Monday, April 25, 2016

NICKLED AND DIMED TO DEATH by Denise Swanson



Publisher:     New American Library
Published:     March 5, 2013
ISBN:        978-0451239426
Genre:      Cozy Mystery       
Format:     Print  
Obtained via:  Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

THREE -1/2 HEARTS
 

Just as she’s about to close and lock the doors to her Deveraux’s Dime Story a woman hurries through the door with some wonderful antique chocolate bunny molds.  Discovering they are worth much more than the woman, Elsie Whitmore, is asking for them Dev quickly concludes the sale.  In a strange twist of fate, one of Dev’s best friends, Boone, is soon arrested for the Elsie’s murder. 

Boone has never forgiven Dev’s ex-boyfriend, Noah, for abandoning her when her father was arrested for embezzlement almost two decades ago.  Thing is, Noah might have some clues that will help clear Bonne’s name.  Since Dev already found herself in the middle of one investigation when she herself was the person of interest she’s already cut her teeth detecting.  Not about to let her friend take the fall for something he didn’t do, Dev soon finds herself on the trail of the real killer.

I’m a fan of Denise Swanson’s Scumble River series and while there were a couple of books recently in that series that had me wondering where the author was going, she was back on her very entertaining and well written stride.  Book 2 of her Deveraux Dime Store series, NICKELED AND DIMED TO DEATH is well written with some fun twists to the plot.  It was a particularly good choice for me this week because of the bunny molds and the story taking place shortly before Easter.  There are a few trends in cozy mysteries that started about the time this book came out, trends I whole heartedly came from either agents or the publishers because that many authors wouldn’t be doing down those roads en masse unless someone was directing them to.  It doesn’t make for a better read but takes away from the mystery.

That said, Swanson tells a good story.  NICKELED AND DIMED TO DEATH has interesting, likeable characters, just the right amount of red herrings, her special brand of humor and an ending I didn’t see coming. 


This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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