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A Scumble River Mystery #18
Murder of an Open Book
A nasty faculty feud leaves one Scumble River teacher belly-up . . .
334 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
66 people are currently reading
1152 people want to read
About the author
Denise Swanson
69 books1,127 followersDenise 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 12, 2015
Murder of an Open Book by Denise Swanson is the 18th book in the Scumble River Mystery series. Skye comes across the body of a teacher in the school pool one morning when going for her morning swim. This is one of my favourite series and it is just as fun and entertaining catching up with all the inhabitants of Scumble River as well as following Skye with her duties as the school psychologist and consultant to the police department. I love the supportive relationship she has with her new husband and seeing how she copes with the early stages of her pregnancy especially trying to hide it from her family and friends. This book also explores some of the problems of social media. A well written cozy murder mystery and I can't wait for the next instalment.
December 30, 2016
I look forward to Denise Swanson’s Scumble River series release every year. Truth be told, I wish I could have more of these stories every year, but I understand the writing process. So, since it released yesterday, I have to admit I devoured it and, luckily, was inspired to write a review of the newest chapter of Skye Denison-Boyd’s life.
Skye is back from her honeymoon, settling into life with Wally when she has a terrible and humiliating run in with one of the teachers at the high school. The next morning, during Skye’s normal swim, she feels something in the water that turns out to be a body—the body of the very teacher/coach whom had been so cruel. Now, Skye will have to use her wits to find the killer—and keep the tight-knit community of Scumble River in the dark about her pregnancy (at least until she tells her family). Will she find the killer BEFORE they strike again?
Denise Swanson continues to write a compelling mystery with this, her eighteenth full-length novel featuring the awesome Skye. A background in school psychology, Swanson uses her unique perspective to write a cast of characters that pull the reader into the pros and cons of life in a small town like Scumble River. Swanson’s style is concrete and relatable, as usual.
I love Skye and her common sense approach to mystery solving. All too often, readers of mysteries can figure out whom the guilty party is too soon. While I had an idea, it was a little harder to figure out the responsible party in Murder of an Open Book. I love that it was a challenge!
My only complaint is that these books have a way of ending and then I have to wait a WHOLE YEAR for the next one—I guess it is a small price to pay for reading a really GOOD series.
Denise Swanson’s Murder of an Open Book hit shelves yesterday, September 1, 2015. It is available in paperback (like I bought), eReader and audiobook formats. Pick up yours THIS week and help us bump this up for first week releases!
Skye is back from her honeymoon, settling into life with Wally when she has a terrible and humiliating run in with one of the teachers at the high school. The next morning, during Skye’s normal swim, she feels something in the water that turns out to be a body—the body of the very teacher/coach whom had been so cruel. Now, Skye will have to use her wits to find the killer—and keep the tight-knit community of Scumble River in the dark about her pregnancy (at least until she tells her family). Will she find the killer BEFORE they strike again?
Denise Swanson continues to write a compelling mystery with this, her eighteenth full-length novel featuring the awesome Skye. A background in school psychology, Swanson uses her unique perspective to write a cast of characters that pull the reader into the pros and cons of life in a small town like Scumble River. Swanson’s style is concrete and relatable, as usual.
I love Skye and her common sense approach to mystery solving. All too often, readers of mysteries can figure out whom the guilty party is too soon. While I had an idea, it was a little harder to figure out the responsible party in Murder of an Open Book. I love that it was a challenge!
My only complaint is that these books have a way of ending and then I have to wait a WHOLE YEAR for the next one—I guess it is a small price to pay for reading a really GOOD series.
Denise Swanson’s Murder of an Open Book hit shelves yesterday, September 1, 2015. It is available in paperback (like I bought), eReader and audiobook formats. Pick up yours THIS week and help us bump this up for first week releases!
August 31, 2015
Do you read the acknowledgements and dedications in books? I do. I love to know who inspired the authors I read. In this book author Denise Swanson thank her street team, the Swanson Sleuths. These are fans and friends who help promote books by handout bookmarks and other items, and by talking about the author’s book. Very cool of you, Ms. Swanson to remember your street team!
You would think after so many books in the same series, an author would run out of ideas. Not so for author Denise Swanson. MURDER OF AN OPEN BOOK was fresh and well written, while holding to the integrity of this long running series. After reading this book, any reader will see why the Scumble River Mystery series has enjoyed such longevity.
Skye is married, pregnant, and starting a whole chapter of her life, but some things never change, like finding a dead body and searching for a murder. As I mentioned above, this was an extremely well written story. It held my attention with every page turned. Ms. Swanson has a way with words and a plot that always leaves the readers coming back for more. I for one will return to Scumble River.
