The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

I'm a fan of Alice Hoffman's magic realism, but her books have a dark side to them. I prefer Sarah Addison Allen's books, with darkness often in the past, and hope in the future. The optimist in me prefers the lighter books. I've been a fan of Allen's stories since Garden Spells, and, her latest, The Peach Keeper, didn't let me down. I'll admit, it was easy to see where this book was heading, but Allen's books are enchanting while you're reading them, and satisfying when they're finished.

Willa Jackson has been a rebel and outcast in high school, but she returned home to Walls of Water, North Carolina when her father died, settled into her childhood home, and opened Au Natural Sporting Goods and Cafe, even though she had no interest in the outdoors life. She just preferred the tourists who frequented her store over the "glittery townies." So, she wasn't happy to receive an invitation from a classmate, Paxton Osgood, to attend the celebration of 75 years of the Women's Society Club. The club had been renovated into an inn, but it was the house, the Blue Ridge Madam, in which Willa's grandmother had grown up before the family lost their money in the 1930s.

Paxton Osgood, as president of the Women's Society Club, actually wanted to honor Willa's grandmother and her own grandmother, the only surviving founders of the club. But, Paxton hadn't talked to her grandmother about the property, and when Paxton's twin brother, Colin, arrives to supervise the removal of an old peach tree, a skeleton is discovered in the ground. Paxton's grandmother feared the Madam, and tried to let the property die. But, she knew "Secrets never stay buried, no matter how hard you try."

From the opening page when Paxton's invitations are delivered to wrong houses, people are cut, and the invitations move around, it's obvious magical changes are taking place in Walls of Water. And, they are changes that will affect Paxton and Willa the most, granddaughters of those Women's Society Club founders. Allen's latest book is a story of mystery, magic, friendship and love, and the power of friendship and love to conquer evil.

As I said, this book isn't a book that leaves you in suspense as to what will happen with the main characters. Instead, it's a book that enchants you will superstitions and magic, the scents, and tastes, the colors and textures of life. The scent of lemon pie connected to a person is the smell of regret. And, when the Women's Society Club ate food with lemon, they had an odd compulsion to reveal closely guarded secrets. Claire Waverly from Garden Spells even returns for a brief scene as a caterer in this book, with her food with unusual powers. Then there is the smell of peaches at an altitude where peaches shouldn't grow.

Most of all, The Peach Keeper is a story of friendship between women, and secrets kept for the sake of friendship. It's a story of generations, and the secrets that can't be forgotten. As Allen said, "There was a strange but universal understanding among women. On some level, all women knew, they all understood, the fear of being outnumbered, of being helpless." Two generations of women understood that fear, and understood the need to stand together, to protect each other. Magic, secrets, and friendship. They all seem to go together in Sarah Addison Allen's books, including the latest, The Peach Keeper.

Sarah Addison Allen's website is http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen. Bantam Books. ©2011. ISBN 9780553807226 (hardcover), 288p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested a copy of this from the publisher so I could read and review it.

A Deady Cliché by Ellery Adams

I had never read any of Ellery Adams' mysteries when I tried the second Books by the Bay mystery, A Deadly Cliché. Anyone who thinks of cozy mysteries with dogs on the front as light and fluffy needs to read this book. Adams' latest mystery features well-developed, deep characters investigating a case just as complex as in any other crime novel.

Olivia Limoges has a strong connection to the sea. The sea may have taken her father when she was a child, but she's received numerous gifts from the ocean. She loves her solitary life in Oyster Bay, North Carolina, but she has the money to help build the town. She owns a five-star restaurant, has plans to open a second one, and owns half the town. And, her solitary life has changed just recently with her attendance at a writers' group.

She's quite glad she made friends with that group and particularly Police Chief Rawlings, a complex man who not only runs a tight ship at the police department, but is also a widower who paints and is trying to write. Because of that friendship, Rawlings is willing to talk to Olivia and the group when Olivia and her dog, Captain Haviland, find a body on the beach.

With that body, it's evident the little community is facing a crime wave. Houses have been broken into, and the police are working to find a connection between the victims.  When a man is killed during a burglary, the entire community is worried. But, they'll have to put their worries aside to deal with a hurricane headed directly toward the island.


Olivia Limoges is a wonderful woman who spent years working to be independent and strong. But, the sea may have one more gift for the woman, a story about her lost father. It's the depth of backstory for Olivia and the other characters that brings an unexpected strength to this book. And, fortunately for future storylines, Olivia is not the only interesting character in this mystery. There are possibilities for a future relationship with Chief Rawlings. The other writing group members are intriguing. And, Olivia has the most interesting friendship with Dixie Weaver, a roller-skating dwarf, manager and head waitress at Grumpy's where her husband is the chef.

