Book Review: Room For Murder

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Room For Murder     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Tim Myers
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Lighthouse Inn Mystery # 4
Berkley, Sept 2003, $5.99, 192 pp.

The Hatteras West Inn, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains has on the property a near duplicate lighthouse as the one found on Cape Hatteras. Alex Winston, who has lived in Elkton Falls all his life is justifiably proud of his establishment and is positively thrilled that the Dual Keeper’s quarters of the inn is finally ready for occupancy. The opening festivities include a debate between two locals who are running for mayor since longtime mayor Grady Hatch is calling it quits and plans to see the country in his new motor home.

After the speech making, Alex learns his best friend Mor Pendleton is finally going to marry Emma and he couldn’t be happier for the couple. When Mor goes to his car, he finds a dead body in it and learns the victim is Emma’s abusive ex-husband. Both Emma and Mor are prime suspects in the murder but nobody suspects her of killing one of the candidates for mayor. Alex thinks the two murders are linked and decides to do a little snooping when he isn’t busy running the inn and persuading his co-worker Elise that they should be a couple.

ROOM FOR MURDER is a quaint small town cozy mystery that gives the audience a glimpse into the small town Southern lifestyle. The protagonist of the novel is a likable and endearing character who likes to get involved in the local homicides. Tim Mysers is a talented storyteller who knows how to write an interesting amateur sleuth tale. Readers will have a hard time figuring out who the perpetrator is but once he is revealed, it makes sense and is totally believable.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner