READ WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID!
MANY-COLORED GLASS
... an easy five stars. [This book] was very well written, took me on a surprise mystery ride, and I hope there will be further adventures with Grace, Angus, and the rest of the group from Pelican's Perch.
Reviewed by SELENA HICKS for INKSPAND
MANY-COLORED GLASS
Romance sparks when Grace meets Angus, a handsome single pastor at the local church. To that add in a creepy handyman, a couple of snakes, a murky swamp, colorful Gullah characters, dead bodies and you have a realistic tale of murder woven into the coastal setting of South Carolina. Loved [the character]Tata Brown. "De smoke run de 'skeetuh 'way." And Henrietta Hephzibah Turner. "Oh, no. It bettuh tha' I don' bodder you. Too dainjus. Too dainjus." Theresa Jenner Garrido is quite a storyteller! Reminiscent of Agatha Christie's use of red herrings. She kept me guessing until the end.
Reviewed by FRAN STRICKLAND, contributor DIVINE MOMENTS and CHRISTMAS MOMENTS
WHO DONE IT?
This is a very well-written mystery with a few suspects that kept this reader guessing who actually committed the crime, right up to the end. Each of the characters stands out, unique, from fifty-seven year old Alexandra, who describes herself as a bit overweight and who love to read cozy mysteries, to Ducky, who is an eighty-year old who never has a hair out of place, loves to imbibe, and is as spunky as a thirty-year old. The plot of this one moves along at a brisk pace, with vivid descriptions that bring not only the setting but the characters t life! The relationship that started to develop between Alex and Eugene, the gardener, seemed realistic. I could almost hear him going on and on about his roses, and the way Alex really waffled back and forth about him. I thought it was cute that her friends teased her about the relationship. I loved the setting of the sleepy little beach town, and could easily imagine Alex tooling around on her bike. Theresa Jenner Garrido does an amazing job of feeding just enough information that kept me guessing while aslo creating lively dialogue between the characters. I loved the quirky sayings that Ducky or Alex often provide and found myself laughing a few times. Overall, a great cozy mystery that isn't easy to solve. It is filled with interesting charcters and that makes it a great read. I hope th eauthor will turn this book into a series because I think Ducky and Alex have more than a few adventures left in them.
Reviewed by BRENDA CASTO for READERS' FAVORITE
WHO DONE IT?
I love a good cozy and this one by Theresa Jenner Garrido is perfect. Alex and her friend Agatha may be teetering a bit beyond middle age, but these lively women are busy, adventurous ladies. So when Agatha calls Alex to tell her that a college roommate may lose her recently renovated Victorian B&B to ghosts--well, something is definitely driving away the customers--and the friend is about to lose all that money she spent, renovating her inherited treasure, unless she can find out who or what is causing the trouble.
Besides, the B&B is on a small barrier island so if nothing else, this will be a fun trip and Alex is excited to go along. Naturally, the trip includes the spritely eighty-year old Dorothea, aka Ducky, author of two thrillers, and a natural at uncovering mysteries.
They arrive to find the place is as described--a three-story Victorian and a jewel with beachront views to die for. It soon becomes apparent that the dying part may be closer than they all thought when the "ghost" continues to try to drive them out.
But when the ladies discover a secret that locals would prefer not to talk about--agter all, murder is bad for tourism. A few years ago, the body of a strangled woman was found on the beach close to the B&B. Now the ladies see a reason to investigate and Ducky uncovers another mystery--four more young women have gone missing on the island over the years.
Suspects are kept to a small list--the long-time grounds keeper, who attaches imself to Alex and has an interesting collection of roses, the smarmy young assistant, the taciturn Cajun cook, and a greedy real estate woman who would do just about anything to get her hands on the B&B.
The author certainly whet my appetitie for a visit to the low country. Tightly plotted, clever and witty dialogue, great characters! Highly recommended!
Reviewed by REBECCA DAHLKE for INKSPAND
