Murder of a Small-Town Honey: A Scumble River Mystery [Large Print] (Hardcover)

For a first time author, this book was pretty good. I can't help but compare it to Muder She Wrote. The town Scumble River sounds alot like Cabot Cove and so do all the towns folk. Skye is a young beautiful woman who is a School Psychologist while Jessica Fletcher is a sweet old lady who is a Mystery Writer. While this is a contrast, both are alike in that they get involved in a murder which they have to solve in order to clear a friend or relative. In this book, Skye has to help clear her brother, Vince who has been accused of killing a woman named Honey. Both Jessica and Skye are alike in that they rub suspect the wrong way by trying to poke around for information.

I happen to like Murder She Wrote so I enjoyed this cozy little book which I gave 4 stars only because it was not as suspenseful as most mystery. However I do like the fact that the author made a likable heroine and that her book does not rely on sex, violence and gore in order to attract an audience. I did not guess the identity of the killer until the last 10 pages or so just like on Murder She Wrote, you have to wait until the last 10 minutes of the show in order to have JB Fletcher reveal the killer and their motive.

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Unfortunately, after a large, unnamed disgrace occurs (leaving Skye with no fiance and no job), she moves back to Scumble River to take up a job as a school psychologist. After she arrives, she is talked into being a judge for the chokeberry jelly contest at the annual festival-and soon discovers the body of a former Scumble River resident... who just so happens to be a celebrity.

The problem? All the evidence points to Skye's brother, and the police don't seem to want to search after any other possible suspects. Despite much opposition, Skye takes matters into her own hands-and risks her own life in the process.

I enjoyed this novel. Every scene where Skye does her actual job, beyond investigating, is a true pleasure. Unfortunately, that could not save the book. There is little to no character depth in any character beyond Skye, hunches on furthering her investigation come out of nowhere, and her opinions changed within one sentence. For instance, take her love interest in the story-Simon, who was the town's Coroner and funeral home owner. He was evil and nasty in the first half of the book, and downright saintly in the second half. It just doesn't work.

However, this is a very good example of a debut novel. Here's to hoping the rest are as good or better than this.

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Overall, I recommend that any 'cozy' lover read it. I also want to add that the two books after this one weren't as good, but I still haven't read the fourth book, Murder of a Snake in the Grass, so there's hope yet!

-Ater

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