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Imogene Duckworthy, who yearns to be a PI, has landed a job assisting Mike Mallett in Wymee Falls, Texas. Bringing home a pot-bellied pig as a birthday gift for her daughter, Nancy Drew Duckworthy, Immy discovers the body of the owner of Jerry's Jerky hanging in the smokeroom. Now she has her chance to prove her skills.
282 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2012
63 people want to read
About the author
Kaye George
54 books268 followersKaye George is an award-winning novelist and short-story writer who writes cozy and traditional mysteries and a prehistory series, which are both traditionally and self-published. Her two cozy series are Fat Cat and Vintage Sweets. The two traditional series feature Cressa Carraway and Imogene Duckworthy. The People of the Wind prehistory mysteries take place within a Neanderthal tribe. She has a suspense novel coming out in early 2025 called SOMEONE IS OUT THERE, and a new cozy series starting in 2026 featuring Comfy Cat. About 50 or more short stories have also been published, mostly in anthologies and magazines. With family scattered all over the globe, she makes her home in Knoxville TN.
Homepage: http://kayegeorge.com/
Homepage: http://kayegeorge.com/
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 21, 2012
This is Kaye George's second in the Imogene Duckworthy (every time I say that name I have to smile) series. The characters all have colorful names like Hortense, and Tinny Bucket, and her husband, Beryl, better known as Rusty... as in Rusty Bucket. Hilarious!
All of the characters seem to live up to their wildly colorful names. And Immi, as friends and family call her, is certainly a character. Barely out of her teens, she's a single mom with a four year old daughter, a job she's hanging onto, living in a backwater Texas town, and has aspirations, or as my grandmother would say, gumption--she wants to become a private investigator.
You would think Immi is fooling herself, wouldn't you? She should be taking secretarial courses, or nursing, or something useful. Ha! Ms. Goerge does a great job of convincing readers that they should root for Immi and her heartfelt desire to solve crimes and become a P.I. I know I sure did.
There's laughter, red-herrings that throw her (and us) off the right track, but Immi prevails in a way that made me want to hug her, which I think would surprise her, as she doesn't seem to think she's anything special.
And that, my friends, is the beauty of a really good author. Someone whose deft writing makes you want to live around the corner so you can catch up on the characters.
I sure hope there will be more of Imogene Duckworthy (who makes me smile) for some time to come.
All of the characters seem to live up to their wildly colorful names. And Immi, as friends and family call her, is certainly a character. Barely out of her teens, she's a single mom with a four year old daughter, a job she's hanging onto, living in a backwater Texas town, and has aspirations, or as my grandmother would say, gumption--she wants to become a private investigator.
You would think Immi is fooling herself, wouldn't you? She should be taking secretarial courses, or nursing, or something useful. Ha! Ms. Goerge does a great job of convincing readers that they should root for Immi and her heartfelt desire to solve crimes and become a P.I. I know I sure did.
There's laughter, red-herrings that throw her (and us) off the right track, but Immi prevails in a way that made me want to hug her, which I think would surprise her, as she doesn't seem to think she's anything special.
And that, my friends, is the beauty of a really good author. Someone whose deft writing makes you want to live around the corner so you can catch up on the characters.
I sure hope there will be more of Imogene Duckworthy (who makes me smile) for some time to come.
January 2, 2025
This second book in the series is even funnier than the first, and more outrageously Texan, filled with character-based humor. Kaye George has a gift for portraying annoying people in a way that makes you laugh with recognition. There are plenty of such people in this story. I loved the rodeo scene. I loved names like Amy JoBeth. Imogene Duckworthy is getting better at being a private investigator, but she still makes blunders without which she just would not be herself.
Immy’s investigation into the death of pet pig leads to investigating murders. The murders were a bit gruesome, to be honest, and yet funny at the same time, which is a remarkable achievement. The action is intense and builds suspense; the humor never outpaces the mystery. The romance subplot is tightly woven into the crime plot.
The miniature potbellied pigs were endearing. Many years ago, a friend I had worked with in a theater company moved to Texas and acquired a pet potbellied pig, which she taught to perform circus tricks. While she was walking it on its leash, it once protected her from a potential human predator. When he tried to haul her into his van, the pig charged and scared him. He drove off yelling she had an ugly dog. Naturally, I rooted for the pigs in this story.
