Mary Saums, When the Last Magnolia Weeps

When the Last Magnolia Weeps

Mary Saums

Silver Dagger, March 2004, $13.95, 186 pp.

ISBN 1576722625

After she was widowed, Willi Taft never thought she would love again but when Sam Robbins came into her life, she knew he was her second chance. When he died while working a case, he left Willi his business and in honor of his memory she studied to be a licensed private detective. She doesn't want to get involved with a man again but when her friend Luanne persuades her to be David's date at a charity gala, she reluctantly agrees and finds that she is very attracted to him.

David and Luanne's date Ian are giving a concert sponsored by Children First and all the proceeds will be donated to the Good Shepard Center. Father Michael McDennehy is present to represent the charity and accept the donation. After the concert, Father Mike works the room while Willi and David get acquainted. In the middle of the festivities, Father Michael's murdered body is found outside and the police are leaning towards Ian as the suspect. Willi knows Ian couldn't murder anyone and she does her best to prove his innocence and almost gets killed by a very ruthless murderer

Mary Saums has written a delightful private investigative novel that gives readers an inside glimpse of Nashville. The heroine surprises herself when she finds herself attracted to a man who is only going to be in the country for a few days but she is even more shocked with what her investigation of Father Mike reveals. WHEN THE LAST MAGNOLIA WEEPS is a good old fashioned who-done-it that readers will enjoy immensely.

Harriet Klausner