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Clarence Webber, predator of wealthy women, a con man, is imprisoned in the Hernia, PA. jail where he is served meals prepared by the Penn Dutch Inn. Webber dies of arsenic poison which was placed in the shrimp and grits prepared by Freni Hostetler, cook at Penn Dutch Inn. The Inn's proprietor,Magdalen Yoder, to protect the reputation of her inn, is forced to assist the incompetent chief of police, Melvin, who is her brother-in-law who has political aspirations. She must determine which of the four women visitors added the arsenic to the dish. They all claim to be the victim's widow, and all have reason to want his death. A young rebellious teenager arrives, claiming to be Magdalen's daughter from her brief bigamous marriage to Aaron. Magdalen, plain dressing, blunt speaking and middle aged has an ongoing relationship with Gabe, a retired dentist. She doesn't need this added complication. In her investigations Magdalen unearths a number of others who would have welcome Webber's demise. Her search takes her far afield to Maryland ( which doesn't require a passport) and brings on an attack which causes her car to be wrecked. This is a humorous plot with insights into Amish society. It has colorful likeable and some zany characters. There is much information about the Mennonites of Amish derivation: their customs and traditions. The story is engaging with much clever dialogue. Included in the book are a number of recipes for grits ( if you like grits).
Reviewed by Barbara Buhrer, February 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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