The Crêpes of Wrath

Pancake House Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Sarah Fox

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

When Marley McKinney's aging cousin, Jimmy, is hospitalized with pneumonia, she agrees to help run his pancake house while he recovers. With its rustic interior and syrupy scent, the Flip Side Pancake House is just as she pictured it - and the surly chef is a wizard with crêpes. Marley expects to spend a leisurely week or two in Wildwood Cove, the quaint, coastal community where she used to spend her summers, but then Cousin Jimmy is found murdered, sprawled on the rocks beneath a nearby cliff.

After she stumbles across evidence of stolen goods in Jimmy's workshop, Marley is determined to find out what's really going on in the not-so-quiet town of Wildwood Cove. With help from her childhood crush and her adopted cat, Flapjack, Marley sinks her teeth into the investigation. But if she's not careful, she's going to get burned by a killer who's only interested in serving up trouble.

©2016 Sarah Fox (P)2017 Tantor

Cat, Cousin and Crepes in the Cove

The first in the Pancake House Mysteries is a good one. Cousin Jimmy is in the hospital with pneumonia and Marley has come from Seattle, leaving her job in a legal office, to help while he is ill. She becomes fast friends with his cat, Flapjack and is quickly welcomed by the customers and staff at the Flip Side Pancake House, even the gruff chef, Ivan. When Jimmy calls Marley at the pancake house and checks himself out of the hospital early, she thinks she will soon be returning to her office job in Seattle . . . but to her horror, Jimmy is found dead . . . drowned on the beach nearby. Although this is the first in the series, it wasn't the first one I've read/listened to, so it was nice to get the back story. Marley's teenage boyfriend, Brett from the summers she spent in Wildwood Cove still seem to have a spark some twenty years later, and I really like the fact that they are taking it slow. The entire series is clean and fun to listen to. One of the employees at the pancake house seems to be implicated in Jimmy's murder, causing Marley to seek out the killer. Brett's uncle, Ray is the sheriff, and the two of them are protective of Marley. Good story, great little town, and satisfying resolution to the murder.

It's a great mystery

The narrative was perfect, and the story kept you engaged. I enjoyed this book 📖

Excellent

Really enjoyed the story and narrator and look forward to the next in the series.

More Background and Depth Needed

We are supposed to believe that Marley lived less than 2 hours from Cousin Jimmy but had not visited him in a decade although she had a good job with plenty of spare time - PTO and no spouse or children. Yet Jimmy felt close enough to Marley to leave her a home, business and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Really?

This is just one of the many inconsistencies in the book's background that takes away from enjoying the story. There are too many others to mention, such as a successful restaurant that magically does not employ a dishwasher, just 2 servers and a chef. Readers don't need endless business details, but it is distracting for the author to ignore reality.

The cat's name was cute: Flapjack.

The Crepes of Wrath

Excellent story and narration. Lot’s of twists and turns. Enjoyed this audible. Good to the last word

Enjoyed

I’m glad that I didn’t read the reviews before listening to this audio book. It was just what I needed to listen to. It kept me engaged until the end and I was able to forget my little life problems.

Fun, easy listen.

It was a great book that kept you wanting to listen until the end. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.

Not a Poirot or Nero Wolfe, but nice.

The story grew on me, as did the characters. The lead was a bit too naive for her age. The narrative detail made it seem like I was watching a film. Sort of like a Hallmark movie. Happy endings are predictable but fun to watch. The narrator was okay but needed more variety of tone. Fun but not fantastic.

Perfect summer listen by the pool

Truly enjoyed listening to this lovely engaging tale. It was a great speed for a pool book and summer listen. It had a bit of intrigue and suspense. The narrators voice was delightful.

A bit cringey

It was a little cringey (why does she use the term “tote bag” so much??) but not sure what I expected from a book entitled “Crepes of Wrath”. I did finish the book so at least it kept me hooked/invested enough to find out the ending but only just.