Murder of a Sweet Old Lady

A Scumble River Mystery #2

by Denise Swanson

When she left Scumble River years ago, school psychologist Skye Denison thought she’d never be back. But after a run of bad luck in the big city, she has a new appreciation for the down-home charm of small-town life--and decides to start over in the town where she started out…When Skye’s beloved grandmother is found dead in her bed, the family consensus is natural causes. Still, Skye insists on an autopsy--an examination that proves the sweet old lady was, in fact, murdered! But who could have done the deadly deed? Skye is determined to find out, though her snooping doesn’t sit well with the relatives. Family tensions can mean only one thing: family secrets. And when a series of hooligan attacks on Skye’s property leads to an outright physical assault, Skye has to wonder if by exposing the rotten roots of her family tree, she’s one step closer to exposing the killer…

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Humor, Family

251 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

Denise Swanson lives in rural Illinois with her husband, classical composer David Stybr.

After 22 years as a practicing school psychologist, she's happiest sitting in her scree porch reading. However, when the weather turns too cold, she's willing to leave the Midwest to cruise the sunny Caribbean.

Denise is an animal lover, but her home is currently furless, since her kitty of 20 years passed away in August of 2016. Instead, she enjoys watching the wildlife out her office window.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
This book was just as good as the first book in the series if not better. I really had no idea how Skye was going to find out who killed her grandmother.

It never would have occurred to me that Mona, driven by guilt? Or was it just her and her husbands reputation that drove her to murder. I’m not sure if I buy that scene where Mona forces Skye to go to confession before killing her. If she is such a believer isn’t she worried about her own punishment for the two people she already killed, and then the attempted murder of Skye and the priest. She makes for a good villain though it seems that nothing is as satisfying as a hypocrite getting their just reward.


I’m feeling good about my challenge, having enjoyed this book as much as I have just hoping the next 10 are just as good. 2020 Series Read: Scumble River

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skye Denison, a school psychologist looks
forward to her after school visits with her
grandmother, Antonia Leofanti. Skye is
learning about her family history from her
grandmother now that she is back living in
Scumble River, Illinois.
When she arrives at her grandmother’s farm
after school no one answers the door. This
is very unusual as their is always a caregiver
there with her grandmother.
Entering the house, Skye discovers that her
grandmother is dead and the caretaker missing.
Something is not right!!!
Enter the family members....who get huffy when
they discover Skye asked for an autopsy as she
believes foul play.
The family members all have distinct personalities
that are well defined, quirky, colorful and very
interesting.
Now Skye faces her family being very unhappy with
her, problems with school parents, the tires on her
car being flattened, her front windows smashed,
the family bible stolen, deer blood smeared all over
her driveway plus romantic tiffs.
Skye stays determined to discover her grandmother’s
cause of death plus two other unexplained deaths.
This is book # 2 in the Scumble River Mysteries series.
It can be read as a stand alone.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Families can be deadly

Skye Dennison finds her beloved grandmother dead. Her caregiver gone.
So begins a book that I read in one day.

The slight humor in the book is by way of sayings such as 2 cokes short of a picnic.
The story line brings out the family dynamics and Skye's own determination to do things her way. Usually causing her to be in trouble with everyone.
The ending was a surprise. Not so much who the murderer was but the way it concluded.

I found this to be better than the first book of the series and I hope the rest keep getting better.

[Kellene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the second book as much as the first. Skye is growing more down-to-earth as her character progresses. Her family is definitely a mess, and her love life is worse. But I do sympathize with her in her schools, and the craziness that she gets called on to do (been there, done that). The mystery itself was fairly entertaining, but I had the solution worked out a little over half way through. It was still a good story. Looking forward to book 3.

[Moondance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skye Denison warily studied the hostile faces of Gus Yoder's parents.

In addition to the murder in this book, Skye is presented with stressful situations at school. I was very sad when Skye discovered the body of her grandmother, Antonia Leofanti. Skye immediately knew that something was amiss and did not accept natural causes for the cause of death.

