Fast paced with suspect upon suspect. Lots of suspects. Some four hundred. All in a closed room, so to speak. Not quite a locked room, but security was on every door and invitations were required to be allowed inside. Inside for what, you ask? Apparently the wedding of the year, at least as far as Cotton Spring Falls is concerned.
Sara and Sean are moments away from walking down the aisle when the woman who baked their wedding cake appears at the door where Sara and her bridesmaids are preparing. And, yikes, it isn't for a cake emergency. Cake maker Darlene has a knife in her back and dies after uttering just one word, "icing". Needless to say, that's the end of the wedding and the beginning of investigating.
This was a new series to me and although I quickly grasped the basics, I did feel I would have benefited from reading previous books. Sara's relationship with the detective she herself calls to the scene, Ryan, for instance. I didn't fully warm up to Sara, however, feeling more annoyed with her than empathy. For a former police officer, she flaunts rules she'd have had a fit about had they happened to her during a case. She and Sean worked together prior to falling in love and retiring, not to mention Sean, whoa, inheriting a billion dollars. Both jump at the chance to sleuth.
So, who killed Darlene? What does a feather, man with a limp, and black, laced shoes have to do with anything? What pretty obvious clue do the police seem to ignore? Why did Trinity and Darlene argue just prior to Darlene's death? Greed? Ambition? How did someone get past security? What does the pushy reporter know? Does she have explosive news? Who....oh, enough teasers. Read the book.
I should note that the viewpoint jumps back and forth a few times between Sara and Sean, too, allowing us to be privy to their individual findings and feelings. Actually, we even get to spend some time seeing through the eyes of Jimmy, a friend and still with the police. He seems to be a good guy, however, with doggie treats perpetually available in a pocket for Magnum, Sara's Beagle.
Overall, I enjoyed the mystery despite feeling a bit lost about relationships at times. Thanks #NetGalley and #Hibbert&StilesPublishingInc for introducing me to Sara and Sean and life in Cotton Spring Falls. I'll definitely be looking for their next adventure and, time permitting, catching up on that background.
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