A Lie for a Lie (Ministry is Murder Mystery)

Another great book by Ms. Richards. You can't miss when you pick up one of her novels. Each and every one is a winner and a worthwhile read.

So often a successful writer will soon have people saying "Not as good as her early work..." Sometimes I think that's really true, and sometimes it's just a question of coming to the book with high expectations. Emilie Richards consistently delivers a well-plotted, engaging cozy mystery. The detective-character is a Unitarian minister's wife, Aggie Sloan-Wilcox. They live in a small town somewhere in Ohio and have two school-age daughters. Aggie is likeable and easy to identify with, as she tries to be a good mother, not offend members of her husband's congregation and yet have a life of her own, and manage to earn some money "flipping" houses with her best friend-realtor-business partner. The plot for this book involves Grady Barber, a Simon Cowell-like character who is being paid to judge an charity-fund-raiser knock-off of American Idol -- they're calling it Emerald Springs Idyll, after the town. Grady offends people right and left, including poor Aggie, who has been given the task of liaisoning with his long-suffering assistant to keep Grady happy. Meanwhile, an ecology-focused circus has come to town to build a biosphere: the circus's founder is convinced that God has commanded her to do this and to preach greater concern for the planet. Although I wasn't stunned at the perpetrator of the murder, I hadn't figured it all out either -- it really could have been one of several people. If I had any criticisms, it has to do with something that makes me remind myself it's just a story: that criticism is that Aggie puts herself and her family in danger with some of the chances she takes. It doesn't detract from an enjoyable read, however.

In A LIE FOR A LIE, Emilie Richards again takes us into the life of Aggie Sloan- Wilcox, the loving wife of minister, Ed, and the mother of two girls, Deena and Teddy. As with any family there's always some trauma going on with the Wilcox family. This time it concerns the oldest daughter, Deena, who is humiliated because her father told a story about her in one of his sermons. I like the way Emilie Richards handles her characters. They are easy to visualize and often seem like people you might know. I really enjoy reading about Aggie's mother, Junie, who is colorful and fun and my very favorite is daughter Teddy, who reminds me of someone near and dear! Aggie's world is not exactly what you might think, because she's also an amateur detective who seems to have the knack for solving mysteries! The Wilcox family lives in the small town of Emerald Springs and the story begins with the town organizing a fund raiser to help the local hospital. A talent show is planned and Grady Barber, a well known singer, who was raised in Emerald Springs is chosen to be the judge of the talent show. Aggie's asked to assist Grady in making his life comfortable and the job turns out be a nightmare because Grady is difficult, selfish and demanding! During this same period, Sister Nora, a circus owner and preacher buys land in the small town, and brings her menagerie of animals and circus entertainers to the once peaceful town. Her controversial agenda is to build a biosphere to keep humanity and animals safe for the future. There's so much going on, that something has to give. Of course, a murder takes place and Aggie can't help getting involved! I liked the way the way the various people came to life and how Aggie describes their personalities. This is the fourth book in this mystery series and Richards does not disappoint.

Aggie is a minister's wife with a mission, well in addition to the obvious. She solves murders and how she gets herself into and out of those situations will make you laugh out loud. Emilie Richards is a genius in her story telling and her characters. A lie for a Lie is the 4th in her Ministry is Murder series but holds up really well as a stand alone. I would recommend this to any one

In Emerald Springs, Ohio, the minister's wife Aggie Sloan-Wilcox tries to live up to the image of her position, but has a talent of finding dead bodies and determining who killed them. The new group in town is Sister Nora's Inspirational Tent Show, a circus whose acts comes straight out of the bible. Aggie likes the woman who says she hears God and he is telling her to build a biosphere in Emerald Springs so when pollution makes survival impossible, some remnants of humanity will be saved. Aggie is also working on a committee for the Emerald Springs Idyll talent show, a fundraiser to build a children's hospital. Judging the acts will be Grady Berber, a local who made it in Hollywood. Aggie is an assistant to Grady's assistant and she learns he is a pampered mean spirited individual who angrily takes out his displeasures on others. When Aggie enters his room, she finds Grady dead; his neck slashed by a knife like one used at Nora's circus. On the nearby wall the letters NOR is written; the police believe Nora, who is Grady's ex-wife, killed him. Aggie believes otherwise, but is unaware how much danger she places herself and her daughter in from an alert murderer. This is a jewel of a book; a creative cozy that will fascinate readers as it does Aggie first by Grady's temper tantrums and then his death. There are plenty of people who firmly believed the world would be a better place if Grady was in hell rather than making everyone else's life one. The lead police investigator and Aggie's husband would prefer she stay out of the inquiry, but don't bother to tell her so as they know better. Fans of small Midwestern town mysteries will enjoy A LIE FOR A LIE that is as much a look at life in Emerald Springs as it is a whodunit. Harriet Klausner