A fun academic mystery in a beautiful location. Great cast of characters to spend a little time with in the summer.

This is the second book I have read this summer by this author and I really enjoyed this one. It is an old time western, with the traditional “tenderfoot” family moving out west, but having no idea what they were up against which, in this case, is lack of law. Enter Con Vallian, a man who seems to live on the range with just his horse and who decides to stay around to help this family. What I liked most was how well developed the characters were, particularly Con. This author has opened up a whole new genre for me.

This is a wonderful tale that everyone can relate to; the anxiety and anticipation surrounding a high school reunion, and Smith tells a wonderful tale here. And as the old classmates gather, grudges come to the surface, and secrets behind them are revealed.

In what I think of as a "Cozy Mystery", an elderly couple is murdered by their nephew for, predictably, money. There is also a major town celebration, which really has very little to do with the plot. Not going to be a great real for real mystery fans.

I started this as an audio book on a day that was challenging, and I found it was just want I needed. What fun!! This is done as an old-time radio production complete with authentic and amazing sound effects. Guy, the detective and central character, is brought such exciting cases as the theft of a four-year-old goldfish. If you are looking for something really fun, you will not be dissatisfied with this!

A great book

This is the second time I read this book, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time, picking up parts of the story more intensely this time. This is a perfect story of 2 generations who are in need of each other and who come together in the best way possible. While each of the 3 central living characters (and I have to include living as one character who feature prominently is deceased) has their challenges, they come together to help one another perfectly, even if for some the motivation may be selfish. This is a story that will touch your heart.

I don’t think I have ever said this before, but this book has WAY too much going on! Lots of people getting murdered. Some are connected and some are not. Then there is the theft that is a separate issue altogether. I was able to keep up for a while, but feeling like aa person running behind a car, I soon fell behind. I have read and enjoyed Baldacci before but was overwhelmed by this one.

It is really hard to say much about the plot of this book without giving a lot away, so let me just say that a woman goes into an Ikea in Oregon and something terrible le happens. And there is something about this woman’s situation that make it even worse. Now what I can tell you is that it is an amazing book! The author does a wonderful job of taking you thought the array of emotions the central character experiences. And you will not be ablet to put it down.

I would say that the central part of this book is solid and enjoyable, but some of the peripheral stuff I could do without, including names of many people who have little or nothing to do with the story. And maybe it is just me, but I found the ridiculousness of the names, virtually all of them, to detract from the serious central plot. There is a god story in here, but you just have to wait for it to rise to the top.