by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this review on how to enter to win a copy of Dying for a Dude, along with a link to purchase the book.

Laurel McKay dreaded dressing as a Sassy Saloon Gal for Placerville’s annual summer Wagon Train event. Laurel definitely was not enthusiastic to be donning a corset that pushed up her assets. What she really should have been worried about was her mother who managed to fall into an abandoned gold mine with its very own skeleton. While this might be seen as celebratory event in this California town, evidence implicates Laurel’s great-great-grandfather as the probable murderer. Gran whips out her detective’s hat in order to clear her family’s name.

Darius Spender, a candidate for the District Sixth Supervisor and the man responsible for numerous foreclosures and evictions in Placerville is murdered, so there is an overwhelming pool of suspects to choose from. Hank McKay was seen accusing Spencer of shoddy plans to renovate the Hangtown Hotel and on the receiving end of Hank’s fist. Hank is Laurel’s ex-husband and the father of her two children, which means she will be in the awkward position of proving his innocence to her boyfriend Tom, head Homicide detective for the Sheriff’s Department.

The delight in this fourth of the Laurel McKay series comes in watching her dance between the potentially disastrous investigative efforts of her grandmother with the very timely issues plaguing towns today. The relationship between Laurel and Hank fell apart after his affair. Now he’s intent on reforming their family. Jail forces Hank to mature, even if it comes from a fear of being cellmate Big Jack’s new cupcake.

This series trademark wit continues as Laurel is forced to navigate through this new stumbling block in her relationship with Tom. This enjoyable novel balances two mysteries while allowing room to focus on the domestic issues Laurel faces with both a former and new love in her life. The motives for murder prove to be timeless as Laurel’s instigations amp up to a surprising but exciting conclusion.

To enter to win a copy of Dying for a Dude, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Dude,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 13, 2014. 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.

Click on this link to purchase this book.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).