Assault in Asheville

Let me preface this review that even though Assault in Asheville is the fourth in the “Amanda Rittenhouse Mystery” series this can be read as a standalone. Matter of fact, I do not think I have read a Kate Merrill book before and thank goodness I have corrected this oversight.

Asheville, NC is where the tea is at, honey, whew! Merrill causes so much drama I am surprised that rainbows have not flocked there in droves. Holy sugar! Never mind that Amanda left drama back at home and it is HUGE drama there. Now she is in Asheville with hungry lesbian and murder is afoot. Well attempted murder...I kind of fudged the tag line for dramatic purposes. This is not to say that Merrill's perpetrator does not try multiple times. I told you there was tea.

There are secrets within secrets and Amanda stumbles upon them as the newcomer to the scene. I think sometimes outsiders can see things that people living in the forest cannot see and Merrill takes advantage of this in Assault.

The mystery is solid and makes sense. Amanda can find trouble anywhere (laugh). The secondary characters are just as interesting as the main characters. I think Merrill should have a side mystery with our lovely sheriff and her young cop.

I am going to go back and start at the beginning, which oddly enough is another series (laugh) that Merrill wrote. This is a great mystery to spend a rainy day with or sit in the backyard on a sunny day. Huddle down in Asheville and enjoy all of the mayhem and tea which Kate Merrill serves with panache.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.