Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Murder and Grits (Savory Mystery Series Book 1)

Author:    Karen McSpade
Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B09DC1LQ8N
Newcastle Media
54 Pages
$.99 Amazon
October 19. 2021

⭐⭐⭐


Going undercover just got complicated... 

She's a Chicago detective hiding in a Gulf Coast town.  When a dognapping and murder shake up the local community, Piper Sandstone finds herself tangled in the mystery.  Now, keeping a low profile is not an option anymore if she wants to survive.

After solving a case involving dirty cops, Piper is forced to hide out in Savory, Alabama until the corrupt officers land behind bars.

Savory, better known as Alligator Alley, is not your typical tourist attraction Gulf Coast town.  Why?  Because it's home to the three-time AKC champion poodle Victory Cup Valentino, but this year bad things are about to go down.  Even before Piper can get unpacked, there is a murder, and the poodle goes missing right before the Westminster Dog Show. 

Suspicions run high, especially with two other newcomers with very sketchy backstories showing up in town.  But before Piper can get any answers, all hell breaks loose when a body turns up in the bayou and she's at the center of the crime scene.

Fortunately for Piper, a group of retired ladies known and the Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad is on her side, and they are a force to be reckoned with.  Now, they must work together to solve the crime and stop the murderer before they end up in a body bag.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Piper Sandstone is a Chicago detective who crossed some bad guys when she outed some corrupt cops, and now has to hide out in small-town Savory, Alabama and work as a waitress until she's called home.  She doesn't like it much, but she's willing to do whatever it takes to get back and stay alive.  Unfortunately, there's a dognapping while she's there of an AKC dog, and along with the help of several elderly women who want to solve it, Piper will help as much as she can without blowing her cover...

This is the first book in the Piper Sandstone mysteries, and I really am not sure what to make of it.  It's pretty short -- only 54 pages -- which is not enough to flesh out any characters, including Piper.  Almost all of this is concerned with Piper's inner thoughts, and we don't really get a feel for her character, or why she's there.  It's not mentioned in the story, only in the blurb, so that's how it was figured out.

At any rate, this is more of the first of an episodic serial, and you will have to read the others to find out what happens to Piper.  While I want to know, I'm not sure what to make of this; however, it is an interesting introduction into Piper and her newfound elderly friends down in 'Alligator Alley.'

I was given an advance copy of this story from the author but this in no way influenced my review.



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