Murder of a Snake in the Grass

Rating:
Summary: Who Really Was the Snake in this Book?
Review: This book is the 4th Book in the Scumble River Mystery series written by Denise Swanson. In this installment, Skye Denison has a lot to deal with. The town of Scumble River is celebrating its bicentennial by throwing a large celebration, which means everyone in town will be participating in the events. Skye's ex-fiancé, Luc St. Amant, has chosen this time to come to town to try to win over Skye's heart once more, bringing into question whether Skye wants to turn to the past for a romance, or if she sees herself in a long-term relationship with her current love interest, Simon Reid. Also adding to her trouble is a gang of rowdy teenagers and then the murder of the guest of honor at the Scumble River celebration. At first, Skye does not want to get involved in the murder investigation, but when several people close to Skye become involved, she once again sets out to find a killer.

I have really enjoyed the entire Scumble River series, and this book was a delight. This book was interesting and entertaining with just the right amount of suspense thrown in. I thought I knew the identity of the killer several times throughout the book, but was mildly surprised at the ending. I was also happy to see that Skye makes a decision about her love life at the end of this book, since I felt that the Simon/Wally triangle had dragged on long enough. This is a fun, easy read for any cozy mystery lover.

The first book in this series is "Murder of a Small-Town Honey". Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: strong amateur sleuth
Review: When she turned eighteen, Sky Denison couldn't wait to leave her hometown of Scrumble River, a small town an hour and a half outside of Chicago. After doing two terms in the Peace Corps, she went to New Orleans where she earned a psychology degree and was engaged to a wealthy Creole aristocrat. When he dumped her, she returned to Scrumble River, broke, disillusioned and homeless. Her uncle Charlie used his influence to get her a position as psychologist for the school system and in the time she has been home, she has made a place for herself in the community.

She is therefore very unhappy when her ex-fiancé Luc St. Amant turns up wanting to reconcile and needing her to sign some papers that would put her on the board of the foundation that would help abused children. She is so upset that Luc is in town that she doesn't even want to get involved in the latest homicide case, but circumstances conspire to get her to investigate the mystery because that is the only way her ex-fiancee will be able to leave town.

Denise Swanson is one of the better new writers of amateur sleuth mysteries, a writer who shows the problems of the big city are just as prevalent in a small town. The heroine has gone from a shallow depressed person to a woman who is making a difference to the students who are under her care. Readers are going to love MURDER OF A SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: strong amateur sleuth
Review: When she turned eighteen, Sky Denison couldn't wait to leave her hometown of Scrumble River, a small town an hour and a half outside of Chicago. After doing two terms in the Peace Corps, she went to New Orleans where she earned a psychology degree and was engaged to a wealthy Creole aristocrat. When he dumped her, she returned to Scrumble River, broke, disillusioned and homeless. Her uncle Charlie used his influence to get her a position as psychologist for the school system and in the time she has been home, she has made a place for herself in the community.

She is therefore very unhappy when her ex-fiancé Luc St. Amant turns up wanting to reconcile and needing her to sign some papers that would put her on the board of the foundation that would help abused children. She is so upset that Luc is in town that she doesn't even want to get involved in the latest homicide case, but circumstances conspire to get her to investigate the mystery because that is the only way her ex-fiancee will be able to leave town.

Denise Swanson is one of the better new writers of amateur sleuth mysteries, a writer who shows the problems of the big city are just as prevalent in a small town. The heroine has gone from a shallow depressed person to a woman who is making a difference to the students who are under her care. Readers are going to love MURDER OF A SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

Harriet Klausner