Suture Self

Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries #17

by Mary Daheim

A bum hip has bed-and-breakfast hostess Judith McMonigle Flynn limping off to Good Cheer Hospital -- a questionable "haven of healing" where two recent patients didn't make the cut after routine surgery. Judith's trepidation at undergoing the knife is eased only by sharing a room with cousin Renie, who's in for rotator cuff repair. Though the cousins survive their surgeries, the ex-pro quarterback next door is permanently sacked after minor knee surgery. With the scoreboard showing Grim Reaper 3, post-op patients 0, Judith decides that she and Renie are obliged to get to the bottom of Good Cheer's carnage. But in order to sew up the case, Judith and Renie must probe into the suspects' psyches. And suddenly it looks as if the cousins' own prognoses could take them out of the game...for good.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Murder Mystery

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Mary Rene Richardson Daheim was an American writer of romance and mystery novels.

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very engaging mystery in Daheim's Bed-and-Breakfast series. Though, the thought of having both Renie, Judith, and a murderer on the same floor of a hospital is enough to give you a nervous breakdown.

One of the reasons I like this series is the fact that the characters progress and this is no different. I also really like the humor in this series. Their is always a point in these books where I laugh out loud.

I also like the barely veiled references in this book. The description of the Seafarers' GM is perfect for a description of the Mariners' former GM Woody Woodward.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good closed room (or should I say hospital) mystery. Judith and Renie are both in the hospital and even there they can't get away from murder and mayhem. Good story.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith and Renie are having operations on the same day, hip and rotator cuff respectively. But the hospital doing the operations has had three deaths with in a few days and all were post op orthopaedic surgery and on the same floor. Fortunately Judith and Renie are sharing a room and with nothing else to do they start to speculate and ask questions. And that leads to trouble of course. Add to that Judiths mother got her hands on Judiths credit card, a boa is loose in the bed and breakfast and there is a big snow storm that has everyone stuck at home and no food delivery for Renie’s appetite and hatred of hospital food. A good tale with well disguised clues.

[Elizabeth Plunkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to Suture Self as part of my quest to find a new cozy mystery audiobook after listening to most of Leslie Meier's books. Suture Self was about 9 hours long which meant I listened to over about a week. I did jump in mid series as this was the first available in my online library. Unfortunately Suture Self takes place in the hospital and not the B&B. I'm going to try one at the B&B, but I would not recommend starting with this one in the series.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual a delightful and entertaining mystery

[Kumari de Silva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Remember the time Mark Twain wrote about a homeless white teenager and a run-away slave traveling downstream on a raft? As preposterous as this set-up was, I believed, NOT so with this pair of cousins. I dunno - was it the side story about Joe marrying someone else while he was engaged to our hero? The "secret" of Mike's parentage? Or was it just the completely blithe spirit all this information is panned out to the reader? I just didn't buy any of this - yeah, yeah, even though it is supposed to be a light hearted mystery, and even though I set my expectations really, really low.

I guess my bad mood started when our sleuth Judith starts in on her second Percocet. What with the current Opioid crisis that doesn't seem like something to joke about. The copyright is 2001, but still, I've lost too many friends to this pernicious problem. Then the cousins are off to the hospital. I'm 85 pages in and I start to wonder is all the action going to take place in this one room? All the sleuthing comes down to asking nosy questions of the staff and eavesdropping on the patient next door. Not exactly Ms Marple if you know what I mean. In real life staff don't spill this kind of information. But even if they did, it makes sleuthing remarkably easy and boring at the same time....

My opinion in sum: jokes in bad taste, plot hinged on way too many co-incidences, while side stories were annoying and unbelievable. I gave the book one star.

I notice more people than not enjoyed this book, so if you for one don't like my review please don't troll. Read the book yourself and do the author a favor: write a glowing review about what YOU liked about the book.

