Bluffing is Murder

Lauren Rousseau #2

by Tace Baker, Edith Maxwell

Summer promises to be anything but easy for Quaker linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau in this thrilling sequel to Speaking of Murder. With her boyfriend Zac returning to Haiti to visit his family, Lauren is on her own in Ashford, Massachusetts—and danger is never far behind.
Still reeling from an attack by her student’s murderer, Lauren decides to brush up on her karate and finds herself drawn to handsome sensei Dan Talbot. During a run near the sea bluffs, she discovers the corpse of her insurance agent, Charles Heard, who is also a Trustee for one of the oldest land trusts in the country. Earlier that day, Lauren had a public argument with Heard over her policy— and is now a suspect in the case.
Determined to clear her name, Lauren sets out to discover the real story behind the mismanaged land trust, the dead man’s volatile sister—and a possible link to her own father’s mysterious death more than a decade ago. But a near miss with a car, snippets of strange conversations in French and Farsi, slashed tires, and finding yet another attack victim on the beach make it clear that Lauren is also a target—and the killer is closing in.
Can Lauren discover the killer before she becomes the next victim?

Genres: Mystery

180 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2014

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

While out for a run, Lauren finds the body of Charles Heard, a man she had publically argued with the previous day. Is local politics involved in his death? Or is something else in play?

The mystery in this one could have been stronger, but I did still enjoy the book. The plot was always moving forward, and the characters are great. Watching the growth between the books makes it even more interesting.

NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
SECOND NOTE: Tace Baker is actually a pen name for Edith Maxwell and no relation to me.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Marian Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I had time before the holidays to read "Bluffing is Murder", the second of a series.- the first one being "Speaking of Murder", which I haven't read yet. "Bluffing" takes place in a town based on Ipswich, MA. where I did a lot of my growing up and still have family. This would be a good read, however, even without the pleasures of a familiar landscape. The mysterious doings of the Feoffees (you'll have to read the book to find out who and what these old colonial officials are) now include brutal murder. Lauren Rousseau, a Quaker and college professor, is swept into the search for answers, a search complicated by her own painful family history. It all makes for a very engaging read, especially if you are familiar with the area. Recommending it to my sister and sister-in-law.

[Priscilla Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I want to relax with a good book, I often choose a mystery - and when it's a cozy mystery, I know I'm going to enjoy my escape from reality. Tace Baker is one of the best writers of cozies, and her new series featuring college professor Lauren Rousseau got off to a great start with "Speaking of Murder" and continues apace with "Bluffing Is Murder."

Bluffing is set in a quaint New England coastal town. Along with its plethora of first period houses, Ashford has a number of arcane political entities, including a body that owns the town's prime waterfront property; these Trustees own the land but not the homes there, and residents must pay the Trustees who are in turn charged with contributing to the running of the town's schools. But for several years, they haven't, and tensions are fraught among residents who don't see why they can't just own their land like everyone else, and the Trustees who claim they can't afford to contribute tot he schools because of their costs for improvement on the Bluff, and parents and teachers who are seeing valuable programs eliminated because there isn't enough money to pay for them.

Passions run high - and murder is the inevitable result (inevitable in a cozy murder mystery at least!) Lauren is in some danger herself as she finds she cannot help becoming entangled in events as they unfold. In the process she - and the reader - learn more about her personal life. I was left satisfied with the conclusion - and ready for the next Lauren Rousseau adventure!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Rousseau has been granted tenure and doesn't need to teach summer classes. Her boyfriend is visiting his family in Haiti, and she has planned a summer of reading, researching, running and clamming. She also wants to find out what really happened 19 years ago when her father disappeared, then was found, dead. On one of her first summer runs, however, she discovers the body of her insurance agent, who has been brutally murdered. It doesn't help that she was seen arguing with him, but there is no shortage of other suspects. Suddenly Lauren's summer becomes much more complicated. She has begun studying karate again because of an attack suffered in Book 1 of the series, and she finds herself drawn to the attractive sensei, Dan.
Edith Maxwell, writing as Tace Baker, has crafted an intricately detailed plot in a perfectly beautiful setting. I could almost taste the fresh clams, sautéed in butter and served on toast. And I could certainly feel Lauren's frustration at the seeming dead ends she finds while trying to figure out both of the mysterious deaths. Masterfully written and full of suspense, BLUFFING IS MURDER should be on your list of Must-Reads.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cozy even without reading the first one in the series. I plan to do that asap. The story has many interesting lines as the heroine is a Quaker, a martial artist, a linguist, a teacher and we get to explore them all. The ending was a surprise after all the red herrings the author had thrown in our path. No spoilers here though. Read and enjoy.

[Genie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good Tace Baker mystery featuring Lauren Rousseau, her Quaker linguistics professor detective. Where are the others?