Suture Self: Library Edition

Rating:
Summary: Probably the weakest....
Review: I read both series written by Mary Daheim and I have to say, right away, that I prefer the Alpine Mysteries to this series, Bed-and-Breakfast. This series tends toward too much silliness at times and there also tends to be too many deaths in each one (Snow Place to Die, for example, was right up there on par with a slasher movie). As well, some of the guests in this series lean toward stereotypical cartoons rather than characters. That being said, this book falls right in line with the others of the series, perhaps a little worse than most of the previous ones. Both Judith and her cousin Renie are in the hospital for operations when a murder occurs, following two suspicious deaths having already taken place. The mystery in this one is fairly easy to solve and the pacing is slow - it would take a really strong writer to make a full-length novel that takes place almost entirely in one hospital room seem exciting. I found myself more interested in the personal progress of Judith's life - will Mike finally find out that Joe is his father, not Dan? How is Gertrude's progress into senility?
I rate this one 2 stars as it is less than average for this series. Have to say that I am more looking forward to the next Alpine mystery much more than the the next one in this series, "Silver Scream."

Rating:
Summary: Mysterious hospital deaths
Review: Judith McMonigle Flynn needs to have a hip replacement, coincidentally at the same time that her cousin Renie is having shoulder surgery. They are a little apprehensive about their admission to Good Cheer Hospital, because there seems to be a rash of deaths of basically healthy people who have recently had surgery at the hospital. There is a rumor of a takeover of Good Cheer and there are plenty of quirky hospital employees as well as relatives of the deceased which gives Judith a long list of suspects. Her husband is working on a case dealing with homeless people and Judith suspects that there is a connection to the case she's working on. Undaunted by her surgery, Judith travels around the hospital in her wheel chair and, as usual, manages to solve the mystery before the police. This is another enjoyable book in the Bed-and-Breakfast series.

Rating:
Summary: This one is a flatliner...
Review: Suture Self begins with two sleuthing cousins scheduled for surgery at Good Cheer Hospital. Two famous people have already ended up dead and a third expires as the cousins recuperate. There were so many weakneses in this story that when I put the book down it was hard to pick up again. First, it's unlikely that strangers would stream into their room to fill them in on things that were none of their business. Second, the drug and homeless angles were flimsy nonsense. Third, and most annoying, was that Renie person. Why would a writer, having the power to create likeable characters in prominent positions in a story spawn something like Renie Jones? The cursing, screaming, unsympathetic attitude, etc. was WAY over the top and detracted from the weak plot. Lastly, there was no element of surprise at the end. Who didn't figure out that Jim was the killer half way through the book?
This was my introduction to this B&B series. If I read any of the others they will be checked out of my local library.
CM Miller---Author, What She Left Behind