Book Review: The Scout Master: A Prepared Death

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

The Scout Master: A Prepared Death     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Luisa Buehler
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Grace Marsden Mysteries # 4
Echelon Press, 2006, 374 pps.

The Scout Master is the fourth book in the Grace Marsden series. Grace comes from a very large family and her family and friends play a large part in this story. Grace’s husband, Harry, has recently learned that he has a son. He is trying to involve himself in his son’s life so we begin the book with Harry and Grace arriving at Robinson Woods to pick up Harry’s son Will from his scout outing. The scouts have just discovered a box buried in the woods. The box is marked “Property of the United States Army” but the box contains what appears to be the body of a cat cradled on a blue velvet pillow.

This is only the beginning of the strange happenings in Robinson Woods. Grace is attacked in the woods by men wearing masks and using various nicknames. A body is discovered in the woods and then a second person disappears into the woods.

So the investigation begins and soon former boy scouts and their leaders, members of the police, and even a Wiccan group get involved in the investigation.

Grace spends a lot of time fighting off her many phobias and her husband spends a lot of time comforting her. Grace’s ex-boyfriend who was a policeman joins in with the others.

I believe I would have benefited from reading the first three books so I could better understand the characters. I grew tired of Grace taking to her bed and her husband bringing her tea. The book was interesting enough that I stuck with it to the end and as I said before I think it would have been more enjoyable had I known the background story.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM