Review: A Down-home mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 11, 2011
Murder Bites the Bullet: A Gertie Johnson Murder Mysteryhas a lot going for it.Gertie and her friends are "characters". They are the eccentrics that are often portrayed in stories with small-town ambience. She runs her life by her own set of rules, which often do not meet with the approval of her son, the local Sheriff. Of course, the feeling is mutual. Gertie thinks of her son as rather stodgy and limited. There are lots of other quirky characters and relationships. Gertie's mother-in-law is an equally strong and independent person, an irrational wild card in any discussion. Gertie's two friends who "help" solve the crimes are each, in their own way a unique, independent sort. The teamwork here is a model for nobody to emulate.The plot itself is handled adroitly, with a kind of logic to the investigation that suits Gertie's approach to life. The ending is satisfying and the events look plausible in retrospect.The story is told with a light-hearted tone that matches the central character perfectly. I would call this smiling humor-- occasionally it was laugh-out-loud funny, but for the most part is was amusing and enjoyable.The book provided a relief from psychopaths and gore. I enjoyed reading a book that was very light on profanity and sex for a change.If you're looking for an easy-going, well-written mystery, that deals with ordinary people with motives and behavior from daily life, I recommend this one.