series

Charlie Parker and her secretary Sally Bertrand take a trip to Sally's hometown, Valle Escondido. Sally is going to visit her friend, Laura, who has suffered a miscarriage. About that same time Laura's friend Cynthia dies while having a miscarriage. Laura suspects that Cynthia's abusive husband Richard has something to do with his wife's death. The husband blames Cynthia's boss. Charlie, not one to turn her back on a mystery, begins investigating and discovers the diabolical plot behind the death and miscarriages. Author Connie Shelton throws in several issues in this book, including gun control and spousal abuse, but never really ties them together or makes them into a unified plot. The actual solution to the crime is pretty far-fetched, as is the fact that Charlie's dog Rusty is allowed to stay in a jail cell with her. There is also a visit from Charlie's love interest, Drake, and that relationship heats up during the course of the book. Despite its flaws, this is still a pretty good book, with interesting characters and nice descriptions of the New Mexico countryside.

As usual Shelton is great on food ans scenery and dog behavior. She does wonderful minor characters, especially if they're obnoxious. She lets villains off lightly. There's quartet of abhorrent Texans in this that Texas will never recover from. Actually there are too many nice people in this. Her nice people are too nice. The main plot (almost subsidiary to the romantic interest sub-plot) is about an abortion-related death in a small New Mexican town. It's not very plausible (unless New Mexico has no Medical Examiners, Coroners, Inquests, Autopsies, Maternal Death Inquiry Committtees, State Health Departments or District Attorneys or none of them have telephones). This is fourth in the series after Partnerships Can Kill but the action seems to follow right on from Vacations Can Be Murder.

Valle Escondido, New Mexico, a small town where everyone knows everyone. Charlie and her assistant Sally decided to take a visit there and meet one of Sally's friends. Once Charlie meets Laura and learns of her friend's death due to a miscarriage, it only takes a grain of doubt from Laura for Charlie to realize she can't help herself. Was it a miscarriage or murder? With her brother talking gun control and a hunky visitor from Hawaii finding a landing spot in her heart. Charlie does a little soul searching while she hunts down the murderer.

Charlie is a PI who does it her way and when she doesn't have a human partner, she brings along her dog Rusty (my favorite part of the read). I enjoyed the mystery, which wasn't easy to solve and that's how I like it. And Ms. Shelton knows how to add the right amount of humor in just the right spot.

Her mystery series is a treat to read!