Murder of a Real Bad Boy: A Scumble River Mystery

In the 8th book in the Scumble River mystery series, Skye Denison, has inherited a large home in desperate need of a makeover. She hires Beau Hamilton, a good looking "bad boy" type based on good looks, excellent recommendations, and evidence of his handiwork around town. Right from the beginning, however, Skye questions her choice of contractor when the work progresses slowly and with large errors. After giving Beau adequate time to fix his lax work ethic and sloppy carpentry, Skye finally decides to fire him and find a new contractor to remodel her home. Coming home late one evening, she hears what she believes is moaning and investigates. Thinking it could be her missing cat, Bingo, Skye roams around in the woods only to discover the badly injured and bleeding Beau in a boat. After diving into the chilly water and struggling to pull the boat to safety, Skye arrives back at the shoreline to discover her relatives and the authorities have arrived on the scene. Her old nemesis, Sheriff Peterson is there to accuse her of murdering Beau over shoddy workmanship, and her new love interest, Chief Wally Boyd, steps in to defend her. Working to clear her name and find a killer determined to make mischief in her new home, Skye must also decide whether to give old flame, Simon, a second chance, or to move ahead in a new relationship with Wally. This is a fun, interesting series! I adored the last two installments, and cannot wait for the next book! The only issue that I have with the premise is the fact that the ending of the relationship between Skye and Simon seems to be a bit juvenile (which is the case in many relationships). While reading the book, I just wanted to scream at them to discuss the "other woman" episode, and for them both to stop being so stubborn. I personally don't believe that trust means never having to explain yourself. If Simon had nothing to hide, then why was he so reluctant to talk about it? In any case, this added to the suspense and the drama of the book, and I am hoping to see a resolution in the next installment. However, I vote for Skye to pick Wally...Simon seems too straight-laced and boring for the fun-loving Skye. I am really looking forward to seeing which man Skye will choose... The first book in the series is called "Murder of a Small-Town Honey". Enjoy!

Denise Swanson does it again. She's created a character that is realistic and fun. This is a series that I don't want to end, I can't wait for the next book.

Set just three months after the previous Scumble River mystery "Murder of a Smart Cookie", this latest entry in Denise Swanson's fun mystery series finds school psychologist Skye Denison settling into the old house which she inherited from Alma Griggs. Of course, the house needs a LOT of work, so Skye has hired a remodelling contractor named Beau Hamilton to make the necessary repairs. Skye isn't at all happy with Beau's progress on the house remodelling, though, and then she returns to her home on a Friday evening only to discover a mortally wounded Beau Hamilton unconscious in a boat tied to her dock. When Beau is pronounced dead, Skye quickly finds herself as Sheriff Peterson's number one suspect in his murder. In addition to trying to clear herself of Beau's murder, as always Skye has a very busy and complicated personal life which adds to the enjoyable story line. In the previous book, Skye and her boyfriend Simon Reid had called it quits, and now Skye is dating Scumble River police chief Wally Boyd. Only Skye and Simon's mothers are both scheming to bring Skye and Simon back together again. Also, Skye's beloved cat Bingo has gone missing, and Skye contines to search for him in the woods surrounding her house. And Skye's brother Vince has a secret that he won't even share with Skye. These mysteries are further compounded by mysterious break-ins to Skye's house, where she can tell that someone has been in the house but nothing appears to be stolen. All these story lines are nicely tied together in the conclusion to this well-crafted mystery.. As with all the other books in this series, "Murder of a Real Bad Boy" is a thoroughly enjoyable read. This story really builds on the previous stories in the series, and if you haven't read those, I would recommend reading them first. You will thoroughly enjoy your visit to the town of Scumble River.

Skye Denison, full-time school psychologist and part-time sleuth, is in the middle of renovating the old house she inherited in her last adventure, Death of a Smart Cookie, when her contractor turns up dead. He was a hot, hot, hunk, but an awful contractor, and although Skye didn't want him dead, she's happy he's not working for her anymore. Still, even bad boys deserve justice, so when the county sheriff arrests the wrong suspect, Skye is determine to find the real killer. Meanwhile, Skye has several other mysteries to solve: Who is her brother's latest girlfriend and why is he keeping her under wraps? What did her ex-boyfriend really do on his summer vacation? And is her new house haunted? As with the other books in the series, the fun is in the relationships. Skye is like a lot of women juggling a job, parents, friends, and still trying to find Mr. Right. The characters and settings seem real, and the gentle humor never goes over the top. The plotting is fast paced, and the mystery a good puzzle. Take a trip down state to Scumble River, and enjoy!