Little Shop of Homicide by Denise Swanson, 2012, Obsidian, $7.99, softbound, 259 pages. Category/Genre: mystery. Cover: stylised but good. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.
Shadow Bend, MO: Devereaux Sinclair, who owns Devereaux's Dime Store and Gift Baskets, gets embroiled in a mystery when the fiance of her ex-boyfriend turns up dead.
Devereaux is a suspect, partly because of her past, which involves working for a man who stole his investors' life savings; unfortunately for Devereaux, the copper on her case, Det Woods, was personally affected by that scandal.
But Dev isn't alone; she has gal pal Poppy Kincaid on her side, as well as friend and conspiracy nut Boone St Onge. Poppy has secret listening devices installed in her bar, and Boone is an attorney.
Navigating the sleuthing world can be pretty tough, though; not only must Dev face her ex, but she's trying to ignore the lusty thoughts going through her head every time deputy US Marshal Jake comes into view.
An interesting mystery with interesting characters.
Note: strong language; sexual language.
If you like this one, try: Mortar and Murder, by Jennie Bentley.
Murder for Choir by Joelle Charbonneau, 2012, Berkley Prime Crime, $7.99, softbound, 294 pages. Category/Genre: mystery. Cover: good. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.
Struggling opera singer Paige Marshall is the new coach of Prospect Glen High School's show choir. When Paige finds Greg Lucas, director of the rival school's show choir, dead at the piano with a wound on his head and a mike cord round his neck, she's shocked. Oddly, fellow choir coach Larry is calm when he sees the body. Even more suspicious is the fact that Larry had a confrontation with Greg before his death.
However, Larry isn't the only suspect. A cell phone belonging to student Eric Metz is found on the scene, and Greg made a pass at Eric's girlfriend. Dana, Greg's ex-wife, was angry with Greg because of an affair and the fact that he was getting joint custody of their son. And Curtis Bennett, North Shore High School's football coach, was angry with Greg because the choir director got Curtis's star wide receiver to give up football for choir.
With plenty of intrigue and interesting characters, this is a book you won't want to miss.
If you like this one, try: Little Shop of Homicide, by Denise Swanson.
The Cat, the Wife and the Weapon by Leann Sweeney, 2012, Obsidian, $7.99, softbound, 288 pages. Category/Genre: mystery. Cover: clever. Where we got it: publisher. Where you can get it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million.
Part of the 'Cats in Trouble' mysteries, this book finds cat lover and quilter Jillian Hart worried about boyfriend Tom Stewart, who hasn't called, even though she's left ten messages.
Deepening the mystery is the fact that Bob Cochran, Tom's brother (who Jillian didn't know about), has been staying in Tom's house for two days, waiting for Tom to come home.
When at last Tom resurfaces, he opens up to Jillian about his past -- his ex-wife and his son, Finn, who is missing. When Finn and his dog Yoshi show up, Finn is injured and in possession of a gun he can't remember obtaining. A man is dead, and Finn is a suspect; in order to clear the teenager's name, Jillian and Tom will have to do some serious sleuthing.
Filled with the characters you'll have grown to love from the other books in the series, this installment doesn't fail to entertain. Newcomers to the series will be able to follow the plot, as well.
If you like this one, try: The Cat, the Mill and the Murder, by Leann Sweeney; Red Velvet Revenge, by Jenn McKinlay.
