Brooklyn transplant Lili Marino is starting over in the
small town of Walden Corners, New York. Though many of the
locals remain suspicious of the big city transplant, she's
made a couple of friends, including Nora Johnson, wife of
the local football coach. While she occasionally might miss
the excitement of Brooklyn, she wouldn't trade it for the
peaceful existence of Walden Corners. That changes on the
night she's awakened by a blood-curdling scream, and later
finds the body of Coach Johnson, Nora's husband.
Lili takes it upon herself to investigate not only the
murder of Coach Johnson, but also the hazing incident that
may have led to his death. The town rallies round the
football players involved in the hazing, and Lili manages
to irritate many of the locals with her questions. A threat
against Nora's son makes Lili even more determined to
discover the identity of the killer.
THE GOURDMOTHER, first book in the Gourd Craft Mystery
series, is an intense who-done-it. Lili is a likable
character, loyal to her friends, and her good intentions
guide her investigation. Her motivations for deciding to
investigate the murder are a little murky, but her heart is
in the right place and the story is well written and
entertaining.
Brooklyn girl Lili Marino has found herself starting over
in the tiny village of Walden Corners, New York, where she
has the time and space to cultivate her first love:
crafting gourds. She's also becoming surprisingly expert at
cutting to the rotten heart of a mystery.
Lily is just starting to feel welcomed in Walden Corners
when she finds the local high school football coach dead on
the first day of hunting season. She had naively thought
the most dangerous thing she would have to deal with was a
moldy gourd--not a murderer.