The Lodger: A Spider Latham Mystery

Spider Latham Mystery #1

by Liz Adair

A Spider Latham mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Lds Fiction, Lds

259 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kim Dennis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really 2.5 stars. I really struggled with whether to go with 2 or 3. My sister once described a book as being written more like a movie script than a novel, and I would have to describe this book this way. For the first roughly 90% of the book, I would say there was probably 2-3 times more dialogue than narration. Most of the narration was getting Spider from scene to scene or describing the terrain. There was very little about what he was thinking or how he was feeling.

There were inconsistencies in the book. Like they have two kids home from missions and graduated from college and yet he was 45 and she was 40. That would have put her in her mid teens having kids. There are also things at the end that I felt like didn’t get sufficiently wrapped up. That was what finally tipped the rating to two rather than three stars. I was really liking the last 20 pages or so until then.

There were things about the church that I didn’t like, and I wasn’t sure how to explain it until I read another review where she talked about how negative he was about the people in the church and how he was a recently released bishop...that was it and it didn’t sit well with me. I like Christian fiction, and I like when the characters are religious. However, I don’t like being preached to in a novel. During her discussion on grace, I felt like I was in a Sunday school class, rather than reading a book. I skimmed through that.

Having said all that, I will still give her another go. This was her first book. My sister has read others by her and enjoyed her, so I’m guessing she gets better as she goes along.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't like this writer's style. It was way too boring for a murder mystery. I didn't enjoy the character, Spider, very much. He was sooo negative and judgmental of everyone -- mostly his fellow church members. As a recently released bishop, it just didn't seem to be the norm.
And at the beginning of the book it says the couple has been married for 25 years and then the VERY NEXT page it says his wife is 40 years old and he is 45. Hmmm... so she was 15 years old when they were married and he was 20??? Doubtful. For some reason this detail drove me nuts the entire book. An oversight like that is pretty lame -- at least when the reference to time is only 2 or 3 paragraphs apart!

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book! I think what I like most about it is that Liz Adair was not afraid to make her LDS characters really LDS. They don't just go to church, but they discuss the gospel with each other and make decisions based on their beliefs. Spider and his wife have these discussions that sound a lot like discussions I have with my husband. That makes them so believable!

The plot was entertaining and kept me guessing. I also loved the bits of humor sprinkled throughout. I've read it more than once and enjoyed it every time!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this series by reading the 4th book which I enjoyed. I felt this book got overly bogged down with religious quotes. And even a new and untrained deputy sheriff should know better than to move a body without preserving evidence just from watching tv.

[Annelie]

Spider Latham has just been honorably released from his position as Bishop in his local Latter-Day Saint church ward when he is recieves new duties as the new deputy for his tiny county. He isn't a week into the job when, in the Sheriff's absence, the finding of a dead body is reported. Using his knowledge and skills developed as a Bishop and his limited deputy experience, he goes out to uncover the mystery of the person's death.

This was an enjoyable read. At first I was concerned because of how the culture of Latter-Day Saints was portrayed but by the end of the book I saw that it contributed to the author's purpose as she herself is a member of the church. It was fun to follow Spider as he worked to seek clues and avoid temptation on his way to solve the mystery.

Content Warning: Genre - Mystery. Graphic Violence: Nothing graphic. The most disturbing feature is the description of the dead body Spider uncovers and the difficulty of trying to move it. Langauge: None. Just made up phrases by Spider. Similarity to Other Books: Sherlock Holmes, with it being a mystery. "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites" with it containing elements of the Latter-Day Saint lifestyle.

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Genre:LDS fiction/mystery) Spider Latham has just been hired by the county to be a deputy sheriff. He was sworn in and given a handbook of rules and procedures and then turned lose without any formal training or guidance. Unfortunately, he is quickly involved in more than just writing speeding tickets, as a couple of teens find a body while out hunting. It was an okay story with a pretty good mystery. Enough clues were present to figure out whodunit, with a couple of red herrings thrown in to distract the reader from figuring it all out.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a good book. i love the characters they ate so real and full of good and not so good traits just like everyone! sure hope liz adair keeps this series goig for a nce long time. story is about a very small town deputy sheriff who on his first day in office someone finds a very dead body. and the hunt begins to find out who she is and why she ended up dead almost in spider's backyard. no language!!! see good stoies don't have to be filled with trash mouth!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick fun read. I debated between 3 and 4 stars and decided to go higher versus lower because I know this was a first book by this author. I did enjoy the mystery and the humor. I enjoyed the character having some humbling experiences and that he was not perfect. I also enjoyed his wife not being a typical housewife in the story, but that she was so much more.

I will read other books by this author if I come across them, but I probably won't go searching for book 2 anytime soon.

[Orange · Rating 2 out of 5]

I stayed up until 1 in the morning to finish this book. I must say I was very dissapointed and let down by the ending. Instead of a huge discovery or 'oh!' moment I ended up becoming confused as to why the reader wasn't let in on more. It took me a while to get used to her style of writing, but decided to stick with it anyways, but I will definitely not be reading anymore of these......oh well.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider Latham, former bishop and ex-miner (because the mines were closed), is sworn in as Deputy Sheriff of Lincoln County and given a handbook to study. Since the county sheriff is out-of-town, Spider is immediately called out to a crime scene. It's not an easy assignment, but Spider is a good man who will work hard and actually does solve the case.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this author! The characters are so real. The hero-(Spider Latham) is a former Mormon Bishop and newly appointed Deputy Sheriff. He is not at all pretentious, and tries to do his best, but like all of us, he isn't perfect. This author is almost as good as J.A. Jance! I'll definitely be looking for more in this series!

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5
This book was OK. This was primarily because while the main character was OK, I felt very neutral about him and I really need to like and somehow identify with the main character. I thought the story was well enough crafted. This was the author's first book so I am going to read the next book in the series in hopes I will like Spider better.

[Loni Spendlove · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than I expected (a pleasant surprise!). It was easy to put faces on the main characters and empathized with many of their struggles, faith and hope. I'm not a real mystery reader, but this felt like a plausible story without too many rabid details. I could easily recommend this book to someone looking for a light read.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

great easy mystery read; liked all of this author's--LDS, but not too mormony, and doesn't stifle plot

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. Not the best I've ever read, but interesting characters, and I love the side humor. Pretty good plot, I'm just not a fan of her writing style. I know others who really love her.

[Wendi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book very boring. It really dragged for me. I already had the next two books in this series from the library, but I returned them without reading them.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series of mysteries about an LDS sheriff and set in the Nevada desert. That is why I picked up Counting the Cost but didn't really enjoy it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery without being too deep. Spider Latham is hired as the new deputy sheriff in a small Nevada town. A body is found and the sheriff is out of town. Whodunit?

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was just kind of fun. Not really suspenseful, and an easy read.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice mystery with a touch of small town.

[Kandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

slow going read but like her books so far..

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheesy in some parts but good!