I'm really starting to like Skye in this series. She has a job that I would not want for any amount of money. I cannot imagine dealing with obnoxious parents that don't see the true character of their children.

There was so much family strife in this book. I understand that death brings that out in people but I wanted to smack her cousins every time they were in a scene. I started suspecting the culprit early on. I just didn't have all the facts about the reason. So very sad!

I am hoping that Skye and Simon are not going to be an item. It does seem to have come to a stalemate. I'm kinda concerned about seeing her with Wally as well. I guess I need to keep reading to see where the relationships lead.

I enjoyed getting to know more about Skye's extended family. I can't say that I care for all of them.

This was an enjoyable afternoon read and I am looking forward to the next book.

3.5 stars

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady (Denise Swanson)
Murder/Mystery. Skye Denison is a school psychologist. Not so perfect, she can't seem to lose those few extra pounds she gained after the break up with her boyfriend. After recently being fired from her job in New Orleans, and her break up, she returns home (reluctantly) to Scumble River, Illinois. She has been back for about a year, trying to adjust to her new job and her hometown.

Her grandmother dies, and Skye is not to sure it was of natural causes. The next day her grandmother's caretaker ends up dead as well. The local coroner deems her death a murder, and Skye is on the scene. Turns out her family has some hidden secrets, are these secrets scandalous enough to cause one of her family members to turn to murder? Skye is about to find out.

I am really starting to get hooked on this series. Skye is so likable. A bit over weight, unable to commit to a relationship, and definitely outspoken. A little bit of humor, descriptive details about life in a rural town , secrets, mystery and suspense. If you like a fun mystery you will enjoy this read.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second book as much as the first. Skye is quickly becoming a character that I connect instantly with every time I open the book. She is not afraid to stand her ground with others unless it is her parents. I get that so much.

I am sad Grandma Leofanti is no longer with us in the series but her murder made for interesting reading. She was a woman with many secrets. What she did was normal for the time period it took place in but I could not imagine the decision was or is at any time period. You try to do what you think is best for your children.

I really hope Simon becomes a secondary character as I cannot stand him. There is something off about him. He treats Skye with love one moment and the next he is overbearing and exerting his manly dominance. He comes off as an A**. I'm sorry about that but I don't really know how else to explain Simon. Skye can do so much better.

I'm already cueing up book three.

[Colleen Earle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really dark for a cozy mystery.
There was a lot going on plot wise so although I had my suspicions about who the murderer was I didn’t quite have it down until the reveal.
I really like Skye. I find her to be really relatable because we are the same person only she has a career and a masters degree.
Love this series. Can’t wait to read the next book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Scumble River Mystery series.

Skye's grandmother has died, and Skye pushes until the police check and discover she was murdered. Could one of the family have killed the grandmother?

It's good to read the series in order; I read book 3 before book 2 and needed to know why Wally was so upset with Skye. It feels like Wally, whose wife just left him, was pushing way to hard for a relationship with Skye. It also felt like he is a control freak (and his tantrums in book 3 are way out of line).

In any event, Skye seems to becoming a bit more confident as this book progresses. There's still some character development going on in book 2. The writing was good, although I felt that Skye;s dysfunctional extended family was a bit much...overdone just a tad. However, I'll be continuing the series.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I'm being honest, this is probably only a two and a half. I like the main character and her parents, but I really don't like most of her aunts and uncles. Plus, it's got the whole love triangle thing. I probably won't read any more of them.

[Theresa Sivelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute cozy mystery.

[Bonnie Dieffenbacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute mystery. When a school psychologist finds her grandmother dead, the search is on to find who the murderer is. I enjoyed it.

[Gabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this installment of the Scumble River series because I liked the first book enough to want more. Although this book was okay, I probably won't be reading more of the series. Skye Denison is the main character; she's a school psychologist and a snarky daughter. She doesn't have many friends which is probably because she doesn't put herself out much to get to know others. Two men are interested in her, and she says she has feelings for both of them, but she seems to have the emotional maturity of an adolescent which doesn't make for much of a romantic life. This book was bordering on distasteful because it involved the death of Skye's grandmother, and the main suspects were members of her family. Those people had all the charm and tact of a pool of sharks, so it was nearly impossible to become involved in any of their stories. The ending was not particularly satisfactory; not because of loose ends but because it really didn't seem to matter to any of the characters whodunit. I had hoped for much better after reading the first book, but I think it's time for Skye and me to part ways.

[Vicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

The chapter titles are ridiculous. Skye is not much of a heroine. For a psychologist, she certtainly has no handle on her family and co-workers. She lets other people tell her what do which creates a very weak character. Skye is very immature. And to be "afraid" in this day and age to have an intimate relationship with a man she is dating for 9 months is unrealistic. I managed to get through the story as I did with the first one. I will now begin the 3rd installment with the hope that the author matures her wrting as well as the character. If I hadn't already purchased the set i would not read another.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the scumble river series. On top of dealing with stressful issues at her job, Skye goes to visit her grandmother and finds her dead. Everyone assumes she died of natural causes but Skye isn't so sure. Her grandmother was in perfect health so Skye knows something is wrong. I am really enjoying this series. Skye is a very well rounded character that is easy to relate to. Simon annoyed me slightly in this book and it changed my opinion of him. I am excited to continue reading this series.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Skye finds her beloved Grandmother dead in her bed. The family believes it was natural causes. But Skye insists on an autopsy- an the examination proves the sweet old lady was murdered! But by who? Skye is determinedto find out, though her family resents her snooping Skye persists. Even after a series of hooligan attacks on her property and an out right physical assault, Skye begins to wonder if by exposing the rotten roots of her family tree , is she one step closer to exposing a killer.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just an okay book for me. The plot was a bit thin and the murderer's reason for killing the sweet old lady felt shallow. Even the supposed love triangle between the main character and the two guys after her didn't have much spark as, say, The Vintage Magic Mystery series by Annette Blair. It's cozy and easy enough to read during the cold season, but there's a lack of urgency from making me want to grab the next book in the series.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read quite a few books in this series about 5 years go, but hadn't read this one. Really. I couldn't stand Skye. I can understand why she is so aggressive given her extremely difficult family. But I don't understand her aversion to her parents hoping her out occasionally. And she dislikes it when she has to wait when she makes an appointment with someone, but is continually late for appointments she has.

[Crysana Copland · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was good. It was interesting to follow the mystery, but yikes: the characters were so one dimensional. The main character was very judgmental, especially towards women. However, the anti-Semitic undertone towards the end was lovely (*sarcasm*).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Denise Swanson's Dime Store series, I decided to tackle the 2nd Scumble River Mystery after having read Skye's first brush with death last fall. I will say at the end of "Small-Town Honey," I wasn't too keen on continuing with this particular series. I hadn't really warmed to Skye or any of her family, so I figured "Sweet Old Lady" would help me decide whether or not I would continue with this series.

Boy, I'm so glad I read it because I am finally HOOKED.

This mystery. Wow. So different from any other cozy I've read. A lot of the reviews I've seen of this book on Goodreads call Swanson out for being distasteful writing a cozy about a woman investigating her grandmother's murder where her family members are suspects. But I LOVED it. So dramatic and new compared to all the quaint, frilly mysteries that are out there today. This was twisted and dark and so juicy to read, and finally explained why Skye's family was so weird and often unbearable in the first novel. They've got baggage upon baggage, honey. Skye, even though she can be bratty with her bickering, is one of the most real characters out there in this genre. She's stubborn, she's haunted by her past, her love life is a mess, and she makes mistakes constantly. It's such a relief to read about a heroine who isn't the apple of everyone's eye. Skye struggles so much through this book, and it endeared me to her in a way that I couldn't quite get to in my first read of the "Small-Town Honey" Scumble River debut novel.

If you're a person that likes to read cozies because the heroine gushes about her pets, has a cutesy hobby, or has a fun love affair with the town's resident hottie, then this book isn't for you. If you want a mystery that is raw as it is riveting and solved by an amateur detective who could be your best friend, then you've found a series worth waiting for.

