Linda Berry, Death and the Family Tree

Death and the Family Tree

Linda Berry

Five Star, May 2007, $25.95

ISBN: 1594145261

At the Ogeechee bicentennial celebration, ten living mayors are on the program to speak, including the oldest, Julian Stubbs. However, the day after he gives his chat he is found dead, having fallen down stairs at his relative's B&B.

Chief of Police Henry Huckabee and Officer Trudy Roundtree investigate the accident that quickly proves to be a homicide. However, the cops also have other crime inquiries to make as someone tried to steal valuables, including diamond earrings, from the Stubbs family house that Willie and Della are converting into a B&B. Making their cases more difficult is the family fails to cooperate as they are distracted because they learned that an extended family member Kevin Purvis eloped with Gretchen Holland. As the two law enforcement officials continue to ask questions of the extended Stubbs kin to include the Purvis offshoot, the investigations turn muddier.

Though the Stubbs extended family has too many subplots to keep score of, this is a delightful regional police procedural as the two dedicated cops struggle with a case loaded with a B&B filled with eccentric suspects. Trudy also deals with her jealousy as she fears her boyfriend might be turning to her best friend for affection. Southern cozy fans will enjoy the investigation into the murder of the elderly former mayor.

Harriet Klausner