Review for Waterlilies Over My Grave by author,  CB  Hampton (posted on Amazon. Given five stars) 

 A very pleasant surprise, indeed

 A friend recommended this book to me. I agreed to read it, though with some skepticism.

Skepticism, because I expected what most guy readers call chick lit or popcorn romance.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Waterlillies Over My Grave is a down-to-earth thriller with real people, doing real things. I read the first half listening to Mozart sonatas and the second halflistening to Mozart's symphonies.

 Of course, the novel has all the ingredents needed for a "real" thriller: a beautiful blond damsel-in-distress; a mental basket case villain, the damsel's crazy ex husband, who wants her dead at all costs; a ruggedly handsome detective knight in rusty armor, who starts out not liking her, yet vows to protect the damsel anyway; a wise mentor for the damsel (detective's mother); a wise mentor for the detective (his police chief boss); and lots of very interesting people in the very interesting small-town setting of Lake Nager, Wisconsin.

 But in order to have a great read, you have to have a great recipe to properly mix the ingredients. In this case, it's the plot. The villain, a brilliant, highly regarded psychaitrist, who is both insane and a genius at disguise, keeps the reader on the edge of their seats in suspense. The book has puzzles, frights, thrills, action, and a great ending.

 So, my recommendation is: if you want to settle down in a quiet place and enjoy the lives and worries of some well-drawn characters, have a go at this excellent novel.