Plotting at the PTA (Paperback) - Common

Beth Kennedy #3

by Laura Alden

Bookstore owner, PTA secretary, and single mom Beth Kennedy has to fit a murder investigation or two into her schedule in Alden’s enjoyable if padded third PTA mystery (after 2011’s Foul Play at the PTA). When Beth discovers that a favored customer at her Rynwood, Wis., bookstore, Amy Jacobson, has died from shock after multiple bee stings, she believes Amy’s death was not the freak accident the police claim. Meanwhile, Beth promises an elderly friend to look into the death of her great-niece, Kelly, more than 20 years earlier, an apparent suicide by drowning. When Beth realizes that Kelly and Amy were close friends, she risks her own life to prove that neither the drowning nor the anaphylactic shock was anything short of cold-blooded murder. Digressions involving supporting characters mean the school year is almost over before amateur sleuth Beth is able to connect all the dots.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2012

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some character surprises. The MC walks around in something like a fugue state for much of this one. That's weird. Hearing voices of dead people? Also weird!

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Kennedy has a wonderful money making idea for the P.T.A. A project that matches a Senior Citizen from a local assisted living center with Tarver Elementary students so that the elders can share their stories. The students then write up the information to publish in a book for the group to sell.

Beth gets a little sidetracked when one of regular customers at the bookstore, Amy Jacobson, dies after receiving several bee stings. It seems a little early for bees in Wisconsin and Amy was so very careful whenever she ventured outside.

Beth finds herself buzzing around trying to get the rest of the story. Who may have wanted Amy stung permanently?

Dollycas Thoughts

Beth always finds herself hip deep in a mystery and those mysteries usually involve murder. She is so easy to identify with because her huge heart shines through in everything she does. Even when she is trapped into doing something she doesn't want to do. I found myself not liking Auntie May here and there but she also reminded me a lot of my mother. :)

The story has it's twists and turns and one very surprising development. This author's writing continues to get better and better. She is letting her characters evolve so naturally. Beth is getting to know her customers. She knows when they do things that just aren't normal for them. The dialogue between Marina and Beth is fresh and full of humor. The members are the P.T.A. are unique and real, every school group has a Claudia.

The next installment has been set up. Beth is sure to have some challenges ahead. I can't wait!!

[Beth Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feeling about this mystery. The mysteries themselves are weak. Not much of a chance for the reader to solve them. There's less of wacky Marina than in the previous book; good news for me because that character grates. I like the main character's sense of humor, but she can be too self-deprecating, and she needs to grow a spine! I suppose her learning to stand up for herself is a part of the series, but her involvement in the mysteries depends on her being borderline bullied by another character...not fun to read about. I do like the small-town setting, the bookstore, her relationship with her kids.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, partly because the main character owns a children's book store. The mystery this time involves a visit to the past. Alden makes me feel like I know these characters and makes me root for them. In this outing Beth has come up with the idea of using elementary school children to record the memories of senior citizens. In my opinion, everything in this book works to make it a perfect cozy.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I wasn’t quite as into this one as I was in the previous two of the series. I don’t know it almost seem like Beth went a little bit crazy there for a while and it was a little bit hard to relate to her. But maybe that was just her changing into a new version of herself… Anyway I was pretty close to the identity of the killer this time but I really couldn’t nail down a complete motive. Of course by the end you learn a little bit more. I’m probably going to continue the series.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

The pace of the book was too slow. I kept hoping it would pick up and become interesting, but after 2 chapters it still wasn't holding my attention. Back to the library we go.

[Patti Abernathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decided to read a cozy mystery while waiting for my next presidential biography to arrive. Beth is a very likable character with 2 kids, a dog and a cat. She solves murders in unconventional ways.

[Sandy Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best yet

This book has tied together my thoughts of the previous two books. The book certainly held my interest and at times I couldn’t put it down. It was a great read.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

good series! Enjoy the characters.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy readers will truly delight in the fact that this is the third in the series of these super-fun books, and with each release the plots just keep getting better and better.

Our heroine is Beth Kennedy. A divorced mother of two, Beth is also a children’s bookstore owner, the PTA Secretary, and a woman who is engrossed in many other thankless jobs. In her small town in Wisconsin, Beth works extremely hard as a Mom and her friends see her as a kind - yet, slightly odd - woman.

You see, Beth has also been known to do a little crime-fighting from time to time. Or, as the police chief sees it, Beth is more than a bit nosy even though she’s extremely helpful. Beth and the PTA members are planning a Senior Story Project which will aid the elderly residents of Sunny Rest Assisted Living Facility. The students of Tarver Elementary School are going to create and publish a book that the PTA can sell at their next fundraiser to help.

Sadly, one of Beth’s most faithful bookstore customers, Amy Jacobson, has passed away from bee stings. She knew that Amy was extremely allergic, but she was always very careful not to get into a situation where she could be stung. In addition, it’s very early in the year in Wisconsin and no one can understand where the bees came from that ended Amy’s life. Beth goes on the hunt for anyone who may have a grudge against Amy and who could have unleashed killer bees that sent her to an early grave.

These two very different storylines merge into one and offer a great deal of intrigue. Combining Beth’s circle of friends at the store and at the PTA, readers soon see the enemies mixed in with the smiling faces. Beth also has a new gentleman friend who is quite persistent, but Beth really isn’t ready to commit to anyone quite yet. Especially not until she solves the ‘bee-sting’ murder.

Strong characters and monumental surprises, this cozy is a definite keeper!

