Review: Hocus Croakus

Judith McMonigle Flynn and her cousin Renie have solved lots of crimes in the past. In this book Judith and her husband Joe have to move out of Hillside Manor, Judith's Seattle B&B, due to post-fire renovations. They join Renie and her husband Bill and head for the Stillasnowamish Resort Casino. Renie has a conference to attend there. Both Renie and Judith had to bring their mothers along. These two women constantly fight but end up sharing a room.

Judith discovers Salome, the resort magician's beautiful assistant, stabbed multiple times after the show. Pancho Green, the casino manager, recruits Joe, an ex-cop, to help investigate. Judith can't help but snoop. Joe allows Judith to question people regarding the murder, but he doesn't make it easy for her. Still, she finds a way to interrogate just about everyone. Renie tries to ignore all of it and gamble. That's tough to do with a cousin like Judith.

Add to this the fact that Judith's contractor for the renovations at the B&B is constantly calling with problems, and Judith ends up driving back into town trying to resolve those problems. Also, Judith is having a B&B built on nearby family land. There appear to be problems with the site and she has to try to resolve them too.

Once again Judith is on the trail of a killer. Renie is assisting, but only when Judith insists. These two are great together. They are very well constructed characters, and I enjoy reading about their many escapades.

I liked the setting of this resort casino. Daheim describes the area so well, I felt as though I'd been there.

The plot in this book is terrific. I wasn't able to figure it out ahead -- a real plus. I never feel Judith is overlooking clues -- I hate books where I am yelling at the protagonist to pay attention. Don't have to do that in this series.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book, and that you read the whole series. I know there are books I've missed and I plan to go back and read them. Mary Daheim, and her Bed and Breakfast series, is terrific!

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

Book Review: Hocus Croakus