Review: Dude on Arrival

Dude on Arrival Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
J. S. Borthwick
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth Cozy
Series: Sarah Dean & Alex McKenzie # 5
St. Martins; 1992; $4.50; pp 306

Although I've read 2 or 3 Borthwick mysteries previously, this is the earliest dated one I have experienced. It as a delightful surprise. The series characters were much more fully developed and interesting than in the later books. I can see it would definitely be a benefit to read this series in order. I had pretty much decided that this series was only on my read when I'm desperate but someone on RAM recommended this one so I picked it up a while back.

An Arizona dude ranch is not my idea of how to spend Christmas but I think this was the most Christmassy mystery I read this year. The holiday theme permeated the book as a hundred characters celebrated Christmas and New Years with cookout caroling, Christmas parties, gift exchanges, a visit from Santa etc.

Aunt Julia who is wintering at the dude ranch to appease her arthritis invites Sarah and Alex to spend the holidays with her and and as usual there is plenty of death and mayhem they need to sort out. Overall I thought the plot was a well constructed interwoven fabric of multiple subplots written somewhat more fully than in later efforts I have read.

I would call it a generally enjoyable read. However one must overlook that one of the characters is a US Senator who plans to announce he's running for the Presidency but has not done so. Yet he is already receiving secret service protection. Not only that but after his death, the widow continues to receive protection from a secret service escort. This is in December before any of the primaries so in real life no secret service protection would be available and it isn't really relevant to the plot anyway.

The thing I liked best about this book however because I rescue Airedales , was the subplot involving animal rescue activities. The extra challenges involved in protecting large horses from abuse was a revelation to me and it was funny too. This made it a particularly pleasing reading experience for me.

Book Review: Dude on Arrival