Murder at Sunset

Rating:
Summary: A great tale, keeps the reader on the edge of their seat
Review: J. McGrath hails from a small town in Mississippi. Like many writers, he uses his depression-era childhood memories to good effect in his first novel of a small town. Mr. McGrath has more than twenty years experience writing articles for periodicals. His second Maggie Goss mystery is due out later this year and is called MYSTERIOUS VALLEY.

Maggie and Maude Goss share a temporary living arrangement in Sunset Extended Care home, while Maude recovers from a stroke. Having recently sold their business, Maggie is at loose ends until their friend Mary Spencer is found murdered in the nursing home. Suspicion almost immediately falls on her spoiled and nasty son Harvey, and Maggie find new purpose in assisting her nephew, Sam, in the investigation. Sam thinks Maggie should learn to shoot, and to his delight and surprise Maggie is what he terms a "natural." He pushes Maggie to carry a gun in her purse, and no sooner is the ink on the permit dry when Maggie surprises a hit squad in her very own home, but not before they murder her beloved twin Maude:

"Maude let out a distorted, gurgling cry, which knifed into Maggie's soul. There was another flash with the same spitting sound and Maude's cry abruptly ended. Finding the courage, Maggie ran toward her sister's door, pushing it open with her gun at the ready, and started firing at the flashlight beam."

There has never been a better time to be a mystery enthusiast. New writers with oodles of talent are popping out everywhere, and J. McGrath is finding a place among the ranks of new writers. Maggie Goss and her nephew Sam make a fine investigative team and are caring relatives. McGrath rounds out his characters nicely, even giving the bad guys human qualities which the reader can relate to, creating even more layers to his murder. Maggie has fine investigative instincts, and can be irascible at times, which makes her all the more lovable. The F.B.I involvement is also developed to a nice degree, with hints of further adventures for Maggie. This is a fine first effort from a man with experience, tact, and a shrewd understanding of human nature. A great tale which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer