Star-Spangled Murder

Rating:
Summary: Simply Awful
Review: Several years ago, after reading the first two books in this series, I swore I'd never read this author again. However, several reviews that said her later works improved made me give it another try with this book. I'm glad I didn't invest any further time or money with her.

This book is pure garbage. A man is killed and no one seems to care very much. The houseguests sit around the living room making plans to go out on the town. The victim's brother decides to join them with no thought for his three small children (the victim's step-children) until his neighbor, a woman he's met about five minutes earlier, offers to take care of them. He and his wife then go about their business without a second thought, only remembering to check on the kids when Susan shows up to stick her nose into more business that isn't hers...even when their oldest child goes missing.

The local "police person" treats Susan like her deputy, sharing case information and basically allowing her to run the investigation...even going so far as to tell others beforehand that they should answer any questions Susan asks them, whatever they may be.

The ending was so confusing that after reading it twice, I still have no idea where half of this stuff came from. And that's one of the biggest problems I had with this author the first time around -- she keeps "secrets," only throwing out information when she's trying to wrap things up. Susan finds something on the floor that turns out to be a clue...but we don't find out until after the mystery is solved what this item was. She goes to talk to people who're only identified as "the woman Susan went to talk to." People who've never met her before confide things to her like she's their best friend. It's totally unbelievable.

Add all this to the fact that Susan is a totally unlikeable character, and there's nothing redeeming about this book, or this series, at all.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Awful
Review: Susan Henshaw and her friend Kathleen decide to go to the Henshaw's summer home in Maine for the Fourth of July holiday. The rest of their families are otherwise occupied so it is an all-girl outing. They hear about their new neighbors, the Taylors, who live next door. This is a second marriage for the parents, and their three daughters are having a hard time adjusting. When the new step-father, Humphrey Taylor,is found dead in Susan's living room, the girls are among the first suspects. They have some longtime friends visiting, and it appears that they too have a motive. Susan and Kathleen help the local sheriff do some investigating, but they become more confused as they gather information. One of the girls disappears and the mystery deepens. Finally there is a climactic scene and the killer is revealed. This is one of Valerie Wolzein's better books and has quite a complex resolution. Readers who enjoy cozies will like this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fourth of July mystery
Review: Susan Henshaw and her friend Kathleen decide to go to the Henshaw's summer home in Maine for the Fourth of July holiday. The rest of their families are otherwise occupied so it is an all-girl outing. They hear about their new neighbors, the Taylors, who live next door. This is a second marriage for the parents, and their three daughters are having a hard time adjusting. When the new step-father, Humphrey Taylor,is found dead in Susan's living room, the girls are among the first suspects. They have some longtime friends visiting, and it appears that they too have a motive. Susan and Kathleen help the local sheriff do some investigating, but they become more confused as they gather information. One of the girls disappears and the mystery deepens. Finally there is a climactic scene and the killer is revealed. This is one of Valerie Wolzein's better books and has quite a complex resolution. Readers who enjoy cozies will like this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fun Holiday Mystery
Review: Susan Henshaw and her friend Kathleen Gordon decide to spend their 4th of July at Susan's summer house in Maine. They notice something odd is going on when they get there. But when Susan's neighbor, Humphrey Taylor, shows up dead in her living room, their relaxing holiday dies with him. Now it's up to Susan and Kathleen to find out who the murderer is, and find time to still enjoy their holiday.

This is an excellent holiday mystery, a great read to bring with you to the beach.

Rating:
Summary: A murder in Maine on the 4th of July.
Review: Susan Henshaw and her friend Kathleen Gordon travel to the Henshaw family's summer house in Maine. A huge house has been constructed next door. The house belongs to a very troubled family. Susan and Kathleen find the owner of the house dead in the living room the next morning. It turns out that he is the brother of the original owner of the house and present husband of his brother's ex-wife. Shortly thereafter, the oldest daughter of the family disappears. Susan and Kathleen are asked to help find out what happened. I found the book to be well written and the characters believable and interesting as well as quirky. This is a great beach or leisure book.