Into the Frying Pan by Sarah Osborne

Happy Memorial Day!  A day for visiting with friends, swimming, barbeque, napping and honoring those that have died serving our country.  When I was younger, this was the day we spent at the cemetery taking care of the graves (cleaning off vines, planting flowers, etc.). Peach Clobbered by Anna Gerard releases on July 9.  It is the first book in A Georgia B&B Mystery series.  Killer in the Carriage House by Sheila Connolly is the second novel in A Victorian Village Mystery series.  It also comes out on July 9.  The Pawful Truth by Miranda James comes out July 16 along with Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber.  My TBR list keeps getting longer.  What books are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Into the Frying Pan by Sarah Osborne has readers sweltering in Atlanta, Georgia in July.  Ditie Brown has just returned home from the local pool with her two children, Lucie and Jason when her ex-boyfriend, Phil Brockton IV shows up in a Confederate uniform.  Phil invites Ditie to the Battle of Resaca reenactment the next day and mentions that several of her med school chums will be attendance.  Ditie agrees to attend despite Mason’s disapproval.  Ditie catches up with her medical school friends while watching the action.  The cannon goes off and when the smoke clears, they see that the cannon has exploded leaving Carl Thompson dead on the field of battle.  Is it a coincidence that the deceased happened to be Phil’s rival in school and is still causing problems for him?  Kathy Thompson learns of Ditie’s success in solving the last crime she was involved in and asks her to get justice for Carl.  As Ditie dives into the lives of her old med school mates, she uncovers rivalries, secrets and jealousies.  Past events may have played into the victim’s death.  At the Battle of Tunnel Hill the following weekend, another alum is shot down.  Which one of the suspects is taking out Ditie’s friends?  Ditie needs to identify the killer before she becomes the next target. 

Into the Frying Pan is the second A Ditie Brown Mystery and it can be read as a standalone.  Ditie Brown finds herself embroiled in another mystery when one of her old medical school classmates dies at a Civil War reenactment.  She must also deal with jealousy from Mason Garrett, her detective boyfriend, when her old beau Phil Brockton IV comes to town.  There are multiple suspects who all had a reason for doing away with unlikeable Carl.  The murder was unique with the killer using an old cannon to dispose of the victim.  The second victim also died in an uncommon way.   It was interesting to learn about reenactments and the people who participate in them.  It is educational and a good way to allow children to learn about the Civil War.  Avid mystery readers will not find the whodunit challenging, but others will like the variety of suspects and misdirection.  I was not a fan of Mason’s jealousy which was featured throughout the whole story.  Ditie was not the strong, confident woman we saw in Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot.  She came across as weak and easily manipulated.  I do like Ditie’s interactions with the children.  She is sweet with them and I like how she is handling the loss of their mother.  Lucie is the highlight of the book.  She is a smart little girl with a sensitive soul.  I like how Lucie watched and took notes which helped solve the case.  There are recipes included for the dishes featured in the book.   Into the Frying Pan is a lively Southern cozy mystery with death, destruction and a deadly foe. 

Into the Frying Pan comes out on Tuesday, May 28.  I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.  Thank you for visiting today.  If you like my reviews, please consider following my blog (followers make a difference in the world of book reviewing).  I am sharing my thoughts on Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide by Tonya Kappes tomorrow.  It is the seventh tale in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series.  I hope you enjoy the day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader