|
Maude Diamond thinks life will finally get back to normal in Morning Shade, Arkansas. Her mother-in-law, Stella, seems to have nothing to do and her daughter, Cee-Cee is busy bringing in new stray animals and delivering mail. Then Cee-Cee reports that she is delivering some chain letters these days, and reminds Maude and Stella that they are illegal.
Stella had something to do with the first batch of chain letters, but then a copy-cat takes over and is asking for more money—double what Stella had asked—and threatening even direr consequences. Everyone is suspect.
Maude is trying to finish a book contract but is having a difficult time concentrating since her advance is late, her bills are due, and Christmas is approaching too fast. The recent rash of chain letters is only adding to her misery because Stella is beginning to act strange. Who is behind the chain letters? What will happen when they find out? Will Maude manage to meet her deadline with the mail fraud excitement?
A CASE OF CROOKED LETTERS is the second book in Lori Copeland’s Morning Shade Mystery series, but it easily stands alone. I didn’t have the pleasure of reading book one in the series, but I would like to. The characters are engaging, the plot line active, the faith message subtle, and the action continuous.
The setting I had a bit of an issue with. The story is set in an imaginary little town near the real-life town of Ash Flat, Arkansas. As a resident of Ash Flat, Arkansas, for twenty years (off and on) I had some issues with the artistic license: for instance, it has never snowed two feet in Arkansas as long as I’ve lived here, with the snow starting in early November . . . and if it does snow an inch, locals do not go out at all, let alone turn out in droves for a social event. There were a few other artistic licenses that gave me pause, too.
Aside from the setting issue, I thoroughly enjoyed A CASE OF CROOKED LETTERS and highly recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the third book in the series.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
for The Road to Romance
March 23, 2006
|
