Author: Paula Darnell
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover (LP); Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781887402248; 9781887402231
Campbell and Rogers Press
259 Pages
$19.63; $15.95; $3.99 Amazon
September 7, 2021
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As Lonesome Valley kicks off the holiday season with its annual parade, artist Amanda Trent embraces the Christmas spirit, happy that her family will be coming to town to celebrate the season with her and her loyal pets, Laddie, a friendly golden retriever, and Mona Lisa, an independent calico cat.
Amanda has just one nagging concern: her art sales have stalled, so her checking account is starting to look a bit puny. Her financial woes pale, though, in comparison to her concern when several people eat carrot bars laced with hemlock at the high school's arts and crafts fair, resulting in one unlucky man's death. Was the poisoning an accident, or did someone with evil intent deliberately spike the sweet baked goods?
Leads the police follow don't pan out until Amanda puts the puzzle together. But, sometimes, knowledge can be a dangerous thing...
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Amanda Trent moved to Lonesome Valley, Arizona after her marriage fell apart. She's trying to make a new life for herself as an artist, but is struggling to make ends meet. She's displaying her artwork at the Roadrunner Gallery, where she also works part-time. While working at the high school's arts and crafts fair, some people fall ill from eating poisoned carrot bars, but luckily, they survive.
When she and her friend Susan visit a widower named Eric because he asked Susan to stop by so he could show her something, they find the house locked up tight. But looking in the window, they see Eric on the floor and call the police. When the police enter the house, it's too late for Eric, who also seems to have consumed the bars. Now Amanda is wondering if it was a deliberate poisoning or just an accident, and who would have wanted the kind widower dead? Unfortunately, looking into murder can kill you...
This is the third book in the series and I have not read the other two, so I can only review on this book, which gives me several questions. Why did she leave Kansas City without demanding her husband sell the home and give her half the proceeds? They were married almost thirty years, she deserves that; or at least give her a decent settlement so she doesn't have to struggle? This doesn't make any sense.
Another thing that bothered me -- and almost made me put the book aside -- was the fact that when the police entered the crime scene, they allowed five people to enter the house behind them. No, in reality, this would not be. The police would insist everyone stay outside, not in the kitchen, as it would be considered part of the crime scene. Sloppy police work. The third, and last thing, is why was the mayor interfering in the issue of building permits? It's not her job, and could be considered an ethics violation, causing her to be removed of her position. Think, authors...sorry, but I pay attention to details, and notice little things others might not. That being said...
Amanda is getting ready for the holidays and is excited to celebrate her first Christmas in her new tiny house. Her son and daughter are coming, and so are her parents, who live in Florida. But there's a lot to do, and she would really like to sell a painting or two to help cover the costs and keep her warm over the winter months. Finding the body didn't help any, especially when the lead detective isn't fond of her and won't listen to any clues she hands him. But Amanda plugs on, and looks for clues where she can.
Much of the book was normal conversation between Amanda and her friends, and perhaps it could have been shortened without these conversations, as they had nothing to do with a murder investigation. They slowed the book down, and it took me two days to read this, when I can normally finish a book a day. The mystery wasn't given the time it deserved, so the clues were few and far between, and it seemed the motive came out of the blue, since the murderer didn't appear to have any reason to 'do in'
the victim. However, it gave a satisfactory ending, with something to look forward to in the next book.
Aside from what I've mentioned above, the writing flowed smoothly eventually and I will more than likely read the others in the series.
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Paula Darnell's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/paula-darnell/
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