Murder of a Botoxed Blonde (Scumble River Mysteries, Book 9) [Mass Market Paperback]

Denise Swanson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2009

A health spa complete with tofu turkey and "Dress for Sexcess" lectures is the last place school psychologist Skye Denison wants to spend Thanksgiving. But when her best friend Trixie Frayne convinces her to take a complimentary weekend at the new Scumble River Spa, Skye accepts her fate and prepares to be slathered, wrapped, and roasted-until a murder ruins the good time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Delightfully down to earth. (Chicago Tribune)

I enjoy every minute of every book of this series. (Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author)

About the Author

Denise Swanson has worked as a school psychologist for 17 years. This is her second novel featuring Skye Denison and Scumble River. Her first book, Murder of a Small-Town Honey, debuted to advance praise from the Charlotte Austin Review, Meritorious Mysteries, and BookBrowser. She is currently working on the next Scumble River mystery, Murder of a Sleeping Beauty. Denise lives in Illinois with her husband, Dave, and their cool black cat, Boomerang. For more information, visit her website: www.deniseswanson.com

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Signet (April 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451221419
• ISBN-13: 978-0451221414
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Spa Brings Manicures, Miracle Mud, and Murder to Scumble River, April 17, 2007

By 

L. Kelly (Lakewood, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder of a Botoxed Blonde (Scumble River Mysteries, Book 9) (Mass Market Paperback)

Scumble River school psychologist Skye Denison reluctantly agrees to accept a complimentary visit to Scumble River's swanky new spa with her best friend Trixie over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Scumble River Spa is housed in a renovated mansion located on the river. Margot Avanti, the owner of the new spa, has invited amateur sleuth Skye to the resort to investigate the vandalism that has been plaguing the spa since it opened. When Trixie and Skye arrive at the spa, they find that Skye's mother May and college friend Loretta, as well as Bunny, the mother of Skye's ex-boyfriend, and high school reporter Frannie are all spending the weekend at the spa too. It appears that the vandalism at the spa is the result of someone who is searching for a rumored Depression-era treasure hidden somewhere on the spa's property.

Readers of the previous books in the Scumbe River series know that Skye is a "Real Woman" who has made her own peace with her size 12 body. For her, a weekend featuring Tofu Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner and carob brownies is not the holiday she has envisioned. But when Skye finds the body of another resort guest drowned in the spa's Miracle Mud bath, the weekend takes a definite turn for the worse. In her new position of psychological consultant to the Scumble River Police Department, Skye finds herself searching for the killer of the model.

Skye continues to juggle her complicated personal life as she debates whether she should take her new relationship with Police Chief Wally Boyd "to the next level". Plus, it doesn't help that everyone from Skye's own mother right down to her high school students think that she should get back together with her ex-boyfriend Simon, proprietor of Scumble River's funeral home.

I highly recommend this latest installment in the Scumble River series. These stories just keep improving! You won't be disappointed in this latest trip to the little town of Scumble River.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mud and murder at a local spa, May 18, 2007

By 

Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder of a Botoxed Blonde (Scumble River Mysteries, Book 9) (Mass Market Paperback)

Skye Denison is planning on having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with her family in Scumble River, Illinois, but her best friend, Trixie, has other ideas. Trixie convinces Skye that they should accept a free weekend at the newly-opened Scumble River Spa, and try to find treasure which is reputedly buried in the backyard of the old, converted mansion. Skye has her doubts, but soon she finds herself at the spa, wrapped in seaweed and eating tiny portions of inedible food. Soon a murder takes place in the mud bath, and Skye is knee-deep in the investigation. She is also caught between her current boyfriend, Wally, and her ex-boyfriend, Simon, and
her mother and Simon's mother come to the spa to help convince her to return to her old love interest.

According to her biography, author Denise Swanson was a school psychologist for 22 years, so her references to Skye's experiences in the same job always ring true. This book is a welcome addition to an enjoyable series.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Denise does it again, April 10, 2007

By 

Suzanne B. Mccanlies (Rosanky, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Murder of a Botoxed Blonde (Scumble River Mysteries, Book 9) (Mass Market Paperback)

Another great Scumble River Mystery. Denise's "real women" heroine masterfully solves another mystery with humor and intrigue and keeps you guessing until the very end. Thanks again for another fun glimpse into Skye's life and for putting into words the way so many women feel about themselves the world around them.