"Never miss a good chance to shut up."
That was one of the sayings used to begin each chapter. It's advice Sissy should have taken to heart. I mean, she wrote it under her "Aunt Bess" column identity. She didn't take it to heart, however, and it almost got her in trouble more than once as she tries to figure out who killed Kevin the milkman. New in Yoder, an Amish community, and the one to discover Kevin's body, Sissy feels she is the focus of the police as Earl Berry shows up repeatedly to question and, in her eyes, look at her with suspicion. While not as conservative as many Amish communities, the nuances of life in Yoder take some getting used to and Sissy, with her bright red convertible and adorable Yorkshire terrier Duke doesn't exactly blend in despite her family connection to the town. Is someone trying to pin the murder on her? She barely knew the victim, having only been in town for less than three days.
Although uncomfortable under Earl Berry's scrutiny, Sissy believes everything seems to have fallen in place for her stay in Yoder. She isn't ready to reveal her secret as the columnist who writes the popular Aunt Bess advice column under the guise of being seventy year old Aunt Bess. She turns out not to be the only one with secrets. Who is Josie and why does seem seem to get a pass for her behavior, especially in this Amish village? Is her aunt Bertha glad Sissy is there to help or not? In a town where so many have the family name of Yoder, how does everyone keep it straight who is who and related to who? Does Sissy watch too many crime shows on TV? Is her imagination running wild or does she have legitimate reasons for her suspicions? Why the excitement over the upcoming birth of a child? Why has Evan Yoder taken such a dislike to Sissy? And, why does Duke the dog seem to dislike him when he's so friendly to Gavin and others? What is it that Sissy suddenly remembers about the day she found the body? Why doesn't she tell the police? Will Gavin ever get her back on a bicycle after the soreness and stiffness she experienced after the last ride? And, hey, who the heck killed Kevin and why?
Nope, not telling. You'll have to read the book to find out. While I enjoyed the way the author brought some of the stories together as the book progressed, i found it rather slow paced, I did like Sissy and found the mystery intriguing. I'd like to know more about the town and its nuances. This is the first of a new series, I understand, so some of the perceived slowness may have been simply to introduce characters and get us acquainted with Yoder, too, as well as those about Sissy. I'll be on the lookout for the next book in the series, especially with, hmm, that closing hint of romance.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to visit Yoder. Looking forward to getting to know Sissy, Duke, Gavin, and the rest soon. Wonder if I can snag a ride in Sissy's convertible?
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