5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for what it is, July 29, 2006
I feel this series is improving. The author can only fit in so much in a small paperback cozy, so here he concentrates on Harrison's relationship with Markum, as well as Sanora and Heather. I figured out the "primary" villain early on, but - quasi-spoiler alert - there's more than one.
A minor point that registered with me (as a guy) was a customer assuming that Harrison worked for a female owner/manager, presumably because it was a craft shop. There had been another character who came in looking for his aunt, and had to be informed of her death, so it wasn't that kind of a mistake. In this installment, Myers introduces a couple of new characters, who are likely to be prominent in future stories, as well as having one (or two) likely to recede.
Looking forward to the next one.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Death of an Old Flame, July 17, 2006
Harrison Black is trying to fit in a quick morning kayak trip on the Gun Powder River behind his shop when he bumps into something. To his horror, he discovers it's a body. He's even more upset when he realizes its Becka Lane, his ex-girlfriend. While the two no longer dated, they had remained good friends.
Despite the fact that she was found in the river, the coroner declares her death an overdose. That immediately sets off warning bells in Harrison's mind. Becka hated pills. There's no way she would take them willingly. When the sheriff concludes it was a suicide, Harrison feels the need to investigate to find the murderer.
Unfortunately, Harrison is facing some other problems. A developer is trying to buy the undeveloped land next to his story and turn it into condos. When Harrison tries to visit his neighbor to talk to him about it, the man refuses to see him. And, two of Harrison's tenants are still feuding; each threatening not to sign a lease renewal if the other stays. How can he cope with all of this?
As with the other books in the series, Harrison is the glue that holds the story together. His stubbornness and honorability make him instantly likeable, while his recklessness and lack of tact get him into all kinds of trouble. His relationship with Eve, his employee, is still rocky. I can never decide from one page to the next if I like her or not. I wish we'd really delve into her a little more in the series. Taking a larger role in this book is Harrison's friend Markum. He's always intrigued me, so I was glad to see more of him.
Unfortunately, the plot could have been better. Killing off a series character is always risky, but here it worked well. I'd never especially liked Becka, but I felt sorry at her demise. Too much time is spent on the other problems Harrison is facing, and not enough time is spent developing the mystery. That's probably because it was rather thin. I knew right away who the killer was. Even so, the ending felt a little abrupt.
This is not one of the stronger entries in the series. Fans of Harrison will still find it satisfying, but others should look elsewhere for a good read.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable Mystery, November 23, 2006
I really like the candlemaking series. I recommend it to anyone wanting a fast, enjoyable read.
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