Book Review: Murder Under Blue Skies

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

Murder Under Blue Skies     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Willard Scott , Bill Crider
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Stanley Waters # 1
Onyx; 1998; $6.99; pp. 357

Stanley Walters, widower, has returned to his hometown after having starred on radio and television. Stanley has been gone a long time. Things have changed. Things are still the same. Now operating the "Blue Skies" Bed and Breakfast Inn, Stanley is revisiting his childhood, reacquainting himself with old friends, and making new friends. On the opening day of "Blue Skies", a long-time resident falls face first into a bowl of salsa - dead.

Stanley is a "retired weatherman for a nationally syndicated TV morning show". As such, he tends to be easily recognizable. Sometimes this works to his benefit . . . sometimes not. Many of the townspeople are happy to see him return, and welcome the business his inn will generate . . . others, not. His high school girlfriend is now the town's police chief.

I have to admit, I didn't expect to care much for this mystery. Cozies are not high on my list, most of the time. Also, I had a hard time accepting the Willard Scott from television as an author. He and Bill Crider surprised me completely. Even with the tie-in to Scott's previous career [or perhaps because of it and his attitude toward it] this book works, for me, and should work for cozy lovers everywhere. This has all the earmarks of becoming a great series!

Webspinner - RAM

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