Denise Swanson, Murder of a Wedding Belle

Murder of a Wedding Belle

Denise Swanson

Obsidian, Apr 2010, $6.99

ISBN: 9780451229618

Scrumble River school psychologist Skye Denison also serves as a consultant to the police department run by her boyfriend Wally Boyd. Six months ago, the Chief of Police asked Skye to marry him, but though she loves Wally she keeps putting him off with excuses as she fears placing her heart on the line again.

Trouble starts for Skye when her California cousin Riley decides to marry her powerful millionaire fianc in Scrumble River. She reluctantly agrees to serve as maid of honor but when elitist snob wedding planner Belle Canfield informs Skye that her Cuz named her as her wedding assistant on this event, Skye becomes extremely upset. Although she tries, she cannot get out of working for the stern taskmistress who antagonizes everyone she meets until Belle pushes someone over the edge and murders her. Skye assists Wally on the homicide investigation while also putting together the marriage ceremony as the paid wedding planner.

As always with a Scrumble River police procedural (see Murder of a Royale Pain) Denise Swanson combines humor and romance within an intriguing homicide investigation while the support cast feels like friends. There are plenty of suspects just on the wedding list and Skye using her psychological skills find many with strong motives, but must ferret out who would act on the desire. Readers who have put together a social event like a wedding will commiserate with the heroine, as she finds relief in working the Murder of a Wedding Belle.

Harriet Klausner