Poppy Done to Death(Aurora Teagarden #8), by Charlaine Harris

 

I've had this one sitting around the house for awhile and decided to give it another read before donating it to the library for their used book sale. Let's just say I'm not very good at remembering whodunit. It's one of those books I didn't love but didn't hate. The characters would probably be considered stereotypes today (the book is nearly two decades old) and, boy, but one had to wonder if anyone in town was actually faithful to their marriage vows. Oh, not Aurora (Roe), she's true blue and loyal to her writer boyfriend but overall doesn't seem to judge people. we actually get a look at her family this go-round when her brother Phillip (there's a story there) shows up uninvited after basically running away from home due to infidelity there. Me thinks he chose the wrong town but Roe seems determined to do her best for him. 

As for the murder, it leads Roe to a flood of secrets in her small, Southern town. She also learns more about Poppy than she perhaps ever wanted to know, too. Poor Poppy, who was, let's see if I can get this right, Roe's step-sister-in-law (there's another story there) about to receive the honor of being inducted into the Uppity Women Book Club. She's a no-show at the induction, however, which embarrasses Roe, who does try hard to do the right thing. Needless to say, as soon as possible Roe goes looking for her, determined to give her a piece of her mind. That's when the story really starts for, as the title says, she finds Poppy dead in her own home. Equally disturbing, Poppy's husband John David is nowhere to be found. Poppy tracks him down and is soon investigating. As noted, she turns up lots of information and clues, some of which she'd just as rather have not seen or know. Needless to say, in this bed-hopping community, the suspects are frequently linked or related, adding to the difficulty. 

Okay, not detailing the plot any further. It's not my favorite series by Harris but was entertaining once you get past the infidelities of so many. Glad I picked it up for some idle reading. The ending was well worth the read.