★★★★★ 5
Very good, entertaining mystery.
Format: Mass Market Paperback
I don't know if this author has written other books before beginning this series but it is a very good FIRST in what is so far just a 3 book series. I ordered all 3 but am reading them in order as I always do. The author tends to go into too much detail about mundane things about things like fixing a meal, etc., but it isn't too distracting from the story. I like a little hominess but this is overdone just a tad. The story moved right along establishing characters without throwing in so many that you simply can't keep them all straight as some authors do. A thoroughly despicable victim so nobody cares if he dies violently. And, to me, a reeeely surprise ending. For someone who has read as many mysteries as I have, this was a pleasant surprise and the author doesn't give you hints till you are almost at the reveal so that you feel clever at figuring it out but you don't figure it out too early and you are still a bit surprised that you were "right" about who did it. Also, the "hero" is a thoroughly likeable guy. Don't you hate it when the "hero" or "heroine" just comes across as someone you don't really like much. You know, the one that if he or she gets beat up, you sort of feel like they deserved it and you've not really sorry. Well, if something bad had happened to "Charlie" I'd have been very upset. Now, if #2 will just show up I'll get on with the series. This is a series I'll be keeping in my library to reread in a couple of years.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2012