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Appalachian Adventure Mystery #2
Perfect for Framing
Returning for a second suspense-filled mystery, Jemma Chase and Detective Tucker find themselves embroiled in a Property Owners Association power struggle. When winter arrives in the North Carolina Mountains, Jemma's need to find lucrative work leads her to turn to her love of cabinet making and photography. Having heard of Jemma's skill from another member of the association, the POA president Petula Windsor, hires Jemma to build cabinets in her guest house. Jemma struggles with her CSI wannabe urges to refrain from investigating a robbery that occurred in Petula's main house, where cash and an investigator's file was stolen. Upon completion of her task, Jemma stops by the main house to pick up her pay from Petula's husband, Ward. On her way back to her truck she smells smoke coming from the guest house. She races to find a way to put the fire out and discovers Petula inside, unconscious. Jemma risks her life to save Petula, but is too late. A simple break-in has escalated to murder. Detective Tucker finds suspects aplenty when files on the residents and those associated with the POA are found in Petula's locked file cabinet, leading him to suspect her of blackmail. Detective tucker tries his best to keep Jemma's interest at bay, but when Petula's husband is found dead and Tucker's life is jeopardized, Jemma won't be stopped until she finds the murderer.
- GenresMystery
176 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 30, 2009
Power struggles, small town characters, and breath-taking North Carolina scenery add just the ingredients to keep the reader turning the pages in this compelling whodunit.
A woman with zero popularity is found dead and, of course, the list of suspects is long. Jemma Chase, who loves a mystery and happens to be dating the detective on the case, finds herself smack in the middle of the adventures. Not only does she love searching out clues, she is a talented carpenter/cabinet-maker and photographer to boot. She gives new meaning to the word Renaissance woman.
"Perfect for Framing" (An Appalachian Adventure Mystery) is a cozy, sometimes humorous story that hooks the reader, even as the clues begin piling up. But just when I thought I had it all figured out, a new clue would surface and I would end up back at square one.
Sprinkle in a cast of quirky and homey characters that make up the membership of the Property Owners' Association, and you not only have a list of potential killers but possibly the guest list for your next neighborhood party. Even when you're considering that many of these people could have killed the victim, you find yourself hoping against their guilt because they're all so likeable...well, most of them, anyway!
This book is one in a series with some of these characters, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Five stars for this read!
A woman with zero popularity is found dead and, of course, the list of suspects is long. Jemma Chase, who loves a mystery and happens to be dating the detective on the case, finds herself smack in the middle of the adventures. Not only does she love searching out clues, she is a talented carpenter/cabinet-maker and photographer to boot. She gives new meaning to the word Renaissance woman.
"Perfect for Framing" (An Appalachian Adventure Mystery) is a cozy, sometimes humorous story that hooks the reader, even as the clues begin piling up. But just when I thought I had it all figured out, a new clue would surface and I would end up back at square one.
Sprinkle in a cast of quirky and homey characters that make up the membership of the Property Owners' Association, and you not only have a list of potential killers but possibly the guest list for your next neighborhood party. Even when you're considering that many of these people could have killed the victim, you find yourself hoping against their guilt because they're all so likeable...well, most of them, anyway!
This book is one in a series with some of these characters, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Five stars for this read!
October 19, 2008
Jemma Chase and Detective Tucker return for another suspense-filled escapade in Perfect for Framing, the latest addition to Maggie Bishop’s acclaimed Appalachian Adventure Mystery series. With the advent of winter, Jemma turns from helping run Chase’s Dude Ranch to utilizing her skills as photographer and wood worker. Jemma is hired by Petula Windsor, president of a local property owners’ association, to build cabinets in her guest house, but before Jemma can collect her pay, Petula burns to death in the same house. Jemma, a CSI wannabe, would like nothing more than to be in on the investigation, and Tucker has a hard time trying to keep her interest at bay. But when Petula’s husband is found dead and Tucker’s life is jeopardized, Jemma won’t be stopped until she finds the murderer.
