Elaine Orr

Jolie Gentil moved back home to Ocean Alley after her husband was put in the witness protection program (another story) and works as a real estate appraiser for Harry Steele's agency. When she's asked to appraise an old home she finds an attic filled with treasures...until a skeleton pops out from a closet and the head falls down the staircase with Jolie.

Now she's figured out the skeleton is that of Richard Tillotson, who vanished in 1929. But finding out his killer is another problem, one her Aunt Madge wants her to leave alone. But Jolie has a deep curiosity about the murder, and goes to see Richard's 94-year-old girlfriend in the hope that the woman can give her some insight.

With another murder more modern, and Jolie armed with old photo albums and ledgers, she's planning on figuring it all out. But someone doesn't want her to, and they're willing to kill her to keep the family secrets...

In full disclosure, I haven't read any others in this series. I actually picked this book up because it was supposed to be about the holiday season, which we are into. While there is a mention or two of Christmas, this book could take place any time of the year and it wouldn't matter. There are no decorations, no trees, no town decorations, no snow...no nothing. Why? Doesn't Jolie's family celebrate the holiday? There isn't even any holiday shopping, or mention of meals. All in all, this book didn't produce what it promised.

In defense, I will say that yes, it had a mystery, but even so, there could have been some decent reference to Christmas in passing more than just moving on to where Jolie gets up on New Year's Day. Say what? What happened to the week between Christmas and New Year's? This is what to expect. There are also no descriptions of the B&B or any of the town. It left me wondering exactly where Ocean Alley might be, and if anyone else lived there.

But, back to the murder: it was done very well, and there were a few suspects on the line, but actually there were no clues leading to the murderer, which I found disappointing. There were scenes of the food pantry and Jolie's introduction into it, and Scoobie, who is really odd and I don't know whether I like him or not yet; the characters I really like are Mary Doris and Lance. They, at least, have stories to tell. I do like mysteries within mysteries, and that is what saved this book for me.

Although I didn't feel that this book was a page-turner, it was done well enough that I will more than likely go back to the first book and continue on with the series. Perhaps after reading a few more books I will warm up to more of the characters that people the book.… (mais)