Review: Not as funny as Bubba and the Dead Woman but the plot and characterization are better
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 6, 2011
The chapter titles were disappointing, both because they were too long to be clever and because they rarely matched the chapter. Compared with Bubba and the Dead Woman (first book in the series), the novel was better plotted (e.g., had less repetition), the mystery elements were generally more credible, and the characterization more consistent.On the down side, I could determine no reason for psychologist (?) Nancy Musgrave to come to dinner with three mental patients. Also, macros irritate me (e.g., the description of the neighbor's place, roughly one page on kindle, was word for word the same as in Bubba and the Dead Woman). I don't object in principle to authors using macros, but at least make a few changes for the sake of the admittedly few readers who will notice.None of those elements, however, would have prevented me from giving the book full points. The main reason I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5 was that the relatives were too greedy, too obvious. They were obviously intended to be funny, but were too blatant. The boy, Brownie, was initially just annoying since children (and parents) like him annoy me, but his character developed nicely for about the last third of the book. I did find it hard to suspend my disbelief that Brownie's behavior would turn around so quickly, or that the parents responsible for that behavior would even briefly realize their responsibility, but perhaps I am too cynical. I thought the solution to the murder was a bit abrupt.As for the ending, I don't like the serializing of ending a book with the start of/set up for the next book--but the practice is a minor annoyance and does not influence me either way on whether or not to buy the next book.If you liked Bubba and the Dead Woman, you should also enjoy this second book.