Sins of the Mother: A Kate Carpenter Mystery

Picking up this book and beginning my read was like visiting with old friends. I smiled as Cam and Katie open the door to see Cam's cousin Carrie standing there. I knew Carrie brought with her the beginning of another great mystery, and I was not disappointed. Carrie has left her abusive husband Hank and the story begins as Cam and Katie become deeply involved when Carrie is accused of attempted murder at Hanks house. What happened in his house that day? Surely Carrie did not pull the trigger on that gun, who was she trying to protect? Katie knows who the true shooter is, but proving it will be a delicate situation; and one that again puts Katie's life in danger, to the frustration of Cam and the beloved character of Detective Lincoln. It was a joy to see the antics of Katie's youthful helper Graham again, his character brings a delightful air of humor to the read and brings some well timed smiles along the way; and with the happenings at the Plex; I truly was home. In book three of this outstanding series we get to know Katie and Cam in a more personal way. Ms. Nicholson opens up their lives as they move closer to making a lifetime commitment to each other. She gives us more details about Katie, her inward feelings, her outlook on life and love, and her fears. We are included in a blessed announcement and share with them the tragic loss of the same. Excellent move on the author's part to draw you deeper into the personalities of the characters and their lives, keeping the characters fresh in your minds eye and inscribed on your heart; yet not letting go of the mystery element that we have come to expect in this series. All in all this third book in "The Kate Carpenter Series," has it all. Mystery and adventure, suspense and thrills and personal character development, making for one great read. I look forward to the next and the next and the next. Well, you get the picture. Highly recommended! Shirley Johnson

I have had the immense pleasure of reading an advanced copy of the third in the Kate Carpenter mystery series, Sins of the Mother. Granted, I wondered how many more dead bodies this poor woman must deal with before friends and family out and out abandon her, as well as whether the believability of the stories can stay intact. After all, I live in Calgary where the books are set, and despite our size and growth, don't think we have this many murders to deal with normally!! I found Sins of the Mother to be a definate twist from the first two in the series, really fleshing out already favorite characters, and throwing them in a decidedly real situation many people face day to day. A long-lost cousin of Cam's arrives on their doorstep at the end of Evening the Score, setting the stage, if you will, for Sins of the Mother. Scared, broke and leaving an abusive relationship, Cam's cousin finds support from the ever stalwart Cam and introduces Kate to the idiosyncrasies of "domestic bliss". Thinking all is returning to some semblance of normalcy, Kate finds that life has nothing but chaos in store for her, once again thrusting her in the middle of a situation she should know better by now to stay out of. But our heroine is as stubborn and aggravatingly snoopy as ever, thinking she, and only she, knows the way to solve everyone's problems, all the while successfully avoiding dealing with her own.Sins of the Mother ends on a decidedly somber note, but at the same time a totally believable and realistic one, given the events that have happened. I found myself wanting to reach into the pages and hug Kate and Cam and help them work through things, but I guess I'll have to eagerly await the fourth in the series to find out what has happened to two charactors that I now count as close friends.