Pride and Pestilence

Title: PRIDE AND PESTILENCE
Author: Mary Connealy
Publisher: Heartsong Presents Mysteries
2009
ISBN: 978-1-60260-164-2
Genre: Inspirational/cozy mystery

Joe Manning came to Melnick, Nebraska to meet his deadbeat dad. After all, he always wondered why his dad abandoned him and his mother, and then refused to provide child support. But he wouldn’t find the answers he’s looking for—instead, he finds his father murdered and hidden in the back storeroom of the city museum.

Bonnie Simpson is curator of the Melnick Museum, home of Maxie, the World’s Largest Field Mouse, and its sole claim to fame. She is convinced that Joe has killed his dad, after all, the man wasn’t dead until Joe came to town.

Joe is just as sure that Bonnie is the murderer. But when the whole town shows up at the murder scene, and boasts all its wackiness to Joe, isn’t so sure what to think. A long standing feud between families, a crazy lady who bakes poisonous pies, a woman who is convinced a field mouse is prized possession, and a woman who drives cars into buildings… and they all had motive. After all, Joe’s dad had owned Maxie—and he wanted the mouse destroyed. A mouse the town idolized.

PRIDE AND PESTILENCE is the second book in Ms. Connealy’s Maxie Mouse Mystery series, but it easily stands alone. I thoroughly enjoyed reading PRIDE AND PESTILENCE and getting to know a whole new set of loveable (but strange) characters, and even found plenty to laugh about as I read.

Bonnie is an adorable heroine, smart and yet just as wacky as the rest of the town. Joe, likewise is a great hero, flawed, and he fit nicely into the community. There is never a dull moment in the book, and I easily read it in a day. I had suspicions who the murderer was, but didn’t actually figure it out until the end of the book when it was revealed. PRIDE AND PESTILENCE is a great read. Cozy mystery fans will not want to miss this book. Available from Barbour Books. $6.95. 248 pages.