Review: Decent "cozy" with dubious heroine
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 4, 2011
Perhaps it is an omen of some sorts that Amazon failed to headline the webpage with the admonition that I had purchased this book on such and such a date. At any rate, it comes through the robot reading process well, with the usual qualifications as to the pronunciation of words with double meanings and lack of adjustment of software to take care of words found universally which are allowed to be mangled (Mrs. and Mr. are invariably "M, R, S" and "M, R").it is difficult to specify my reasons for not following the five star pattern of the previous four reviewers (at this date), without entering forbidden territory and revealing parts the story: suffice to say, that as one dealing every day with people in their 80's (the heroines age), 90's, and 100's, I conclude,d well before the end of the book, that any of these people I know who manifested some of the behavioral patterns of the heroin,e would be a fit subject for a custody hearing, should her family feel the necessity, in order to protect her from being severely harmed by what she does as a matter of course.Putting that point aside, she is the usual ultra-snoopy small town woman, a former school teacher, who solves murders by assiduously cultivating the gossip mills which endlessly grind away. In doing so, she is a constant and deliberate irritant to her son, who lives across the street from her, and is the Chief of Police.The words and sentences are well woven, most of the characters are difficult to remember, the few chief ones serve only as foils for the heroine. The story is told entirely in the first person, which I like; however, I often found that first person hard to take. This is a personal view and should carry no weight, if you have a liking for people, who for their own  purposes, will intrude themselves into any setting, wherein they can pick up information in which THEY are interested, and let each of the others beware.The plot is tricky, but ultimately moves into an unnecessary muddle to provide a series of surprises.All-in-all, an easy read, which might well be quite satisfying to readers of this sub-genre of cozy.