The Easter Egg Murder

Harrie McKinsey Mysteries #1

by Patricia Smith Wood

Harrie McKinsey and her best friend and business partner Ginger Vaughn discover that some secrets are best left buried when retired Senator Philip Lawrence hires their editing firm to assist him with a book about the famous unsolved 1950 murder of a cocktail waitress that led to the end of illegal casinos in New Mexico. When the Albuquerque newspaper announces that Senator Lawrence is writing the book, one person with a connection to the case is murdered and another narrowly escapes death. Despite the best efforts of Ginger's husband and an FBI agent Harrie finds infuriatingly attractive, the energetic pair cannot resist trying to discover who is so anxious to destroy the book, the senator and his big secret. But will their proficiency and pluck be up to the challenge when they land in a dark house with a cold, calculating killer who has nothing else to lose?

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

218 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2013

About the author

My father, first as a police officer and later as a career FBI agent, sparked my interest in law, solving crime, and mystery writing.

After retiring from a varied and successful business career (including eighteen months working at the FBI and fifteen years as CEO of my own computer company) I attended writing seminars, conferences, and in 2009 graduated from the FBI Citizens Academy.

My first mystery, The Easter Egg Murder, was published in February 2013 by Aakenbaaken & Kent. My second book in the series, Murder on Sagebrush came out in 2015, and the third, Murder on Frequency debuted in late 2016. It won the NM/AZ Book Award for Best Cozy Mystery 2017. The fourth Harrie McKinsey will be out soon. It's called Murder at the Petroglyphs and it, too, is set in Albuquerque.

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a deep affection for this book. It is my baby, my first book, and I still enjoy it after all the writing, repeated edits, and "tweaking" necessary for publication. To hold the finished product in my hands for the first time rates right up there with the best events of my life. I hope new readers who've never heard of me or this book will take a chance on it. I believe you will enjoy the mystery.

[Amber Foxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best analogy I can think of for this book is a Rubik’s Cube. As I read it, I knew all the pieces of the puzzle could fit together, but I never did figure out how until the end. It’s the kind of mystery that engages the mind, with intricately constructed interlocking pieces and multiple layers of relationships, motives and history. It has a whodunit within a whodunit, as the team of amateur sleuths, police and FBI in 2000 work out who is behind the unsolved “Easter Egg murder” from 1950, as well as a murder and an attempted murder in their own time. In spite of this complexity there are no loose ends, no holes, and even its surprise ending is set up so the closure comes from the prior events, not out of the blue.

The cascade of events in this story is triggered when Senator Philip Lawrence starts writing two books—his memoir of his life in politics, and a book about a fifty-year-old murder that took place in the small New Mexico town of Los Huevos on Easter Sunday. The second book becomes more important to him than the first, and when word gets out that he’s working on it, the project stirs up some serious trouble. The retired senator’s editors find themselves in the middle of that trouble. I liked the way the two editors’ involvement in solving a mystery was handled. The amateurs don’t outsmart the professionals, but cooperate and communicate with them in a realistic way, as well as occasionally striking out on their own.

The characters are deft sketches, the pace brisk. The pieces of the puzzle keep moving. For those who like their books spare and fast, this will fit the bill. The tension is seldom at a life-threatening level, but it builds steadily to that point. There isn’t a dull moment or a single extra word that could have been cut.

I actually would have liked a few more words. The historical part of the mystery was so interesting I wanted to explore that time and place in more depth. I had a good sense of Harrie—one of the editors who is the primary point of view character—as a whole person, but I didn’t get to know the other major players as well as I would have liked. Almost like a radio play, a good portion of the story is told in dialog. I’m never in a hurry to have a good book end and I wouldn’t have minded if this slender 212 page novel had a little more meat on its bones.

[Ngdecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place in Albuquerque, where I live - so that made it fun to read. I enjoyed the store a lot and will look for more books by the same author. I did get a little mixed up with some of the characters toward the end - but then, I had the flu at the time!! It was a great book.

[Georgann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun reading. Light, but not without substance. A cold case involving a murder committed in 1950 is reopened to danger of Harrie and Ginger. They are two likable ladies. I understand this is #1 in a series. Set in Albuquerque.

[Christena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: This was one of the first books that I ever reviewed. Here's that review:

The Easter Egg Murder is not a mainstream murder book. It does not concentrate on the gory details of a murder, but leads a reader throughout the book to understanding how and why the murder occurred. Cliffhangers end every chapter making you want to continue reading even when sleep is calling. What's unique about this story is that Patricia employs the small world concept into her mystery. The Easter Egg Murder is an enthralling well-written book that will keep you wanting more until the very end...

[Nicole Finch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a slow reader lately, because I've been watching a lot of movies this month. I'm catching up on Halloween movies I've never seen before and rewatching some old favorites. This is a short book that you could polish off in a day, but it took me a long time to finish because I've been in a movie mood.

That said, it was quite fun! I've met the author at local meetings of Sisters in Crime (she's DELIGHTFUL), and I really enjoy reading books set in Albuquerque. This one had a historical mystery connected to the current mystery, which I enjoyed, and I appreciated the protagonist's inner monologue. I had trouble keeping up with the character names, but that's probably because I took so many breaks in my reading.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story unfolds when Harrie and Ginger are asked to proofread and edit a manuscript for Ginger’s uncle, Senator Phillip Lawrence. The multi-layered family ties and hidden secrets in the prominent Snow family of Albuquerque are revealed in this page turner.

The characters are believable and the descriptions of the town and the surrounding area give the reader a feel for the Southwest. There’s not only an element of intrigue but a feeling of looming danger keeping the reader involved to the very end.

[Connie Whitcomb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. I was really looking forward to reading it since I live in Albuquerque where it takes place. But the improbability of everything that takes place, the motivations, the behaviors, the characters' responses and the predictive dreams of Harrie combine to make this almost a painful read. I read about half while thinking it would get better, but it didn't.

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I loved the 2 women heroes of the story. Pat weaves specific details throughout the story that kept me reading. The suspense had my heart beating & the slight romantic flavor was just right.

I was home sick yesterday & finished it in one day.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has potential. I'll check out book two.

[ivan a castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

intriguing

Great story full of twists and turns. Never predictable. Highly recommended. This is the second book that i’ve read by this author. Loved them both.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free copy I won in a contest.

I enjoyed this tale of two editors who are assisting with the new tell all book about a closed case many years ago. Sometimes people have secrets they need kept, and writing a book often ruffles the feathers and threatens the peace.

This appears to be the case as these editors are followed by mysterious black SUVs and feel like they are under surveillance.

When an ex-husband is killed, and the Senator that is employing them to edit his book falls ill, Harrie and Ginger take it upon themselves to solve some of the curiosities they feel they have uncovered.

This was well written, although it had a bit more romance than I like in a mystery.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather convoluted mystery set in Albuquerque NM. Starts out at a good pace but as more characters enter, it gets more complicated. An OK read. If typos bother you, you may need to skip this book.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreams can come true

Harrie has weird dreams. Some of them come true. She and her best friend Ginger are living their dream with their own business now they have a very old murder to solve.

[Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is quit,dtffrent! Its about people that I have come to know,and dislike.As my mom came to the State Of New Mexico,she told me and thigs I didnt understand until now.