Book Review: Murder in the Rough

Reviewed By: Dawn Dowdle

Murder in the Rough     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
J. S. Borthwick
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Sarah Dean & Alex McKenzie # 11
St. Martin’s , Paperback, 8/03, 338 pages, $6.50

Sarah Deane’s in-laws have just moved into Ocean Tide, an “architect-designed hometown community. It’s almost summer and Sarah has just completed a substitute teaching job at a girls’ boarding school in Massachusetts. This fall she will begin teaching English classes at Bowmouth College in Maine.

Her mother-in-law, Elspeth, has invited Sarah and Alex down for some family celebrations. The biggest is to include a 90th birthday party for Uncle Fergus and she’s asked their help in planning it because she will be in Provence for part of June.

Then the body of an 18-year-old male is found at Ocean Tide, management is beside themselves. It turns out to be a son of Barbara Colley, one of Elspeth’s neighbors. This son had taken off some time ago.

Then Sarah almost runs into a frightened boy near the golf course. She later discovers another body. This time it’s a man.

Plus bikes and golf clubs are being stolen from residents. Can management keep their good image? Can Sarah concentrate on tutoring and family rather than getting involved in investigating? She tries, but she keeps getting pulled in like when she goes after another Colley son who appears to have taken off in a boat.

She often finds herself in sticky situations and the questions are piling up without a solution in site. Who is behind all this?

I love this series. They are fast, easy reads. I always look forward to spending time with Sarah and Alex. I recommend this book.

Dawn Dowdle

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Please visit Dawns website at www.mysteryloverscorner.com