Customer Reviews

Mourning Shift: A Tory Bauer Mystery

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I very much enjoyed reading MOURNING SHIFT by Kathleen Taylor. Once again, Tory Bauer, overweight, over 40, and over likely to discover dead bodies, is in fine form. Right away she discovers the dead body of an elderly man in the bathroom of the cafe where she waitresses. Turns out he was the husband of cafe cook/owner Aphrodite. Shortly after discovering the body, Aphrodite's step-daughter and her son arrive in town, making it a regular family reunion. Unfortunately, there's a bomber on the loose, and one of the main characters is killed. Tory investigates and soon puts all the clues together for a surprise ending.

While the author did provide readers with all the necessary clues to figure out whodunit, I never put it all together. (A book is successful for me if the author can provide all the clues and still keep me guessing.) I also enjoyed the Woo-Woo Factor (the term used by mystery buffs to describe supernatural incidences in books). All the usual characters were back being their normal, quirky selves, providing additional laughs. A nice, light summer read perfect to take with you on vacation.

Kathleen Taylor is in fine form with her latest mystery, Mourning Shift. Tory Bauer, widowed, overweight, over forty waitress at the only eating establishment in town, the Delphi Cafe is crankier than usual. It's Halloween, her least favorite holiday, she's dressed as a munchkin from The Wizard of Oz and she's just discovered the dead body of a patron in the cafe bathroom. To make matters worse, he's the long estranged husband of Aphrodite Ferguson, the cafe's owner (no one in town knew she'd ever been married), his daughter and grandson have just arrived at the cafe to meet him and Tory has to give them the bad news. But the day isn't over yet. Within hours, one of the locals is murdered, blown to bits by a car bomb and the two deaths may be connected. When always inquisitive Tory starts looking for answers, secrets start popping up all over town. This is a terrific, fast paced, funny mystery full of great quirky characters. The writing is sharp and witty with dialogue so irreverent and down to earth, you'll find yourself laughing out loud. And though all the clues are there, the mystery has enough twists and turns to keep you off balance and guessing to the surprise ending of the story. So take a trip to South Dakota and join the fun at the Delphi Cafe. You won't be disappointed.

This is the second book in this series that I've read and revisiting these colorful characters is like sinking into a big comfy chair. I like the way Ms. Taylor tells a story...it seems effortless (as it should). A very good mystery with plenty of twists and turns and a very satisfying conclusion. I don't understand why this author isn't getting more attention. She's gone to the top of my list.

I always enjoy reaquainting myself with Delphi's characters...Kathleen Taylor has truly captured the essence of small town life. Her storylines are always twisting in unexpected directions, leading me to re-read sections looking for the clues I missed the first time! I have recommended this book to all my friends and family.

If you are already among the Kathleen Taylor fans, you'll find MOURNING SHIFT even better than her other books. If you're not and you read this one, it'll make you want to go back and read the others. All of her marvelous characters are here. Add the excitement of a Halloween arrival of an attractive stripper and it's one big bang.....with a little woo woo thrown in.

Ms. Taylor captures perfectly the imperfect, which is just about everyone in Delphi, South Dakota. Her plots have always been well done and her endings have always left readers with dilemmas. MOURNING SHIFT, however, goes beyond the other books. The plot is thrilling and the ending is superb.

Kathleen Taylor continues to write some of the most exciting, thoughtful, and downright funny books one could ever want to read.

MOURNING SHIFT is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 5.

In Delphi, SD, nobody's perfect. Nobody (except the librarian) is wealthy. And nobody's drop-dead gorgeous, but you'll love them all. This, the 4th installment in the Tory Bauer mystery series, is a winner.

Who knew? Who knew that South Dakota harbored such wise, life-smart folks who roll with life's punches while we roll with laughter. Tory Bauer again flies the flag boldly for the less than perfect, more than ample sexy ladies out there. She manages to do this while waiting tables at a cafe because there is no "over-weight middle-aged career track" in Delphi. She'd like to keep her life nice and simple but with dead bodies in the restroom and secrets being revealed left and right things get pretty complicated.

Tory grows a lot in this Taylor outing. She learns some tough lessons, has a little woo-woo help solving the death of someone close to her and finds that not having sex "can be every bit as complicating as getting some". Go Tory.

Kathleen Taylor has created another wonderful book! You find yourself being absorbed into the life of small town Delphi and caring about the main people in the story. Each book is like coming home to visit family. I hope she continues writing this series for a long, long time. I look forward to setting time aside to sit and read her books in one sitting since they are hard to put down once picked up. The only thing I would ask from the author is that Neil and Tori be allowed to be together. Highly recommended.

Reading MOURNING SHIFT by Kathleen Taylor took me back home to small town midwestern life. I smiled. I cried. I laughed. And when I finished, I went searching for Ms. Taylor's other books about Tory Bauer, that fascinating 40 year old, slightly overweight waitress who solves murders. Set in Delphi, SD (which must, I believe, lie somewhere between "Fargo" and "Lake Wobegon"), MOURNING SHIFT is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys people. If Janet Evanovitch is the city mouse, then Ms. Taylor is the country mouse supreme!

What a great series. I am so puzzled by one reader's trashing of this book on political reasons?? I always thought if you didn't like a book, put it down, don't insult others who might enjoy it. Which I certainly did!!