The Unraveling of Violeta Bell

The best Morgue Mama yet.Corwin is a workmanlike and traditional writer of the whodunit. His touches of genius come in the details by which he gives life to his characters. The dog that Maddy Sprowls is allergic to was dumped on her by a neighbor who had to go to California because her daughter's husband was swept away by a wave while gathering mussels to make a paella. A character has a son who is a deputy minister of tourism for Ontario. The ambience of Akron, Ohio and of Watertown, New York is vividly captured. We learn about the history of the Romanian monarchy and the antique fireplace business. All the while he keeps us laughing and in suspense. He joins my short list of writers where I watch for each new one and pre-order.

Newspaper librarian Maddy never gives story ideas to her newspaper: her job is research - until four old ladies at a garage sale lead her to an unusual feature story that results in murder. Now she's part of an investigation whether she likes it or not - and involved in a dangerous case. Libraries with strong mystery collections will find this a fine novel of mystery and intrigue.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/08) Maddy Sprowls is back again. This time she is investigating the murder of Violeta Bell who claims to be the Queen of Romania. Maddy feels a close connection to the case because she recommended that an article be written that involved this woman. She fears that her idea helped draw attention to Violeta, which resulted in her death. Normally, Maddy likes to keep quiet and just do her job as librarian in "The Hannawa Herald-Union." But one day her interest is sparked when she sees four elderly women get out of a taxi at a yard sale. She finds out that they do this every weekend, with the same cab driver. She thinks that it would make a great human interest story so she recommends it. It is titled, "The Queens of Never Dull." After the story is featured, Violeta Bell is murdered and the cab driver is accused, Maddy feels compelled to investigate. She discovers that the case is much more complex and interesting than she could have imagined. As she investigates she gets to know the other three women in the group. She enjoys discovering their eccentricities. She also gets a lesson in Romanian royalty. As she works on solving this case, she is able to find answers to another mystery. She also accidentally gets to meet the president of the United States. "The Unraveling of Violeta Bell," is a laugh-out-loud mystery. Maddy Sprowls is truly an irrepressible character. I totally enjoyed watching the mystery unfold. I also enjoyed reading about Maddy's relationships with her boyfriend, her co-workers, the police and her not-always-potty-trained dog. I definitely plan on reading other adventures about the Morgue Mama.

Once again someone in Hannawa dies violently, and Maddy Sprowls swings into action. Masterful prose breathes life into a miscellany of characters and Maddy's cultural commentary is insightful. Author C.R. Corwin's Morgue Mama series gets better with each episode. "The Unraveling of Violeta Bell" is a must-read not only for readers who fancy mysteries but for those who appreciate excellent writing.

The third Morgue Mama Mystery is the strongest in the series. Who is Violeta Bell? Is she a senior citizen who hired the same cabbie every week to drive her friends and herself to garage and estate sales? Is she a retired antiques dealer? Is she a claimant to the Romanian throne? Newspaper librarian Maddy Sprowls' job is to find out if the cabby did it, because her editor-in-chief asked her to investigate. Naturally, Maddy, an inveterate researcher, finds ways to dig out the truth. The case is complex enough for any mystery reader. However, the true joy of this book is in the character of Maddy herself. The latest in the series reveals more of Maddy's personal life, her relationship with her boyfriend, Ike, her dog, and even Maddy's childhood and background. And, she snores! Morgue Mama isn't at all the curmudgeon she appears to be, and those who get to know her, both in the book, and as readers, will grow to love her.