Dirty Deeds

I had enjoyed the first in this series, "Scene of the Grime", so naturally I had to read this entry. I was not disappointed. The characters were well developed, the plot was good and moved along at a good pace. I did figure out who the culprit was well before Sky did, but it really didn't matter. There were enough red herrings mixed with the true clues to keep me wondering if I was right. The only down point in the book, one that maybe is more a personal issue, is that Sky continually talks about cleaning and how to clean and about how perfectly clean she is. This little quirk of hers got to be a bit old, and I felt like maybe the author was sort of telling me that I should be cleaning my house instead of reading her book. But I moved on from that and enjoyed the book. If you enjoy a simple cozy mystery with lots of atmosphere and good characters, then make sure you stop by Pigeon Cove and visit Sky and the gang. I know that I cannot wait for my next visit.

The second in the Grime Solver's Mystery series, Dirty Deeds is a delightful, satisfying cozy mystery. Sparkling with humor and hometown charm, if you're looking for something light but yet adventurous, this one may be for you! Recently widowed, Sky Taylor left the big city to make Pigeon Cove, a hamlet on the northern Massachusetts coast, her permanent home. Sky stays with her friend Chloe rent-free in return for doing the house cleaning. This works out splendidly for Sky as she owns a cleaning service as well as writes a column for the newspaper. Sky is re-adapting to single life after losing her husband to a long illness, and things are looking up. She feels all she needs now is a contract to clean city hall. What she gets is a messy murder investigation. At the Art Association's annual holiday bash, Sky and Chloe are waiting for people to leave when real estate developer and wannabe actor Kyle Fipps is found in the middle of the Getaway Groves Condominium model house display. Lying in a hammock, Sky and Chloe believe Kyle to be sleeping, but soon learn that he is dead after they fail to wake him up. Later, when she asks, the police chief lets Sky know it was no accident. Kyle had ingested the poisonous seed of a pong pong, similar to digitalis, and that the chief was now investigating a murder. Not long after, Sky's best friend Jessie disappears and Councilman Tommy Thompson is caught up in a scandal with a stripper. Sky and her new boyfriend, reporter Mike Evans, try to unravel things and see how the events connect. They seem to be leading straight back to city hall, and Sky soon finds herself in danger. Full of believable characters and a solid plot, this fun mystery is full of twists and turns and full of delightful charm. I have not read the first in the series, Scene of the Grime, but I will be going back to do so. Also including cleaning tips, this mystery shines bright and I look forward to the next installment of the Grime Solver's.

After her beloved husband died following a long suffering illness, Sky Taylor moved to Pigeon Cove, the next town past Gloucester. She stays with her friend Chloe rent free in return for doing the house cleaning, which is no hardship as Sky owns a cleaning service as well as writing a newspaper column. Sky and Chloe are waiting for people to leave at the Art Association Festival when realtor Kyle Fipps is found asleep in his hammock in the middle of the Getaway Groves Condominium model house display. They try to wake him up, but immediately realize he is dead. Police Chief Vega tells Sky that the toxicology report indicates murder as the victim ingested the poisonous seed of a pong pong, which is similar to digitalis. This homicide is not the only incident happening in the Cove. Councilman Tommy Thompson, who is involved in the Getaway Groves Condominium project, is embroiled in a scandal as he was seen with Sandy the stripper at a strip joint. As Sky and her lover reporter Mike Evans seek a link between the condo project, Kylie's homicide, and the disappearance of her best friend Jessie Barton, someone tries to kill her. This charming lighthearted cozy contains many suspects with plausible motives to wanting the Kyle dead. Sky is a delightful protagonist who can turn obstinate once she makes up her mind as to a course of action, which in DIRTY DEEDS can prove lethal to her. This regional mystery provides readers with a taste of a coastal small New England town, who provide much of the support cast (along with some Gloucester residents). Suzanne price uses Sandy to add humor to the whodunit that sub-genre fans will appreciate. Harriet Klausner