Book Review: Death at a Premium

Reviewed By: Carol - SLC - RAM

[5 stars]

Death at a Premium Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Valerie Wolzien
Class/Genre: Mystery Cozy Woman Main Character Amateur Sleuth
Series: Josie Pigeon # 7
Ballantine Books, 2005, 264 pages, $6.99

Considering myself already a huge fan of Valerie Wolzien's Susan Henshaw series, I was delighted to sit inside and sip coffee with my second Josie Pigeon novel, Death at a Premium. As usual, Wolzien did not disappoint. Josie Pigeon is a lovable and sometimes vulnerable divorcee who also happens to be the fiercely independent, extremely competent, hard-working general contractor/owner of Island Contracting. Josie is proud of the fact that she has helped many talented women get back on their feet by hiring them to work for her company. This year, however, there is a snag in the hiring process. Josie is busy trying to plan a wedding so she does something very out of character and allows Nic, one of her finish carpenters, to recruit their summer crew. The fact that the electrician, Leslie Coyne, turns out to be a man is only the least of Josie's worries.

Island Contracting wins the lucrative summer job of remodeling the Bride's Secret Bed and Breakfast, a place rich in old local folklore including the story that it is inhabited by a ghost. Josie and her crew run into obstacle after obstacle, and it soon becomes apparent that something sinister is afoot. When things turn deadly and a member of Josie's crew is questioned, Josie knows she has to figure out what's going on quickly or risk losing the company she loves. With a little help from her friends, Josie manages to solve the mystery while still planning a fabulous wedding.

Wolzien's books are delightfully character driven. She shares so many of their strengths and little quirks with us. I adore Josie, her friends and family and actually care about what happens to them. I bet you will, too.

Carol - SLC - RAM

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

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.