Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: Dead and Berried - 2nd Gray Whale Inn Mystery
Author: Karen MacInerney
Publisher: Midnight Ink
ISBN-13: 9780738709147
Release Date: March 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery
Year/Setting: Present Day - Cranberry Island
Overall rating: 4.25
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity) Content Rating: Negligible/Mild
Violent Content Rating: Moderate
Karen's Website: www.karenmacinerney.com
The quiet and slow pace of life is one of the reasons Natalie Barnes moved to Cranberry Island and opened up a B&B. But unfortunately progress is once again rearing its head and is a source of contention for many of Cranberry Island’s residents. This time the cranberry bog is in danger of being turned into high-dollar housing.
There’s a holdup with the development, though. It has to do with Polly Sarkes. She owns some of the land the developers and local resident Murray Selfridge needs to start the project. But she has no wish to sell. Unfortunately she’ll have no say in the matter as Natalie finds her lying dead near the bog.
Polly’s death is initially ruled a suicide, but Natalie thinks otherwise. Sgt. Grimes certainly isn’t going to overexert himself by conducting an in-depth investigation once the autopsy report comes in, so Natalie takes it upon herself to do some questioning and tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
And some puzzle it is. Between the development, a century old diary, the inconsistencies of the clues in Polly’s house vs. the Polly that Natalie knew, and her best friend being accused of the now ruled murder, she finds herself up against a brick wall. Plus, there are certain residents encouraging Natalie to leave things alone. One way or another, she’s going to find out the why and the who.
If that weren’t enough, Natalie’s ex sails into the B&B wanting to renew their engagement, she has a shadow, Candy, who wants to open her own B&B, and there's a ghost living in her house.
So much to deal with...
Revisiting characters from Murder on the Rocks and being introduced to new characters from Dead and Berried with the hope of seeing them again in future books is an added bonus to the great stories.
The crimes, clues and suppositions blend and eddy together with a few surprises thrown in the mix. They keep the reader guessing and wondering as they try and put the pieces together along with Natalie.
A truly smart and gripping cozy mystery.
Connie
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