Customer Reviews

Death and the Easter Bunny: A Mystery

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

 

 

I met Linda Berry at a book signing in 1998, and I was impressed with her conviction that setting and character interactions are just as important as the puzzle in a mystery novel. I purchased this book and was not disappointed. The characters and set-ups were believable, and the story had a great sense of place. The puzzle did not suffer any, either, and held surprises while being fair to the reader.

I was also impressed by the dearth of typos, which are all too common in today's rather slapdash publishing world. Ms. Berry evidently takes a great deal of pride in her work, and her readers reap the benefits.

A highly crafted first novel that was a pleasure to read. We met the elegant Linda Berry at Murder Goes South. She was right at home and her characters strive from their element with all the force of vital people you know and love.
Trudy Roundtree, returns home packing a load of baggage and few skills to remain solvent. Losing her anchor and landing in a family tug-of-war spice Trudy's determination to do the job her loving relatives exerted pressure to secure for her. A stake-out in the bushes lands Trudy a murder investigation while the other members of the department recover from contact with poisonous vegetation.
The story is spiced with humor, pungent metaphors (Methodist purgatory) and a well driven plot with twists and surprises. DEATH AND THE EASTER BUNNY is a great cozy to enjoy anything a light read beckons.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Take a rural hometown, some quirky down home characters, a wise cracking Police Department and the usual family stress of the Easter holiday. Blend them with murder and mayhem and you have a unique, humorous mystery called Death and the Easter Bunny by Linda Berry.

Trudy Roundtree has had enough happen in her life... her husband was killed in a hunting accident. Later she returns to her hometown after a failed romance. When she doesn't know what to do with herself, her cousin, Hen, short for Henry, hires her as a police officer. After investigating the latest fire and death in Ogeechee. Trudy learns it's really murder. Since the other officers are out of commission with a rash they picked up while hiding in the woods on stake out, Trudy takes the lead in investigating, using the help of the Ogeechee kudzu vine ( that's Georgian for Grapevine), the volunteer fire marshall, and some of Ogeechee's other interesting citizens. While she's sleuthing she also deals with a alien visit, a family that loves to be mirandarized and cousin-in-law holding a grudge.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. It was witty, humorous and up front. Trudy doesn't just investigate a crime. She introduces us and gives us insight on her hometown, her family and her friends. Trudy is a woman with a quick wit, and can take what ever comes in stride and go on. When you read it, you too will feel her confidence and shake your head in agreement at her hometown wisdom.

Since I'm always looking for a good mystery series of the cozy or whodunit variety Linda Berry's Death and the Easter Bunny was a great find. It has a good plot, great characters, and lots of humor. The female main character is strong and believable, and the supporting characters are mostly just as well drawn. The mystery itself is just grim enough to be taken seriously without becoming gruesome, and the sometimes outrageous humor balances it nicely. If you like low-key police procedurals, you might enjoy this one. If you're southern or from a small town, you'll probably love it! I've already read the three books that follow this one, and am waiting for the latest to arrive. Certainly hope there are more to come in this series.

Death and the Easter Bunny provides an accurate, humorous look at life in small-town South Georgia. I found Ms. Berry's mixing truth (some of the events actually happened, or are based on actual events) and fiction (some came straight from her mind) to be wonderful. I should add that, as a small-town radio reporter in the late 1970s, I reported on the murder on which the mystery is inspired, though not based. I was fascinated by the mixture of real elements with fictional. I also know her cousin, on whom the Chief of Police is based, and could hear him reciting some of the same sentences to me 20 years ago. I look forward to her next book, which I understand is in the works and also based on similar exploits of citizens of some of the same certain South Georgia towns.

I enjoyed "Death and the Easter Bunny." I am drawn to southern mysteries and the language, expressions and characters were accurate and interesting. I was distracted by the fact that the Easter Bunny didn't enter the story until near the end of the book. In some cases I felt as if I had missed a previous book due to the history discussed. But Trudy and her cousin Hen, the sheriff, were believable likable characters and I look forward to the next Linda Berry book.

Trudy Roundtree is the first female to be hired on the police force in her hometown of Ogeechee, Georgia. Her chauvinistic boss, Police Chief Henry Huckabee, also happens to be her cousin, which leads to some interesting verbal exchanges between the two. When a murder occurs in the small town, Henry is suffering from an allergic reaction and is unable to work so Trudy takes over the investigation. There are the usual red herrings and multiple suspects, but Trudy perserveres and eventually comes up with a suspect. Author Berry uses gentle humor and solid characters to create a believable small Southern town atmosphere and an entertaining book.

Anyone who has lived in a small Southern town will recognize some, or all, of Linda Berry's characters. She has a ready wit and sense of humor. The mystery is a bit thin, she is careful to draw attention to all the "clues," but still believeable and not contrived. A good first attempt and I'm looking forward to seeing her characters again in the next book.

In a small town, everyone knows everybody else and strangers easily stand out in the crowd. People look out for their neighbors, thereby creating a close knit community. However, on the down side, secrets are known by all and kept away from outsiders. Trudy Roundtree is paid by the county to investigate the personal lives of others as a police officer in Ogeechee, Georgia. As the only female law enforcement person, she has a lot to prove even as her boss, who is also her cousin, wants to protect her from the uglier side of life.

A few weeks ago Reed Ritter was complaining about vandalism. Now he is dead from a fire that started from his stove in his trash filled home. The coroner rules that he was murdered and arson was committed to try and cover up the crime. Trudy and her boss tread lightly as they question people close to the victim because one of the prime suspects has close ties to the town's most powerful family.

Though Linda Berry cleverly uses a special clue as a device to obtain readers attention, it is her brilliant story telling that keeps readers turning the pages of DEATH AND THE EASTER BUNNY. Trudy is an interesting protagonist and the delightful town, populated by eccentrics, adds atmosphere to this well crafted southern mystery. The novel is a good ole girls' mystery that hopefully will have sequels.

Harriet Klausner