Norma Tadlock Johnson, Donna Rose and the Slug War

Donna Rose and the Slug War

Norma Tadlock Johnson

Five Star, Aug 2004, $25.95

ISBN: 1594142203

In Cedar Harbor, Washington, retired school teacher Donna Galbreath enjoys working her garden and clam digging at the nearby beach. Though a member of the water board, she detests the meetings and thinks her fellow associates are a collection of idiots especially her next door neighbor cranky Cyrus Bates. Donna's favorite pastime is slinging slugs from her property onto that owned by Cyrus.

While walking the beach early one morning, Donna finds the murdered body of Lyle Corrigan, owner of Corrigan Hardware and chair of the Water Board. She calls the police. Chief Billy Donniker, who was in Donna's sixth grade class and was an idiot then and now is a bigger moron, accompanied by Jake Santorini investigates the crime scene. Not long afterward, Donna without thinking of the consequences of her action interferes with the case by failing to inform the police that she recognized a newcomer as Lyle's daughter. Unable to stay out of the investigation, Donna and Cyrus go sleuthing, seeking who had an economic reason to commit murder, but they also finds a link to sexual abuse incidents from two decades ago. The slug war between the sleuths leads to new catapult equipment.

This small town cozy is a fun tale due to the wonderful cast that makes for a fine story. The who-done-it (official and amateur) sometimes takes a back seat to the antics of the residents of Cedar Harbor. Fans who appreciate a warm comfy murder mystery with limited action beyond slug droppings will enjoy the teaming of natural enemies Donna and Cyrus seeking to learn who killed Lyle.

Harriet Klausner