The Calico Spy

Today is Run It Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day! Which is another way of saying be creative.  Try out an idea and see if it works (or if people like it).  Take chances!  Great ideas come out of experimentation!

The Calico Spy by Margaret Brownley is the third book in the Undercover Ladies series.  Katie Madison (her undercover name) is a Pinkerton Agent.  Her latest assignment is to go undercover as a Harvey Girl in Calico, Kansas (it is 1880) to find out who murdered two Harvey Girls.  Katie is always successful at her assignments and believes this one will be no different (even though it is her first murder case and she has never been a waitress before). 

Sheriff Branch Whitman is puzzled by the two murders.  How did the killer get the women outside the Harvey House?  It is supposedly locked up tight at lights out.  Why were these two women killed?  Can Branch find the killer before he strikes again?  The last thing Branch wants is a Pinkerton Agent in his town.  He cannot stand them (they are usually very unscrupulous).  Branch is hoping to dissuade the man and send him packing.  Branch was not expecting a woman!  Can Branch and Katie work together to solve the case? 

The Calico Spy was just a delight to read.  I normally do not read westerns, but I thought I would give this book a chance since it contained a mystery. I am so glad that I did.  The novel is well-written with enjoyable characters.  I just zipped through this book.  It will have you laughing out loud.  The Calico Spy is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read alone (as I did).  The Calico Spy has mystery, humor, and a little romance.  All great traits for a very good book.  The mystery is simple and extremely easy to solve (but that did not bother me). 

The first two books in the Undercover Ladies series are Petticoat Detective and Undercover Bride.  I received a complimentary copy of The Calico Spy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

I am currently reading Thin Ice by Irene Hannon.   I am off to make dinner and then take it easy!  It is supposed to get nice and cool (which means 60s) in our area over the next couple of days!  I am so excited!  I am tired of being hot.  I hope all of you are having a good weekend!  Have fun and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader