Relative Danger

Cealie Gunther Mystery #1

by June Shaw

Book by Shaw, June

Genres: Mystery, Cozy

309 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

June lives near lazy bayous of south Louisiana surrounded by her wonderful four children and their children, her squeeze Bob, and many friends. She writes the Cealie Gunther mystery series and other books.

Reviews

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romantic mystery and the first of new series. There was an overabundance of philosophy that bothers me. I didn't care for her handling of Mimie. Cealia Gunther is an older lady on a quest to find herself. She is in love with Him Thurman, a restaurant owner and Cealie does not want to start a new family now that her children are grown. She arrives in Chicago to watch her Granddaughter, Kat graduate. She is surprised to find her son and granddaughter both depress over the recent death of her daughter-in-law. Kat is upset about the recent death of the school's janitor. Her favorite teacher is a person of interest in the monitor's death. Kat is not going to school, if she doesn't take the final tests Kat won't graduate. Cealia becomes a substitute teacher at Kat's school. Her attempt to deal with the students, both good and bad adds humor to the story. Her rental cars added more. Gil is opening a new restaurant and Cealie's attempt to see him yet not start an affair add more interested. The ending is a surprise.
Recipes and tips on growing succulents are included.
I recommend this book.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cealie Gunther is so much more than a widow, mother, Gram, or business owner. She is also a person trying to rediscover herself. Cealie began her journey to find the original Cealie when her beloved Freddy passed. I assure you that the old or in-between Cealie is not afraid to live her life to the outside world, but to those that truly understand her, like Gil, she is afraid of being left behind again.

Cealie made a death bed promise to her daughter-in-law that she would be 'there' for granddaughter, Kat's Graduation days, Wedding day, and to hold Kat's hand for each and every baby. The dialog forces you to understand that Cealie is a joy to be around. She is a fixer of problems, and is truly loved. You quickly discover, Cealie's personal vulnerabilities and you want to weep for her.

The crisis? Kat's High School Graduation. Will the honor student graduate or not? And, why? Is it tied up because of the school's janitor? Is it something to do with Kat's former Spanish teacher whom Kat adores? Is it because Kat's Father is damaged from the loss of his wife and she would be 'abandoning' him to leave for college?

Cealie, who loves to talk to herself and plants, decides to become a Substitute teacher to see what is going on. Her cars get vandalized, Nasty slogans and treats are written, she gets locked up in a classroom and almost poisoned by sulfer, and even someone tries killing her by gunshots, and running her over.

Cealie, is determined but scared. It is worth the wait.

Ms. Shaw is a competent writer and her sense of humor as a coping mechanism is superb. Please discover Cealie Gunter. What I would give to have her in my family.

[Terry Palardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relative Danger, a novel of family and school murder.

It's not easy being a relative ... adolescents would agree, in-laws would agree, and sometimes parents and grandparents even agree. June Shaw has written a mystery novel that involves the intricacies of three generations, three individuals, daughter, father and grandmother, coming together to celebrate a life event: high school graduation.

There is no mother in the picture; Nancy died several years before her daughter Kat reached high school age. Kat's dad, Roger, is still living a subdued life as a widower, and is now foreseeing what his home will be like when his daughter goes off to college. Roger's widowed mother, Cealie, comes to town to catch up with her son and granddaughter between her travels as a single woman who is finding herself.

When Cealie realizes that her granddaughter has stopped attending classes and may miss final exams, and is considering not attending the graduation ceremony at all, she is stunned. Cealie had made a death-bed promise to her daughter-in-law Nancy that she would see her granddaughter graduate, and up until now, Kat had been on the way to do so with honors and scholarships. It doesn't take long for Cealie to find out that there has been a death at the high school, and that Kat seems deeply affected by the circumstances of the young custodian's death, and preoccupied with and perhaps afraid of who might have caused that death.

Cealie struggles with her maternal feelings of protective love for both her son and granddaughter and her recent decision to live life as a single, independent woman. But to help return her granddaughter's confidence and scholarship, Cealie enters the high school as a substitute teacher. She finds a vastly different setting in the large crowded school, recognizing that clothing and manners have changed both students and faculty from her recollections of teaching in a small private school decades earlier. She observes the cold structure, the anger and rudeness, the frustration and resignation of senior staff and the hustle and bustle of a teacher's full day. She experiences attacks first on herself and then on another teacher; she also hears of the shooting death of a substitute teacher like herself, and determines to help the police find the person responsible for these acts in their effort to keep her granddaughter and other students safe.

