There seems to be a trend these days to write stories with 'women of a certain age' (or past that, in some cases) as the main character(s). That's true for The Marlow Murder Club, by Robert Thorogood (who created the BBC series Death in Paradise). Judith is 77, is happy in her old mansion, drinks whiskey, and creates crosswords for national newspapers. When out swimming one evening, she hears a gunshot. The police thinks it's suicide, but Judith thinks otherwise. This is the start of the Marlow Murder club ... an interesting group of three who end up investigating when the police won't. Soon there is another body. I like how the author uses the different talents/skills of each woman for the search for the killer.

I had to jump from book three to book five in the Miss Fortune Mystery series, book four is 'unavailable at this time' ... so ... what I can glean from reading Gator Bait is that there has been a fire (Fortune now has a housemate ... one that can cook), that someone obnoxious has decided to run for mayor, and Fortune and Carter have planned their first date. Author Jana Deleon takes the reader on another crazy romp with Swamp Team 3 (that must have been decided on in book four, too). A call from Carter, reporting shots fired and a sinking boat results in an amazing rescue ... what they will learn from the investigation becomes a case involving the ATF, a missing man from some years back, and more.

Reading Hermit With Dog