Customer Reviews

Murder on the Ol' Bunions (LaTisha Barnhart Mystery Series #1) (Heartsong Presents Mysteries #12)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Debut jitters? I don't think so. S. Dionne Moore proves Barbour Publishing has chosen the finest for the launch of it's cozy mystery line, Heartsong Presents: Mysteries. A good mix of humor and whodunit make this book perfect for the genre, and perfect for a lazy afternoon.

Murder on the Ol' Bunions opens sassy and never quits. I fell in love with LaTisha's indomitable spirit and impudence. We talk about characters leaping off the pages of a book, and LaTisha does. Well ... maybe not leap. LaTisha limps. Bunions, you know.

Moore didn't give us a generic lovely, young sleuth. LaTisha Barnhart is an overweight grandmother and bossy. While the supporting cast have equally distinct personalities, Moore maintains a good balance of characters throughout. By the time I turned the last page, I truly didn't want this to end. I laughed all the way through it, and never guess whodunit.

This is Moore's debut book, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next one: Poly Dent Loses Grip. Novel Reviews gives Murder on the Ol' Bunions a high recommendation. A perfect read for a spring afternoon.

Feisty, brassy, quick witted and compassionate. Those are just a few words that I would use to describe the full-figured amateur sleuth LaTisha Barnhart our heroine in Murder On the Ol' Bunions. S. Dionne Moore has created a wonderful story with characters that really reflect people you just might meet on the streets of many little small towns.

Going along for the ride with LaTisha as she tries to solve the mystery of the murder of her former employer Marion Peters is a treat for the imagination. LaTisha has motives to solve this case including a nice 1000 dollar reward which would do nicely to finance her college education (and maybe pay to remove those ol' bunions), but she also is on the light list of suspects...a very light spot on the list once you get to know her. The reader is introduced to lively characters of the lovely small town of Maple Gap. My favorite is LaTisha's silly and devoted husband Hardy who often bestows on his wife a fine golden toothed grin. The two spar and tease each other in an outline of a fun and loving relationship. You will also meet some very silly named characters that will give you an "Ahhhhh" moment, but you will also see some characters that point you to the great qualities of our heroine. She is kind of the town's mom. As she has had more than enough on-the-job training as the mother of seven. LaTisha battles with herself over a bit of the empty nest syndrome, and eases that with her sleuthing and a monsoon of baking and cooking. I would love to have a LaTisha in my life!!!!!

S. Dionne Moore has fashioned a fun cozy mystery. I think she has opened the door to a delightful series and truly hope to read more about this community. I would totally recommend Murder on the Ol' Bunions. It is a light, uncomplicated and entertaining read with nicely developed characters. Please write more Dionne! I want to see Betsy get hers!</

I absolutely loved this book. I found it odd that a middle aged white woman was writing as a older black female character, and the stereotypes may be offensive to some, but the book is hilarious!! Too bad the series only has two books. Looks like we'll never know if LaTisha gets her bunions fixed...

LaTisha and Hardy Barnhart fall over a dead body - the owner of an antique store (Marion). Marion, is not particularly liked by the citizens of Maple Gap, Colorado, so it is difficult to discover the cause/who of death. This is the first in the series and reveals alot of the folks in and around town. Fun read for a rainy afternoon.

This story was too cute!

LaTisha Barnhart and her husband, Hardy are simply delightful. LaTisha is a robust older woman who is getting her Police Science degree online. And when she finds her former employer dead just a few hours after LaTisha had purchased some books LaTisha goes to work.

In most of these stories the professional law enforcement doesn't welcome the help from the private citizen. But in a nice twist, the local police chief enlist LaTisha's help. The story has some nice twists to keep you guessing. It is lighthearted and fun, but has one of my favorite things, a dead body within the first few pages. (Yes, I'm a tad morbid).

If you enjoy Ginny Aiken, then you should enjoy this story as well. Both authors offer stories with chuckles, yet the stories are not all fluff, this story explores some of the deep emotions that we women will face as we get older.

Dionne Moore had done it again, she is one of the funnist writters I have ever know. I love LaTasha and Hardy, I wish I could boss my hubby around like she does. We are about the same I am a short large woman and he is a tall skinny man, but he is strong. LaTasha and her panyhose is something else she has more trouble out of them, I did the same untill I stopped wearing them. LaTasha has to help with murder investagaion of her former emplorer Marion and they go from one to another to try and find out who did it. Like all of Dionne's books, it is always someone you would not suspect. LaTasha has a time with her size and age, and in this book she is going to be a grandma and that makes her feel old. The things they find in Marion's store and who the father of her daughter is. LaThasa makes poor old Hardy change his way of dressing and makes him slip around in the middle of night to spy on people, he really don't want to do any of this, but he know his wife, she want let it go. He just loves to play the piano and eat some of of LaTashe's good cooking. She wants to be a cook in this book, because she feeds the whole town anyway.

Thanks again Dionne for just a great story, I have already read the 2nd one in the series, going in reverse here, but can't wait to get the 3th book in the series.

With fresh writing and comedic characters, Murder on the Ol' Bunions is a great summer read. Ms. Moore did a fantastic job developing LaTisha and her husband Hardy, individually, and as a couple. The interaction between the two is hilarious and touching.

The storyline is enjoyable as well. I gave away the last book I read after figuring out who-done-it on page twenty-five. This book kept me guessing throughout. Thanks for an entertaining read, Ms. Moore.

If a murder mystery can be funny and interesting at the same time than this is the one. Curl up for a good chuckle when you read Murder On The 'Ol Bunions. Meet LaTisha Barnhart the gamey middle aged sleuth who snoops around for clues in the death of her former boss, Marion Peters. LaTisha knows at once that there are a fair amount of people who could have commited the murder and she sets out at once to find out who it could be. LaTisha's huband Hardy is a gem and puts up with LaTisha's ways as only a couple who have been married a long time can do. They compliment each other not unlike Burns and Allen. All through the book LaTisha and her aching bunions will keep you in stitches. Bravo for this wonderful murder mystery!

LaTisha Barnhart is a gritty heroine and spunky amateur sleuth who is on the trail of her former employer's killer in "Murder On The Ol' Bunions" by S. Dionne Moore. Hardy Barnhart, LaTisha's husband, offers great comic relief. Other aptly (and humorously) named characters add flavor to this enjoyable whodunit. Whether you read a mystery to be entertained or try your skills at figuring out who the guilty party is from the clues planted by the author, you'll be completely captivated by this highly colorful tale of a woman who wants to see justice for her friend and clear her own name in the process.