June Shaw's characters are richly developed, whether they are main characters or secondary. Her description of physical attributes is clear, as is the point of view of a grandmother finding her way into her granddaughter's world. Her relationship with her son hovers between sheltering him from what she sees happening and bolstering his own strength and involvement in Kat's life. She talks to herself, and talks to her houseplant, her beloved cactus named Minnie, trying to sort out the sketchy line she is walking. Her mixed messages, both those received and sent, emotionally resonate with readers who share the same family role.

Ceasie 's life is further complicated by the presence of her former lover, Gil, a restauranteur with a Cajun flare whom Ceasie still loves but does not want to settle down with. This tension creates another layer of mystery in this story, and Shaw brings all of the characters into it within their established roles. And yet, with her family around her, Ceasie still feels alone in dealing with the worry and angst, unwilling to share her concerns with Gil or with her son. And she feels that she must re-enter the dreaded building to determine how the death occurred, and who the responsible person is.

June Shaw's mystery remains unsolved until the very end, and her story engages the reader's feelings, no matter what the role of the reader in the family may be. Five Stars for Shaw's Relative Danger!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isn't Fall (along with winter) the perfect time of year to read cozy mysteries? I certainly think so which is why I signed up for June Shaw's Relative Danger blog tour.

Cealie was a really great character. I usually prefer my main characters in cozy mysteries to be closer to my age (23) when I'm reading this genre but Cealie was just so charming and spunky I thought she was a hoot. She reminded me a lot of a friend of mine's grandma when we were growing up in terms of her attitude she was such a smart, warm person you could totally see that she adored her granddaughter.

I liked the premise of the novel most of all though because it was very well put together. The whole idea of Cealie becoming a substitute teacher at her granddaughter's school was a new one for me but I do love when sleuths go undercover to solve a mystery. The mystery in this case of course was the death of a custodian ad Kat's school which is ultimately the reason behind why Kat may not make it to the point of getting her diploma after the custodian dies.

Relative Danger had a really well thought out story line and there were lots of twists and turns that kept me reading this one. I also really enjoyed the fact that that while I read this book over the period of a few weeks that I was able to pick up exactly where I left off, remembering everything because the story was just so memorable. The characters were really well thought out as well because they actually stayed with me and seemed a little more developed than I would usually find in a cozy mystery and I enjoyed seeing the different dynamics between them as well which added to the overall story.

All in all, I thought Relative Danger was a really good read. It was a cozy mystery but it was one that made me use my brain as well because I didn't see how the mystery was going to be solved until it was solved. With great characters, a complex plot and a solid writing style I can't wait to read the next book in the Cealie Gunther series.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of the cozy mystery genre who want something a little stronger than the usual fluff without getting too intense. If novels with plot lines that are both equally plot and character driven than this might just be the next series you should start.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

I enjoyed the character of Cealie Gunther, the amateur grandmother detective, in this exciting adventure story.

Cealie goes to Chicago for her granddaughter's high school graduation and finds that her smart granddaughter is very scared and isn't going to school. One of the janitors has been murdered at the school and, for some reason, her granddaughter is now scared of attending.

Cealie then decides to substitute at the high school and find out who the murderer is.

I loved the fact that by the end of the story, Cealie has not only solved the mystery and connected with the man she loves, but also has mega-respect for teachers. Being a teacher myself, I always appreciate the acknowledgment that our job is not easy.

Being 50+ years old, I loved the love story and could identify with the feelings of an older adult -- but for teens, I could imagine the groans when the main character discusses her feelings about a sexual relationship. If they can get around that idea, though, then I think they will enjoy the rest of the novel.

[Kara Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story of a mystery taking place mostly in a high school. Cealie Gunther fears for her motherless granddaughter who's about to graduate, but a death at school makes it unlikely that graduation will take place. The accidental death--or murder--makes Cealie decide she'll help straighten things out so she can watch her granddaughter, Kat, graduate--as she'd promised her mom before she died. But once Cealie interferes, Kat could become the next target.

This is a great, very interesting book, and I would recommend it!

