It's been a while since I visited with Mira and Mrs. Berns in Battle Lake, Minnesota. I always enjoy their adventures. Mira has a talent for stumbling over dead bodies and for messing up her own love life. Mrs. Berns has a talent for making Mira blush and for being a fun and confident sidekick. Jess Lourey gives Mrs. Berns all the best lines.
This is a small town mystery, so there are the requisite number of quirky characters. Kennie Rogers, the female mayor who always has a money making scheme going (this time it's a Minnesota phone sex business). Eustace, the off-the-grid guy outside town. Little D, the foster care kid who's shoplifting and looking for odd jobs. Gary Wohnt, the sheriff who is keeping an eye on Mira (is she a crush or a potential criminal?) Ida, the senior citizen who crafts life size dolls. If you've ever lived in a small town, you'll realize that all of this is entirely plausible.
The first body is dressed up as one of Ida's dolls and left at the restaurant counter. Where, of course, it's Mira who accidentally knocks her over to reveal what's going on. But Mira is resolved to keep her nose out of this investigation and herself out of Sheriff Wohnt's crosshairs. It just doesn't work, partly because Mrs. Berns is so gung-ho, partly because Mira's just too good a neighbour and citizen.
The solution to the crime, when it comes, is surprising but reasonably believable. Now I must start the search for the next volume of this series, because I have some questions about Gary Wohnt that I want answered!
No comments:
Post a Comment