Snuffed Out

Rating:
Summary: perfectly crafted cozy
Review: I've enjoyed both of Tim Myers's candle shop mysteries--AT WICK'S END and SNUFFED OUT--because the series is crafted as the perfect cozy. The main character/sleuth, Harrison Black, has inherited a candle shop as well as the building his and several other cozy shops (antique store, coffee shop/bakery, pottery shop, New Age shop) occupy. This gives the books a closed community of characters, and with Harrison living upstairs in an apartment over the candle shop, gives the readers a place they'll want to come back to again and again. One of the reasons I and many other mystery readers love cozies is that we do get to live the main character's life vicariously, and how comfortable it is to return to Harrison's comfy building to hang out with his friends, learn new ways to make candles, and, oh yes, track down a murderer now and then.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing Second Book
Review: When the power goes out at River's Edge, Harrison stumbles on a dead body. Looks like Aaron was electrocuted when water spilled on the chord of an electric potter's wheel he was using. The police are quick to rule it an accident, but Harrison isn't so sure. Especially when his other tenants keep telling him that Aaron hated electric potter's wheels. With the small police force being struck down by the flue, Harrison starts investigating. Meanwhile, his choice of a replacement tenant causes hard feelings and tensions to rise around the complex. Will Harrison be able to keep the peace, solve the murder, and run his shop?

I loved the debut in this series and have been looking forward to this book since February. I was disappointed because this book was a very poor follow-up. The mystery was so poorly plotted that it felt like an after thought. And the climax left me with too many questions. The redeeming factor of the book is the main character. I really identify with Harrison and enjoy spending time with him.

I sure hope the mystery in the next book is better. I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't.