18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good, November 10, 1999
I love this series by Mary Daheim. Whenever a new Alpine book comes out, I make sure I clear my schedule and set aside time for just reading, as if setting aside time for a visit from old and dear friends. I'm not in agreement with who Emma chooses as her "man", but it's something I just have to accept and hope she'll get smart and forget about him. I look forward for future books with Milo, Vida, Leo, Emma and the wonderful town of Alpine. I would highly recommend this book.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cute cozy, June 30, 1999
By A Customer
In Skyomish County, Washington, Emma Lord, enjoys being the editor and publisher of the Alpine Advocate. However, lately she feels irate with the nasty personal attack from Crystal Bird, editor and publisher of the monthly Crystal Clear. However, of more concern to Emma is that someone broke into her home, but nothing of value was stolen.
A friend arranges for Emma to meet with Crystal to clear the air. However, Crystal displays an attitude even though Emma humbles herself and agrees to support a woman's issue. The next day, Crystal is found dead, an apparent suicide. The autopsy reveals the woman actually died from an overdose of a prescription drug prescribed to Emma. Most of the residents of SKYCO including Sheriff Milo Dodge (Emma's former boy friend) believe Emma killed her rival. Emma, with the help of her friend, reporter Vida Runkel, makes inquiries to prove the authorities and gossips wrong.
The twelfth Emma Lord amateur sleuth tale is an entertaining who-done-it because of the townsfolk knee jerk reaction to blame the lead protagonist. After almost a decade in SKYCO, Emma, an influential citizen, is still considered an outsider. Contrasted To Emma's non-status is the locals' easy acceptance of acerbic Crystal, who was born in the area, but left many years ago before returning. Vida remains a fresh character and the remainder of the secondary cast provides an authentic feel to the region. The mystery is relatively simple, but the fun in Mary Daheim's series rests with the wonderfully, warm players.
Harriet Klausner
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Things Aren't So Crystal Clear, June 10, 2004
By A Customer
Emma Lord, owner and editor of the Alpine Advocate isn't happy, her house has been robbed and now she's having an even bigger problem.
And her name is Crystal Bird. Crystal has just come back to town and has started a newsletter. Slamming Emma and everyone else.
Emma is furious as the attacks are so vicious and personal, that she could just kill Crystal.
When her friend Paula offers to set up a meeting, Emma hopes they can clear the air. Having a conversation with Crystal while she's sitting in her hot tub doesn't help the situation and to make her even madder, Crystal asks her to answer the phone on her way out and it turns out to be Milo Dodge, the sheriff.
Is he dating Crystal? And as if things couldn't have been worse, Crystal ends up dead. She had drowned in her hottub, with her wrists slit. At first it looks like suicide, until the autopsy comes back and it shows Crystal had been fed an overdose of drugs.
The fact that a prescription bottle of Emma's show up on the bottom of the hot tub doesn't help. Did she put an end to her rival? Was she the last person to see Crystal? Or was it one of the other people who seemed to have visited Crystal that night.
Is Emma being framed for murder? Emma knows she has to do something to clear herself, because even after living in Alpine all these years, she's getting nasty notes indicating they think she's responsible for the murder. And is Milo one of those people?
Highlights:
Milo giving Emma the third degree.
Milo turning Emma down for quick romp in the hay after Tom disappoints her once again.
Emma's employee's, Leo, Ginny, and Vida are always good for a laugh.
Pretty good mystery. I didn't figure it out and the killer was a surprise.
Lowlights:
Tom Cavanaugh - when isn't he the lowlight to any of these stories.
Emma's beloved Jag. Tragedy strikes the car which seems almost as much a part of the series as any of the characters.
The killer. Although I didn't figure it out and it was a surprise, part of the surprise was that I thought the reasoning behind everything was a little lame.
Although I don't think the Alpine series is as good as Mary Daheim's bed and breakfast series, it is still a joy to read and much better than other series of a similar type.
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