Book Review: Balloons Can Be Murder

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

Balloons Can Be Murder     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Connie Shelton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character
Series: Charlie Parker # 9
Intrigue, 2005

In this, the latest of the Charlie Parker mysteries, Charlie and her brother are asked to help Rachael, who has been receiving anonymous threatening letters. Rachael is sure she knows who is sending them, and wants protection until she completes an attempt on the world altitude record for a balloon ascension.

The investigation into the source of the threats, set against a ballooning festival, quickly expands to include suspects from Rachael's personal and professional lives. But the threats continue, and escalate into violence before Charlie solves the mystery.

I enjoyed "Balloons Can Be Muder' more than 'Competition Can Be Murder', an earlier book in the series which I also read and reviewed. I liked the lack of political comments in this book, and thought that the plot, especially the main red herring, was better developed. As in the earlier book, although the novel is essentially a cozy, the action scenes were particularly vivid and well- described. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a well- written light mystery novel set among the participants in an unusual sport.

Cheryl - RAM

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