Mad as the Dickens

There was so much wandering around with the 'vacationing' chief of police, that the mystery seemed to take third place in the plot. The author created some believable characters, but the murdered man wasn't one of them. The familial southern charm was awkward instead of fun. In my view, the disruptions around the play were a better mystery than the murder.

This story is not the only thing that's great about the book! It was written just perfectly! No cuss words, wasn't TOO descriptive (I hate that in a book, it just takes me away from the story too much!), and it was funny and serious in just the right places! I don't like it when people write things like "that old, delapidated red barn in the lush backyard, where the fluffy, white chickens sleep"; I like it just said and done with- "the barn, in the yard, with the chickens"! That's it, that's all ya gotta say! If you get too descriptive, it takes you away from the story line, and you forget all about what the book's about! And, I love this book because it's not so descriptive, you could go to sleep for 10 minutes, wake up, and not know what in the world the book's about! Ugh, some people! Thankfully, though, she's not one of those people! LOL! Great book!!!

Wish there could be some more stars allowed. 5 is not enough.Can not wait for her next book. Stephen King,watch out.

Laura and Richard Fleming have returned to Laura's hometown of Byerly, NC to help with Cousin Vasti's production of A Christmas Carol. It will be Richard's first chance to direct. Laura is five months pregnant and just along for the ride, or so she thinks. During one rehearsal, the miscast actor playing Scrooge is murdered. There is more to the jolly man than meets the eye. Junior, the police chief is on an involuntary vacation, and her deputy Mark Pope, seems unable to cope, so Laura is drafted by her relatives to solve the murder.This is a very good mystery. Laura's family is full of characters and the neighbors have more secrets than meets the eye. All in all, a very enjoyable cast and plot.

Laura and Richard Fleming should be getting ready for the Christmas holiday in their Boston home especially with Laura five months pregnant. However, her cousin Vasti from Byerly, North Carolina pleads with the Flemings to come visit her and neither one can say no. Vasti wants Richard, a Shakespearean professor at Boston College to direct the production of A Christmas Carol. Richard is eager to take up the challenge. During a rehearsal, Seth, the actor portraying Scrooge is found bludgeoned to death. Laura teams up with Junior, the town's chief of police, who is on enforced vacation, to find the killer before he can do any more harm. MAD AS THE DICKENS is a down home regional mystery starring a cast of eccentric characters that add atmosphere to the story line. The trials and tribulations of a five month pregnant woman will bring smiles to the faces of those reader who were pregnant as well as their spouses. Toni L.P. Kelner has written another absorbing installment in her long running and enjoyable mystery series.Harriet Klausner