[Kait Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! With beach season coming up, this should be in everyone's book bag. It's unusual to read books about a sleuth of "a certain age." Makes you immediately think of Ms. Marple. Well, June Shaw;s heroine is NOT Ms. Marple. She's a savy up to the minute granny who runs her own businesses, looks after (but never interferes) with her son and granddaughter and keeps a hot love life. In her spare time, she solves knotty mysteries. Delightful!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the plot is implausible, the book doesn't sit well with me. I never could get past Cealie being hired as a sub with no interview, no background check, no teaching license, etc.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

I enjoyed the characters in Relative Danger. Their is plenty of drama, danger and action but what else would you expect in a high school. The janitor was found dead. The police don't know if it was murder or a accident.

Cealie Gunther is a older woman. She has flown into town to see her granddaughter graduate from high school. She has promised her daughter on her death bed that she would be their for the events she would miss. When she surprises her granddaughter she finds out that she might not graduate after all and especially with high honors.

Cealie decides to be a substitute teacher at the high school and see what she can find out. She wants to see her granddaughter graduate. Cealie's son is still in a depressive state from losing his wife. Cealie' a widow herself and she knows a little about depression after death. Her ex-lover has come to town and opened a new Cajun restaurant. She keeps thinking about Gil. Even when she was the one to break it off. She wanted to find herself before losing herself in another man.

Kat is supposed to graduate soon. She has a teacher friend that has made a difference in her life. That teacher has been questioned by the police in the janitor's death. She won't talk to Kat anymore. Kat has been staying home from school lately. She has also broken up with her boyfriend lately.

Gil still cares about Cealie and he is glad to see her in his new restaurant. He seems to have a new girl friend that Cealie calls legs. He wants to go to Kat's graduation with Cealie.

The mystery was good and kept me guessing till the end. Cealie found that high school has changed a lot since she taught years ago. This book I felt dealt with relationships more than a mystery novel. Even though their was a lot of danger at the high school and around Cealie and Kat.

I look forward to reading the next book and hope to see more of Cealie and Gil. Wonder what her cousin wants too.
I was given this ebook and asked to review it and be part of its blog tour.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relative Danger was an enjoyable read with an exhilerating climax.
Cealie visits with her son/Roger and grand-daughter/Kat with the expectation of attending Kat's high school graduation. She is shocked to learn that Kat may not even continue to finish her senior exams in order to graduate. Kat's reasoning behind this decision is that her teacher/mentor, Miss Hernandez, is suspected of murdering the janitor, Mr. Labruzzo. Kat finds this situation more than what she can deal with and no longer cares if she graduates at all.

The author throws in a romance with complications between Cealie and Gil. Gil is a restaurant owner and ex-lover of Cealie's. Unfortuneately he appears to be involved with a younger woman...or is he?

The family is going through their grieving process after the death of Cealie's daughter-in-law. Roger and Kat have their own separate ways of dealing with the mother's/wife's death. Roger is especially having a hard time of coming to grips with his loss.

Cealie decides to become a substitute teacher at Kat's high school in order to do a little sleuthing on her own. That's when situations arise that brings danger a little to close for comfort and to Kat.

The final chapters brought a spell binding climax that was nothing short of fantastic. Good job Miss Shaw! The final results were a surprise to me...which is the way a good mystery should be.

One suggestion from this lover of cozy mysteries is -Cealie please get a pet and stop talking to your cactus/Minnie. :)

If you want to have a good read, a smoothe read with a pulse pumping climax-then Relative Danger is for you.

Ellen

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lady of a certain age, Cealie Gunther travels to Chicago for her granddaughter's graduation. But Kat, whose mother died and whose father doesn't seem able to shake the grief, is distracted by an untimely death at her school. If her exams are at stake, Cealie is determined to help resolve the issue, and joins the school as a supply teacher. She's a mature lady with teaching experience.

That experience seems a long time ago as a riot is in progress when Cealie arrives - oh, rather, it's lunchtime. Kids shove her thoughtlessly aside and a sign forbids bringing weapons onto the premises. Kids have attitude problems or sleep in her class.
Cealie reconnects with a past beau called Gil who runs a Cajun restaurant nearby, and enjoys a seafood platter. He's got a leggy young lady sitting next to him, and Cealie starts to look again at her comfortable clothes and elasticated waistband. A mix of events includes reports of a shooting of another supply teacher, and a bomb in the car park.

