Another Review at MyShelf.Com

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:
© 2006 MyShelf.com