Book Review: Tickled to Death

Reviewed By: Carol Schwaderer Dickinson - RAM

Tickled to Death     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Joan Hess
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Woman Main Character
Series: Claire Molloy # 9
Onyx Mystery 1995 US $5.99 284 pages

I love great first paragraphs.

"No," Luanne said after a goodly amount of thought. "I Don't suppose he's the perfect potential mate. There's a possibility he murdered his wife."

Claire Malloy's friend Luanne has been in love for 3 weeks and she thinks Claire is the perfect person to prove her beloved is innocent of murdering either of his first two wives. To that end she manipulates Claire through arranging a job for Claire's daughter near the home of the Bluebeard lover out in the backwoods.

Claire is drawn further and further into the question of murder tripping over too many suspects and motives and eventually a couple of bodies. Naturally she is suspected of murder and must clear her name.

After I read a couple books by any author I tend to be able to identify a style and pick out the murderer quite often. This was a very intricate plot. I had a couple of suspects I felt were A and B on the list but I couldn't nail down a motive.

Nevertheless at the resolution of this mystery I had several surprises. I had considered the final resolutions motive but discarded it. I love it when the author puts the clues in plain sight and I'm still surprised at the end.

Carol Schwaderer Dickinson - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carol Schwaderer Dickinson - RAM