Murder of a Sweet Old Lady (Scumble River Mysteries, Book 2)

i read a lot, mostly cozys (light mysteries) i cut my teeth on nancy drew and the bolton sisters even the hardy boys i graduated to the cat who books and miss marple. even morse and dalgleash were guests on my night stand. i read an average of one book every day or two. after many years i can usually tell who done it early on/ figure the plot/ hope for a surprise to keep from getting bored. i like mary higgins clarke and enjoy many others as well. however swansons book about a small town (much like my own) with all the family "stuff" much like my own, hit a nerve.for the first time since i read"penny nichols and the plack imp" at the age of ten i was spellbound within a story. she is smart, plump, works for a living, loves her brother and parents,SHE IS REAL, and i can't wait to read more of this heroine. for several hours i and my cat were lost within your pages of adventure and i thank you for that. the story was light, i didn't have to consult my dictionary. i was pleasantly involved without having to waste time in tracking twining story lines. this book is the type to tuck in your purse and carry around that is if you can leave it long enough to carry it. ill now order the next offering from this author

Skye Denison was a school psychologist. This meant many parents got angry at Skye whenever their kids did something wrong at school or their child showed signs of being abused from home. Being quizzical was necessary in Skye's job, so when she found her grandmother dead and a few curious items wrong, she made sure an autopsy was done. The rest of the family balked at the idea until foul play was found. The whole family seemed to be selfish, greedy, and full of secrets. Instead of wanting to find the killer, they all wanted Skye to stop poking her nose where it did not belong so they could hurry up and divide all the land and belongings! The more family secrets Skye uncovered, she more she was amazed! Grandmother Leofanti had kept a lot of the family history silent. She had only recently began telling Skye some of it. There were a few problems going on at the school as well. So when some very cruel pranks are pulled on Skye, no one was sure if it was the work of the killer or a disgruntled parent. ***** This story is AWESOME! Many suspects, many clues, and many problems. This one will test the wits of the best mystery readers, no doubt! It is well written and the plot begins rolling almost immediately. The author captured my attention (as the reader) in the opening sentence. That always impresses me. Personally, I hate to go several chapters and STILL wonder what the heck the book is about or if it will ever get better! This one starts off with a bang and continues non-stop. Even better, the story is complete, but Skye's life is left open and ready for the next mystery. (In fact, I understand "Murder Of A Sleeping Beauty" will be out around April 2002. ) This looks to be a very promising series of mystery books. Do not start this one until you can settle down comfortably with no interruptions for at least a few hours. Have a drink nearby, because once you begin, you will not want to stop reading. Highly recommended! *****

Skye Dennison is still in Scumble Creek trying to get her life back together. Her job as school psychologist is challenging, but just when she makes some progress, a parent, school board member, or administrator messes it up. Her love life is confusing. The one bright spot is her afternoons with her grandmother, who is helping her write the family history. Then, one afternoon, she finds her grandmother dead and the housekeeper missing. Foul play is suspected. Her relatives are the suspects. Then, her tires are slashed, her windows are broken, she is threatened by both her own relatives and the parents of the students she sees. Who really killed Grandmother Leofanti and why?This is an engrossing mystery. Once I picked it up, I read it until I reached the last page. The characters are so real you feel that you know them. Although there are definite clues, the mystery wasn't easy to figure out. I can't wait for the sequel.

created an enjoyable mystery story with interesting characters, that is. Skye Dennison's feuding family, including her obnoxious cousins make this a great read. Like the first book in the series, Murder of a Small Town Honey, there are also some references to Skye's work as a school psychologist to round out the plot.If you like mysteries with amateur detectives with usnusal jobs and a nice sprinkling of humor, both of these books are good picks.

Skye Denison, who like so many young people fled her small hometown, is back after a bit of bad luck. Working as a school psychologist, she is trying to live down her past and adjust to small town life again. In the second book in the series, Murder of a Sweet Old Lady, Denise Swanson has taken us back to the delightful town of Scumble River, filled with eccentric characters. Skye has developed the habit of going by her grandmother's house each day after work to hear stories of the family history. When Skye finds her grandmother dead in her bed, the family is outraged when Skye suggests it might be murder but since the housekeeper is missing, the family convinces themselves that she is the killer. So they are even more outraged when Skye starts looking at family members. And when Skye finds herself the victim of several acts of vandalism, she isn`t sure who is behind them, a family member or the angry parent of one of the children she are counseling. As Skye digs down to the disintegrating roots of her family tree, she is left wondering if destroying the family is worth the price of unmasking a killer. And while she is trying to find her grandmother's killer, she is also having to deal with some very sticky issues at work when her boss asks her to lie on a report, the same issue that got her fired from her last job. Swanson does an excellent job of dealing with some very sensitive issues, while at the same time creating a delightful, fast-paced cozy.