Jim Singleton
has come back to Clover Ridge after years on the lam. He sneaks
into his daughter Carrie’s cottage in the wee hours
and gives her a bad scare. Of course, he’s up to something,
she just isn’t prepared for him to ask her to help him
with one of his capers. He’s in town to try to retrieve
some gems from a heist he was involved with years ago. His
so-called retirement fund.
Carrie
runs the programs and events at the local library and loves
her job. She loves her friends and has a wonderful beau, Dylan
who is an insurance investigator. Who just happens to be on
the trail of the same gems and the thieves!
Torn
between her father and her boyfriend, Carrie spends most of
her time this holiday season upset and worried. At least she
has the job she loves, her Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bosco and
her beloved cat, Smokey Joe. No to mention several good friends,
one of whom is the library’s ghost, Evelyn.
While
this is an entertaining and easy enough read, I’m afraid
I didn’t love it as much as the first book. All the
right elements of a cozy mystery are checked off, but the
protagonist, Carrie Singleton seems to have regressed emotionally
instead of maturing and growing. There were times I wanted
to talk some sense into her. Yes, I know, a fictional character!
The
mystery itself did not disappoint, but the family drama and
relationships seemed to be more at the forefront of the story.
I believe the author tried to strike a fair balance between
the two, but it felt somewhat strained and I think that something
special which I had found in the first book is missing.
You’ll
want to read the first book, “Death Overdue” before
this one, so pick up or order both and have a mini-binge reading
weekend.
I
will certainly be watching for book three and hopefully, the
magic will be back. This very well could simply be a sophomore
slump. You may find that you love the book! I think it’s
a case of your mileage may vary as the saying goes.
Reviews
of other titles in this series
Death
Overdue #1
Read and Gone #2
Buried
in the Stacks #3
Checked
Out for Murder #4
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