loribonesscaswell

Dollycas’s Thoughts

The number 5 is the key here.

5 ingredient recipes
5 suspects
5 key clues

Maya Corrigan is off to an excellent start with this mystery! Val Deniston is a great character with a tragic past. She is trying to get on with her life but is haunted with nightmares of the night when a car accident changed her life. She thought coming to Bayport would make things easier but a recent murder that has her best friend pegged at the prime suspect has her remembering that fateful night again and again as she tries to find the real killer.

I love the relationship Val has with her grandfather. She thinks he needs her there to take care of him and he does to a certain point but that man has more going on than she gives him credit for. He even turns the table on her and it was so much fun to read. Brought back a few memories of my own grandfather.

The other characters were great too. I think everyone in town has a secret and Val considered them all suspects at one time or another, even the one whose kisses gave her that warm and tingly feeling. The reason for this is a masterfully plotted mystery. There were several red herrings in this mystery’s recipe and they all needed to be sifted through to find the real killer and I figured it out just as Val did. Isn’t that what we readers want?

The author has served up a wonderful story with more than mystery to solve, a pinch of romance and a morsel of humor. It also contains a huge “hang on to your seat” moment that had my heart pumping.

I am truly excited for the next book in this series. I think the author has just given a tidbit of what she can dish up. “What are the chances of another murder in a peaceful small town?” We shall have to wait and see…