Dead Jitterbug [Mass Market Paperback]

Ray Pradt is a fishing guide in Loon Lake, Wisconsin. Ray's newest idea is a two-day seminar called "Fishing for Girls". He manages to rope Doc Osborne, his neighbor, into helping him with the excursion for the girls on a new pontoon Ray is trying to sell. Doc agrees to help out but is soon pulled away from this project to help Police Chief Lewellyn Ferris. Doc Osborne's many years as a dentist and resident of Loon Lake has been a big help to Chief Lewellyn in various investigations and Chief Ferris is not slow to call on Doc for help. They are also fishing buddies and sometimes lovers.

Hope McDonald, mother of one of Ray's "seminar girls", and the author of a syndicated advice column, is found dead in her home in Loon Lake. Then it is discovered by Doc and Lew that another of Ray's "seminar girls" Molly O'Brien formerly Molly McBride whose parents resided in Loon Lake and were brutally murdered. Molly was left alone in the home with the bodies of her parents when she was only two and a half. Now twenty-seven years later Molly is back in Loon Lake and married. Lillie Wright, local attorney, is now asking Chief Ferris to try to dig up the old files and renew the investigation for the murder since Lillie believes the person convicted was framed and the murderer is still in town and Molly is beginning to believe it too.

As if all of this isn't enough to keep Chief Ferris busy she is also asked to help locate a couple who have been robbing banks. The Chief is also in the midst of a campaign for Sheriff and Doc Osborne's daughter is her campaign manager.

Victoria Houston's vivid descriptions of the area and the residents love of fishing adds much to the story. This is the sixth Loon Lake mystery and each one gets better. Be sure and read them all.

Paul "Doc" Osborne should have remembered that no good deed goes unpunished. So when he agrees to help his friend Ray Pradt lead a "Fishing for Girls" fishing seminar Doc should have expected the worse. When one of the student's mother, a famous syndicated advice columnist, is found murdered, Doc is once again deputized and asked by the Loon Lake Chief of Police to help out with his forensic dental skills. Ray complicates matters as he begins to fall for one of his very married students who has a tragic past of her own, and soon Doc is up to his neck in murder and family secrets. Chief Ferris herself has her hands full with her run for Lake County Sheriff, a counterfeit money scam, and a cold case murder. Readers will be taken along as events roll along quickly to a very tidy and satisfying end.

This continues to be a strong series with no hint of letting up. Houston has created characters who continue to grow and readers will be thrilled with the evolution of Doc's romance with the lovely sheriff. Dead Jitterbug is an extremely entertaining mystery full of humor, fishing lore, wit, and suspense.

Once again I found your characters most delightful, Doc and Ray are charmers! Lew continues on the path of justice and I like the introduction of the lawyer (lady lawyer that is).

Please continue to keep us contacted to Loon Lake's adventures.