A Different Kind of Mystery

I always chuckle when I read reviews of mysteries that say, "I knew it the whole time."  The funny thing about mysteries is that readers are caught in a catch-22--we want to figure out "who did it", but we don't want it to be too easy to figure out.  In the case of a mystery that I read this week, I had figured out "who did it" early on in the book.

The book was AH Gabhart's new book, Murder Comes by Mail.  This is the second book in Ms.

Gabhart's Hidden Springs Mystery.  It's not her usual genre.  I feel that the first book in this series was more enjoyable than this one.  This second book felt dry, slow, and plodding.  I hate to use words like those, but that is how I felt as I read the book.  I was more annoyed with more characters than is usual for most books I read.

The story is about Michael Keane and the town of Hidden Springs.  In the beginning of the story, he saves a man from jumping off a bridge and becomes a hero.  Shortly thereafter, trouble ensues.  Many of the characters from the first book are here ready to be a part of the story.  This book makes much more sense if you've read Murder at the Courthouse first.

As for the book itself...The plot continues at a steady pace.  The writing is very competent, though not surprising or unusual.  I suspect that many readers will be surprised at the twists and turns in this story, but for some reason I wasn't.  What disappointed me in the book was Alex and Michael's relationship/friendship.  As a reader, it was a strange relationship.  Awkward.  Not quite what I'd hoped for.

Overall, the book is really just fine. It's just not my favorite.  I enjoyed the first one much more.  I hope the third book in the series will remind me more of the first than the second when it comes out some time in the future!

(Angel Sister still remains my favorite book by this author!)

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Revell Books.