Reviewed by Amy Lignor, author of “Tallent & Lowery - 13” and owner of The Write Companion.

[Lori Henrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth is very busy these days. She is right in the middle of the Story Project, where the kids interview the residents of the senior home to find out about their lives. These stories will be put in a book and sold to raise money for the school. One of the residents Auntie May is pressuring her to help another resident find out what really happened to her niece 20 years ago. Most people think she committed suicide, but Maude doesn't believe that. Also one of Rynwood's quirky residents. Amy, is found dead in her back yard. She died as a result of being stung by wasps which she was highly allergic to. Beth doesn't believe it was an accident, and when she finds out that there was a link between Amy and Maude's niece Kelly, she is even more sure of it. But Gus, the police chief, isn't being very friendly to her these days and won't listen when she tries to explain that Amy wasn't murdered.

Beth is also struggling to figure out whether she is in love with Evan, especially after her finally proposes to her. There is also another love interest introduced along the way, so it isn't surprising when Evan is booted out of the picture. I am curious to see if Pete will be come the new man in Beth's life.

I enjoy this series, especially since I live in Wisconsin and about 15 minutes away from Madison. To bad Rynwood wasn't a real place.

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

I always enjoy this gentle murder mystery series. It is a cozy in the finest sense, however, this book surpassed my expectations starting at chapter seven. Until that point it was a nice read but I couldn't see how the sleuth's personal issues with fear would figure into a murder mystery.

Then, came Chapter Seven. As I ended reading it with tears in my eyes, I knew Ms. Alden was going to twist and turn and astonish me, and she did!

PTA Secretary, and single mom, Beth Kennedy has solved a couple of murders but is really just trying to cope with daily life and owning her bookstore. One of her methods to keep customers, is to deliver books to persons that are housebound, enter Amy. When Beth learns Amy has died of a bee sting, she is devastated and conflicted. It just doesn't feel right.

Beth is also in charge of a PTA project that pairs seniors and students together to journal the seniors life stories in a small fund-raising book. Beth is drawn to a twenty year old suicide that is deemed suspicious by the elderly Aunt.

Beth finds herself as she delves into these two 'mysteries.' The book had suspense, romance, mystery, and gave me some life lessons as well.

This is a book that earned each of it's stars in my opinion. I can't wait for the next one to surprise me again.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beth wears many hats--divorced mother, bookstore owner, PTA secretary. As PTA secretary, she's organized a project involving pairing school kids with seniors in a local retirement home. The kids are to write the seniors' biographies for a fundraiser. Beth's son Oliver draws sweet, feeble Maud, who begs Beth to put on her detective cap and find out why her great niece Kelly drowned twenty years ago. Beth is also worried about the death of her customer, who was famously agoraphobic but who died in the backyard. What's worse is that her good friend, the local police chief, has turned unfriendly, and Beth doesn't know why. Then there's her fear that the perfect man she's been dating for nine months is about to propose.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Kennedy has her hands full with her children's bookstore, being the PTA secretary, and single mom. When she finds out one of her customers, Amy Jacobson died from a bee sting she's upset. She's also excited about the Senior Story Project where students pair with the residents of Sunny Rest Assisted Living to tell their stories in a book the PTA can sell for fundraising. Her son gets paired with Maude Hoffman, who is a friend of Auntie May (known by that name to everyone). What Maude really wants is for Beth to find proof that her niece Kelly was murdered 20 years ago. I like the characters, Mariana, Beth's best friend, Claudia Wolff on the PTA who argues with her on every little thing, and her employees. This was a fun book to read.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plotting at the PTA is book #3 of Laura Alden's PTA series. I enjoyed book #1, but liked this one even more. Shy single-mom Beth Kennedy is an appealing character who grows more confident with every murder case she solves. Alden's writing style is a delight. Nothing silly about this cozy. I look forward to reading more in the series.

[Cindy Dobrez]

I read about this in our local paper as the author is a former Grand Haven resident. I'm really more interested in the upcoming Bookmobile Cat Mysteries coming in Dec. 2013 to be published under the pen name Laurie Cass.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick read. Quickly realized that there would be no other way to solve the 20 year old mystery than with a conveniently-timed confession and that prediction came true. An only-in-fiction ending but still a fun read.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beth is a crazy and paranoid

[Julia Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book. Looking forward to the next book to see what happens when she becomes PTA president and what happens in her love life.

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

clean. ok enough. better than #2

[Rebecca Heywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

not as good as the first two, I think she went a little nuts here, but did a good job showing how nuts she was even though she felt she was fine.

[Shamiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Can't wait to get stated on the next one!

[Brig · Rating 4 out of 5]

:) #3 in the series. This one took me a while to get into, but once I got going, I couldn't put it down. Just a spoiler, there are TWO murders that Beth has to solve in this book. ;)

[Ming · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid cozy

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, quick easy read. Once again read this entire trilogy. I really enjoy book series so you can get a little more invested in the characters and they aren't gone after one book.

[ChrisGA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series--Beth hearing the victim guide her was a little strange. Overall, enjoyable cozy

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series! Beth Kennedy is a strong character who has a good mind. And of course she has a goofy side kick who helps her lighten up.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good plot, interesting characterization.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if it's my bad memory or just bad writing, but I got to the end of this one and we find out the culprit (no spoiler) and all I can think is, "Who?" I have no recollection of this person. Did we hear about them before they come up as the killer? Because I don't remember them at all.