Death and the Hubcap

Death and the Hubcap is Linda Berry's second Trudy Roundtree/Ogeechee mystery. Her first, Death and the Easter Bunny, was a memorable debut into policewoman Trudy Roundtree's small-town life. It looks like Berry's second literary excursion to Ogeechee is just as unforgettable. When reading Death and the Hubcap, my sudden snickers and bursts of laughter had those in the room curious, so I read parts of the mystery aloud and had others laughing with me. That's why I'm so sure it's a read everyone will enjoy.Police Chief Hen Huckabee sends his niece and newest officer on another eccentric Ogeechee police call. Something Trudy is becoming an expert at. This time it's the town oddball, Tanner. Tanner's idea of driving is his two feet pacing and a hubcap for a steering wheel. He claims to have backed over a body. Knowing him and the impossibility of it, Trudy figures to play it out like she has in the past, that is until she finds a body with a tire mark on it. The humor used in the scenes with Tanner and Trudy is priceless. The way the new characters and suspects are introduced is well done, no confusion here. Towards the end, Berry has Trudy going over the suspects. Each paragraph reminds the reader of a suspect and possible motive. Being a series mystery, town business and family life forges ahead for Trudy and the Ogeechee citizens. It's a pleasant blend, and doesn't take away from the mystery at all.Death and the Hubcap is rare mystery treat. It's good, clean fun with all the small town trappings and quirky characters that make a mystery of this caliber complete. One of the things that impressed me was the lack of spoilers when referring to the first mystery. Although Trudy goes over her past and makes a brief mention of her last case, none can be considered spoilers because they give nothing away. Trudy's first person perspective is used to tell the story in a casual, amusing way, and it works. These characters are unique; don't expect razor sharp wits that slice and dice with wickedness, or any small town mockery or fellow character assignations; it's not here. Shortcomings of the town and some characters are pointed out in a light, humorous way that makes this series all the more endearing to me. Do expect a well-paced whodunit to keep you guessing, and a laugh out loud story line to keep you in stitches.

Trudy Roundtree is back in the second novel from Linda Berry, featuring the 30-something policewoman who's emigrated from urban Atlanta to the tiny town of Ogeechee, her birthplace. Despite her lack of law enforcement training, Trudy's landed a job for her cousin, chief of police Henry Huckabee. She's coming along quite well in her new career when she runs smack-dab into the challenge of a murder.Hubcaps play an important role as the plot develops, from the zany Tanner Whitcomb's belief that his make-believe car, symbolized by the hubcap he rotates in his hands, is the murder weapon, to a sprinkling of clues.Art, artists, money, greed, and the suspicion of several romances move readers down an enjoyable path to the crime's solution. Along the way, we meet and relish the very human characters that people the plot, whether good guys or bad, eccentrics or conformists. As Trudy learns even more about life and herself than about crime, we applaud her growth. A relaxing, entertaining window on small-town South as well as a realistic mystery.

After her husband died and a subsequent love affair turned sour, Trudy left Atlanta to return to her home of Ogeechee where she joins the police force. She gets the job because the Chief of Police Hen Hickabee is Trudy's relative. Trudy takes to the job and soon solves a high profile murder case (see DEATH AND THE EASTER BUNNY).Her latest case is to investigate the town oddball when he reports that he drove over a corpse. Tanner does not own a car so Trudy thinks she is wasting her time until she finds a body with tracks running all over the corpse. Trudy recognizes the deceased as the owner of an Atlanta art gallery whose wife has local ties. There are plenty of suspects here in Ogeechee and in Atlanta that Trudy has to investigate as she tries to solve a homicide.This is a fun to read, down home regional mystery due to Trudy's ability to give back as much as she receives in the good old boy network. The secondary cast gives DEATH AND THE HUBCAP a unique sense of distinction that provides insight into life in a small Georgia town distant from Atlanta. The relationship between Trudy and her boss is hilarious which adds to the overall amusing reading experience.Harriet Klausner