Book Review: Real Murders

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Real Murders     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Charlaine Harris
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Aurora Teagarden # 1
Berkley, 2007, 304 Pages

The closest Aurora “Roe” Teagarden ever got to a murder is her participation as a member of a club called Real Murders. Roe is a librarian at the Lawrenceton Library and has a keen interest in mysteries. The club has twelve members, which works out well because each member is responsible for one program throughout the year. The club meets monthly and the members are from various walks of life with one interest in common and that is murder. Each member has a famous crime that is of particular interest and the members take turns presenting a program featuring a murder. The activities of the club were a social activity and a harmless pastime until the meeting where Roe finds a murder victim and that victim is a member of the club. Things go downhill from there. Everyone is suspicious and more murders occur. All are patterned after a famous crime.

Roe is determined to find the killer and is also suspicious that the killer is a member of the club. Robin Crusoe, a famous mystery author who has just moved to Lawrenceton, and Arthur Smith, a police officer and member of Real Murders lend Roe a hand in the investigation.

Real Murders is the first book in the Aurora Teagarden series. The club members are an interesting group and the copycat crimes are patterned after famous crimes in history. Real Murders is well worth reading and a good start to a great series.

Pat Reid - RAM

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

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