Review: This ain't your Mama's typical murder mystery!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 7, 2014
An engaging murder mystery with plenty of suspense, surprise, and a welcome dose of humor that serves as a counterbalance to the dark atmosphere of those pesky dead bodies that are obliged to appear. The main character, Rick, is given a unique spin by the author as she depicts him as a recovering alcoholic who is thrust into a situation that would drive almost anyone to drink. Personally, if I were accused of murder, one of my first inclinations might be to seek the counsel of Mr. Jack Daniels.While this story does contain all the elements of a good murder mystery, this AIN’T your Mama’s typical Agatha Christie scenario. From references to the Grateful Dead, to biting sarcastic wit, to characters plagued by vice that are both troubling and funny, Ms. Collins leaves her own unique thumbprint on the mystery genre.Despite enjoying the plot twists, the most intriguing element of this story, for me, was the strong development of unique characters… Rick in particular.  This convention could be considered unusual in a murder mystery where plot tends to be the driving force. Rick is neither as smart as Columbo, nor the hot emotional mess of Monk, but he’ll be one of those fictional private detectives that reserves a place in the back of your mind and beckons you to come for another visit. I’d love to see another story with this character.