Book Review: The Leaf Peeper Murders

Once Again, Jeannine C. Stauder has stepped up and provided The Writing Loft with a book review. This offering is The Leaf Peeper Murders by the writing team of Loni Emmert and P. I. Barrington.

Button Hollow Chronicles No. 1
The Leaf Peeper Murders
by Loni Emmert and P. I. Barrington
Published by Mainly Murder Press

Available at:
www.mainlymurderpress.com
www.bn.com
www.amazon.com

Review by Jeannine C. Stauder

Two suicides within days of each other, each by a self-inflected gun shot, has rattled the residents of Button Hollow, especially Sheriff Jeff Ramsey. While neither victim was a sterling citizen, no friend or foe of either would believe they would end their own lives. Sheriff Ramsey has a deep feeling that these two people were murdered and begins to investigate, going against the wishes of Mayor Tom Rutledge who prefers the verdict to be suicide. The shooting death of a third person, a true homicide, convinces the sheriff the deaths are related.

At the same time, the sleepy town has become home to a couple of nefarious characters who have the misfortune to tangle with Citizens’ Brigade leader, Anne Jolie Watson. She is on her own mission to prove that drug activity is taking place in the town. She is a constant thorn in Sheriff Ramsey’s side and it doesn’t help that the sheriff’s deputy, Rod Hargesty is Anne Jolie’s nephew and a good source of insider information for his aunt.

Anne Jolie convinces Bert Fussberger, another member of the Citizens’ Brigade to join her on a stake-out of a neighbor’s barn where Anne Jolie suspects drugs are being made. The stake-out fizzles when the two are knocked out, tied-up and driven to the edge of a cliff with the purpose of being pushed over. They are saved, but Anne Jolie, who knows everything and is always right, continues to keep a watchful eye on her neighbors.

Sheriff Ramsey’s beautiful and educated wife, Sharon, suddenly decides to pursue the career she forewent to move to Button Hollow as the wife of the town sheriff. Her interest in leaving Button Hollow for Boston hurts and confuses her husband. He has relied on Sharon’s support and comfort and now when his plate is overflowing with crime, he’s alone and worried for the future of his marriage.

Deputy Rod Hargesty, not known for his dedication to his job, takes on a new persona and works diligently with Sheriff Ramsey to discover the criminals behind the drug manufacturing and the killer of Button Hollow’s citizens. Anne Jolie is thrilled to finally be taken seriously by the sheriff and involved in the solution of the case.

This seemingly gentle story is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader engrossed. The authors have fully developed the personalities of the characters so the reader cares about them. They’ve arranged and rearranged the suspects during the story so interest is held to the end.

And all ends well in Button Hollow. The fact that The Leaf Peeper Murders is titled Chronicle No. 1 means more will follow. Will we have another Jessica Fletcher, albeit noisier, and will Button Hollow become another Cabot Cove? Stay tuned

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Jeannine C. Stauder
Jeannine Stauder divides her time between sea-level Connecticut and the mountains of Colorado, where she is a member of the Steamboat Springs Writers. She wrote the stories of people’s lives for many years in her professional capacity as an adoption coordinator and family therapist. Insight into the emotional workings of adults and youths provided the groundwork for her writing career.

She has written short stories for middle- school-age and teenagers as well as adult short stories. She received first place in a Pen Works contest for creative non-fiction and third place for short fiction and poetry. Her poems are published in Voices of The Valley. A retired Marriage and Family Therapist, she is a book reviewer for The Writing Loft and a member of Mystery Writers of America. Her first Young Adult novel is Saturday’s Child.

P. I. Barrington and Loni Emmert

California sisters P.I. Barrington and Loni Emmert fell in love with New England during fall vacations in Maine and New Hampshire. Loni has spent the past twenty-five years working in the music industry and writing press releases and magazine articles. P.I.’s experience includes work as a newspaper journalist, radio air talent, and at a major record company. P.I.’s first suspense novel, Crucifying Angel, was released in 2009. They are members of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.

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