I have to mention the named chapters. I love it when an author does that! Reminds me of my Nancy Drew books. And with chapters entitled…AWHFY - Are We Having Fun Yet, and - Frownie Face, I had as much fun reading the chapters titles as I did enjoying this wonderful mystery!
Get a sneak peek of BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, book 5 in the Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery series!
You would think after so many books in the same series, an author would run out of ideas. Not so for author Denise Swanson. MURDER OF AN OPEN BOOK was fresh and well written, while holding to the integrity of this long running series. After reading this book, any reader will see why the Scumble River Mystery series has enjoyed such longevity.
Skye is married, pregnant, and starting a whole chapter of her life, but some things never change, like finding a dead body and searching for a murder. As I mentioned above, this was an extremely well written story. It held my attention with every page turned. Ms. Swanson has a way with words and a plot that always leaves the readers coming back for more. I for one will return to Scumble River.
I have to mention the named chapters. I love it when an author does that! Reminds me of my Nancy Drew books. And with chapters entitled…AWHFY - Are We Having Fun Yet, and - Frownie Face, I had as much fun reading the chapters titles as I did enjoying this wonderful mystery!
Get a sneak peek of BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, book 5 in the Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery series!
January 16, 2016
Prepare yourself for lots of exposition and detail; the dead body is not discovered until page 51. The unpopular science teacher / volleyball coach is the victim. As in previous Scumble River mysteries, Skye serves as psychologist for both the school district and police department, giving her plenty of access to the evidence and suspects.
The motive for the murder and the identity of the murderer are revealed gradually and logically, with only a few red herrings.
Throw in two fully developed sub-plots (pregnancy and a rubber duck race), and you've written 247 pages.
As a retired teacher, I especially enjoyed this description: "Homer was what those in education called a seagull administrator - a principal who flew into the school each morning, made a lot of noise, then crapped all over everything and left before anyone could shoot him."
The motive for the murder and the identity of the murderer are revealed gradually and logically, with only a few red herrings.
Throw in two fully developed sub-plots (pregnancy and a rubber duck race), and you've written 247 pages.
As a retired teacher, I especially enjoyed this description: "Homer was what those in education called a seagull administrator - a principal who flew into the school each morning, made a lot of noise, then crapped all over everything and left before anyone could shoot him."
August 21, 2021
Skye Denison-Boyd adjusted the straps of her bathing suit, then kicked off from the edge of the swimming pool.
Skye and Wally are entering a new phase of married life in this installment from Scumble River. An obnoxious volleyball coach taunts Skye in the pool and is later found dead in the pool. Skye works along with Wally to find out who killed the woman.
This was an enjoyable addition to the series. I like that Skye and Wally are settling into married life. Some clues from the previous book have come to fruition in this one. Skye uses more discretion in her investigation and does not put herself in jeopardy quite as much.
The title threw me off a bit until it was revealed as a type of social media. It does emphasize the damage that can be done on social media.
Facts we learn about the victim made me angry and surprised that no one tried to kill her sooner. This left the plot open to multiple suspects.
This was a quick easy read. I'm a bit sad that I am approaching the last book in the series. Thankfully, there is a sequel series to explore.
Skye and Wally are entering a new phase of married life in this installment from Scumble River. An obnoxious volleyball coach taunts Skye in the pool and is later found dead in the pool. Skye works along with Wally to find out who killed the woman.
This was an enjoyable addition to the series. I like that Skye and Wally are settling into married life. Some clues from the previous book have come to fruition in this one. Skye uses more discretion in her investigation and does not put herself in jeopardy quite as much.
The title threw me off a bit until it was revealed as a type of social media. It does emphasize the damage that can be done on social media.
Facts we learn about the victim made me angry and surprised that no one tried to kill her sooner. This left the plot open to multiple suspects.
This was a quick easy read. I'm a bit sad that I am approaching the last book in the series. Thankfully, there is a sequel series to explore.
February 4, 2016
This is the first book of the Scumble River mystery series and I really enjoyed it. The characters were well rounded, and the book was well plotted. It moved smoothly from beginning to end and made for a fast entertaining read. Thumbs up for this one!
February 28, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/mu...
Murder of an Open Book
A Scumble River Mystery #18
Author: Denise Swanson
ISBN13: 9780451472113
Author website: http://www.deniseswanson.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
New York Times Bestselling Scumble River Series
A nasty faculty feud leaves one Scumble River teacher belly-up.
