Peg Turnbull is a widow who is a master of her craft. Peg is a dog show judge and breeder of prize-winning standard poodles. Her sister-in-law Rose Donovan, sister of Peg's dearly departed husband, has been her nemesis from the day they met. Peg and Rose met while Rose was beginning her life as a nun. Rose was less than thrilled with her brother's choice of a wife and that animosity has carried them both through decades of turmoil. Until now. Rose has invited Peg to join her in a Bridge Club to try and mend their broken relationship.
Peg has more time on her hands now that her niece Melanie and her family are on a cross-country RV road trip, so Peg decides to join Rose. What they find is an eclectic group of fellow seniors and retirees who have more secrets and shady dealings than anyone Peg has ever seen on the dog show circuit. When one of their fellow players is murdered, some members want to point fingers at Peg and Rose for bringing tragedy to their group. But Peg and Rose finally find common ground and work together to bring a murderer to light, even if it's the last thing they do.
PEG AND ROSE SOLVE A MURDER has been described as "Murder She Wrote meets The Golden Girls" and let me tell you, they are not wrong. I would also throw in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club Mysteries to completely round out what this book is; a pure delight from start to finish. Laurien Berenson knows how to spin a crafty whodunit filled with mystery and hijinks. If you aren't familiar with this author, she also pens the Melanie Travis Mysteries in which Peg is a key character. When I was first introduced to Peg in that series, my first thought was Peg needs a spinoff, and low and behold here we are. And I am here for it.
The strained relationship between Rose and Peg is the perfect setup for Berenson's classic, witty charm. The back and forth between these ladies will make you laugh out loud throughout and the mystery itself will keep you on top of your game. There are so many suspects, all of whom don't seem capable of such a grizzly murder until you realize, maybe they are.
PEG AND ROSE SOLVE A MURDER is the first in the new A SENIOR SLEUTHS MYSTERY and it is one every dog-loving, cozy mystery fan needs to put at the top of their list of books to read.
Rose Donovan looks for the good in everyone. With her sister-in-law, Peg, that sometimes requires a lot of searching. Even a sixty-something former nun like Rose has her limits, and gruff Peg Turnbull sure knows how to push them. But after forty years of bickering, they’re attempting to start over, partnering up to join the local bridge club.
Peg and Rose barely have a chance to celebrate their first win before one of the club’s most accomplished players is killed in his home. As the newest members, the sisters-in-law come under scrutiny and decide to start some digging of their own. Bridge is typically seen as a wholesome pastime, yet this group of senior citizens harbors a wealth of vices, including gambling, cheating, and adultery . . .
By comparison, Peg and Rose’s fractious relationship is starting to feel almost functional. But as their suspect list narrows, they’re unaware that their logic has a dangerous flaw. And they’ll have to hope that their teamwork holds steady when they’re confronted by a killer who’s through with playing games . . .