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Deadly Greetings
A Card-Making Mystery #2

by Elizabeth Bright



      Cardmaker Jennifer Shane from Custom Card Creations is back in the follow-up to Invitation For Murder (also reviewed on this site). The shop is struggling, and when her aunt and sole employee, Lillian, hears of an apartment going cheap, Jennifer is dragooned into renting it. It looks delightful, but is haunted by the previous occupant who committed suicide a short time before and her neighbors leave much to be desired. All this fades into the background when she receives a greeting card from a member of her card-crafting club who has just been killed in a road accident. It appears that Maggie Blake was convinced somebody was trying to kill her, and Jennifer won’t let it rest until she has discovered whodunit.

Some pastime themed cozies alienate readers merely wanting to read a good crime novel by riding the hobbyhorse too hard, but this one slips in the odd discreet card tip at the ends of the chapters, which the reader can miss if desired. The rest of the story is whodunit, and that is as it should be in my opinion. This is a relaxing tale about the small town of one’s dreams (no satire here) and the joys of being part of a small but loving family. It is painted on a small canvas, and a few more characters might be a bonus, as might a more convoluted plot. There are some loose ends hanging at the end too which won’t be cleared up in future books for obvious reasons (I don’t want to spoil the story by saying more), and would somebody terrified for her life really spend time making beautiful greetings cards to send to her friends? Even with these faults, it is enjoyable for many reasons, and as cozy as a pair of old slippers.

The Book

Signet Mystery (Penguin Group USA)
June 2006
Paperback
0451218779
Contemporary Crime [Virginia]
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2006
NOTE:
© 2006 MyShelf.com