Having read one of the Tourist Trap Mysteries I was keen
to follow the story. In A MISSION TO MURDER we met the
people of South Cove, California, and Jill Gardner, who
owns Coffee, Books and More. IF THE SHOE KILLS focuses on
the enterprising community here in the coastal town as they
gear up for Christmas.
Summer is a busy tourist season, but the winter holiday
season is when shops sell goods. The mayor has arranged for
a Welfare to Work programme to get stores free help and
give interns some experience, but not all business owners
co-operate. They haven't time to train someone, don't
want delinquents, and they worry about their wine stock. Jill
tries to stress a positive spin, especially with a reporter
for the local paper at the council meeting. And the
upcoming festival is important for trade. The intern
programme director, Ted Hendricks, seems professional but
Jill feels that he turns controlling and bullying when he
doesn't get his own way.
Jill is also preparing to host a Thanksgiving dinner, and
her shop sells cheesecake pumpkin squares, so even in
California we can feel the change of seasons. But amid the
preparations Jill finds someone dead in a parked car.
Natural causes, or suspicious death? Which do business
owners want to believe? With the outside interns,
there are several unknown people in town. Plus,
Jill doesn't know the locals as well as she thought.
This enjoyable series by Lynn Cahoon puts emphasis on
normal people leading their lives, so we see relationship
conversations, debates about going to meet family for
Thanksgiving, hearty food, the busy and early day of a
shop owner. Jill, who trained as a lawyer, listens for the
abnormal, the disappeared wife, the intimidated employee.
Her partner Greg is in the local police, and a great
character in his own right, so he is a good foil for her
suspicions and can follow up on clues. Nobody wants a
murderer in town if the publicity might deter
festival visitors.
IF THE SHOE KILLS seems light but addresses some serious
issues, especially surrounding disadvantaged women and
domineering men. Lynn Cahoon uses her main characters to
demonstrate a good relationship and create a contrast. Her
cozy mystery would make a brilliant present for crime
lovers.
The tourist town of South Cove, California, is a lovely
place to spend the holidays. But this year, shop owner Jill
Gardner discovers there’s no place like home for homicide…
As owner of Coffee, Books, and More, Jill Gardner looks
forward to the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers. But
when the mayor ropes her into being liasion for a new work
program, ‘tis the season to be wary. Local businesses are
afraid the interns will be delinquents, punks, or worse. For
Jill, nothing’s worse than Ted Hendricks—the jerk who runs
the program. After a few run-ins, Jill’s ready to kill the
guy. That, however, turns out to be unnecessary when she
finds Ted in his car—dead as a doornail. Detective Greg King
assumes it’s a suicide. Jill thinks it’s murder. And if the
holidays weren’t stressful enough, a spoiled blonde wants to
sue the city for breaking her heel. Jill has to act fast to
solve this mess—before the other shoe drops…
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