Review: I love these mysteries
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 1, 2014
I actually read the 4th book first and then went back and bought this boxed set to get the first ones. I loved Mac Faraday and his dog, Gnarly. He's so personable, easy-going, and nice. The characters are all wonderful and the mysteries are very well written. Although I often guessed the bad-guy, it was fun to see exactly how it would play out and what the motives were. It was also fun when, in the first book, Mac goes to Washington DC and eats at Old Ebbitt Grill because I ate lunch there quite frequently when I worked in the area back in the 1990's. It's always fun to pick out real things that you are familiar with in a book.The stories in the collection are a perfect blend of mystery, suspense and a touch of romance. I love the fact that the author shows restraint: there isn't a lot of blood, gore, and gruesomeness. And the basic premise is a lot of fun: Mac is the illegitimate son of a famous mystery writer. When the writer dies, she leaves her fortune to Mac, who is a homicide detective. Now retired, Mac is in a position to help the local cops when murder shakes up the small, resort town where he lives. I liked the fact that Mac wasn't overly intrusive or "butting in." His involvement in the investigations seems entirely natural, especially since as a retired detective. He knows what he can and can't do to keep his involvement appropriate. It's nice to see an "amateur" detective who is not just a busy-body doing things s/he shouldn't do.I really enjoy these stories and intend to buy every one of them. They are wonderful mysteries with great characters.