by Sandra Murphy

Details on how to win a copy of Demise in Denim at the end of this review, along with a link to purchase the book from indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy where a portion goes to help support KRL.

Reagan Summerside runs a consignment shop in Savannah, Georgia, so why is she driving down the road at night, in Walker Boone’s convertible with four—count ‘em, four—police cars trailing her, lights and sirens blazing?

Well, it’s complicated. You see, Boone’s real daddy is Conway. Not many people knew that, including Boone. It sure was a shock to Conway’s other son, Tucker, who was brought up as an only child. Now that Tucker’s mother has passed away, there’s no need to keep Boone a secret. Did I mention that it was Tucker’s mama who had the money in the family? She left a bunch of it to Tucker, of course, but how much does he have left? He has a true love for boats and other toys.

Tucker’s wife, Steffy Lou, has a true love for the theater. She feels she could have been a star. She’s been working with Boone to raise money for a local theater, but there’s a developer who thinks the old building could be put to better use. He has deep pockets and seems shady to boot.

Then Conway is found dead in the tub, and the police begin to look at Boone for the deed. He stood to inherit the Inn, and they figure he just wanted to speed things up a bit. Most of the people in town love Boone—what’s not to like? There are a few dissenters though: the two young, very young, women who married older (one-foot-in-the-grave older) men. Boone advised the hubbies to re-word their wills so not all their money goes directly and immediately to the ladies. The ladies didn’t take that well—and no one’s seen the husbands for a while. Reagan went to Boone’s house after dark to snoop and ran into someone else. There was a photo of Boone’s mama, Conway, and baby Boone on the desk which, if found by the police, would blow the idea that Boone didn’t know Conway was his daddy sky-high. There’s also a white satin high-heeled shoe with Boone’s business card impaled on it. It seems a bride-to-be wasn’t happy with him either.

Reagan, despite the goofy look she gets when she talks about Boone, has to pretend to hate him, so the other haters will speak freely and give themselves away.

Back to Walker Boone’s convertible. Reagan is driving it so the police think they’re chasing Boone, thereby giving
him a chance to escape. The police are not amused and take to following Reagan in hopes of finding Boone. For a man on the run, Boone does pop up often. Someone is hiding him, feeding him, and keeping him up on the latest news about Conway’s death.

The mystery is good, of course, but the characters are people you want to know, and maybe hang out with, although that’s not without its risks. Boone is especially fond of his convertible, and there’s the little problem of spilled pulled pork in the trunk. Of course, that pales against driving the car into the swamp. Reagan and Aunt Kiki managed to get out of the car in time, and not get eaten by a gator, so that was a plus. Kiki is a force to be reckoned with. She can eat more than a trucker, outdrink him, too, and manages to stay slim by teaching dance classes.

Reagan’s friend, Chantilly, is a hoot. Her impersonation of Tina Turner at the Plantation Club will be in the history books for sure. She was the distraction so Reagan could snoop. Chantilly’s to blame for the pulled pork in the trunk. The Abbott sisters, professional mourners who get funeral attendees into a crying mood are—well words can’t do them justice. Bruce Willis (not the movie star, Reagan’s black and white dog), the worst guard dog ever, steals the show.

Just when you think you know what’s going on, another twist happens. You’ll want to read the whole series, because let’s face it, one is just not enough.

Previous books include: Iced Chiffon, Killer in Crinolines, and Pearls and Poison. Sadly, there are no recipes at the back of the book. I sure would like to have Chantilly’s pulled pork, and mac and cheese recipes. After all, Chantilly says no one can resist her mac and cheese.

To enter to win a copy of Demise in Denim simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Denim,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 4, 2015. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Use this link to purchase a copy of the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore:

Demise in Denim

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the arch, in the land of blues, booze and shoes—St Louis, Missouri. While writing magazine articles to support her mystery book habit, she secretly polishes two mystery books of her own, hoping, someday, they will see the light of Barnes and Noble. You can also find several of Sandra’s short stories on UnTreed Reads including her new one Bananas Foster. Sandy’s latest short story “The Tater Tot Caper” is one of eleven stories in The Killer Wore Cranberry: Fourths of Mayhem. The annual Thanksgiving anthology has eleven stories and this year, includes recipes. And it’s on sale! Available in all e-versions and in print.