On the Chopping Block

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Summary: Community fair, perfect weather and a vicious axe murder
Review: "On the Chopping Block," third in a murder mystery series by Bobby Jaye Allen, returns us to Early, Michigan for its Founder's Day Fair. The story opens with the vicious axe murder of Miss Powder, the town's librarian. As luck would have it, Brady Kincaid is in town to visit friends and attend the fair, and once again he's called on to assist Early's homicide squad in solving the murder. There seems to be a connection between Miss Powder's death, Brickley's bookstore where her body was found, Holly LaFrance, best selling author, in town to autograph her latest book, and the release of syndicated column, "On the Chopping Block" which blisters Ms LaFrance's book with an excoriating review. Besides assisting Detective Bebout in solving the case, Brady meets Officer Alice Drinker, a woman he's immediately attracted to and who might be the deciding factor whether to accept the offer to join Early's detective squad permanently. An interesting piece of the puzzle is the role of the master perfumer, Peter Yee. The information about "true noses" or "vrai nez" and the talent it takes to create a fragrance makes this book all the more worthwhile reading.As a reviewer, I love the tart lines the author came up with to describe poorly written books. My favorite, and I'll probably borrow it someday, describes a book the reviewer didn't like: "A real hangnail of a story--annoying as hell." There are many more originalthoughts and readers will get their money's worth with "On the Chopping Block." Five Stars. An interesting

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Summary: Back to Early and "On The Chopping Block"
Review: It has been a few months since the events depicted in the preceding novel, "Early's Pride," and retired detective Brady Kincaid is back in town. He is back to visit his many friends, catch up on what he has been happening in the small town of Early, Michigan and to attend the annual Early's Founders Day Fair. However, his plans quickly go out the window and the former Detective is asked to again help the small police force, as a murder has been committed.

Librarian Penny Penelope has been found dead at the town's bookstore, Brickley's Books. She was struck several times in the head by an axe and based on the lack of blood at the scene, it is clear that her body was moved and later dumped at the bookstore. It is bad enough to have a dead body in a bookstore on any day, but even worse when the Fair is about to open and the bookstore is set to host Miss Holly LaFrance who will be signing copies of her new book. The very same book that was blasted in a scathing syndicated review column that happened to run in the local paper today.

Brady is needed and despite some misgivings about being paired with Officer Alice Drinker, he is glad to assist. He misses serious police work and this case intrigues him from his first visit to the crime scene. As the fair opens and the investigation moves forward, they find that the killer wasn't the only one with secrets to hide. Public image is one thing but as so often the case, private reality is far different.

With many of the characters involved in Early's Pride back, this is another enjoyable read with characters that feel like old friends. Unlike the previous book, the focus in this "cozy" style murder mystery is primarily on Brady Kincaid and the case as well as some important decisions about his future that he needs to make. As such, there is less romance than in the previous book. Not to say there is not a romantic element, there certainly is, but the primary element in this novel is the mystery. The solution, which is readily apparent from early in the novel to seasoned mystery readers, still provides an enjoyable read and a very entertaining story.

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Summary: Murder in Early,Michigan
Review: On The Chopping Block,Bobby Jaye Allen's third book takes place in Early,Michigan. Brady Kincaid has arrived to visit with friends and attend Early's Founders Day Fair.
When the brutally murdered body of the town librarian, Penelope Powder is discovered, Brady is quickly pulled in to help with the investgation.Brady is a former homicide detective who now works as security for a teacher's college in Ohio.He has worked with Detective Newkirk in the past, but we meet Alice Drinker who has replaced vacationing Officer Bebout. Alice is an attractive woman with an intriguing personal history, much of it rumor.
Once again,Ms Allen presents us with an unusual set of characters.There is Randall Zebner,the sweaty photographer, Holly LaFrance,author who is at the fair for a book signing of her latest publication,her agent Worthington Smitherly, pompous and pretentious,and Marva Greeves who had hopes of being appointed to the Library Board.The introduction of Peter Yee who trained as a "Vrai Nez" or true nose gives us an insight into the perfumery business.
Brady and Alice quickly narrow down their suspects but to tie it all together and get all the physical evidence in place makes a very enjoyable story.
We see Brady's growing attraction to the lovely Alice Drinker. With the crime solved and suspects in custody, we leave Brady pondering whether to go back to his job at the college or accept an offer to return to Early as a homicide detective.

Rating:
Summary: Bobby Jaye Allen Scores Another Hit
Review: On the Chopping Block
Bobby Jaye Allen
What a delight to enter the lives of our friends in Early again.
The local librarian has been the one chopped and we are led on the chase of the killer(s).
Once again we are offered clues and can try to guess up to the end just who is responsible for the murder. We get to revisit old friends such as Brady Kincaid and also meet new ones like Alice Drinker.
I for one hope to be able to continue into this little window of their lives.
Thanks Ms Allen, you have scored another hit with this reader.

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Summary: You won't want to put it down!!
Review: This mystery has everything that a great mystery should: humor, intricate plotting, a shocking and puzzling murder, smart believable characters, and a cozy little town where nothing bad should ever happen. Once I got caught up in the story, I did not want to put the book down. The twists and turn were quite unexpected and I was riveted by the interesting people and their relationships until the very last page.

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Summary: On teh Chopping Block
Review: What can I say? I loved On The Chopping Block. Bobby Jaye gets
better with each book. It was like old home week. Hearing about the lives of cousins Claudia and Joyce, a deeper look into Brady Kincaid and what he's thinking makes me hope that Bobby Jaye's next book will continue with him
coming back to Early and joining the police force. Of couse there is the enigma of Alice Drinker and Brady, can't wait for her to sort that one out.
A terrific read. Couldn't put it down. Even stayed up late to finish it. Rock on Bobby Jaye

Rating:
Summary: On teh Chopping Block
Review: What can I say? I loved On The Chopping Block. Bobby Jaye gets
better with each book. It was like old home week. Hearing about the lives of cousins Claudia and Joyce, a deeper look into Brady Kincaid and what he's thinking makes me hope that Bobby Jaye's next book will continue with him
coming back to Early and joining the police force. Of couse there is the enigma of Alice Drinker and Brady, can't wait for her to sort that one out.
A terrific read. Couldn't put it down. Even stayed up late to finish it. Rock on Bobby Jaye