The Fallingbrook Arts Festival sounds like a delightful event. The categories vary, with an emphasis on performance, but competitors travel from business to business initially to showcase their act before the actual competition. The children's mime of Cinderella was my favorite, must admit. One problem this year, however. There's this seriously obnoxious bagpiper interrupting other acts. It isn't that he isn't talented. He's quite good. In fact, he wins his performance category after unnerving another favorite. Then, to make matters worse, he disrupts the entire town and people's sleep going about in the night playing at odd hours. Why is he so persistently obnoxious? If we knew, we'd probably know why poor Emily finds his body the next day. Well, actually it's her cat Dep who leads her to the body but since Dep can't give a statement, it's all on Emily's shoulders. Good thing her boyfriend and about-to-be-husband is in the detective in charge. But, oops, there's that out-of-town investigator sent to assist.
As I read and back stories were revealed, I realized I've obviously read bit of this series. I was glad to tune back in before Emily and Brent's upcoming wedding as I recalled their long friendship and his partnership with her late husband. But, well, murder has a way of throwing a few snags into plans. Given the general obnoxiousness of the victim, suspects aren't scarce and there are lots of twists and turns and red herrings that take us....nowhere? Well, somewhere. We're just not quite sure where the true clues are leading us. Heck, we don't even know why the man was killed. Is being obnoxious really enough of a reason to kill someone? And, whoa, what about the very visible clues found at the scene? They point in several different directions so, of course, Brent and Vic, the out-of-town investigator, have to follow them all to the end. It doesn't leave much time for wedding planning although, quite frankly, Emily is right in there asking her own questions and sharing what she finds out with Brent. Nice to see the amateur sleuth's romantic partner being supportive, not always telling them to stay out of the investigation, tempting as it surely is when you love someone and don't want to see them in danger.
That said, while I enjoyed the book, I didn't quite love it although the big reveal and final scene made it close. Some of the clues shared, for instance, seemed just a bit forced/awkward. Maybe because they came too fast and seemingly out of the blue. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the book and it definitely kept me guessing although it's all tied together neatly at the end with an amazing scene that leaves Emily still a bit bewildered on who actually did it until she has a chance to talk through the events with others. Emily is also reminded that she's been told and retold to call Brent/police when she senses something is happening because they're rather waste some time than bag another body. Will she ever learn that lesson?
Bottom line, a fun read that will keep you guessing. You'll surely like the characters and probably wish you could stop off at Emily's Deputy Donut Cafe to satisfy the sweet tooth craving reading will create with all the talk of donuts. Never fear, though, as recipes are included at the end. Ever had a Lemon Curd Long John? You can via that recipe and there are more. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me over for the wedding. I loved that scene and how Emily made it her own.
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