Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Part of Series
4****
Blurb: Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tessa Treslow never thought that she’d be attending the wedding of her first love, Joe Eriksson, but that’s exactly where she finds herself. Even worse, his fiancée has asked her to be the Maid of Honor! But in the days leading up to the wedding, it becomes clear why Jessie St. John asked Tessa to stand with her, and it’s not just her military-style organization. Between a meddling “best frenemy” who’s doing her best to sabotage the wedding and an ex-husband falling—or being tossed—to his death, Tessa’s investigative skills are once again put to the test. The suspicious death of one of Jessie’s ex-husbands in one thing. But when ex-husband number 2 is also found dead, theories are tossed around like a bride’s bouquet. In order to help the wedding stay on track, Tessa needs to calm the bride, combat the frenemy, and make sure the flowers arrive, all while keeping sane. Despite a state detective being brought in to solve the case, Tessa is forced to fight to keep the ones she loves and her home sweet home safe from the most diabolical killer she has faced yet.
THOUGHTS: This is a good addition to the Hometown Mysteries series. In this one, Tessa is up against a serial killer who tests her at every turn. Tessa’s first love, Joe, is getting married to a woman who’s been married three times before. When two of the bride’s exes end up dead, all signs point to the bride, Jessie. Because of the relationship of everyone in the police department to the bride, the groom, or the victims, the state brings in a special investigator. And Tessa is told to stay out of it–which means she doesn’t, of course. After all, these are her friends.
I love Tessa and her aunt and that they aren’t standard characters. Tessa is a retired Army Lt. Colonel and her aunt runs a garage, fixing autos, which Tessa works at too. No ice cream shops or bakeries for these two. The story keeps you reading until the very end and gives you a satisfying ending.
Recommended.
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