Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496719904
Kensington Publishing
295 Pages
$7.99; $5.99 Amazon
August 27, 2019
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Sophie "Phee" Kimball enjoys working as a bookkeeper for a private investigator. If only her mother Harriet could enjoy her retirement at Sun City West in Arizona -- instead of constantly getting involved with retirees being prematurely put out to pasture. this time Quentin Dussler, a prominent member of the clay sculpting club, was found dead, clutching a piece of paper scrawled with Phee's mother's name.
Terrified she's been targeted by assassins, Harriet begs Phee to investigate. What Phee uncovers is a complicated scheme that only the most diabolical of murderers would ever devise. And as she chisels away at confusing clues and potential suspects, Phee unearths something far more precious and valuable than she could imagine. Eager for answers, she takes a bold step -- placing herself in the crosshairs of a stonefaced killer...
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Sophie "Phee" Kimball works as bookkeeper for Williams Investigation in Arizona. Unfortunately, her mother Harriet lives in Sun City West and is constantly thinking someone is out to 'get' her or one of her friends and is expecting Phee and her bosses Nate and Marshall to help them. This time, a man is murdered and is found with a small piece of paper in his hand that has both Harriet's and her friend Lucinda's name on it. Now Harriet is sure it's a hit list, and they're next. So, of course, she expects Phee to do something about it.
Fortunately, Williams Investigations has already been asked to help in the murder investigation, and Nate asks Phee to see what she can glean from talking with the elderly women. A task Phee doesn't relish. But then, she's also visited by two sisters she once met who live in an upscale retirement facility, and they're sure someone is stealing from them. So Phee goes to speak with the director -- quietly, of course -- and the woman promises to see what she can find out.
But then things start to take a darker turn. One of the missing items is a piece of pottery that a tenant owned, and she sends Phee a picture of what it looked like, along with scribbles on the bottom. When Phee's co-worker Augusta deciphers it, and Phee and her Aunt Ina investigate on their own, they walk into a dangerous situation without even realizing it.
Once Phee and her bosses start linking the two cases, things take a nasty turn. And when things start heating up at both the retirement community and what Nate and Marshall have found out, Phee makes a rash decision to continue her own investigation. And that decision might just get her killed...
This is the fifth book in the series and I have to say that I've enjoyed it as much as the previous ones. The dialogue is witty, the action is plentiful, and the story is intriguing. There are bits and pieces thrown around that each supporting character might say or let slip, and it's quite entertaining watching Phee and her boyfriend, PI Marshall, put the puzzle together and come to a solid conclusion that ties everything together admirably.
Phee is a delightful character, one who loves her mother but doesn't relish spending time with her (not that I blame her -- Harriet is a drama queen and always thinks someone is out to get her); she's got a brain that works on the mathematical side and puts clues together that way, while her bosses work on finding the clues and then seeing where they go. It's a wonderful combination of characters that works wonderfully. I also was surprised to see in this book that Augusta took a bit of a larger role, and one I thought was quite humorous as well as welcome. (Read the book and you will see what I am speaking of).
Having lived in Tucson for several years, I can tell you that the author describes the area around Phoenix and the Tonto Forest quite accurately, and it brings me back to my own days in Arizona. However, being the private person that I am, I think I'd avoid Sun City West in retirement years. I shudder to think I'd come across anyone like Harriet. Poor Phee.
At any rate, the author is quite talented in creating story lines that are unique and complicated. While I figured out one of the murderers toward the middle of the book -- it was something said by another character that steered me in that direction, and I won't say what remark it was -- I was pleased to see that I was correct and watch how Phee put everything together at the end. I also think the best line in the book was said by Harriet, in regard to how many murders had been done since she moved to Sun City:
"I used to feel so safe around here. Now it's becoming a regular combat zone." That one actually made me laugh out loud, and is just an example of the dialogue, so to anyone who hasn't read any of these books, I suggest you start with the first and work your way through. You won't be disappointed.
In the end, when the murderer was caught and everything went back to normal (or as normal as it can be with the wacky seniors), I loved the ending and it gave me a reason to read the next in the series. Highly recommended.
https://www.amazon.com/Molded-Murder-Sophie-Kimball-Mystery/dp/1496719905/ref
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3249310640
More on J.C. Eaton's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/j-c-eaton/
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