Wash, Fold, and Die (Mandy Dyer Mystery)

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the Others
Review: First of all, Dolores Johnson has a good Mystery series going here with a very fun cast of characters, and if you're looking for a new series to read through, I don't think you can go wrong with these books. They are fun, well written with creative plots and very little profanity. I do recommend, though, that you start with "Taken to the Cleaners". I just didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the others and wished that some avenues (with likable chacters such as Honest Abe or the murder victim's sister) in the story were explored more.

Rating:
Summary: Back on Track
Review: I had this book sitting on the shelf for a while before I picked it up yesterday to read. Her last book was one where I couldn't wait to finish it because I just wanted to be done with it, but this one was right back on track with the humor that attracted me to her books from the beginning. While I agree with one of the other reviewers that the relationship between Mandy and Stan seems to be going nowhere, it was explained in this book why he is so leery to become committed to her. I think with time, they will start getting more involved. Even without the romance, her books are enjoyable - how can they not be with the cast of characters - Betty, Mack, Honest Abe, Arthur, Nat, Spot...... I am very much looking forward to going home and picking up her next book.

Rating:
Summary: Lacks warmth
Review: While I very much enjoyed the first Mandy Dyer books, I don't seem to like the most recent books as well. I think there's a lot of potential for this series, if the author can just get the books back on the right track. For a "cozy" mystery, there's not much coziness/intimate knowledge of the protagonist/warmth.

Mandy wasn't much fun in WASH, FOLD AND DIE, and I was disappointed that she allowed herself to be discarded and then picked up at will by homicide detective Stan, her so-called boyfriend. Doesn't the woman have any pride at all? The man dumped her 9 months previously, and then pops up one day on official business and Mandy is all ready to start dating him again.

As far as the mystery goes, I liked it somewhat. I didn't get so involved in the story line that I was waiting breathlessly for all to be revealed. There were a couple times I felt Mandy behaved recklessly and illogically (after all, a killer is loose!). Doesn't the woman have any sense of self-preservation?

On the positive side, I felt as though I were back in Colorado; the descriptions of winter scenes and clothing requirements reminded me vividly why I no longer live there! And Mandy always provides us with helpful stain removal tips, such as how to remove grape juice stains from carpets and clothing.