Blessed is the Busybody. Emilie Richards

Blessed is the Busybody
Emilie Richards
Published: Berkley  2005
Format: Paperback
Pages: 262
Genre: Mystery/Crime
Source: Own book

Meet the unconventional Aggie Sloan-Wilcox, a minister's wife with her own calling: helping troubled  souls in need of justice.  When the naked body of a murdered woman turns up on Aggie's front porch--and suspicion falls on Aggie's husband--she doesn't have a prayer of clearing his name unless she can uncover the truth in a town not known for confessing its sins.

I am not a big cozy mystery type of reader, but being a fan of Emilie Richards other novels I decided to try out the first one in her Ministry is Murder series.  

There are the murders that are a puzzle to the local community, and  Aggie finds herself caught up in the unravelling of the various clues that lead back to some interesting liaisons and a murderer who just might put a stop to Aggie's new found skills and interest.  Her husband Ed is a good guy and they have a very good relationship, with two 'adorable' girls - one who insists on burying their cat numerous times and one who is just beginning to stretch her independence as a middle grade young teen.  Aggie is not about to have the wool pulled over her eyes by them or indeed anyone.  

While the murders and mystery were interesting, it was the small town comings and goings of a small church community that was so entertaining and so recognisable the world over, whatever the church denomination.  Emilie Richards nailed this aspect, with I am sure her first hand experience of being a minister's wife helping her to make it so real.

Well written - and if I empty my TBR shelf fairly well over the next year, I will be delving into another Aggie mystery.

Buried in a Book. Lucy Arlington

Buried in a Book
Lucy Arlington
Publisher: Berkley
Date: 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 285
Genre: Cozy mystery
Source: Own book

After losing her job as a journalist at the age of forty-five, Lila Wilkins accepts an internship at A Novel Idea, a thriving literary agency in North Carolina. Being paid to read seems perfect to Lila, although it's difficult with the cast of quirky co-workers and piles of query letters. But when a penniless aspiring author drops dead in the agency's waiting room-and Lila discovers a series of threatening letters-she's determined to find out who wrote him off.

Buried in a Book is #1 in a Novel Idea cozy mystery series.  This is my first ever, as far as I am aware of, reading a cozy mystery.  I didn't know such a genre existed until a year or so ago!  So when I needed to read a cozy mystery for The Eclectic Reading challenge, I cast my eye around to see what I might read for it.  I finally chose this one, as I liked the idea of it having to do with books, after I bought it I loved the cover, especially that cute little yellow scooter.

Lila, the main character, has had to live back home with her mother and son as having lost her job her financial situation is not strong.  Taking up her new job at literacy agency as a person who sorts out the possibles from the no hopers, she is determined to make the job work. She meets a strange man, who she takes for a homeless old guy, when he comes into the agency with a bunch of wildflowers.  Evidently he does that every day.  However not long after Lila takes up her job, he meets an untimely death on the couch in the waiting room.  Lila is not satisfied that nobody seems interested in this death and she sets out to find the murderer.

The book moves along at a good pace and the characters - an assorted lot, are interesting and quirky. Not long after moving in with her mother, her son Trey finds that the local co-op, in the forest, is the place he wants to spend some time - to find himself!  As it turns out, it rather suits him and he turns from a lazy teenager into an interested, hard working member of the co-op.  

While Marlette is murdered early on, his life story eventually comes out, it took a sad turn at one point and while he seemed rather strange perhaps there was more to him than people gave him credit.  As Lila tracks his murder down, she sets off a set of incidents that finally brings the murderer out in the open. I am sure at times she must have annoyed the police, but if not for her, perhaps nothing would have ever been found out.  Besides she becomes very friendly with one of the local policeman, and there is a promise of a new romance for her there.

As my first introduction to this genre, it was a positive one.  Perhaps I will dip in again and try more at some time in the future.

Cozy mystery