Customer Reviews

In for a Penny: A Cleopatra Jones Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery)

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

 

 

In the opening chapter, Cleopatra Jones, a divorced accountant who lives with her mother while raising teenage daughters on her own, stumbles onto the murder scene of her ex-husband's long-time best friend Donny Davis - otherwise know by childhood friends as "Dudley Doright." Cleo's longtime friend Jonette is not only with her for the discovery, but becomes a prime suspect in the murder investigation. As more of Cleo's friends and neighbors become suspect, and another murder happens in her small town, Cleo determines to solve the mystery and make the town safe again for her family.

The characters are plausible, the setting and situations mostly realistic. The reader is drawn into the camaraderie and comedic activities including rainbow salad, St Bernard mating rituals, a sexy golf instructor, and a botched land development scheme. Written in conversational language, this G-rated material is pleasantly devoid of the sexual and violent details that many authors sometimes employ simply to fill pages.

The cover of this book by Maggie Toussaint calls this a Cleopatra Jones Mystery. It is hoped by this reader this indication of a possible series is more than just a hint. Will she or won't she continue to drive the Gray Ghost, or take golfing lessons at the Hogan's Glen Golf Club? What happens now that Cleo's ex-husband Charlie has suddenly realized what he gave up? Just how long is a St Bernard pregnant, and how many puppies do they have in a litter? There are definitely more story lines waiting to be told. In for a Penny: A Cleopatra Jones Mystery (Five Star Mystery Series)

In Maryland at the Hogan's Glen Golf Course, Cleopatra Jones and her best friend Jonette are playing around. Jonette is killing Cleo at their game because the latter "sees" the figurative face of her ex-husband Charlie on her ball so she slams it for the seats. On the sixth hole, her ball lands in the inseam of deceased local banker Donny "Dudly" Davis who lies in a sand trap.

Detective Britt Radcliffe leads the investigation into the homicide in which Jonette is acting strange. Soon Jonette becomes the prime suspect with Cleo, dodging her mom and battling daughters Charla and Lexy, investigating in order to prove her best friend is innocent even as she is attracted to club pro Rafe Gordon and ignores her cheating ex spouse who wants a second chance.

Though Cleo's mom can be a distracting hook as she overwhelms her scenes, fans will enjoy this amateur sleuth as the heroine displays her moxie and loyalty by investigating the homicide expecting to prove her best friend is innocent. However every clue Cleo finds adds a nail to the case against Jonette. Fans will enjoy this fun mystery wondering whether the golf pro, the ex husband or no one will score with the heroine.

Harriet Klausner

This was a reasonably fun read but I think the author should have bumped off Cleo's mother as well. She is an interfering old biddy who has a "heart attack" whenever it looks like she won't get her own way. I'm unlikely to purchase more in this series assuming there are any.