I love a pun and that’s probably why I’ve read most of Piers Anthony’s books. I was initially attracted to Erika Chase’s series of cozy mysteries surrounding a mystery book club by the title, A Killer Read. Later, I followed up that pleasant jaunt into the Old South with Read and Buried. So, when I needed a quick novel to read on my commuter train round-trip, I reached for the third volume, Cover Story. I’m now convinced that cozies generally need a clever name, a female protagonist who is not officially attached to a significant other but feels attracted to men in law enforcement. In most cozies, said protagonist becomes involved in solving the mystery (or mysteries) to clear the name of a friend or acquaintance suspected of the crime. So, one gets a mystery, romance, emotional engagement, and, inevitably, the female protagonist being threatened and at risk. Inveterately, this threat is the fulfillment of the law enforcement friend’s prophetic warnings that “snooping around” is dangerous.
Cover Story was rather obvious in both the overall mystery(ies) and the perpetrator (or mastermind). The story begins with a notorious (in the good sense) alumna of the local high school returning to town with her new steamy novel. When one of her friends is attacked and the inevitable murder takes place (before any additional complications), it appears to be related to the content of the book. The reasonable assumption would be that someone’s deep, dark secrets may be in danger of full revelation through the publication of the novel. So, the novel is one branch of the investigation, but the publisher and the appearance of a ne’er-do-well con man offer other possibilities (especially considering the contraband with which the con man appears). I must be careful in dancing around this investigation because the answer is floating close to the top of the events in question.
Despite the formulaic nature of these stories and the consistency of Lizzie Turner, reading specialist and protagonist of the series, in terms of both following through with a mystery and in putting herself in unnecessary nature (primarily by having a built-in character flaw of not trusting authorities with the important bits of information she discovers), they are quite entertaining. Lizzie’s faithful care of her mother suffering from Alzheimer’s and her devotion to her older friend Molly are commendable and moving, as is her dedication to her former students—single mom Stephanie and rebellious teenager Andie (“Andrea”).
There is also, as mentioned in reviews of other books in the series, a rather unique appendix. Erika Chase offers the reading lists for the members of the fictional Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straw Society. Lizzie herself and her best friend, Sally-Jo, seem to prefer cozies—particularly those with food in the titles. Molly, the near-matriarch of the group, prefers the classics like Agatha Christie and newer works such as those by Alexander McCall Smith. Predictably, the male members of the group take a different tack with Robert Crais and James Burke adorning ex-police chief Bob Miller’s list and attorney Jacob Smith’s list’s harder-edged Baldacci and Coben. The younger females both enjoy Evanovich, but teenager Andie likes the supernatural elements of Charlaine Harris. I’m appreciative of these lists because some of the recommendations on the lists work for me.
Cover Story may be less filling than the typical appetizers the club enjoys during their meetings, but there are times when one is looking for something light. For those moments, this series “tastes great,” despite of being a relatively light read.