All She Wrote

SPOILER IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH

We return to Sugar Creek Gap in this, the third in the Mail Carrier Cozy series. I think this is my favorite of Tonya Kappes' series after Killer Coffee. Bernadette Butler, also known as Bernie, is trying to learn to knit, looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild, and settling into her new house in town while her son Grady and daughter-in-law Julia settle in at the farmhouse. She's also got a new next-door neighbor, Courtney. Courtney is the niece of Florence Gaines, here to keep an eye on Florence, or so she says. But she sure seems to be causing some friction between Grady and Julia, and this has Bernie worried.

Things get even more tense when Florence announces that she and Zeke Grey, a much sought after bachelor, have gotten married. And when Florence ends up dead on Courtney's lawn and Julia is a suspect, Bernie knows she has to figure out what really happened for the sake of her family. With the help of the Front Porch Ladies and her best friend, Iris, Bernie gets to digging for clues.

After the Killer Coffee series, I think the Mail Carrier series is my favorite. I love Bernie. She's my age. I relate to her! Sugar Creek Gap sounds like a small town I'd love to visit, and the Front Porch Ladies are a kick. I should be so much fun when I'm their age! Tonya Kappes always does a great job of characterization and of creating places in her books that you'd actually want to go to if they were real. This book is no exception. In this instance, the sheriff actually asks Bernie to help - finally! I love it when law enforcement makes use of all of their available resources. This story had suspects aplenty, and I'd ruled out the actual killer because Ms. Kappes did such a good job in drawing my attention toward someone else.

**SPOILERI want to punch Lucy Drake in the nose and slap both Mac Tabor and Bernie upside the head. This had best not be the end of Bernie and Mac, or I will be terribly sad. I love them as a couple, even if Bernie isn't quite sure she's ready to commit to more than just companionship. END SPOILER**

This was a satisfying entry in a delightful series, and I can't wait to read more about Bernie, her grandbaby, Buster and Rowena, and the whole cast of characters in Sugar Creek Gap. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dead of night, nor personal turmoil can stop Bernie, either from delivering the mail or getting to the bottom of the mystery, and I can't get enough!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.