalena remains as obnoxious, proud, and delightful as she has always been. The entertaining story line is engaging, but it is the captivating characters that serve up this scrumptious, low caloric but very delicious treat.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magdalena rocks!, November 30, 2001

By 

MLPlayfair (Ravenna, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Hand That Rocks the Ladle (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) (Paperback)

This time our favorite sleuth, Magdalena, is snooping in a different kind of mystery. Was there a third baby? If so, where did it go? What's going on over at the gorgeous doctor's house? And who is that mysterious celebrity hiding out in Room 6? Myers's writing is so effortlessly funny, I found myself laughing out loud more than once. I must say, in the genre of comic mysteries, Magdalena takes the cake! (And the pie -- Freni's Butterscotch Chiffon Pie, recipe on page 37.) The Pennsylvania-Dutch references give it a real sense of place. I believe the Penn-Dutch series began with "Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth," but you don't have to read the previous books to enjoy this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will rock with laughter!, August 26, 2004

By 

drebbles (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Hand That Rocks the Ladle (Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery) (Paperback)

Magdalena Yoder is the proprietress of the Penn-Dutch Inn in Hernia,Pennsylvania. Her cook Freni's daughter in law going to have triplets any day now. To everyone's surprise there are twin boys born, with no sign of a third baby. Freni ask Magdalena to find out what happened to the third baby. When one of the characters is murdered, Magdalena asks too many questions and almost becomes a victim herself.

I like all the books in the Penn- Dutch series and this is one of the better ones. The humor is outstanding and there is so much of it, that I almost feel like I should go back and reread the book because I know I missed some of the jokes!

Another thing I liked is that Magdalena's sister, Susannah, became more of a character and less of a cliché in this book. There were some nice moments between the two of them, where, they actually bonded. There is also a hilarious scene in a diner involving Susannah's dog, Snookums, that is laugh out loud funny.

There is also a lot of information on the Amish and how they live in this book, more so then in the earlier books in the series. That was a nice addition and I hope she keeps it up in later books.

If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you will love this one.