Lye in Wait

Sophie Mae Reynolds is quite surprised to find the neighborhood handyman, Walter Hanover, dead in her workroom. He died from drinking lye. She has plenty of it on hand for making soap. But the police call it suicide. Sophie can't understand why a man who won the lottery and has a loving fiancée kill himself. So, she investigates. Her best friend Meghan tries to stop her to no avail. Detective Ambrose, who sends the butterflies in her stomach a flutter but can also cause her annoyance, can't stop her either. Her sleuthing leads her to peppermint and a trail of arson, bigamy, and a family secret that's quite shocking and reveals a personal connection to Walter. Can it connect him to his killer? Can Sophie uncover the killer without putting herself and those she loves at risk? Sophie is a breath of fresh air as a lovable amateur sleuth. She is so much fun as she works her way through her investigation. I look forward to reading many more adventures with Sophie. Detective Ambrose and Meghan help balance Sophie and try to keep her out of trouble. That isn't an easy job. The new craft series features recipes as well. I highly recommend this book.

I liked it. Good characters, good plot. Pacing was just right. And I'm going to try one of the 'recipes' in the back. I'll definitely buy another in the series.

I am very pleased to have found a new mystery series. "Lye in Wait" was a page turner, & I stayed up way too late reading it. The prose really flows, & there are no lulls in the action. The first person narration was great, & I ended up loving Sophie Mae more than the mystery.

Not only do we get a good mystery story, but also recipes for making soap, lip balm and bath crystals--with great tips throughout the book--along with instructions on how to run your own business. I still can picture the characters clearly and there were portions where I laughed out loud. Very cleverly written...loved it!

McRae definitely knows how to craft a story. This is a great read that keeps your interest from the first page. Sophie Mae Reynolds just can't stop wondering why poor Walter Hanover would commit suicide. She forges ahead for answers, even though she often gets the feeling she should mind her own business. 'Lye in Wait' is full of surprises: I could not put this book down and I can't wait for the sequel. Go Sophie Mae!