Review: Very Entertaining Cozy Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 1, 2014
This is an original setting for a murder--it happens at a trade show. The heroine of A Gift For Murder works for the Commerce & Market Show Center. Heather MacNeil is the assistant to the Center's Director, which means she has to juggle and solve the many behind-the-scenes problems that come up at any trade show. Heather has a special talent for listening and making people feel comfortable in her presence. She uses this ability to quietly question exhibitors about the body she found murdered in a dumpster.Although the police are focused on the dead man's wife as their prime suspect, Heather thinks she's innocent and decides to do some amateur detecting. New to the trade floor security team is ex-cop Scott Brandon. Soon he and Heather are working together to solve the crime. They are also exploring the possibility of a romantic relationship.There is a good deal of authentic detail about what it's like to manage a big trade show. I particularly enjoyed the rogue popcorn machine!The characters are sympathetic, the plot is well-developed, and the narrative builds to a tense and exciting conclusion. I did wonder why the police homicide detectives were so ineffective, but this is a perennial problem with amateur detective stories.I enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans...or to anyone who likes a well-told story.