Her honeymoon may have been less than relaxing, but Skye Boyd née Denison is still high on marital bliss with her new husband, Wally. The fact that their family is about to get bigger is even more exciting, even if Skye is dealing with morning sickness—and trying to hide the news from her ever-meddling mother, May.
But Skye quickly comes crashing down from cloud nine when the body of one of her coworkers, science teacher and volleyball coach Blair Hucksford, is found in the school swimming pool. The troublesome trainer was on the bad side of almost everyone on staff and many of the girls on her team, leaving Skye to sort through a huge roster of suspects. Now she must figure out which wronged party was mad enough to kill, and quickly—before someone else in town gets bumped off.
Review:
I love visiting Scumble River and hanging out with Skye and her husband Police Chief Wally Boyd and the whole gang. This is a long running mystery and author Denise Swanson has kept it continuously fresh. Murder of an Open Book is not different. Skye and her husband are just back from their wild adventure honeymoon on a cruise and they are trying to keep her pregnancy a secret for a bit. Both she and her husband are back at work. Skye is trying to keep in shape and takes a morning swim at the high school. One morning she has a run in with Blair Hucksford who is the science teacher and volleyball coach. She finds out that Blair may do a wonderful job getting a winning season out of the girls, but she is not a popular coworker. Unfortunately it seems that someone has more than a passing dislike for the coach when Skye finds her dead in the swimming pool.
Skye is not just your regular main character/amateur detective that is in a lot of cozy mysteries. She is the school psychologist and also an official Police Consultant. She assists her husband and his force to ferret out the criminals. So she really is more than the normal amateur. I love this series and even though this is the 18th in it, I think anyone would be able to start on any book and follow the characters. I actually did that many, many books ago. The characters are fun, intelligent, well developed, and hilarious at times. Author Denise Swanson writes with such flair and the mysteries are always well thought out and intriguing. Scumble River is small town at its best.
Murder of an Open Book is another wonderful book in this fantastic cozy mystery series. Author Denise Swanson’s writing is enjoyable, entertaining and full of wit and wonderful plotting. You can definitely read this one (and all of them) as stand alone, but I recommend reading all of the installments of Scumble River Mysteries. I think this cozy will appeal to a large assortment of readers. Any cozy lover will enjoy it, as well as anyone that likes a well written, wonderfully plotted mystery. Denise Swanson’s other cozy series Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery is another hit series. If you enjoy a bit of romance in your cozy, you have come to the right place. This author has a winning formula that never gets old, boring or passé. Don’t just dip your toe in the water, dive all the way in and settle down with another fabulous read.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Murder of an Open Book
A Scumble River Mystery #18
Author: Denise Swanson
ISBN13: 9780451472113
Author website: http://www.deniseswanson.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
New York Times Bestselling Scumble River Series
A nasty faculty feud leaves one Scumble River teacher belly-up.
Her honeymoon may have been less than relaxing, but Skye Boyd née Denison is still high on marital bliss with her new husband, Wally. The fact that their family is about to get bigger is even more exciting, even if Skye is dealing with morning sickness—and trying to hide the news from her ever-meddling mother, May.
But Skye quickly comes crashing down from cloud nine when the body of one of her coworkers, science teacher and volleyball coach Blair Hucksford, is found in the school swimming pool. The troublesome trainer was on the bad side of almost everyone on staff and many of the girls on her team, leaving Skye to sort through a huge roster of suspects. Now she must figure out which wronged party was mad enough to kill, and quickly—before someone else in town gets bumped off.
Review:
I love visiting Scumble River and hanging out with Skye and her husband Police Chief Wally Boyd and the whole gang. This is a long running mystery and author Denise Swanson has kept it continuously fresh. Murder of an Open Book is not different. Skye and her husband are just back from their wild adventure honeymoon on a cruise and they are trying to keep her pregnancy a secret for a bit. Both she and her husband are back at work. Skye is trying to keep in shape and takes a morning swim at the high school. One morning she has a run in with Blair Hucksford who is the science teacher and volleyball coach. She finds out that Blair may do a wonderful job getting a winning season out of the girls, but she is not a popular coworker. Unfortunately it seems that someone has more than a passing dislike for the coach when Skye finds her dead in the swimming pool.
