Cherry Bites: Norwood Flats Mystery, A

Norwood Flats Mystery #3

by Alison Preston

One summer afternoon in 1954 a jealous four-year-old girl named Cherry Ring bites her baby brother Pete on the cheek. She bites him so hard that little Pete needs a skin graft to repair the damage and will have a scar for the rest of his life. Cherry knows what's she's done is wrong, and she really is sorry. But sorry isn't going to be good enough. The bite marks the beginning of a troubled relationship between the siblings that will last a lifetime. As Pete gets older he perfects an ability to completely ignore his sister. It scares Cherry, the way he looks right through her, and she chooses to leave him alone. Cherry can't seem to find her way into her mother's affections either. Her father is the only one who seems able to love her, but when she is only nine years old he dies suddenly, leaving her to manage as best she can in her dysfunctional little family. Cherry is in university when her mother decides to remarry and move away, taking Pete with her. Cherry isn't sorry to see them go. She finally starts to feel like her life is going somewhere. But on a sultry summer night in 1995 disturbing incidents begin to occur around her house and Cherry realizes she has not managed to leave her past behind. Luckily that nice police inspector Frank Foote lives in the neighbourhood. Maybe he can help her. The story unfolds in the Winnipeg neighbourhood of Norwood Flats, which readers have come to know in Preston's other mysteries, The Rain Barrel Baby, The Geranium Girls, Sunny Dreams, The Girl in the Wall , and Blue Vengeance .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Alison Preston was born and raised in Winnipeg. After trying on a number of other Canadian cities, she returned to her home town, where she currently resides. All of her mysteries are set in the Norwood Flats area of Winnipeg, including The Rain Barrel Baby, The Geranium Girls, Cherry Bites, and Sunny Dreams.

A graduate of the University of Winnipeg and a letter carrier for 28 years, Alison has been twice nominated for the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer, following the publications of The Rain Barrel Baby (Signature Editions) and her first novel, A Blue and Golden Year (Turnstone Press). She was also shortlisted for the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award and the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award for Cherry Bites and the Mary Scorer Award for Best Book by a Manitoba Publisher for Sunny Dreams.

Reviews

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. A true cozy mystery complete with eccentric characters and red herrings. I love Rudley who is rather Like Basil Fawlty, but a tad nicer. Humorous murders, done well. So happy I found this author :)

[Diane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite disappointed in this book. I picked it because it's set in the Muskokas, but the location hardly mattered in the story. I like a simple mystery, especially for summer reading and I'm attracted to any that take place in Canada. However, when dead bodies appeared at this inn, the reactions of some of the apparently ongoing characters seemed definitely odd and completely unrealistic. I'm guessing most of this was an attempt at humour, but it mostly seemed rather silly to me.

[Bonnie Ferrante · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sherry is a young girl she bites her baby brother in the cheek bad enough that he requires a skin graft. This colors their relationship for life. Their mother is self absorbed, cold, and shallow. This literary novel gives the reader a suspenseful story and an intriguing cast of characters. Well worth reading.

[Wayne Inkster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Alison Preston. Her books are set in Winnipeg and have enough every day information and behaviour to make them feel true, but a slight twist in each mystery that you don't see coming.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, light read at a time when I needed exactly this type of book. The plot lines got a bit convoluted at times, but the book is fairly short and the story still interesting.

I will read others in the series.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always enjoy Rudley and the crew! Makes for a real easy read with some really good chuckles on a good winter's day!

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rating. Quirky characters inhabit this entertaining cosy mystery. The Pleasant Inn is reminiscent of Fawlty Towers in some respects, plenty of humour, an enjoyable read.