This is a very good cozy mystery. I do wish some of the characters were developed more. May should have had a bit more of a reaction to who the killer was, for instance. But cozies are meant to be quick, easy, and entertaining, which is what this book manages in spite of the murder of a sweet old lady. ( )

3 stars
This book was just as good as the first book in the series if not better. I really had no idea how Skye was going to find out who killed her grandmother.

It never would have occurred to me that Mona, driven by guilt? Or was it just her and her husbands reputation that drove her to murder. I’m not sure if I buy that scene where Mona forces Skye to go to confession before killing her. If she is such a believer isn’t she worried about her own punishment for the two people she already killed, and then the attempted murder of Skye and the priest. She makes for a good villain though it seems that nothing is as satisfying as a hypocrite getting their just reward.


I’m feeling good about my challenge, having enjoyed this book as much as I have just hoping the next 10 are just as good. 2020 Series Read: Scumble River ( )

Despite finding the first book slightly lackluster, I wanted to give the series a continued chance. To my delight I enjoyed this one much better than the original, bumping it up a star, as Skye encounters a richer plot and more tension in her personal life. Despite the mystery and plot of the first, I didn't think there was enough basic tension to play off; here it's more impressive as Simon surprised me with some colors I never expected to see, Wally wooed me, and Skye's family was shown in a grimmer light.

Mystery wise, it was pretty damn good. I wouldn't have figured out the culprit from clues alone, even if I didn't leave surprised. I enjoyed the multitude of red herrings used to throw me off track, all without any clear motives. The plot 'twist' was a decent one, again not guessed early on by yours truly. The story begins well with Skye encountering yet another difficult set of parents - this is a major theme for the book - and I especially loved the ending wrap-up with her and her mother. Too cute. The middle was fast-paced and attention-grabbing, making the book go fast in a hurry.

Skye's a great character who fights her way through the bogus school system as a student psychologist, yet she's not unrealistic in the realities she must face and settle. I especially felt horrible for a certain boy who felt the brunt of the politically incorrect system, and couldn't imagine being in the position Skye was, where she had to be the bearer of bad news. If school shrinks really go through what she did in this book (a little less dramatic I'd hope), then it's not a glamorous job. She's also unusually displayed as a plus-sized individual, proud of the fact she's big boned, having thrown out the dieting fad a year ago, yet still exercising and just being happy with the way she is. What a refreshing change that can be to read about.

Swanson decided to bring up relationship issues not touched upon much before, which I hold mixed feelings about. I can understand Skye's reluctance but it almost seems a bit too forced in this day and age and with her personality to last so long. Either way, we see a true side of another character, and I suppose that person's role is permanently changed. I did hold qualms with how she dealt with some of the family and town during the investigation, though. I mean, she's determined to solve her grandmothers death - obviously - but this seemed to overcome her need to be sensitive at certain moments. I thought she was a bit too ruthless at times, so that did irk me a little.

As before, this "cozy" mystery stayed warm and soothing, with violence implied and bloodshed nearly nonexistent. Characters worked well together, mixing up an interesting ensemble that propelled the story forward into a satisfying finale, even if her personal life was left an open book, obviously "to be continued." ( )

We meet more of Skye Denison's troubled maternal relatives in Murder of a Sweet Old Lady, the second Scumble River mystery. From what we learn about Skye's grandfather, Angelo Leofanti, he would have been a perfect candidate for a cozy mystery murder victim. He's been dead for most of Skye's life, but the evil he did certainly lived after him.

Angelo and Antonia (the sweet old lady) had four children: Dante, May, Minnie, and Mona. Dante is married to Olive. Their son, Hugo, is married to the beautiful but snobbish Victoria. Their son is Prescott.

May and her husband Jed, Skye and her big brother Vince's parents, are the most functional of the lot.

Minnie, whose husband is Emmett Overby, is the mother of the obnoxious twins, Ginger and Gillian. Ginger's husband is Flip Allen. We learned in the first book that they have three children. Bert was named in that one. Iris is their daughter (Iris Allen? As a fan of the Barry Allen version of the Flash, I approve). All we know about the third is that it's another boy. Gillian's husband is Irvin Tubb. Their daughter's name is Kirstin. All four children are ill-mannered. (Aunt Minnie is known for having 'spells' where she shuts herself away when she gets stressed out.)

Mona's husband is the overbearing and overly religious Neal O'Brien. Mona is so sanctimonious that it's hard to believe she was ever a fun teenager. They have no children.

Skye's romance with arrogant coroner Simon Reid is rocky, but not as rocky as her former crush's marriage. Sounds as if there's going to be romantic competition in future novels.

As in the first book, we get to see what Skye's life as a school psychologist is like. One set of parents is in severe denial about the monster they've spawned. Another parent mistakenly believes he can discipline his son any way he sees fit. Yet another wants to believe his son is a brute in training.
Still another is putting Skye into a situation similar to what got her fired from her job in New Orleans (see chapter nine for details).

It's bad enough that one of her relatives probably is her grandmother's killer. Is the killer also responsible for some nasty tricks played on Skye?

This time the chapter titles are taken from old nursery rhymes often tweaked a bit. My favorite is the one taken from 'Yankee Doodle' (see chapter 13). I've already put a hold on book three! ( )

Sweet cozy mystery. If I'm going to read any more in this series, I need to go back and pick up book #1 to fill in the back-story. ( )