Skye is not just your regular main character/amateur detective that is in a lot of cozy mysteries. She is the school psychologist and also an official Police Consultant. She assists her husband and his force to ferret out the criminals. So she really is more than the normal amateur. I love this series and even though this is the 18th in it, I think anyone would be able to start on any book and follow the characters. I actually did that many, many books ago. The characters are fun, intelligent, well developed, and hilarious at times. Author Denise Swanson writes with such flair and the mysteries are always well thought out and intriguing. Scumble River is small town at its best.
Murder of an Open Book is another wonderful book in this fantastic cozy mystery series. Author Denise Swanson’s writing is enjoyable, entertaining and full of wit and wonderful plotting. You can definitely read this one (and all of them) as stand alone, but I recommend reading all of the installments of Scumble River Mysteries. I think this cozy will appeal to a large assortment of readers. Any cozy lover will enjoy it, as well as anyone that likes a well written, wonderfully plotted mystery. Denise Swanson’s other cozy series Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery is another hit series. If you enjoy a bit of romance in your cozy, you have come to the right place. This author has a winning formula that never gets old, boring or passé. Don’t just dip your toe in the water, dive all the way in and settle down with another fabulous read.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
April 25, 2021
c2015. Skye is just learning about internet.
She now has a cell phone. Privacy issue pops up .. Open Book (possibly cp 2 Facebook) is being used by a blackmailer to extort ....
AND Skye is 3-4 months into her first pregnancy .. just ending the morning sickness part.
April is her new niece (3 mos old) born to bro Vince and his wife Loretta.
Loved the cover of this book.
I have read the majority of this series .. so that has benefited my enjoyment of this one.
Nice addition !
She now has a cell phone. Privacy issue pops up .. Open Book (possibly cp 2 Facebook) is being used by a blackmailer to extort ....
AND Skye is 3-4 months into her first pregnancy .. just ending the morning sickness part.
April is her new niece (3 mos old) born to bro Vince and his wife Loretta.
Loved the cover of this book.
I have read the majority of this series .. so that has benefited my enjoyment of this one.
Nice addition !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2017
Another great Scumble River book! Skye was back at work, I was happy with who the victim was and kept guessing as to whodunit. All the regulars were around and it was a fun story.
January 12, 2016
Just back from her honeymoon with new husband Wally Boyd, Skye Denison Boyd, school psychologist and police consultant, finds one of Scumble River’s teachers dead in the high school swimming pool. The body in the pool was that of science teacher, volleyball coach and grown-up Mean Girl Blair Hucksford. She was on everyone’s bad side, leaving Skye with plenty of suspects.
In addition to assisting Wally, the Scumble River police chief, solve the murder, Skye is trying to keep her pregnancy secret from her meddling mother, May, until after her brother and sister-in-law’s baby shower (so she doesn’t steal their thunder). Her bff, Trixie, wants to set up a rubber duck race fund-raiser to benefit animal rescue, and ropes Skye into helping. There are subplots involving use of social media, hazing with sexual overtones (tastefully done), questionable team building, peer pressure, blackmail and more.
I am a huge Scumble River fan, and a fan of the author, Denise Swanson, but I resisted reading this 18th entry in the series. For some reason, characters become way less interesting to me when a baby is involved. I’m pleased to say impending motherhood hasn’t slowed Skye down, and Wally isn’t trying to keep her in bubble wrap. Sure she’s tired and queasy, but she’s not letting that bother her.
Each book in this series is like a visit with old friends. Sometimes long-running series get stray from the thing that made them appealing to me in the beginning, or get tired. Not so this one. The plots are always interesting, and I enjoy the interaction between all the characters, even the minor ones. Even after all this time, I still eagerly await the release of the latest in the series. Highly recommended, but I suggest reading the books in order, as each one builds on the previous.
In addition to assisting Wally, the Scumble River police chief, solve the murder, Skye is trying to keep her pregnancy secret from her meddling mother, May, until after her brother and sister-in-law’s baby shower (so she doesn’t steal their thunder). Her bff, Trixie, wants to set up a rubber duck race fund-raiser to benefit animal rescue, and ropes Skye into helping. There are subplots involving use of social media, hazing with sexual overtones (tastefully done), questionable team building, peer pressure, blackmail and more.
I am a huge Scumble River fan, and a fan of the author, Denise Swanson, but I resisted reading this 18th entry in the series. For some reason, characters become way less interesting to me when a baby is involved. I’m pleased to say impending motherhood hasn’t slowed Skye down, and Wally isn’t trying to keep her in bubble wrap. Sure she’s tired and queasy, but she’s not letting that bother her.
