Review: 8th in Series; shows it
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 20, 2013
The author disarms most of the criticisms one might have about the "investigating team" by bringing them up herself in describing character reactions. I have not read as many as one of the reviewers but am progressing along in the series. To repeat a point  you would have read already in editiorial reviews, the key problem solvers are two middle aged women, one in a  live-in relationship, the other married with inexplicable flashes of insight beyond reason. The author happily, in this book, reins in those insights to a few well within the realms of reason; perhaps she has changed her mind  about stressing the paranormal which would take the series into a mostly different readership. Of course, Libby, the main character, Fran is the partner, but the story is told from Libby's outlook, is a super nosey person, who easily finds excuses to interest herself in what is none of her business. Fran is a ready companion, although more cautious and restrained.  In this book they are induced into investigating by a third party who has a sense of unease about a certain piece of property. Very slowly, as they poke around, something that seems somewhat amiss grows wildly in proportion. They involve their friendly police officer who, as all such characters tend to do in this sort of novel, is perpetually trying to dampen down their independent  "investigations".My own response was less favorable than in previous books in the series. I found myself to be uninvolved in what they were digging into and when it turned into something, I found that to be way out in left field, as we used to say, that is, not credible within the setting.In general, for a newcomer who has no expectations, I would say this is a decent light read which keeps the snoopiness within the bounds of most such "cozy"  mysteries. For one familiar with earlier volumes, I would say you could give this a miss unless you have become devoted to the series in a way which mandates reading every one of the books.