Eva Pasco

5.0 out of 5 stars

First-Rate Mystery

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024

Verified Purchase

Beryl Swallows, a retired police officer, turned private investigator, heads back to the hometown she left behind to attend the funeral of Mary Lou Sanders, a former schoolmate. The chance to become reacquainted with three other estranged chums turns adversarial when a six-year-old note Mary Lou Sanders had written to Beryl, leads the investigator to believe Mary Lou’s suicide may have been a murder.

The author does a fine job unravelling the past and present lives of four friends who aren’t as financially cozy as they once were, nor as thick as thieves. Juliana, Esther, and Lydia certainly had motive to off Mary Lou, along with a few more minor players.

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Realistic sleuthing, dead ends, and ruffled feathers kept me turning the pages to get to the bottom of this mystery—which took me by surprise. I also enjoyed the comic relief provided by next-door neighbor Sam, and Beryl’s mother, Rosie.

I highly recommend this fast-paced, intriguing mystery with a slew of interesting characters in a small-town setting.