Dead Man Running (A Tori O'Shea Mystery)

This is yet another addition to one of my favorite series of cozy mysteries. As with her previous novels, Ms. MacPherson has proven once again that she is a master story teller and is able to give her readers much reading pleasure. This work was just a bit different that some of her previous works though. I found that not to be a bad thing, but did have to adjust my mood just a bit. Torie is her busy self in this story and continues to have her fingers in just about ever in her small home town on the river. To be quite frank, her business and busybody ways reach almost a manic state in this one; between family, town projects, building a new house, running the village museum, dealing with children and pets, and of course her genealogy projects. Torie is asked to research the family background of the two men running for mayor. The first is her old enemy and neighbor, the current mayor, who hates Torie and hates her chickens. The second is her father-in-law, Sheriff Brooke, whose relationship with Torie is shaky, at best, at times. Colin has decided to hang his badge up and become major. While digging into the current mayor's past, Bill Castlereagh, she finds some disturbing facts...or are they facts? The more Mrs. O'Shea digs, the more the mystery deepens. Three areas that I found to be a bit different in this one are that there was a bit more violence than is the norm for MacPherson's books. This is not extreme violence, to be sure, but violence never-the-less. I also detected a slight change in Torie's behavior. She has always been rather aggressive, but now I see signs of her using her money and position in the town to sort of push her weight around. Thirdly, there is a bit of marital strife, to the extent we have not seen before. Again, nothing big, but it is still there, like it or not. Overall the book is well written, is a good story and a joy to read. Most of the old characters are still there and there are a few new ones thrown in for good measure. If you want a nice and relaxing read, then this is one you certainly should consider. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Don Blankenship The Ozarks

Rett MacPherson does it again. Her Torie O'Shea continues to be an entertaining character. Genealogy is a big draw and I find tidbits in the story that help in searches. She keeps the pages turning and I hate waiting for the next entry in the series.

I thought this book was pretty good, although there didn't seem to be a murder for quite sometime, more of a disappearance. I did like the interaction of the characters, even Torie's reaction to her husband and stepfather (will not spoil it by going into detail). Gave the character's more life. I am hoping Collette will settle in New Kasel, I love this character and liked the way she turned into somewhat of a side kick for Torie. I feel this is a series that should be started at the beginning and read in order. Several characters that are mentioned in this book could make it confusing to a first time readers. Don't worry though, you will enjoy reading all the books in this series. Highly recommended.

In New Kassel, Missouri, reporter Sam Hill asks genealogist Torie O'Shea to investigate the background including family trees of the two candidates running for mayor in a close intense election. Though she hates the incumbent Bill Castlereagh and his opponent is her stepfather, Sheriff Colin Brooke, Torie agrees. She soon finds some interesting oddities in Castlereagh's past that do not add up. Before she can dig deeper, the mayor and his wife vanish. At about the same time a Mafioso from Chicago takes a room at the Murdoch Inn while bikers fire shots at people taking a hayride. Refusing to allow the Mafia to force her off her investigation especially since she has found ties between the gang and the missing mayor and upset with her husband who seems to want her also off the case, Torie keeps probing the past and the present while her marriage appears heading towards incineration. As always Torie drives the men including the newcomers (and some women) in New Kassel crazy with her escapades. The story line is interesting as the heroine's marital troubles take a back seat to her need to learn what is happening in her small town though Torie is more comfortable digging into the past then the present. She remains an amusing fascinating protagonist able to carry the fun tale, but most readers will have figured out the solution to the mystery early on. Harriet Klausner