Immy’s investigation into the death of pet pig leads to investigating murders. The murders were a bit gruesome, to be honest, and yet funny at the same time, which is a remarkable achievement. The action is intense and builds suspense; the humor never outpaces the mystery. The romance subplot is tightly woven into the crime plot.
The miniature potbellied pigs were endearing. Many years ago, a friend I had worked with in a theater company moved to Texas and acquired a pet potbellied pig, which she taught to perform circus tricks. While she was walking it on its leash, it once protected her from a potential human predator. When he tried to haul her into his van, the pig charged and scared him. He drove off yelling she had an ugly dog. Naturally, I rooted for the pigs in this story.
September 19, 2022
A murdered potbellied pig, a man on a meat-hook in the jerky smokehouse, an unwed mother aspiring to become a private investigator, a multitude of possible suspects and motives – now, what could possibly go wrong? This is an engaging, who-done it murder mystery within a wholesome context of family life in a small Texas town. A very good read! Author Kaye George knows what she’s doing with murder mysteries, and she does it very well.
March 12, 2018
I love mysteries with quirky well rendered characters and Smoke fits the bill big time! The heroine Immy Duckworthy is lovable and laughable at the same time. The other characters are memorable in their own funny ways. The plot moves at a nice pace and intrigued me right up to the surprise ending. I will read more of this author.
November 7, 2020
This is really in dire need of an editor- I got a third of the way through it and see why it is self published. I wanted to like it as I’m a Texan, but it is really unrealistic and unreadable. Sad I bought the other two in this series already.
March 15, 2023
A bit of an improvement over the first installment. At least Immy wasnt as large of an inept idiot as in the first book and the jokes weren't as lame...but this series isnt very good. Glad theres only one more.
September 6, 2012
A Rodeo of Mayhem and Deception
Kaye George’s Smoke: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery tells a fast-paced tale of a young woman, residing with her daughter and mother, whose main desire is to become a Private Investigator. Imogene (Immy) is taking a course in PI work and has a special how-to book she consults while she tries to investigate one untimely death after another in her small Texas town.
Even with suspected murder, there is humor at every turn, not the slapstick kind or the wisecracking snark of new, but good old-fashioned, subtle “Immy” speak that had me smiling often and laughing out loud more than once.
While reading the story, I was pleased to learn about potbelly pigs and bull riding. Both topics well researched and presented with an insider’s knowledge.
The easygoing writing style is deceptive as Ms. George stays below the radar while spinning her tale of mayhem and deception. This is not a “Cozy” as I had expected. The scenes speed up quickly and the pace of the story makes it impossible to put down.
What’s up next? Broke: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery.
Kaye George’s Smoke: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery tells a fast-paced tale of a young woman, residing with her daughter and mother, whose main desire is to become a Private Investigator. Imogene (Immy) is taking a course in PI work and has a special how-to book she consults while she tries to investigate one untimely death after another in her small Texas town.
Even with suspected murder, there is humor at every turn, not the slapstick kind or the wisecracking snark of new, but good old-fashioned, subtle “Immy” speak that had me smiling often and laughing out loud more than once.
While reading the story, I was pleased to learn about potbelly pigs and bull riding. Both topics well researched and presented with an insider’s knowledge.
The easygoing writing style is deceptive as Ms. George stays below the radar while spinning her tale of mayhem and deception. This is not a “Cozy” as I had expected. The scenes speed up quickly and the pace of the story makes it impossible to put down.
What’s up next? Broke: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery.
December 20, 2012
‘Smoke’ is the second book in the Imogene Duckworthy Mystery series by Kaye George. The first one in the series, ‘Choke,’ was nominated for an Agatha Award in the First Novel Category. ‘Choke’ is a great book, but I like ‘Smoke’ even better.
This story revolves around pigs and is completely delightful.
To read the complete review see: http://www.examiner.com/article/enjoy...
This story revolves around pigs and is completely delightful.
To read the complete review see: http://www.examiner.com/article/enjoy...
September 18, 2012
A great second book in the Imogene Duckworthy Mystery series now that Immy is becoming a PI.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews