Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary - (A Sunflower Café Mystery) by Amy Lillard (Paperback)

Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary is a new cozy mystery by Amy Lillard. I'm not sure if it is the beginning of a new series but I sure hope so. I enjoyed this charming story filled with a community of friends and neighbors who seem to know everyone else's business. Sissy, niece to Aunt Bethel who has been temporarily hobbled, has arrived in small-town, Yoder, Kansas, to help out at the Sunflower Café. Arriving with her tiny Yorkie and flashy convertible, it was a last-ditch effort for Sissy to exercise some control over her falling-apart life. Little did she know she'd have a murder mystery to solve if she was to stay out of prison! The author's way with words kept me guessing as to the culprit right to the end. I read a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

This cozy murder mystery had all the elements to make it an A+ novel. A murder, plenty of suspects, wonderful, lovable characters, a tiny adorable Yorkie named Duke and a who dunnit that will surprise the best investigator. Sissy heads to her small town where she grew up to help her Aunt Bethel in her cafe. Bethel is short handed and hobbling around with a broken ankle. Shortly after she begins working, Sissy discovers the milk delivery man murdered right outside their kitchen back door. Since she found the body the local deputy zeros in on her. She begins investigating possible suspects because she needs to find the killer before she lands in jail. The characters were fun to get to know. All kinds of different personalities, personal quirks and plenty with motives and opportunities. So, who killed Kevin and why? Quite a surprise at the end, but no cheating by looking ahead, takes away the fun of discovery. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

Dairy, Dairy Quite Contrary by Amy Lillard is the debut of A Sunflower Café Mysteries. We meet Sissy Yoder and her Yorkshire terrier, Duke. They have traveled to Yoder, Kansas to help her aunt, Bethel who broke a leg. Bethel needs help running the Sunflower Café. Sissy is glad for an excuse to get away from Tulsa, Oklahoma after breaking up with her boyfriend and losing her apartment. Unfortunately, Sissy’s fresh start begins with the murder of the local milk delivery driver in the back doorway of the Sunflower Café. Deputy Sheriff Earl Berry has Sissy at the top of his suspect list. The only way to clear her name is for Sissy to find the real culprit. I like Amy Lillard’s casual writing style. It is welcoming and friendly. The pacing is leisurely and could have used an injection of caffeine. Sissy Yoder is a friendly character who has an adorable dog named Duke of York (aka Duke). We meet a cast of quirky characters as Sissy works in the café and investigates the mystery. I enjoyed the descriptions of Yoder. It sounds like a quaint small town that is a mixture of English and Amish. I thought Sissy’s new home was clever and cute (I am not going to spoil it for you). The murder of the milkman happens early in the story. Sissy is the prime suspect even though she barely knew the man. There are several suspects since the milk delivery driver is the local lothario. There are few clues which makes it challenging for Sissy to solve. Sissy gets help from local reporter, Gavin. I wish the whodunit had been stronger and more complex. I also thought the mystery needed a better conclusion with any lingering questions answered. I kept hoping the bumbling deputy sheriff would find himself the next victim. In the end, Sissy finds the final piece of the puzzle and identifies the guilty party. Gavin Wainwright is a reporter for the Sunflower Express, the local underground newspaper. He helps Sissy with the mystery plus he is her new love interest. I did feel it was a little soon for a love interest since Sissy is still getting over her ex-boyfriend. I am hoping that the romance will progress slowly. I like Sissy’s job as the syndicated advice columnist Aunt Bess. Aunt Bess is a sassy, know it all seventy-year-old grandmother (at least that is what everyone thinks). Aunt Bess is plain spoken with plenty of helpful advice (Sissy should take some of it herself). There are quotes from Aunt Bess at the beginning of each chapter. Of course, Sissy has to have a cover occupation because no one knows that she is Aunt Bess. The food descriptions will have your mouth watering especially for chocolate peanut butter pie. I enjoyed my first visit to Yoder, Kanas. I am curious what trouble Sissy will stumble upon next time. Dairy, Dairy Quite Contrary is cute cozy with the delightful Duke, the grabby Bethel, the loving Lottie, the laid-up Lizzie, the bullying Earl Berry, the scrumptious chocolate peanut butter pie, the grinning Gavin, and a suspicious Sissy.

Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary is a wonderful story written by Amy Lillard. This book is the first book in the new Sunflower Cafe Mystery Series. The main character of this book is Sissy Yoder. She also has a Yorkshire terrier named Duke. Sissy and Duke leave Tulsa, Oklahoma and travel to Yoder, Kansas. Sissy is helping her Aunt Bethel run the Sunflower Cafe while her Aunt recovers from a broken leg. Unfortunately, several days after Sissy begins working in the Sunflower Cafe she discovers the milk deliveryman dead with a knife in his back! Sissy becomes Deputy Sheriff Earl Berry's prime suspect of the murder! Join Sissy and Duke as she tries to figure out who really killed the milk deliveryman. This cozy mystery is a wonderful read! You will fall in love with Sissy and Duke. You will also meet some other interesting characters in this story. Once you start reading this book you won't want to stop reading it until you find out who murdered the milk deliveryman. This book is well written and holds your attention from the very first chapteer. I highly recommend reading it! I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

I love a nice cozy mystery. And this one suits me quite well. I love the book cover, and the story ran smoothly and was very enjoyable. I love that cozy mysteries are exactly that and even have a little humor in them as did this one. It's the beginning book of a cozy series. Which I suspect will be fun and mysterious. The story was in the Amish town of "Yoder", a good Amish name, where most of the towns' people had that surname. I wondered who had the most reason to commit the murder of the milkman. There were several that might have had some grounds to do just that. But is was hard to be sure of anyone. I enjoyed Sissy's character and hoped she would find the answer to "who dun it". The murder appears to have been blamed on her, and things don't go to well in her favor with the sheriff. Each chapter heading had a little quote by "Aunt Bess" and I loved the quote for chapter 11. I could completely relate to that one! A nice story that you will have a hard time figuring out because of the twists and turns. I was given a complimentary copy and was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my own.