Tuesday

Death of a Highland Heavyweight...



Today, I'm reviewing DEATH OF A HIGHLAND HEAVYWEIGHT, by Jayne E. Self, dear readers. But first, a little bit about the book...

Murder, chaos, teen angst, missing frog figurines, wedding preparations. What do these things have in common? Gailynn MacDonald. When Highland Games Heavyweight Champion Claude Oui is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, his wife is overcome with grief. As head of the town's annual Hum Harbour Daze festival, she cannot plan a funeral and keep up with her responsibilities to the town, so Gailynn dutifully steps in. 

Amidst choosing bridesmaids dresses, assembling a big top tent, and advising teenagers in love-one of whom just might be a murderer-Gailynn is once again caught up in the town's hidden secrets as she races to solve Hum Harbour's latest crime spree.

My Review...

Hum Harbor is humming, again, along with all the things that go on in a small coastal town. Except there's another killer on the loose. When one of their most favorite community figures, Claude Oui, is found dead in his own home, everyone knows who the obvious suspect is. Small towns are like that.

But Gailynn MacDonald is not. She thinks about these things. And she sees a lot that goes on during her daily walks to scour the beach for seaglass. Except she's a little distracted, this time, because she has some things of her own on her mind. Such as her upcoming wedding to the town's handsome doctor. Who also happens to be her boss.

However, she is the kind of person we would all like to have on our side when the chips are down. Strong, but not short on compassion, and willing to go the second mile (or even the third) for someone in trouble. She's a good example of the kind of person we'd all like to be in situations like this. 

I thuroughly enjoyed DEATH OF A HIGHLAND HEAVYWEIGHT, and I especially liked going back to Hum Harbour, again. It's the kind of place you dream about living in... except for that killer running around out there somewhere. Which makes it just the type of book that keeps you mulling over "whodunit" all the way to the end. Which is one of my favorite kinds of entertainment. The kind I would recommend to anybody. And the way I'm feeling about Hum Harbor, with all its colorful characters...

You can bet I'm hoping for another one, too.

Oh, yes, and if you haven't read the first Seaglass Mystery, MURDER IN HUM HARBOR, I really would recommend you read that one, too. And if you would like to know more about Jayne, you can find her over at www.JayneSelf.com.