Murder Passes The Buck
A Yooper Mystery, # 1
by Deb Baker
Sixty-six year old Gertie Johnson has been widowed a year, and is missing her husband badly. Something needs to
happen to fill in that great hole in her life - why not become a private investigator? Her neighbour Chester Lampi
has just been found dead in his own deer hide at the start of the hunting season and it looks suspicious. Trouble
is, the sheriff doesn’t think so and he is Gertie’s son. So Gertie enrolls two friends to help her solve the case,
to the ire of her son and various other inhabitants of Tamarack Township. Life is suddenly full of possibilities
again...
This is a laugh-out-loud first novel in what I hope is going to be a long series. I love cozies, and this one
is succinct, pacey and great fun. I didn’t guess whodunit in what is quite a roundabout plot, but the actual story
is only one of the things to relish here. In excellent cozy tradition, this novel is also a good place to find out
what it is like to live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a backwoods sort of place where hunting is the main pastime
and the land is cheap. The area comes to tangible life with Gertie telling her story (she makes for a great
narrator), and also in here are many comments on the trials (as well as joys) of growing older. Sheriff Blaze takes
Gertie to court, trying to declare her incompetent and get her put into a nursing home. But Gertie learns to drive
her late husband’s truck and gets into all kinds of hilarious trouble. There is a lot in here to enjoy, and I will
be going hunting myself - for the next book in the series. |
The Book |
Midnight Ink |
August 1, 2006 |
Paperback |
0738708720 |
Cozy Crime - Contemporary, Michigan |
More
at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed 2006 |
NOTE: |
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