Dead in the Scrub

Rating:
Summary: Opinionated and entertaining
Review: "Dead in the Scrub" is the first book in B.J. Oliphant's Shirley McClintock series. I have read it four times. Since Oliphant is really Sheri S. Tepper, it's not surprising that her main character is quite opinionated, and didactic at times. This doesn't detract from the story, though. In fact, it may add to its appeal. Whether you agree with Shirley's opinions or not, she's never boring. The conversations and characters are as entertaining as the mystery itself. One of the most likable characters is an 11-year-old girl, Alison, whose mother is forcing her into an extreme, grotesque caricature of grown-up femininity, complete with full makeup and artificial nails, when the girl would rather be reading or playing baseball. After Alison's parents are murdered, she goes to live with Shirley and her friend J.Q. on their ranch, where she can lead a freer and more normal life. (You'd almost think that Shirley, upon seeing the way the poor girl is being brought up, might be tempted to do away with the parents herself, but, don't worry, she's not the one whodunit.) All the books in this series are well worth reading. And I also recommend Ms. Tepper's other mystery series, written under the name A.J. Orde.

Rating:
Summary: Opinionated and entertaining
Review: "Dead in the Scrub" is the first book in B.J. Oliphant's Shirley McClintock series. I have read it four times. Since Oliphant is really Sheri S. Tepper, it's not surprising that her main character is quite opinionated, and didactic at times. This doesn't detract from the story, though. In fact, it may add to its appeal. Whether you agree with Shirley's opinions or not, she's never boring. The conversations and characters are as entertaining as the mystery itself. One of the most likable characters is an 11-year-old girl, Alison, whose mother is forcing her into an extreme, grotesque caricature of grown-up femininity, complete with full makeup and artificial nails, when the girl would rather be reading or playing baseball. After Alison's parents are murdered, she goes to live with Shirley and her friend J.Q. on their ranch, where she can lead a freer and more normal life. (You'd almost think that Shirley, upon seeing the way the poor girl is being brought up, might be tempted to do away with the parents herself, but, don't worry, she's not the one whodunit.) All the books in this series are well worth reading. And I also recommend Ms. Tepper's other mystery series, written under the name A.J. Orde.

Rating:
Summary: Bow hunting, politics and religion - what a combination
Review: At first glance, this book has many parallels to the 'other' highly popular Colorado mystery series - single woman in the foothills outside of Denver encounters death and small town intrigue. Yet this book (and series I assume - as this is the first in a series) is different from Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy the Caterer series. The heroine sleuth is Shirley McClintock - fifty something, retired from a high level job in Washington DC (only vaguely described), twice widowed and now living on her family ranch. She's not afraid to take a stand against the pro-lifers outside of an abortion clinic or to fight for an orphaned child. She's spunky but in a refreshing way.

The murder mystery part of this book is solidly constructed. The probable culprits emerge fairly early but the reasons for their actions are only revealed at the end. It all has to do with an evangelical church, a real estate depression and women's rights. Not safe territory but very interesting for me.

I'll be reading more in this series.

Rating:
Summary: Bow hunting, politics and religion - what a combination
Review: At first glance, this book has many parallels to the 'other' highly popular Colorado mystery series - single woman in the foothills outside of Denver encounters death and small town intrigue. Yet this book (and series I assume - as this is the first in a series) is different from Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy the Caterer series. The heroine sleuth is Shirley McClintock - fifty something, retired from a high level job in Washington DC (only vaguely described), twice widowed and now living on her family ranch. She's not afraid to take a stand against the pro-lifers outside of an abortion clinic or to fight for an orphaned child. She's spunky but in a refreshing way.

The murder mystery part of this book is solidly constructed. The probable culprits emerge fairly early but the reasons for their actions are only revealed at the end. It all has to do with an evangelical church, a real estate depression and women's rights. Not safe territory but very interesting for me.

I'll be reading more in this series.