Pick up Ellery Adams' A Deadly Cliché for the intriguing mystery and lovely setting. But, I predict you'll be waiting for more books in this series because Adams' story has mature, well-rounded characters with great potential for future mysteries.

Ellery Adams' website is www.elleryadamsmysteries.com

A Deadly Cliché by Ellery Adams. Berkley Prime Crime, ©2011. ISBN 9780425240236 (paperback), 296p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of the book in hopes I would review it.

A Touch of Gold by Joyce and Jim Lavene

A Touch of Gold, Joyce and Jim Lavene's second Missing Pieces mystery, is just as intriguing as the first book, A Timely Vision. Once again, they take readers to the Outer Banks community of Duck, North Carolina, where the residents share a history of pirates, gold, and ghosts. The current mystery brings those elements all together in a story of murder as well.

Dae O'Donnell spent the morning with school children, walking them to the Duck Historical Museum where the curator excited their interest in the island's history and legends. Fortunately, the children had walked back to school when "The whole world exploded into a ball of fire." Dae was blown across the street, and the museum and its curator, Max Caudle, were blown up by a cannonball shot into the museum.

Dae always had a gift. She was Duck's "unofficial finder of lost things." But the explosion that threw her across the road enhanced her gifts, and she discovered when she touched an item, she could see its history and the people who owned it. She told ex-FBI agent Kevin Brickman about it, and he cautioned her to be careful. However, when a local house goes up in flames, and there's a connection to the museum and gold, Dae and Kevin know she might have to use her new enhanced gift to find a killer.

At thirty-six, Dae has issues in her past that still haunt her. But some of her new visions are enough to bring her to her knees. In the course of her investigation, she learns the truth about some of the legends of Duck. At the same time, Dae learns that her own past isn't what she always believed. Dae O'Donnell is as haunted by ghosts as the town of Duck itself.

The Lavenes once again take readers into a setting with a remarkable past, filled with legends and history. The community of Duck is as much a character as the people themselves. The characters are vivid and fascinating,  from Dae and her Gramps, to Kevin Brickman and the mysterious former owner of the Blue Whale Inn, The stories of the Outer Banks are dark, legends of "pirates, marauders and gold" in an area called the Graveyard of the Atlantic. But, A Touch of Gold reveals that the present in the Outer Banks can be just as dangerous and dark. And, fortunately for the reader, Joyce and Jim Lavene also leave Dae O'Donnell facing an intriguing future in Duck, North Carolina.

The Lavenes' website is www.joyceandjimlavene.com

A Touch of Gold by Joyce and Jim Lavene.  Berkley Prime Crime, ©2011. ISBN 9780425240243 (paperback), 294p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of the book, in hopes I would review it.

Snare by Deborah J. Ledford

I don't read mysteries or thrillers for the frantic pace. I read for character and plot, which is why I don't read many thrillers.  But Deborah J. Ledfords' Snare offers a depth of character, and an eerie feeling of atmosphere that isn't always present in thrillers.  It's tense, but, at the same time she allows the story to develop at a natural pace, without forcing the suspense. The book deserves its nomination for this year's Hillerman Sky Award.

From page one, we're drawn into the tragedy of young Katina Salvo's life as she listens to her mother's last fight with her abusive father.  And, even at twenty-three, fifteen years later, she's fleeing from her past.  It's no wonder the successful Native American singer/songwriter has never appeared in public.  But, that's about to change, and her first concert will be in North Carolina, where Deputy Steven Hawk is charged with keeping her safe.  It's too bad neither Hawk nor Katina know all the reasons someone might want her dead.

Despite all precautions, Katrina and Hawk are caught in a trap the night of the concert. When Hawk is seriously injured, something prevents a greater tragedy, a presence they both sense. While Hawk has to recover physically, Katrina has to recover emotionally from the events of that night.  She turns to her past, her aunt's home on the Taos Pueblo Reservation in New Mexico for answers, and Hawk accompanies her, not knowing if he's looking for her father or a man from the reservation who comes and goes like a ghost.  But, both of them sense that answers will only be found there.

Ledford's novel is so much more impressive than so many thrillers, with its depth of character.  Hawk is fully developed as a black deputy, very much aware of some feelings against him in North Carolina.  At the same time, his strong family ties gives him a grounding, a safety net in life that Katina lacks.  It's Katina's story that slowly unfolds in the course of the story as the true tragedy of her life is told.  Ledford even tells the parallel story of Katrina's father, an ex-con who only learns of his daughter's success after he's out of prison.