Each book in this series is like a visit with old friends. Sometimes long-running series get stray from the thing that made them appealing to me in the beginning, or get tired. Not so this one. The plots are always interesting, and I enjoy the interaction between all the characters, even the minor ones. Even after all this time, I still eagerly await the release of the latest in the series. Highly recommended, but I suggest reading the books in order, as each one builds on the previous.
August 31, 2015
Murder Of An Open Book is the 19th book in the A Scumble River Mystery series.
Things are going fine for the newlyweds, well almost. Skye is pregnant, which is nice, the morning sickness isn't. With cold weather setting in, she has been using her schools swimming pool for exercise. As she is about to exit the pool, the school's lady volleyball coach, Blair Huxsford, informs her that she has reserved the pool and has to leave immediately, she doesn't even let Skye shower of change clothes. The next time she goes, Skye is sure to check that the pool hasn't been reserved. With her goggles on she is about to start her laps and see that something seems to be at the bottom of the pool. She dives down and finds the body of Blair on the bottom of the pool. Skye is on the police department's payroll as a psychologist, but in this case she feels she is too close to the situation and with being in the early stages of pregnancy, she thinks that for the sake of the baby she is carrying she should not become involved. But, as she is counseling members of the volleyball team, she sees some animosity between some of the members of the team. In addition, she knew she wasn't particularly well thought of by some of the other teachers.
In addition to this, her BFF, Trixie has roped her into helping organize a rubber duck down the Scumble River to raise funds for no-kill animal center. Try as she might, there is no way for Skye to convince Trixie that she doesn't have time. Since Skye and Wally haven't announced her pregnancy, she doesn't want to tell Trixie, gossip central.
Another fun visit o Scumble River and it's delightful residents.
Definitely be watching for book #20.
Things are going fine for the newlyweds, well almost. Skye is pregnant, which is nice, the morning sickness isn't. With cold weather setting in, she has been using her schools swimming pool for exercise. As she is about to exit the pool, the school's lady volleyball coach, Blair Huxsford, informs her that she has reserved the pool and has to leave immediately, she doesn't even let Skye shower of change clothes. The next time she goes, Skye is sure to check that the pool hasn't been reserved. With her goggles on she is about to start her laps and see that something seems to be at the bottom of the pool. She dives down and finds the body of Blair on the bottom of the pool. Skye is on the police department's payroll as a psychologist, but in this case she feels she is too close to the situation and with being in the early stages of pregnancy, she thinks that for the sake of the baby she is carrying she should not become involved. But, as she is counseling members of the volleyball team, she sees some animosity between some of the members of the team. In addition, she knew she wasn't particularly well thought of by some of the other teachers.
In addition to this, her BFF, Trixie has roped her into helping organize a rubber duck down the Scumble River to raise funds for no-kill animal center. Try as she might, there is no way for Skye to convince Trixie that she doesn't have time. Since Skye and Wally haven't announced her pregnancy, she doesn't want to tell Trixie, gossip central.
Another fun visit o Scumble River and it's delightful residents.
Definitely be watching for book #20.
October 25, 2015
If the previous book felt off because it happened on a cruise ship, this edition of the series still doesn't seem to be hitting on all cylinders. I was able to finish with minimal eye-rolling. The murder case itself seemed believable (as much as in any cozy). But the secondary stories were just silly.
--Trixie plans a major fundraiser in less than a week's time including soliciting prizes from local merchants?
--Skye is desperately trying to hide her pregnancy but still goes swimming in the public high school pool?
--Homer is still a school principal even saying and doing so many offensive and disrespectful things?
This book has no Bunny. Virtually no Vince or Dad. The only time we hear from Loretta she's completely out of character with her remark that a person shouldn't have been arrested because "no one but the insurance company would have gotten hurt". Even May isn't up to her normal obnoxious behavior. Of course the Doozier clan makes their obligatory appearance but even that seems to fizzle with no conclusion.
It makes me sad the author feels the need to veer dangerously close to the smutty romance area. I don't need to know things like Wally's hands are cold when he reaches under Skye's shirt or if he's "having an extremely good dream" or is already awake. Those kinds of details belong in a completely different genre.
As a long time reader of this series, I give the book 3 stars. As a stand-alone, it wouldn't be that high. The book is more enjoyable than irritating.
--Trixie plans a major fundraiser in less than a week's time including soliciting prizes from local merchants?
--Skye is desperately trying to hide her pregnancy but still goes swimming in the public high school pool?
--Homer is still a school principal even saying and doing so many offensive and disrespectful things?
