Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Death by Intermission (An Abby McCree Mystery #4)

Author:  Alexis Morgan
Genre:   Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:  9781496731258
Kensington Publishing
304 Pages
$8.99; $6.99 Amazon
January 26, 2021

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Ushered once again onto another committee by the mayor of Snowberry Creek, Washington, Abby is tasked with keeping the box office receipts of the town's Movies in the Park nights.  Cut to the director's chair from where she's suddenly organizing the summer's last feature.  From the opening scene through the final credits, Abby feels she's earned nominations for best volunteer, best movie date with her tenant Tripp Blackston -- and best daughter for ignoring her mother Phoebe's own movie date with Owen Quinn.

Unfortunately, Abby and the others are treated to a post-credits scene: the body of local insurance agent Mitchell Anders.  This discovery is followed by a plot twist revealing that the murder weapon comes from Owen's food truck.  With her mother's boyfriend suspected of murder, Abby starts her own investigation determined to shine a spotlight on the real killer...

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Abby McCree is on a real date - such as it is, outdoors surrounded by other people watching a movie in the park - with her tenant Tripp Blackston, whom she's getting closer to each day.  Unfortunately, her mother is also there with her boyfriend, Owen Quinn, whom Abby isn't too sure about since no one seems to know anything about him except he has a part-time barbeque restaurant and fishes the rest of the time.  But she can't worry about it, because it's her job to clean up after the movie and make sure the park is pristine.  

Helped by her mother, they sweep the area with flashlights until her mom comes across a grisly discovery: a dead body.  Now, with Owen suspected of the murder, her mother angry at Gage for not finding a killer and declaring him incompetent, Abby is stuck in the middle of an investigation Tripp doesn't want her anywhere near.  But if Abby doesn't find the real killer, Owen - or someone else who's innocent - could be stuck behind bars for a long time...

This is the fourth book in the series and each time I read one of them I find them getting more and more delightful.  No, this is no earth-shattering series; it's not deeply mysterious nor terribly suspenseful.  But what it is, is fun.  And quite a lot of it.

We watch Abby as she's dealing with her mother temporarily staying with her - and that's no picnic for Abby at all - as the two women are going head to head quite a bit, with Tripp stuck in the middle trying to protect Abby for all it's worth.  Not that Phoebe is mean; she's just worried about Owen.  But Owen is keeping secrets, and he's not telling.

Then when his employee has a problem that scares her, Abby is once again called in the middle of the investigation she's supposed to be staying out of.  Now she's dealing with more than just her mom, her budding relationship with Tripp, and trying to keep her temper.  But things soon heat up and somehow she discovers that there's just no way to stay out of the fire...

When the murderer is discovered, it is somewhat of a surprise, not fully getting what seems easy to detect.  It makes for an entertaining ride that keeps going up and down, the mystery intertwined with Abby's relationship issues with the people around her, and the climax of discovering a killer.  

It's great enjoyment to read a book that sticks to its subject matter and takes us out of life's daily problems and into the life of Abby McCree, which is always worth reading, pulling us into a neat murder mystery that always has us wondering what will come next.  I can't wait for the next in the series and wish I could read it immediately.  I dare you to end this book without a smile on your face.  Highly recommended.



More on Alexis Morgan's Books:  https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/alexis-morgan/

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