Audiobook 10h 36m Tantor Audio
A group of psychics have gathered together to support a local charity bake sale in "Irish Soda Murder", by Carlene O'Conner. They're a rather catty, competitive bunch and the event hasn't even started yet when one of them turns up dead. After meeting them, it's no surprise they're all on the suspect list, even the victim's spouse. Unfortunately, Tara's Uncle Johnny is also on the list as the last thing the victim ate before dying was some of Johnny's soda bread. While everyone is pointing fingers and suggesting who they think did it, Tara, Johnny, and Tara's boyfriend and privy to the police investigations thanks to video Johnny has installed around the site. We also get to meet Aunt Rose, albeit in an odd fashion. Johnny has rigged up a rolling cart to allow the ailing Rose to be part of the festivities via a sort of video face time and, trust me, she isn't too happy when Johnny shuts off her feed to spy, er, listen in on the questioning of suspects.I won't detail the plot any further but it's both fun and full of gossip, gloating, accusations, jealousy, and, well, more. Let's just say, this bunch of psychics is full of themselves and eager to cut their competitors down a notch or two. How Tara manages to cut through all that and find tind the real killer is both fun and a tad confusing, maybe because I wasn't taking notes. Due to this being an audio version, I was driving. Still and all, a fun read although not my favorite of the three.
"An Irish Recipe for Murder" by Peggy Ehrhart manages to somehow combine lots of food talk, knitting, fabric art history, and, yes, murder. This series is one of those that helped make me a fan of cozy mysteries, so it was like ol' home week for me, though envied Pamela and Bettina being able to taste the goodies Wilfred, Bettina's husband, seems to whip up regularly. Since the soda bread contest was Bettina's idea, she's feeling a bit of guilt but doesn't let that slow her down from seeking the truth. Long time readers will enjoy getting together once again with the knitting club members and the mentions of Richard Larson, a neighbor who is frequently mentioned as a potential romantic interest for Pamela. Maybe one of these days. Who would have wanted to kill the new town representative? As it turns out, there are several suspects. Bettina and Pamela slowly make their way toward the culprit. all the while taking time for Wilfred's meals and Pamela to edit the fabric art related articles for the job for a magazine devoted to that art. This former history major enjoyed learning the history behind several of them, I might note. In any case, I feel like I know these characters and look forward to my visits with them, Irish sour bread or not. That said, I was kicking myself for not figuring it out sooner.
Finally, the one that drew me to this book to begin with, "Mrs. Claus and the Sinister Soda Bread". The fun characters are rather out of my normal territory being elves and Santa's wife, April. Who knew Mrs. Claus was not only young but an amateur sleuth? Anyway, fun characters, whimsical dialogue, and the wonder of elves being exposed to the "real world" outside Santa Land made for a fun read. Somehow, I wasn't able to dredge up my sympathy for the victim while fretting Juniper might opt to leave "the North", as April has instructed them to call their home, for Oregon. Not to worry. Everyone in the "real world" seems to find them intriguing and think they'd been specially brought in to act as leprechans for the St. Patrick's Day celebration underway, especially April's long time nemesis who is out to get April's inn one way or the other. In addition, April has to deal with a missing handyman, flooded inn, strange sounds from the attic, exotic pet theft, and, oh, yeah, a dead body. In the meantime, the absolute glee and excitement the elves experience dealing with things and events we mere mortals take for granted, like goodies at the gas station and trees, is a delight. Well, as long as they don't get arrested and found out. Do elves even have passports? Bottom line, lots of humor, goofy elf antics (and outfits), and examples of taking care of those who mean the most to you. My thanks to #TantorAudio for allowing me this early virtual visit back to April's original home in Oregon while seeing it through elf eyes as I enjoyed the St. Paddy's Day antics. Fun!
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