Book Review: Blessed Is The Busybody

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Blessed Is The Busybody     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Emilie Richards
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Ministry Is Murder
Berkley, Dec 2005, $6.99, 272 pp.

Relocating to Emerald Springs, Ohio Aggie Sloan-Wilcox, the wife of the Minister of the Consolidated Community Church, misses the excitement of their previous home in the DC area. Still Aggie loves and supports her spouse Ed, is a good mother to their daughters Deena and Teddy and cares for the members of the congregation who consider her a likable eccentric; all that is except septuagenarian town leader Lady Gelsey Falowell who disrespects the Wilcox family.

Hearing Sally Berrigan scream, Aggie rushes outside her home to see on her front porch a dead naked female covered somewhat by a granny square knitted by Aggie’s mother during a short singles stage between spouse three and four. Detective Kirkor Roussos heads the investigation in which Teddy mentions that her spouse had a public altercation with the deceased just yesterday. Everyone including Kirk theorizes that even a saint like Ed could go over the top when dealing with an insulting maniac like the victim. Everyone that is except Aggie, who knows her husband the pacifist, could not hurt a fly. She plans to prove she is right by uncovering the identity of the real culprit though that places her in danger of becoming a victim too.

BLESSED IS THE BUSYBODY is a delightful cozy that stars an amateur sleuth who feels as if she swims upstream against the tide. The story line provides insight into the local politics of religion within the dueling investigations. All comes together in this fine “Ministry is Murder” thriller that starts with eccentricity (Teddy digging holes to bury the family’s living cat) and continues that way until the final altercation. Emilie Richards writes a fun cozy with a serious look at religious politics.

Harriet Klausner

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