This book has no Bunny. Virtually no Vince or Dad. The only time we hear from Loretta she's completely out of character with her remark that a person shouldn't have been arrested because "no one but the insurance company would have gotten hurt". Even May isn't up to her normal obnoxious behavior. Of course the Doozier clan makes their obligatory appearance but even that seems to fizzle with no conclusion.
It makes me sad the author feels the need to veer dangerously close to the smutty romance area. I don't need to know things like Wally's hands are cold when he reaches under Skye's shirt or if he's "having an extremely good dream" or is already awake. Those kinds of details belong in a completely different genre.
As a long time reader of this series, I give the book 3 stars. As a stand-alone, it wouldn't be that high. The book is more enjoyable than irritating.
May 5, 2016
There are certain authors you can count on, as a constant reader, to keep things fresh and interesting in a long-running series. This is no exception--a well-constructed book where new marriages, baby showers, rubber duck races, arson, and even interesting bits about school psychology and student special needs programs intermingle with suspense to gel into an entertaining entry into the life of Skye Dennison. I love returning to the familiar town and characters and it's always fun to see what Skye's mom will do next, who is eating at the Feed Bag, the latest smart remarks coming out of the mouths of the characters, and the current goings on at the local high school. And as for Homer? Well, bless his heart. He's a hoot and I think most of us have had a boss or two like that. But the story moved along so nicely that my attention didn't waver once. I was amused and alarmed in turns and admired how many branches of the story all came together at the end. The chapter titles are even a treat in this one. This book can easily stand alone but for the full experience I suggest you start with Murder of a Small-Town Honey and just enjoy immersing yourself in Scumble River. I look forward to the next installment.
September 11, 2016
Not sure why I still read this poorly written series. This book was almost as bad as the previous cruise one.
I appreciate the author tries to show small town life and family relationships but having to name every person from the last 18 books and their backstories takes up more time than the actual story. The corporate plugs for food and mediocre luxury items make me believe the author is getting royalty kickbacks.
Don't get me started on the dialogue. Who talks like that! Listen to this little ditty: and no matter how much I apologized or how nicely I asked she refused to let me take a shower. The she actually hauled me out of the locker room. She physically dragged you? Yes. It was just plain uncool. uncool? Heck that's assault.
The author badly needs to have some consultants to go over topics that she goes into detail on. Her expertise on what she is comfortable with as a school psychologist is unparalleled and I would love to see a story on solving a kidnapping as they touched on in one of the school interactions.
I'm sick of the Simon bashing. She dumped a guy who cared about her for a much older guy she had a crush on when she was a kid. Wally creeps me out.
Ok enough.
I appreciate the author tries to show small town life and family relationships but having to name every person from the last 18 books and their backstories takes up more time than the actual story. The corporate plugs for food and mediocre luxury items make me believe the author is getting royalty kickbacks.
Don't get me started on the dialogue. Who talks like that! Listen to this little ditty: and no matter how much I apologized or how nicely I asked she refused to let me take a shower. The she actually hauled me out of the locker room. She physically dragged you? Yes. It was just plain uncool. uncool? Heck that's assault.
The author badly needs to have some consultants to go over topics that she goes into detail on. Her expertise on what she is comfortable with as a school psychologist is unparalleled and I would love to see a story on solving a kidnapping as they touched on in one of the school interactions.
I'm sick of the Simon bashing. She dumped a guy who cared about her for a much older guy she had a crush on when she was a kid. Wally creeps me out.
Ok enough.
September 26, 2015
Married, expecting a child, and still solving murders – this is Skye Dennison-Boyd’s new life in the 18th edition of the Scumble River murder series. Love the re-occurring characters and family drama that comes with every book.
What I loved: A knocked up Skye seems to be a frisky Skye so there are definitely more amourous scenes than in past novels. I’m thinking that now that Skye and Wally are legal, their pesky ghost doesn’t bother them in the bedroom anymore. I would love to see her come back – just to throw them off.
What I didn’t love: I keep forgetting that this series is set in the early/mid 2000’s so things like “Open Book” (a mash-up of My Space and Facebook) and older phones with no keyboards/videos/mandatory internet service throw me off.
What I learned: Who knew cornhole was popular back then? I’ve only recently seen it in the past 6 years ago but then again. I spend most of my time with my nose in a book.
Overall Grade: B+
www.fsam15.wix.com/fluffsmutandmurder
February 5, 2016
I have loved all the previous Scrumble River Mystery books and was excited to see where married life would lead Skye and Wally.
