A Perilous Plot by Lorna Barrett

A Perilous Plot 

Book Summary

Family reunions are killer—literally—in the newest mystery in Lorna Barrett's New York Times bestselling Booktown series.

Everything was going great for Tricia Miles, right up until her estranged mother, Sheila, arrives on her front step with an urn she says contains the remains of Tricia's father.

Shocked and saddened, Tricia and her sister, Angelica, attempt to get to the bottom of what happened. But their efforts for clarity are dashed when Shelia disappears the very next day, leaving without a word.

Naturally, the sisters are upset—especially after they take the remains to the local funeral parlor and discover that not only is the urn filled with kitty litter, but hidden inside is a valuable (and stolen) Rolex watch. Digging deeper, the sisters find their parents are in dire financial trouble and seem to be lurking around Booktown.

Tricia and Angelica can’t help but wonder how many more secrets their mother was keeping...and whether that includes murder.

My Thoughts

A Perilous Plot by Lorna Barrett is the nineteenth A Booktown Mystery.  Tricia and Angelica must deal with their shifty parents along with a murdered family friend.  Tricia still acts like someone who is much older (she is in her 40s but acts like she is in her 60s) while dating someone twenty years younger.  I can certainly understand why Tricia and Angelica dread spending time with their parents, especially their mother, Sheila (she is a piece of work).  The story moved at leisurely pace.  The mystery was straightforward with a small suspect pool, and the ending was unsatisfactory.  

I liked the message that there is more than one type of family.  There are blood relatives that treat you terribly, and there is the family you create that makes you feel happy and whole.  The story lacked action and there were repetitive details.  Each day seemed like the one before it (get up, work, eat, drink, deal with mother, eat, etc.). I wish this story were more like the books in the beginning of the series (I believe the series has run its course).  A Perilous Plot transports readers to Stoneham, New Hampshire where there is kitty litter trickery, slow sales, missing meat, dishonest parents, box sorting, and a distressed Sarge.

A Perilous Plot is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Booktown Mysteries here.  The earlier books in the series are better than the recent stories. Thank you for dropping by today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Celebrate Lit Tour for Detecting Concealed Evidence by Dana Mentink. It is the fifth book in the Security Hounds Investigations series. 

They just finished eating!

 

They are heading for the water dishes!

I have not given you a duckling update in a while.  They are now as big as or bigger than their mother.  It is hard to believe that these were the same little ducklings that showed up on my porch a few weeks ago.  I can no longer feed them on my porch because of a neighbor who does not like cats, ducks, frogs, or any animal besides her dog (she did not like the ducks napping under her golf cart which she has not used since she moved in a year ago).  My other neighbor's have no problem with the ducks and gave me permission to feed them in their yards.  It is unusual for the ducklings to still be with their mother at this age.  She leads them to the lake (two short blocks from my house) to sleep each night (it is adorable to see them waddling down the street in a line).  I hope that you have an uplifting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links.