Review: Not quite a Cosy
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 1, 2013
I'm somewhat prejudiced, because this book is set up in Boston, and it is with found nostalgia that I found myself tracing our heroine's steps through familiar neighborhoods. I also appreciate that the timeline has been tinkered with, and remember well taking my life in my hands to shop at the old Filene's Basement and using MapQuest to get around.... but alas, I digress.Swanson (and sorry, I can't spell nor pronounce her last name), bursts onto the scene of a high society murder by being retained as lead, and only attorney, for the wife of the victim after only having practiced family law. Filled with subtle puns, such as hire private investigator named Dick, Swanson fearlessly charges forth into a deeper and deeper muddle, where everybody has a motive, probably should be considered a suspect, and is more than little dysfunctional. At this point, Swanson's family enters the picture in the form of two uncles who make most family feuds look mild.In short, all the characters, while stretched, just a tiny bit, had great dialogue, and made me wish that the murderer had never been revealed, as I was having such a good time. The author does an excellent job of giving the reader a lurker position in every scene, and the end scene where the source of the newspaper cut out letters was revealed had my rolling on the floor laughing. A few tears along the way, too, as Swanson loved, and lost. The only negativity I would associate is that Swanson has those negative vibes that too many women have about their bodies, but her insecurities drive part of the story.Kudos, Swanson. Come to Boston real soon. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for review (and I'm glad I did).