Mama Pursues Murderous Shadows [Mass Market Paperback]

Nora Deloach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2000

With Mama on the case, murder meets its match....

A tryst with a deadly twist.

All I'd wanted to do back home in Otis, South Carolina, was whip up a wonderful thirty-fifth anniversary party for my parents. But we'd hardly picked the baker before Mama found herself volunteering her services for the one thing she did nearly as well as cook. And that is sleuthing.

You see, Ruby Spikes was found dead in a motor inn with a gun in her hand, a suicide note, and a certified check receipt to a man no one ever heard of--not even the trio of Otis gossips who are Mama's rock-solid source of information.  Neither they nor Mama, despite Ruby's tormented diary, were convinced she went to her reward willingly. But this was a young woman with an outsize bundle of secrets and enemies.  And when Mama starts sorting them out, and sudden death makes a return visit, it looks like she'll uncover the truth only by making herself--and me--a killer's next target....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest installment of the Mama series (after Mama Rocks the Empty Cradle) uncovers the sad story of Ruby Spikes, who's found in a motel, dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gun wound. Mama, a social worker, fabulous cook and amateur sleuth in Otis, S.C., gets involved because her friend, Sarah, was carrying insurance on Ruby. Sarah is desperately in need of the money after losing her savings on a lottery scam, and she won't receive the insurance money unless the death is proved to be murder, not suicide. So Mama starts looking into Ruby's personal life, aided by her daughter, Simone, a paralegal who is visiting from Atlanta to plan a big party celebrating Mama's 35th wedding anniversary. Naturally, Ruby's life and death are full of secrets, but even an attempt on her life won't dissuade Mama from uncovering the truth behind the woman's death. This breezy mystery takes place in a small town where almost everyone knows what everyone else is doingAimagine a charming English mystery set in the South with all African-American characters. While the plot is weak, this book still charms with its descriptions of delicious food, realistic family dynamics and smart dialogue. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Imagine a charming English mystery set in the South with all African-American characters....Charms with its descriptions of delicious food, realistic family dynamics and smart dialogue."
--Publishers Weekly


"[Mama] is a delight."
--Rendezvous

"Grace Covington [has been] dubbed the African-American Miss Marple."
--The San Diego Union-Tribune

"A sleuth with both compassion and courage."
--The Skanner, Portland

"[Nora DeLoach] deserves considerable credit for demonstrating that the conventions of the English cozy can be transplanted successfully to the African American South."
--Publishers Weekly

"You can almost taste the grits and sweet-potato pie when paging through this brisk and entertaining whodunit."
-Chicago Tribune

"Paints a fine picture of small-town Southern life, and the mystery blends danger and humor."
-Romantic Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (June 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553577220
• ISBN-13: 978-0553577228
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.5 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,394,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great style and storytelling, June 6, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mama Pursues Murderous Shadows (Mass Market Paperback)

Simone lives and works as a paralegal in Atlanta, but her heart remains in her hometown of Otis, South Carolina. She visits her parents Mama and James whenever she can escape. Lately, she has been going home just about every weekend to set up a thirty-fifth anniversary party for her parents although Mama prefers no party at all.

Mama changes her mind about a celebration when a local girl dies and the official ruling is a suicide. If Simone helps her prove the girl was murdered and did not commit suicide, Mama will consent to having a party.

The body of Ruby Jane Spikes was found in a motel room with an apparent self-afflicted gun shot wound as the cause of death. Ruby's godmother refuses to accept the official ruling and asks Mama to look into it. Having solved a few homicide cases, Mama and Simone feel confident they will succeed again (and the anniversary celebration will take place) as they begin their inquiries that place them in danger from a killer.

Anyone who reads MAMA PURSUES DANGEROUS SHADOWS will have a fun time due to the exquisitely drawn characters. The actions of the lead duo are serious yet place a smile on the audience's lips as if they are next door neighbors. Nora DeLoach is a wonderful storyteller who crafts an intriguing mystery filled with red herrings and numerous twists and turns that prevent the reader from easily selecting the culprit. Fans will remember Mama and Simone as two of the best stars of down-home mysteries.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars Do You Like Cozy Mysteries?, August 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mama Pursues Murderous Shadows (Mass Market Paperback)

Then the entire Mama series is right up your alley. Mama, is determined to prove that Ruby--victims in DeLoach's books usually either deserved what happened to them or end up dead because they couldn't keep a secret--the trashy Goddaughter of one of Mama's friends, did not kill herself. It's delightful wathcing how Mama works and how the whole family gets involved.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow Moma!, July 29, 2000

By 

Reecia Thompson Stoglin "Re'" (Arlington, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mama Pursues Murderous Shadows (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was fantastic just like all the others. It is always comical to see how Moma pulls Simone and the rest of the clan into her sleuthing. I look forward to the next episode.