Review: The Last Bequest
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 4, 2013
I've wondered what a "cozy murder mystery" could possibly be...murder and cozy just don't go together, but now I know. The murder is done basically "off scene" and you come into the story after the dastardly deed is done! I like that I don't have to read through blood, guts, violence, gratuitous sex and foul language.Set in the beautiful rural countryside of somewhere mid-America, populated by salt of the earth characters, author Lisa Lickel has penned the sweetest love story--make that stories plural because there is a whole lot of love going on, on various levels, in The Last Bequest. There is family love, childhood friends love (that becomes grown-up love), neighbors falling in love--and out of love, and misunderstood love...all woven in around finding out what caused Aunt Louise's death in the first place!Judy, our main character has an inheritance to claim, a greedy lawyer to out maneuver, and a not so nice neighbor trying to take a slice of her farm for himself. She is definitely Christian, but does not push it or preach it; she simply lives it. Then there is a terrorist masquerading as a teacher and wanna' be lover just to get his hands on Judy's newly inherited farm. I mustn't forget a scruffy, scraggly attack cat! Every farm needs one!The old farmhouse has to have some updating immediately--a city girl needs a proper bathroom. No sooner is that done than a leak appears in the upstairs closet, age is showing as well as an old misplaced letter! Remodeling eventually leads to the solution of the secondary mystery of what happened to the box of gold Aunt Louise was supposed to keep for Uncle Bryce and then lost. Hart, her neighbor and farming mentor soon becomes a love interest and protector! Thankfully he is near when her former friend the terrorist arrives to do her in and take over the farm for his nefarious plans. Only this time Judy recues her rescuer which causes him to determine to sign them up for league baseball. A swing like that should have the proper show place!So, you see you simply must read the book! There are too many twists and pleasant turns to the plot. Oh, and did I mention the tornado?With a well paced plot and colorful characters you can't help but love The Last Bequest. It is a very well written, delightful read! I give it 5 stars and will recommend it.