[Shan · Rating 2 out of 5]

First from this author for me. Humorous cozy, as expected from the punny title. I liked that the main characters are women old enough to be needing hip replacement and shoulder surgery. The setting, in a small Catholic hospital that's having hard times in the modern healthcare environment, was interesting. The blurbs describe it as screwball comedy. The scenes where Renie is ordering scads of takeout because she doesn't like the hospital food, and some of the side characters like the mean bossy nurse, would fit right into one of those old screwball movies. As someone else pointed out, to enjoy this book you have to abandon your expectations of realistic situations and behavior.

As a mystery - hmm. It reminds me of one of those old Family Circus cartoons where Billy is running all over the place. The mystery is the dotted line that takes the reader all those places to see all those other things that are really the point of the book - the people, the relationships, the setting. I guess the clues are there although I certainly didn't figure it out, and after reading the solution I don't feel bad that I missed it. The reveal is handled in an old fashioned way, where the sleuth sees what happened in a lightbulb moment, doesn't tell the reader, then collects more clues that are hidden from the reader, and finally explains all near the end.

It might be better to start reading earlier in the series. I think I would have liked it better if I'd known and cared about the characters more than I did.

[Thomas Bruso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cousins Renee and Judith are scheduled for hip surgery at Good Cheer Hospital when all hell breaks loose in Mary Daheim’s madcap mystery, “Suture Self.”

Judith McMonigle Flynn, along with her husband, Joe, operates a bed-and-breakfast at Hillside Manor in the Pacific Northwest. But Judith’s bum hip sends her to the hospital for immediate surgery, leaving Joe in charge of the eventful business.

The madness begins when Judith and her cousin Renee admit themselves into the local hospital, where two patients have recently died after having routine surgeries. Anxious about going under the knife, the cousins relax when they get to share a room. Though they survive their surgeries, Judith and Renee learn that more patients are dying, adding to Good Cheer’s rising body count and bleak atmosphere.

Daheim adds a sprinkle of familiar humor to her main characters, sending Judith and Renee undercover, sneaking around the suspicious establishment, posing questions to the shady hospital staff and sick patients regarding the numerous deaths.

“Suture Self” is a screwball, laugh-out-loud romp. Mystery lovers will devour this oldie but goodie. Daheim balances enough mystery and wit to keep her readers engaged. The large cast of characters and subplots are raucous and weird, making the series stand out in a crowded mystery market.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two cousins, one who owns a bed and breakfast and has penchant for solving murders, are sharing a hospital room after their respective surgeries and start to sleuth on the strange deaths of famous patients happening at the hospital.

This is the 18th book in the series, but was my first book I’ve read. The description sounded like it would be a fun interesting read, but in my perspective it seemed boring and uneventful. The story never really took off and got exciting. I found the main character likable and I did feel like I knew her, even coming in so late in the series. Things in her personal life were brought up and solved within the book. I felt the cousin was unbearable, she whines, complains, and was very rude.

I definitely wasn’t into this book, but I would be willing to try another book in the series that actually includes the bed and breakfast and not the cousin.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suture Self (Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries #17) by Mary Daheim

Judith and her cousin Renie are both schedule for elective surgery at Good Cheer Hospital. Judith is a bit leery due to the fact that a seemingly healthy celebrity and Athlete died after surgery. Once admitted another healthy live is lost, will she and/or her cousin be next? Judith begins investigating before anyone else dies.

A fast paced mystery with an engaging plot and well developed characters. Judith is very likable, she has some family issues she is facing as well as solving (probable) murders. Renie is out-spoken and likable too. A great mix of suspense, secrets, danger and humor. Overall I enjoyed Suture Self, and recommend to those who enjoy a good who-done-it.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judith and Renie are sleuthing once again. This time they are in the hospital because Judith had hip replacement surgery and Renie had shoulder surgery.

The Hospital of Good Cheer had mysterious deaths occur during the last month. While the cousins are in the hospital, another death occurs which freaks the cousins. They decide to sleuth while they are holed up in the hospital.

This was an okay mystery. I could not believe Renie brought as much food as she did to the hospital. I kept wondering about all the cheese she had with her. Isn't cheese perishable?

I'm glad I reread/ listened to the book once again. It cleared some things up.