The Murder of science teacher and volleyball coach Blair Hucksford in the school pool leads Wally and Skye on a tangled trail as they attempt to discover who actually murdered her as she seems to have put almost everyone on her bad side. Only a her volleyball team seemed loyal and even some of that loyalty was in doubt.
The mystery part of the book was great, I really enjoyed it. However, I believe Ms. Swanson forgot that she was writing a cozy mystery and not a romantic mystery. I am not opposed to romance in mysteries, it is just that this one seemed to take it further than the previous books. When I want to read a mystery, I want to read a mystery. When I want to read a romance, I read a romance. When I want a romantic mystery or thriller I look for that. A little would have gone a long way for me.
The Murder of science teacher and volleyball coach Blair Hucksford in the school pool leads Wally and Skye on a tangled trail as they attempt to discover who actually murdered her as she seems to have put almost everyone on her bad side. Only a her volleyball team seemed loyal and even some of that loyalty was in doubt.
The mystery part of the book was great, I really enjoyed it. However, I believe Ms. Swanson forgot that she was writing a cozy mystery and not a romantic mystery. I am not opposed to romance in mysteries, it is just that this one seemed to take it further than the previous books. When I want to read a mystery, I want to read a mystery. When I want to read a romance, I read a romance. When I want a romantic mystery or thriller I look for that. A little would have gone a long way for me.
September 28, 2015
Denise Swanson doesn't disappoint in her latest Skye Denison installment. Skye Denison is now Skye Denison Boyd, as she finally married Police Chief Wally Boyd and honey mooned with him in the previous book. In "Open Book," a teacher is the victim, and Skye helps Wally ferret out the murderer as his official Police Consultant and also with her insight as a school psychologist. All things included, it was a fun read, and thankfully the characters have grown and changed with succeeding books. I look forward to Swanson's next in the series.
September 6, 2015
Skye is back in Scumble River with her police chief husband, Wally, pregnant and trying to keep it from her mother. In the meantime a belligerent teacher/coach has words with Skye during her morning swim. The next morning the teacher is found, by Skye, dead in the pool. This has its humorous moments which helps the darker aspects of the mystery. It is a solid addition to the series.
September 15, 2015
This is book 17 in the Scumble River mystery series. I really enjoyed this book. Skye has just gotten married and is trying to hide morning sickness from everyone. She goes swimming in the early morning at the school's pool and finds a dead body, the volleyball coach. Skye works as a school counselor and her husband is a cop. Really well written the mystery and their day to day lives.
November 20, 2015
Love her stories
Never lets us down. We love the family growth and character developments as the timeline progresses. it's always sad when we get to end of the story, knowing it will be a while before more adventures with our Scumble River family!
Never lets us down. We love the family growth and character developments as the timeline progresses. it's always sad when we get to end of the story, knowing it will be a while before more adventures with our Scumble River family!
November 25, 2018
The Scumble River Mystery series is a fun series to read. The books are pretty short and they are fast and funny reads. School psychologist Skye Denison gets into all kinds of trouble when she plays around as an amateur investigator in each book. The mysteries are full of twists, turns and surprises and there are always plenty of suspects to choose from. I almost never know for sure whodunit until fairly close to the end. The whole series makes for excellent pool or beach reads for the summer.
April 30, 2018
>Book Review – Murder of an Open Book
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 18th in the Scumble River Mystery series and really showcases the love between Wally and Skye. There is the usual murder that Skye and Wally get involved in. They work so well together, using only slight movements and eye contact to play ‘good cop/bad cop’. Poor Skye actually shows her thick skin as the murdered volleyball coach is abusive towards Skye. Social media is used under the name of “Open Book”, instead of “Facebook” and plays a large part in the mystery.
>The reader has to remember the time frame for when this story takes place did not have Facebook as such a popular site. It was hard to remember why Wally and Skye were unfamiliar with the social media site. The mystery takes a dark turn as hazing is described in a high school setting. This book is still G rated, but the inferences can be very adult.
>This book is appropriate for a young adult (18+) audience. I am giving this story 5 stars. I love how Skye and Wally are hiding the pregnancy, yet Wally is so proud he can barely wait to tell everyone!
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 18th in the Scumble River Mystery series and really showcases the love between Wally and Skye. There is the usual murder that Skye and Wally get involved in. They work so well together, using only slight movements and eye contact to play ‘good cop/bad cop’. Poor Skye actually shows her thick skin as the murdered volleyball coach is abusive towards Skye. Social media is used under the name of “Open Book”, instead of “Facebook” and plays a large part in the mystery.
