Customer Reviews

Murder in Los Lobos: A Mystery on California's Central Coast

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Sue McGinty is a former technical writer, who graduated to short fiction and then to mysteries. She hails from Los Osos, California, a coastal community similar to the setting in her first novel, MURDER IN LOS LOBOS. She lives with her collection of mysteries and several cats, including "The Shredder," her ferocious mama cat.

Bella Kowalski, former nun, currently writes obits for the local paper in Los Lobos, California. Los Lobos is a coastal small town with all the small talk and innuendo. She has gotten involved in politics, weighing in heavily against the location of a proposed sewer plant on some historical property. Her husband is a former cop, runs the current sewage disposal business, and when Connie Mercado, part-owner of the proposed site for the sewer plant, is murdered, Bella begins to make connections. How involved was her husband with Connie Mercado? But she was the one who discovered the body, and her inquisitive mind makes her a target for murderers most foul. To complicate matters, she and her husband have agreed to take on their teenage nephew, the son of Bella's murdered twin, Bea:

"'Auntie Bella, I'm vegetarian, remember?'

'That's right.' At supper last night, while Mike scowled, Chris announced that besides veggies and fruits, he also ate eggs and dairy products, and once in a while fish, fresh caught of course. Oh, and organic chicken. Sometimes. No pork. Except for barbequed ribs on major holidays. Whatever."

Sue McGinty has a clear and concise writing style filled with humor, and when the occasion demands, extreme suspense. Her first novel is well crafted, and of course is a whodunit for the ages with a murky perpetrator. She covers the generation gap beautifully in her novel, as well as growing pains for Bella's marriage, which adds all sorts of delicious flavors to this whodunit. McGinty captures the conflicts Bella faces as an ex-nun and ex-Catholic in a world where few have been so protected by the outside world. But Bella emerges as a fine heroine, and her emergence as both a mother to the needy Chris and as a hard-headed detective is a sheer miracle. McGinty's first novel is well worth the read, if only for the disparate subjects she merges into her great plot.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Sue McGinty's first book delivers. This mystery has plenty of satisfying twists and turns, but the author never loses you. Bella Kowalski goes for a hike and sees a body from the bluff. From then on the action only lets up enough for readers to catch their breath occasionally. Her teenage nephew Chris, who helps her with her escapades to learn who is responsible for the murders occurring in Los Lobos, is a delightful character--though not too delightful. That would be boring. Overall a good read.

Sylvia Willard
Retired Librarian

A cold-blooded murder within the local gentry, explored and solved by an unexpected hometown detective: These are the elements in Sue McGinty's delightful and entertaining murder mystery. "Murder in Los Lobos" is a really fun read - one whose every page keeps you engaged and anxious to discover what comes next.

The characters in this debut novel - the local obit-writer-cum-detective, an ex-nun from Detroit (Murder City, USA); her ex-cop husband, who hails from Chicago (Murder City #2); the main murder victim, a very rich person with sincerely humanitarian values (poor thing); and a panoply of suspects (both likely and unlikely) - come wholly alive in this story sited in a Central California coastal town. The progress of the story and the lively local color it offers combine to keep you glued to the pages as you work your way to the identity of "the doer." And even at the finish, you're still wondering if some new and unexpected twist lies stealthily in wait.

In her debut novel, Sue McGinty has brought us a new and likeable investigatrix, Bella Kowalski (and you'd better make sure you pronounce her name correctly). Let's hope there's more where this comes from.

Sue McGinty, a fairly new mystery writer, has provided an exciting book that captures your attention from the first page. The Central Coast, a fairly unknown part of California, is the setting for her novels. Her descriptions provide you a feel for the area, you can almost feel the mist from the fog, the crisp air, quaintness of the small community, and the beauty of the scenery. Her characters are well developed. Bella, the former nun, is the local heroine. She is married to a retired Chicago cop, who she initially met when she was still in the convent in Detroit. It seems death has followed them, as you will find out in the book. The plot is well organized & interesting. I enjoyed that the book didn't jump around to various characters, which kept my interest. It is a murder mystery that will provide you with an afternoon of relaxation. Very well writtien!

Sue McGinty has created a terrific cast of characters for her fresh, new Bella Kowalski mystery series. The setting on California's Central Coast is rich and authentic, and Ms. McGinty's expert story-telling quickly draws you in with her vivid writing and delightful wit. It's a feast for the senses. Bravo, Sue!

In Los Lobos, California, the murder of affluent Connie Mercado has shook up the already divided community. Before someone pushed her car with her inside off a cliff overlooking the Pacific, residents were heatedly arguing whether to convert the Mercado estate into a conservatory or a regional wastewater treatment plant.

Former nun turned obit writer for the Central Coast Chronicle, Bella Kowalski has no doubt her friend was murdered over the land usage; Bella, having strongly protested against the sewage plant, was forced off the road just before the homicide occurred. Over the objection of her spouse Mike, a former big city cop with a heart problem. Bella considers investigating the homicide. She makes up her mind when the police deem Mike a viable suspect.

This is an engaging relevant regional amateur sleuth that focuses on the debate between nature and development that is in the news today with the oily dig mantra. The dispute drives the story line, but Connie keeps it focused (with help from Mike and their dog Sam). Sub-genre fans will appreciate Sue McGinty's fine whodunit although readers will know which side of the argument she supports.

Harriet Klausner