[Jennifer Kovaleski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continue to marvel how well this series is written. Ms Daheim, rest her soul was a phenomenal writer. Judith and Renie always find themselves involved in some mess or another even when it’s not their fault. After both being admitted to the Good Cheer hospital for much needed surgeries they stumble upon 3 weird deaths when prominent patience’s were recuperating. So May possibilities were presented. All in all jealousy was the prime motive and I did not see it coming.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith and her cousin are having surgery at the same time in the same hospital and are going to share a room, how boring can that be. The Good Cheer Hospital dosen't seem to be a cheerful place to be with questionable deaths and awful food amid a snow storm that limits food delivery. How much trouble can find them when they are confined to a hospital?

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better in this series. I've become somewhat addicted to these, even though I don't particularly care for them in and of themselves. Judith redeemed herself a bit in my eyes at the end, finally doing something she should have done about 8 books ago.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this particular story from the series in that I think the Judith and Reenies personality foibles are on full display. I would have kicked them out on their ears with as much as they get up to while "recovering" in the hospital. It's a cringe-worthy smile of a read.

[Melva Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Daheim's bed and breakfast series is so much fun. In this book the cousins are in the hospital. One is having a hip replacement and one is having rotator cuff repair. People are dying. The cousins are bored so they decide to figure out why. It is a funny and delightful ride.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy that Daheim continues to set these mysteries in different locales. It would be hard to get past having every installment centered on the b&b. Here we have contrived to get both ladies hospitalized at the same time... which works better than you might think.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery. I have not read the other books in this series and now I want to go back and read the previous ones. I loved the cousins Judy and Renie. They had me laughing. I enjoyed how they worked this mystery and solved the crime.

[Sarah Niebuhr Rubin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just plain fun!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok

[Nan Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Susan Moxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that is funny and a real page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat yesterday what’s going to happen next.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like books that make me laugh!

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series. I love how the cousins get along and solve the murders.. I missed this one where Mike gets to acknowledge Joe as his Dad.

[Sandra Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and fun read

[Sharon Arrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another funny murder mystery with quirky characters and the endearing regulars to keep you page turning.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. I found the main characters grating and there was too much unearned/forced zaniness.

[The Badger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an affinity for cozy mysteries. They generally aren't written in pursuit of a spot on the bestseller list; rather, cozies are written to give the reader a sense of comfort and calm (ironically, by way of murder).

My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).

Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.

And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)I have an affinity for cozy mysteries. They generally aren't written in pursuit of a spot on the bestseller list; rather, cozies are written to give the reader a sense of comfort and calm (ironically, by way of murder).

My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).

Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.

And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)

[Kathleen Hagen]

Suture Self, by Mary Daheim, B. narrated by Anna Fields, produced by Blackstone Audio, downloaded from audible.com.

This is kind of a slap-dash comedy-mystery involving two cousins. I really bought it because Anna Fields read it, and I’ll read almost anything she narrated. Anyway Judith, apparently already an amateur detective, married to a private investigator, and her cousin, who is married to a psychologist, end up having orthopedic surgeries at the same time in the local hospital. They’re a little worried about it because two patients have died after minor surgeries in the last two weeks, and they wonder if they should postpone their surgeries. However they both have a lot of pain and decide to go through with it. They survive their operations, but someone else dies after minor surgery. Judith decides that for their own safety, as well as because of her curiosity, she has to find out what happened. The murders seem connected, and also connected to other crime in the neighborhood. This is a slapstick type novel. You have to leave your judgment or expectation of reasonable happenings at the door to enjoy this book, but Anna Fields does a wonderful job of producing different voices and making this novel very funny.

[Jacquelynn Fritz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book 3.5 stars if available because I liked the mystry and humor of the story. Judith, who runs the Hillside Manor bed and breakfast, and her friend Renie are checking into Good Cheer Hospital. Judith is having hip surgery and Renie shoulder surgery. Both are anxious as some prominent people have recently died after having surgery there. Both come through surgery doing well, but another patient dies. Now Judith and Renie are on the case, though Judith is frustrated as she must send Renie out to see what is going on as she is confined to bed. They find who the murderer and both go home. I did have some problems with how much gossip went on in the hospital among staff and patients as its against the law to do so.