>The reader has to remember the time frame for when this story takes place did not have Facebook as such a popular site. It was hard to remember why Wally and Skye were unfamiliar with the social media site. The mystery takes a dark turn as hazing is described in a high school setting. This book is still G rated, but the inferences can be very adult.
>This book is appropriate for a young adult (18+) audience. I am giving this story 5 stars. I love how Skye and Wally are hiding the pregnancy, yet Wally is so proud he can barely wait to tell everyone!
February 3, 2020
Another fun book in this series. Skye is now married and pregnant and hasn't told anyone yet so there is a lot of talk during the story about keeping it quiet, when to tell people and if anyone knows or suspects. At the outset she has a confrontation with a teacher in the pool locker room and that teacher is subsequently murdered. She helps her husband, the chief of police, in the investigation. No one seems to have liked the teacher/volleyball coach and there are quite a few suspects.
In the meantime Skye helps her friend Trixie organize a charity duck race to help out the local animal shelter. A few other little side stories involving her counseling at the schools and interactions with parents, teachers, administrators and some of the local characters in Scrumble River.
Lots of stereotyping of small town life but it is fun. Some quirky characters that add to the story along with some current issues.
In the meantime Skye helps her friend Trixie organize a charity duck race to help out the local animal shelter. A few other little side stories involving her counseling at the schools and interactions with parents, teachers, administrators and some of the local characters in Scrumble River.
Lots of stereotyping of small town life but it is fun. Some quirky characters that add to the story along with some current issues.
January 15, 2016
I still enjoy this series following Skye and her cohorts solve yet another murder in Scumble River. Its nice to see Skye using common sense now that she is pregnant keeping out of dangerous situations and letting Wally know what she is up to. However the language is getting vulgar in parts which doesn't add to the story. Racy language is fine if it fits the characters and setting but in this case, it just seems thrown in because an editor said "spice it up a little".
March 11, 2019
I thoroughly enjoy Denise Swanson's Scumble River books and this one was no exception. The only reason I don't give them scores above three is because her books are quick/light and enjoyable reads and would never be considered great literature.
Given that the protagonist's best friend and sometimes sidekick in her entanglements, Trixie Frayne, is prominent in this book, maybe I should give it four stars.
Given that the protagonist's best friend and sometimes sidekick in her entanglements, Trixie Frayne, is prominent in this book, maybe I should give it four stars.
November 5, 2015
I like that the characters are maturing but I kind of think that this series is getting a little stale. I think I like the 5 and dime series more at this point. Other reviewers are right when they say that the last few books have felt off.
April 17, 2024
The first I have read in the series. The book flowed very nicely and the characters didn't need the whole back story to figure them out. I like a sleuth who follows the rules and doesn't have to break the law to figure it out
February 23, 2016
An interesting msin character but jyst nit very well written. it was still kind if fun to read
October 2, 2022
I love this series. I could not put it down. The characters are great and the mystery never disappoints.
June 14, 2017
I like cozy mysteries for what they are - light, easy, fun, gentle, slice-of-life, etc. I've read several other long-running series and as poorly written as this series is, I do have to give the author credit for one thing. She has written growth into her main character. Unlike the Stephanie Plum series, for example, the Skye character has evolved over the series and has gone through some major life changes. So again, I give the author credit for that.
The problem is that Skye is just an unlikeable now as she was in the first book.
In addition, over the past 3-4 books the author has picked up some new bad habits. The last several books have taken on a smutty romance quality with way too much detail about Wally and Skye's sex life. I'm not interested in that and it doesn't belong in this genre.
She has also taken to making oblique references to her other book series. I guess it's supposed to be cute to have Skye reading one of the Five & Dime books and we're supposed to think the author is oh so clever. I find it cheesy.
The author continues to overuse certain words such as "hurriedly". There must be 20 references to folks doing things "hurriedly" in every one of these books. The author also needs to stop referring to Trixie as Skye's "BFF" every time she's mentioned.
The problem is that Skye is just an unlikeable now as she was in the first book.
In addition, over the past 3-4 books the author has picked up some new bad habits. The last several books have taken on a smutty romance quality with way too much detail about Wally and Skye's sex life. I'm not interested in that and it doesn't belong in this genre.
She has also taken to making oblique references to her other book series. I guess it's supposed to be cute to have Skye reading one of the Five & Dime books and we're supposed to think the author is oh so clever. I find it cheesy.
The author continues to overuse certain words such as "hurriedly". There must be 20 references to folks doing things "hurriedly" in every one of these books. The author also needs to stop referring to Trixie as Skye's "BFF" every time she's mentioned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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