This Little Piggy Went to Murder

I enjoyed this novel because it is set in Duluth, Minnesota along the North Shore. I relished envisioning the disguised localities in the book such as Canal Park, Glensheen Mansion, Grandma's Restaurant, Blackwoods Grill, Split Rock Lighthouse, Fitger's Restaurant, Northern Lights Roadhouse, etc. (at least those are the locations I envisioned as I read, whether intended or not.) Also I happened to read this novel at the time of year in which the story takes place (late August/early September, on the verge of the North Shore leaf season), so it further helped me get into the atmosphere. The only downside is that characterizations seem to be a little light. Nearly all the women in the story have sex on their minds and the men are various shades of jerk. I didn't find anyone that I cared about very much. Certain scenes and dialogue didn't ring true. You can be certain that if there were four murders within the space of a week in the REAL Duluth, it would be buzzing with media, state BCA, etc. (as it was during the actual Congdon murders at Glensheen in the 1970's), not just an older retired detective benignly poking around. Also, no police are going to stand for a long monologue by the murderer during a standoff with hostages. And descriptions of behavior, such as Sidney's grotesque manners, are overemphasized to the point of becoming annoying. Things like this seemed to give the story a flippant, unrealistic edge. However, if you willingly suspend disbelief and just overlook such things, this is an enjoyable read. For another enjoyable mystery cosy set on the North Shore, I recommend UNRAVELED SLEEVE by Monica Ferris.

Jack Grendel is running for U. S. Senate in Minnesota. His father, Herman Grendel, is a Duluth shipping magnate. First Lars Olson a consultant for Grendel Shipping is murdered. Then Herman is murdered right after he pulled his financial support from Jack's campaign. Sophie is a food critic and old family friend of Amanda, Jack's sister. Sophie and her husband Bram, a radio personality, attend the reopening of Amanda's restaurant Gasthaus Rethenau. Sophie is also good friends with Luther, Amanda's husband. Luther is quite ill and becomes the police's favorite suspect. Is he being framed?When these two murders rock the Grendel family and possibly Jack's political campaign, Sophie begins to investigate. At each murder a line from a children's poem is left. Sophie tries to figure out who the next victim is before there are more murders. Unfortunately she is not successful. Then Sophie begins to receive notes with clues about the murders.Bram and Sophie stay at Amanda and Luther's for a few days. Bram is working on his new novel and needs solitude. Sophie continues to investigate. Sophie finds out some information she isn't sure she wanted to know. Both Bram and Sophie end up in danger. Who is behind all this? Can one of her oldest friends be a killer?This is a great series. This is one of the earlier books I hadn't read. I enjoy Sophie and her many antics. She always ends up in the thick of things. Being that she is a food critic, food is always an integral part of the story! Then there's Nathan, her ex-boyfriend, who has recently returned. What's his story?The Minneapolis setting lends charm to the story. This book has many twists and turns and comes to a climactic ending. I highly recommend this book and series.

THIS LITTLE PIGGY is an excellent debut novel. The sleuth, Sophie Greenway, is engaging, reflective, and entirely believable as a nosy but nice magazine food critic who gets plunged into the puzzling circumstances of the murder of her oldest friend's father. In particular, the language and subtle humor are striking. Hart sets a nice balance between the grim realities of the murders and the relationships of the main and secondary characters. The narrative draws the reader in and keeps you hooked, whether we are finding out unexpected things about Greenway's friends and family or about the deadly plot that results in the murders.After reading this first novel in the Sophie Greenway series, I was surprised to see it out of print. If this debut is any indication of the quality of the subsequent Greenway books, this series is well worth Ballantine reissuing it. Other books recommended: M.D. Lake's Peggy O'Neill series, William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series, and R.D. Zimmerman's Todd Mills mysteries.