I'm always up for a good mystery especially if it's rated PG-13. But, this one was rather disappointing. Murder Comes By Mail by Ann Gabhart is the second book of the Hidden Springs Mystery series published by Revell.
The story follows Michael Keane, the beloved sheriff and hero of Hidden Springs. He's an all-around good guy, driving the tour bus for his aunt's church ladies group, solving crimes, and saving a man's life all while being single and good-looking. But the guy he saves? Ya, well, let's just say he might be a killer. Might not. Guess you'll have to read it to find out.
The story itself isn't bad. But the characters are to sugary sweet. They're not believable. There's no edge, no realism. Flat, flat, flat. And there's just too many of them. I kept having to flip back to the last chapter, or the first chapter, to remember who everyone was.
But, if you're looking for a quick, less than scintillating mystery with a Christian worldview, this might be a book for you.
From the publisher:
Cozy Mystery Complete with a Small Town Full of Charming, Quirky Characters
Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens.
Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next.
Readers will love racing along with Deputy Sheriff Keane as the clock ticks in this page-turning mystery.
*The opinions herein are my own, but I was provided a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.
The story follows Michael Keane, the beloved sheriff and hero of Hidden Springs. He's an all-around good guy, driving the tour bus for his aunt's church ladies group, solving crimes, and saving a man's life all while being single and good-looking. But the guy he saves? Ya, well, let's just say he might be a killer. Might not. Guess you'll have to read it to find out.
The story itself isn't bad. But the characters are to sugary sweet. They're not believable. There's no edge, no realism. Flat, flat, flat. And there's just too many of them. I kept having to flip back to the last chapter, or the first chapter, to remember who everyone was.
But, if you're looking for a quick, less than scintillating mystery with a Christian worldview, this might be a book for you.
From the publisher:
Cozy Mystery Complete with a Small Town Full of Charming, Quirky Characters
Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens.
Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next.
Readers will love racing along with Deputy Sheriff Keane as the clock ticks in this page-turning mystery.
*The opinions herein are my own, but I was provided a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.