Margot Rawlings has put Harvest, Ohio on the map, creating festivals that draw in tourists from afar. This Thanksgiving promises to be her biggest event for the village yet, but something has Margot worked up more than usual. Bailey King, candymaker and co-owner of one of the village’s top stores attracting tourists, knows something is amiss when Margot turns over her meticulous checklist to Bailey. Margot’s mother, Zara Bevan, is returning to Harvest despite swearing never to return. Most of the town despises Zara, as she was known for being a harsh judge against the Amish people even for small offenses. To make matters worse, Zara shows up with a younger man, Blaze Smith, and announces their upcoming wedding.  Shortly afterwards, Blaze suffers an allergic reaction to peanuts and dies. Was it murder? And if so, who wanted Blaze dead?

PEANUT BUTTER PANIC is the 7th book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and has our characters at some major turning points in their lives. While the mystery itself can be read as a standalone story, I would suggest having at least a familiarity with the characters and their relationships prior to reading in order to fully appreciate the story line. In particular, a basic knowledge of the depth of Bailey and Aiden’s relationship helps explain the angst and confusion Bailey is dealing with in PEANUT BUTTER PANIC.

A visit to Harvest is always enjoyable, even when Bailey and Aiden are having relationship issues. I like that Amanda Flower offers us a realistic perspective on the hardships involved with long distance relationships, especially when both individuals work long hours. It wasn’t easy to read about their struggles and I admit I peeked at the end to see how things would work out, but the growth was very necessary for the series as a whole and I’m excited to see what the future holds.

As usual, we got to spend time with our favorite characters and pets, and I couldn’t help but love all of them a bit more. Margot has been one of the least likable characters so far, with her determination to push forward and demand no matter what and I love that we finally got to see other sides of her to soften and humanize her a bit. In fact, after reading PEANUT BUTTER PANIC, I want to reread the earlier books as I feel my whole perspective on Margot has changed by knowing how hard her mother is on her.

PEANUT BUTTER PANIC is yet another release from Amanda Flower. If you love cozy mysteries with quirky pets, fun characters, and a unique mystery peppered with a splash of cultural differences, then PEANUT BUTTER PANIC is the perfect read for you. Without a doubt, Amanda Flower has become one of my favorite cozy mystery writers and I look forward to what she has in store for us next!