Conch Shell Murder

As this comfortable cozy opens, Private Detective Katie Hasworth arrives back home in Key West. Upon her arrival, she finds out from her friend and landlord, Diane, that Diane's mother is dead. Alexa Chitting was a difficult woman to say the least and Diane does not believe the Police are doing enough. The Police believe it was a robbery that went too far but Diane is convinced that her mother was murdered. She wants Katie to investigate.This is a new career and lifestyle for Katie as she works to put several painful events of the past behind her. This would be her first case, a case that her partner and mentor in the agency has rejected stating that the Police have a good handle on things. With misgivings and trepidation, Katie accepts the case and once past her shaky start, begins to make headway. Along the trail as she seeks a murderer, she will find romance, politics and environmental issues as well as a host of suspects that had a personal stake in the life and death of Alexa Chitting.At 245 pages in hardback, this is a fast read with a minimum of violence. "Cozy" in every sense of the word, Dorothy Francis spins a world where self interest led to murder in the island paradise of Key West. The author has a strong eye for detail and brings the characters as well as the rich cultural background of Kew West to life for her readers. Strong diverse characters, rich local color, and an engaging case make this novel well worth the read.

Conch Shell Murder keeps you guessing from start to finish. Marvelous characters jump right off the page. The author's great sense of place makes you feel you are there, pulling for Katie Hassworth to solve the murder of Alexa Chitting a colorful, controversial Key West figure. A suspenseful, fun read.

This is a fast-paced read with a real-lifemain character. Former teacher-turned-detectiveKatie Hasworth must overcome inexperience,adversity, and even a romance! And what'snot to love about the glamorous backdrop ofKey West, Florida? Unlike too many of thehaunted, super-human sleuths of today's whodunnits,Katie is someone we can all relate to -- and cheer for.

Though she has partnered with former Miami cop Mac McCartel for two years, former schoolteacher Katie Hasworth has been bonded and licensed as a private detective for a few months. Her confidence is limited so she is hesitant to take on a murder investigation especially with her mentor out of town even though her landlady and friend Diane Dade asks her to look into the death of her mother Alexa Chitting. Reluctantly Katie agrees to investigate the homicide ruled a robbery gone bad by the Key West police and concurred with by Mac.Katie begins her inquiries at the scene of the crime, Alexa's office, where the culprit killed the victim using a conch shell that ironically symbolizes birth. Katie finds an obscure bullet that the cops overlooked and believes more than just a robbery occurred as Alexa was changing her will. However, she wonders who were the losers if Alexa had signed her revised will and would one of them kill to keep his or her inheritance? Katie learns the answer as she becomes a target when she gets too close.This engaging private investigative tale hooks readers because the heroine lacks confidence yet courageously seeks to solve the homicide against staggering professional odds. The story line reads more like an amateur sleuth cozy as the violence is left off the pages and Katie is learning on the job. Katie is a delightful individual and the support cast enables the audience to understand her, especially her fears, much better even when they fail to cooperate. Fans will enjoy Dorothy Francis' straightforward Florida (no major whackos) mystery.Harriet Klausner

Somebody murdered Alexa Chitting with a conch shell, and the list of suspects is long. P.I. Katie Hassworth's job is to use that long list to find the killer. The reader goes along with Katie when she meets each one of the suspects, and we hear their alibis. I felt very much like a P.I. myself, as I tried to figure out "who did it" from the information given. Katie was a novice at solving murders, but she didn't back away when things get rough. I especially enjoyed the local color of Key West and the descriptions of the surrounding attractions, restaurants, wild-life, and plant-life. The writing itself was very smooth and tight. The author did not digress into other areas as many authors often do. I would recommend this book as a compelling, satisfying read.