Once more, Maggie Bishop delivers a thrilling whodunit peppered with lovable characters and set against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains of North Carolina. Packed with breath-taking action and nail-biting suspense, with a twisting plot that guarantees constant speculation, this is one book that will have readers quickly turning pages, eager to find out what happens next.
Once more, Maggie Bishop delivers a thrilling whodunit peppered with lovable characters and set against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains of North Carolina. Packed with breath-taking action and nail-biting suspense, with a twisting plot that guarantees constant speculation, this is one book that will have readers quickly turning pages, eager to find out what happens next.
November 13, 2008
Perfect for Framing is a fun short mystery involving Jemma Chase and Detective Tucker. The president of a local Property Owners association is murdered, and Detective Tucker is assigned to solve the case. Jemma is a CSI wannabe, and picks up clues here and there from gossip she hears. Through her hobby as a photographer and part time job as a custom carpenter she hears a lot of information about who didn't like the POA president and why.
This book is 2nd or 3rd in a series of mysteries involving Jemma and Tucker and I suppose the characters have been developed in the others of the series. You know that Tucker and Jemma have a relationship, and they feel deeply about each other, but you have no clue how they got to that point. Her parents own a ranch/ski resort, but they are absent in this book and not much information is given about them.
I think a little more attention could be given to the details about the relationships so the book can stand alone. Most books in series strive to be stand alone books and explain the important details that have gone before. Other than that, I thought the mystery story was entertaining and the author didn't give away the ending.
This book is 2nd or 3rd in a series of mysteries involving Jemma and Tucker and I suppose the characters have been developed in the others of the series. You know that Tucker and Jemma have a relationship, and they feel deeply about each other, but you have no clue how they got to that point. Her parents own a ranch/ski resort, but they are absent in this book and not much information is given about them.
I think a little more attention could be given to the details about the relationships so the book can stand alone. Most books in series strive to be stand alone books and explain the important details that have gone before. Other than that, I thought the mystery story was entertaining and the author didn't give away the ending.
August 7, 2011
Maggie Bishop's Best Mystery So Far:
In Bishop's third novel featuring multi-tasking, CSI wannabe, Jemma Chase, and Detective Tucker, she excels in writing suspect characters that are complex.
When a local journalist is murdered during the photography club meeting at Jemma's aunt and uncle's Dude Ranch, she does her best to restrain her detecting instincts so she won't jeopardize Tucker's career. In the meantime, Tucker threatens their relationship by getting involved with an old flame. Jemma grows in character in this book and as always, Bishop puts the reader right in the mountains watching for clues. The suspense held up throughout the story as I tried to figure out who had done it, and, finally I received a surprised ending to satisfy!
In Bishop's third novel featuring multi-tasking, CSI wannabe, Jemma Chase, and Detective Tucker, she excels in writing suspect characters that are complex.
When a local journalist is murdered during the photography club meeting at Jemma's aunt and uncle's Dude Ranch, she does her best to restrain her detecting instincts so she won't jeopardize Tucker's career. In the meantime, Tucker threatens their relationship by getting involved with an old flame. Jemma grows in character in this book and as always, Bishop puts the reader right in the mountains watching for clues. The suspense held up throughout the story as I tried to figure out who had done it, and, finally I received a surprised ending to satisfy!
November 23, 2008
I thought this was a quick and easy read. I guess this is the 2nd or 3rd in this series and since this is the first one I read, I think it would have been useful for a quick recap of the main characters and their relationships. The plot was interesting and the last few chapters really held my interest. I would recommend this to people who enjoyed the Janet Evanovich series.
May 9, 2012
This absorbing mystery romance continues Bishop's series set in the High Country of North Caroina. Her heroine is an independent woman whose daring and determination get her embroiled in community politics as well as murder. As the police detective on the case is also the man in her life,they happily mingle sleuthing and spooning in this intricate page turner that rapidly hooks the reader.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews