Friday, October 17, 2014

A Crafty Christmas-Mollie Cox Bryan

A Crafty Christmas
Mollie Cox Bryan
Kensington, Oct 7 2014, $7.99
ISBN:  9780758293565

After winning a design contest, Sheila Rogers accompanied by her Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop BFFs (Vera with her boyfriend Eric and Paige with her son Randy) enjoy a ten-day Caribbean cruise though instead of sun a storm batters the area.  While doing her daily run, Sheila stumbles over an apparent drunk lying in her path.  A crew member arrives and checks the body before pronouncing the person dead.  Shelia faints. 

After the doctor sees that she is okay Sheila asks for her glasses as the ones she has on her is not hers; the deceased was wearing hers.  Ahoy Security Matthew Kirtley says a murder occurred and no one not even the killer can leave “town”.  As Kirtley investigates the homicide, Sheila’s family and the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop at sea and on land (in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley) worry the intended victim was Sheila who thus remains in harm’s way.  Not waiting for another murder especially of one of them, the two groups coordinate an inquiry into those on board.

The latest Cumberland Creek Mystery (see Scrappy Summer and Death Of An Irish Diva) is a super cozy that adroitly rotates the amateur sleuthing between on the ship and Virginia in a precise coordinated effort that our military would envy.  The storyline entertains subgenre fans who will appreciate the multigenerational Croppers, families and friends coming together to protect one of them while making their unofficial inquiry.


Harriet Klausner

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