[ElaineY · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; MARCH 4, 2020
Narrator: Christine Leto

The first book wasn't available at my library but the second was so I decided to start with that. I know, from this book that Skye has been in a relationship with Simon for the past nine months but the heat has fizzled out for her and she's got the hots for police chief, Wally. There are reasons in her past as to why she is commitment shy (something to do with her ex-fiance) and I guess she's going to be the same with Chief Wally - if his wife ditches him for good. When he and Skye share a kiss, he's still in the process of breaking up and is already living apart but Skye is afraid his wife might come back. Wise decision on Skye's part, I say, but I fear there's going to be a few books where she and Chief Wally do the on-off-on thing before the author allows her protagonist's love life to settle down.

Now, the murder mystery. I found it interesting enough though I couldn't see how Skye figured out who the killer of her grandmother was. Being my introduction to Skye, there were far too many relatives and other characters for me to get a hold on but it's probably my fault. I listened to this until late into the night and was getting a little sleepy. But...I did become alert when Skye was confronted by the killer who proceeds to give the old tell-all that murder mystery writers like to end their stories with. I suppose there's no other way to fill in all the gaps for the reader...

I liked Christine Leto's performance very much. No exaggerated accents or voices for the characters yet enough differentiation between the various persons and Skye so I never had to wonder who was speaking.

I hope the rest of the series is as pleasing as this installment as it's far better than the (several) books in the cozy series I've been checking out.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one much more than the previous, but the main characters were established in this one so it was more about the story and less about the world building. I did not like that the superintendent was trying to bully her into changing results to make the Mayor happy; and that he refused to hear about WHY she was fired from her last job. The fact that she actually caught him in an incriminating position was extremely helpful. Now, Mona's issues with the essay contest made a whole lot more sense. It wasn't that she was close minded and refused to hear anything other than her own opinion, it was that she herself had an abortion and it caused her all kinds of problems later in life. I did not like Mona, and I like her husband even less. I was surprised that Mona was the one who killed her mother; I was expecting Dante or Hugo. But, the reasoning made sense. I did not feel like we got a good enough explanation about Minnie's "episodes" especially since they reason they went away was because of Mona's abortion. I was getting really irritated with Simon during this book. Yes, he had a point that they had been seeing each other for 9 months and weren't making any progress in their relationship, but his constant pressuring of her was uncalled for. At the same time, Skye should have been more proactive in her dealing with him, instead of saying nothing so frequently. I'm not sure how I feel about Wally; I thought he overreacted a little bit to her going to the survivalist camp. I'm not sure she actually betrayed him. This was a fast, engaging read and I will be continuing with this series.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in A Scumble River Mystery. Our cozy mystery group is reading one book a month as we work our way through this series. Fun seeing everyone’s thoughts and reactions. This is an older series, originally published in 2001 so it’s interesting to see the different writing style back then. I also liked the quirky chapter titles.

I really like the main character. I saw that the author is a former school psychologist herself and her experience definitely shows through the scenes when Skye is at work. Of course I love a good amateur sleuth, but it’s always refreshing to see that same character really passionate about her job. Skye encounters ridicule, harassment and threats helping these students. I can’t imagine the stresses that come with that profession especially when you have to deal with upset administration and parents.

All talks of education are blown when it comes to her family. Skye’s grandma is found murdered and we had to endure meeting her extended relatives as we figured out who the culprit was. The constant bickering and cattiness amongst the aunts and cousins would drive anyone mad. I had my suspicions about the mystery fairly early on, but still enjoyed collecting clues to back my theory.

The love triangle needs to abruptly end too. Simon was a tool in this book and I get no romantic chemistry between the two of them. Hoping their split is permanent. I’m not sold on Wally either. I like him as the chief and old flame, but was put off over his split and quick advancements on Skye. He’s going to have to work harder to win me over.

Looking forward to starting book 3 soon!

[dnsyl57 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder Of A Sweet Old Lady" is book #2 in "A Scumble River Mystery" by Denise Swanson.