The story has an atmosphere of impending doom that hangs over the entire book. Some of that comes from the use of nature and symbols.  Ledford shows a great respect for spiritual beliefs of Katina's people and Hawk's. Those beliefs are essential to the story, beliefs in spirits and their roles after death, beliefs in the messages sent by the birds and nature. The beauty of the two settings, North Carolina and the Taos Pueblo Reservation, are in stark contrast to the dark atmosphere hanging over Katina's life.

With its atmosphere and strong characters, Snare is a gripping story of a woman trapped by her past, and the past of her dead mother. It's also the story of a lawman who chose his profession to make a difference in his community. For once, he has to leave his life, to help a young woman survive, and find her own community.

Deborah J. Ledford's website is www.DeborahJLedford.com

Snare by Deborah J. Ledford. Second Wind Publishing,  ©2010. ISBN 9781935171577 (paperback), 325p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The author gave me a copy of the book, in hopes I would review it.

A Deadly Row by Casey Mayes

A Deadly Row may be the first in a new mystery series, "A Mystery by the Numbers," but it's obvious that author Casey Mayes has written mysteries before.  And, I won't give away any secrets, but if you think about cozy mysteries and North Carolina, then check the copyright page, it's probably no longer a secret as to who Casey Mayes is.  No matter what name is used on this new series, though, it marks the introduction of two wonderful characters, Savannah Stone and her husband, Zach. 

Savannah quit teaching math to create number and logic puzzles, a job she loves.  And, she and Zach retired to a nice little place in the mountains of North Carolina.  But, Zach wasn't as ready as Savannah to settle in.  He was forced to retire from his job as police chief of Charlotte, after he was shot in the line of duty, and unable to work.  He's too young to sit at home so he frequently takes jobs as a consultant when police departments need help.  The chance to return to Charlotte and help in a murder investigation might have sounded interesting, but two people were killed, and it looks as if the mayor, the man who introduced Savannah and Jack, is the next target.  But, when the police department hired Zach, they didn't know Savannah's skills would be just as useful.

The killer has sent notes about the crimes, and on the back of the notes are numbers that seem familiar to Savannah.  And, when a picture of Savannah arrives, it only serves to make Zach and Savannah even more determined to investigate.  Who could get close enough to take that picture, unless it was someone the couple already knew? 

This first mystery has everything going for it.  Savannah and Zach Stone are an attractive couple who work well together as sleuths.  It's not far-fetched to have a professional in Zach, accompanied by his wife when he's on a consulting job.  At the moment, the series is set in North Carolina, but the job of consultant presents great opportunities for cases in other locations.  And, the side story about Savannah's family was an extra treat. 

I hope A Deadly Row marks the start of a series that will flourish, allowing Savannah and Zach to take consulting jobs for years.

Casey Mayes' website is http://www.caseymayes.com/

A Deadly Row by Casey Mayes.  Berkley Prime Crime, ©2010. ISBN 9780425236413 (paperback), 304p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - I have copies from both the author and the publisher.  They sent them in hopes I would review this book.

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris Cavender

I like cozy mysteries, but the most satisfying ones are ones in which the amateur sleuth has a good reason for investigating a murder.  In other words, how many times can the owner of a cookie or candy shop actually have a reason to push their way into an ongoing case?  Chris Cavender's Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder offers a legitimate reason for pizzeria owner Eleanor Swift to take action.

Acting as narrator, Eleanor clues the reader in quickly.  A dead body was found in the kitchen of her pizzeria, A Slice of Delight, with a thin crust pepperoni pizza and a bloody rolling pin.  And, since it was her delivery man who was the primary suspect, Eleanor and her sister, Maddy, had a reason to look for a killer.  If Eleanor can't be stopped when she's the victim of an armed robbery, why would Kevin Hurley, the police chief in Timber Ridge, North Carolina, think she can be stopped in a murder investigation?  This murder hit too close to home for Eleanor to be intimidated.

Once again, readers will find themselves rooting for the two feisty sisters in the sequel to A Slice of Murder.  Cavender gives us a likable cast of characters, humor, a killer that isn't the obvious suspect, and two great leading ladies.  Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder has every element a discriminating cozy mystery reader could want.

The website for this series is www.pizzamysteries.com.

Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris Cavender. Kensington Books, ©2010.  ISBN 9780758229502 (hardcover), 304p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The author sent me an ARC, hoping I would review the book.