There's a lot of wry humour in this tale and it would not do young people any harm to see how others see them. School environments are however claustrophobic novel settings and I found some of the language too simplistic, such as the repeated use of the word 'stickers' for cactus spines, while I lost count of how many times Cealie's stomach 'growled'. Mature ladies with high standards may give it more stars, especially if they are or have been teachers.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was much to like about this book, and much that just didn't work for me.

Cealie promised her deceased daughter-in-law that she would watch Kat (Cealie's granddaughter)walk across the stage to graduate. Cealie has a far-flung business that she has been running since the death of her own husband, an ex-boyfriend, who happens to be opening a restaurant in town, a severely depressed son and a granddaughter who has stopped going to school because of a possible murder at the school.

Cealie to the rescue? Well, yes and no. Cealie does eventually solve the murder(s?) but along the way she does some things that I always label as TSTL (too stupid to live). She goes to the school as a substitute teacher, thus painting a target on Kat's back as a problem. She plays "yes, I mean no" with Gil, the former boyfriend. She sneaks around in dark places where she knows it is possible she might run into the killer.

Mostly she irritated me because she didn't seem to even try and use any common sense.

The mystery was good, the writing -- as far as characterization and setting, was wonderful.

I'll probably try one more to see if Cealie develops any better habits but if she continues to be so reckless I expect I'll have to give up, which is too bad because Cealie is a good, caring person.

[Marlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

June Shaw's first mystery stars Cealie Gunther, a retired widow. Visiting her granddaughter Kat, she finds out that the honour student has not been attending school because of the death of a custodian, which is being blamed on Kat's favourite teacher. Cealie's son, a widower, is too caught up in his own grief to notice what's going on with his daughter.
Alarmed at the idea that Kat might not graduate at all, Cealie sets out to find out the identity of the killer by becoming a substitute teacher at the school. Of course, her meddling is unappreciated by her granddaughter, but Cealie persists.
The first person narrative helps, as we are aware of the thought processes which lead Cealie to do what she does, which otherwise might be totally baffling actions.
I enjoyed the book, and I look forward to more Cealie Gunther mysteries.

[Melina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story, it wasn't the best I have ever read, but it was okay. Cealie Gunther is not you typical grandmotherly type. She has raised her family and now has grandchildren, so she doesn't want to be tied down. She goes to see her granddaughter, Kat, graduate, but Kat informs her she hasn't been going to school. A janitor at the school fell from a balcony in the auditorium and murder is suspected. Kat's favorite teacher is a suspect and Kat doesn't want to go back to school. Cealie becomes a substitute teacher at the school to see if she can find out what happened. She meets lots of suspects, but as with cozies, the killer is someone that isn't even suspected. How Cealie apprehends the murderer is hilarious. Great job.


I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

[Rizello · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it. There was so much not to like.

The main character was so unlikeable, and the plot so typical.

Do we really believe the "I am woman", thing? She had lost her first husband, and now decided she didn't want to be let down again so he walks around acting like she doesn't need anyone, when really she wants a relationship.

Her relationship with her son and granddaughter was so sad. She slides into town and tries to solve everyone's problems, and she tries to solve problems by spending lots of money.

Sorry, I don't see myself reading any more by this author.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this 3 1/2 stars. There were very few clues as to who the killer was which is good and bad. I like to have an idea of who might have done the crime, but I had no ideas with this book. It also seemed like Cealie did more bonehead things than normal. I think this borders on being a cozy.

[Katreader · Rating 2 out of 5]

In depth review to follow. Although there were some funny bits, I couldn't get past the main character. Her behavior and thought process were both ridiculous and the ending showdown was ludicrous. I wanted to like this book, but could not.

[Wayne Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book, if you need a quick read, you can't go wrong with this one. The only complaint I have is that there was a lot of filler that didn't add anything to the story, and in a few points was barely interesting enough to keep my attention.

[Mare]

I've misplaced this book. I'm sure that it will turn up one day. Then I'll start again.

[Alicia Connelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just kept asking myself why this woman was such an idiot. Who does these things? I wanted to like the book but just couldn't like the foolish main character.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book for a quick beach read. The main character is a grandmother turned sleuth to help her granddaughter graduate high school amidst a murder mystery.

[Marinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't get past the first chapter. Action seems forced our far away.