School psychologist, Skye Denison is really having a hard time in this book. Her beloved grandmother was murdered and the petty grievances of some of the extended family are making things worse. Several parents and the school superintendent are angry about some of her decisions. Acts of vandalism are scaring her and costing her money. Her romantic life isn't a bed of roses either. It's a lot and Skye is doing her best to figure out who is responsible for the murder and if the vandalism is related to the murder or to work.

Dealing with her own parents is one thing but the extended family is a LOT to handle. Their attitudes and judgements were so strong that I found myself cringing when certain ones were on the scene. Just plain nasty. The superintendent and parents from the school weren't much better.

Skye really needed to catch a break and luckily her brother Vince as well as her friend Trixie helped to keep her sane.

I honestly wasn't sure which of the suspects killed grandma but I did narrow it down to a couple a bit before Skye got there. The reveal of the killer and the aftermath of all the events were well done.

Overall, this was a really good cozy mystery.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 2 out of 5]

1 3/4 stars. The mystery is ok. What really annoyed me is Skye and her attitude towards confidentiality. She's upset her boyfriend didn't share something that her grandmother asked him to keep confidential, the details of her own funeral she was pre-arranging with him, the funeral director. While, she is a school psychologist. She should know the meaning of keeping things confidential. In fact she even says that she does to one character because of her job. Well, she doesn't act it. She doesn't respect the fact that he keeps something confidential. She says he doesn't trust her. That has nothing to do with it. She compares that to the fact that the Sheriff does share confidential things about the case with her. The Sheriff trusts her more than her boyfriend. It has nothing to do with trust. It has to do with integrity. It has to do with people might overhear you discussing the information. It has to do with the people confiding in you believe you when you say you are keeping things confidential.

That type of hypocrisy just means that I don't want to read any more of this series.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skye's family is terrible. Her job is awful. She is a terrible prude and needs a cell phone. The book was published in 2001, so, there's no excuse for its lack thereof. To overcome her fear of intimacy, she needs therapy desperately. The author kills off Skye's beloved grandmother and her caretaker in horrible fashion. Skye's incessant, amateur skeuthing results in a death later in the book. Her rental cottage is repeatedly vandalized along with her car. The culprit won't be in jail forever. Regarding the rental's vandalism, she should have informed the owner. Also, the insurance agent told her to get two estimates, and she got none. Her dad called a contractor. So who pays? Finally, all that driving, including to Chicago and back for appointments, in an old car, while under threat is so far-fetched.

[Bonnie Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of this series. I didn't think I would love this series so much but I really can say I LOVE IT. I just finished book #2 Murder of a Sweet Old Lady and I can relate with Skye Dennison and her family. Skye just wants to live in piece but with family the way they are and Two Handsome Guys wanting to be with her she has a fight on her hands to get control of her life and her emotions about her love life all the while trying to figure out why someone wanted to kill her be loved Grandmother.

[Whi · Rating 2 out of 5]

killer is Mona the bitch

Sounds like KS -
In some cases she has week, unrealistic wishy washy attributes for main character in others she is strong. Why authors feel the need to make women stupid, incompetent, and unable to make a decision to make them "realistic" is beyond me. But the setting and descriptions of small town carry it even though the main character doesn't always so series is good enough.
In fact, sometimes the setting/action/supporting characters are hilarious (and stereotypical).

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just starting to read this series because I have been reading her Chef-to-Go series and characters from this series were mentioned in it. It's been interesting to read as Skye is a school psychologist and that is not a usual career choice for cozy mysteries. The characters are fairly well developed, although her twin cousins are extremely annoying. I hope they get better as time goes on. I want to see how her relationship with Wally develops.

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series! I wish I’d started reading it a long time ago. I especially like the small town Midwest setting of Scumble River and the feel of a little town struggling with growth and progress versus keeping the little town sweet and humble.

In this book the main character overcomes some challenges at work and secures her position, she goes through some pretty major relationship changes, and she solves not one but 3 murders! All in a day’s work for Skye Dennison.