The Alpine Scandal

Emma Lord #19

by Mary Daheim

It’s a quiet morning at the Advocate until the mail brings shocking news: a formal obituary for Alpiner Elmer Nystrom. As far as anyone knows, Elmer is alive and well. But he hasn’t turned up for work, so Emma and her unstoppable House & Home editor, Vida Runkel, rush to the Nystrom home, where they find Elmer’s lifeless body in the henhouse, half buried under straw. Not only has he been murdered, but his obituary had been mailed before he died. Though Elmer was well liked by everyone, the same cannot be said of his standoffish wife or his son, the town’s new orthodontist.

Rumors fly–straight into the office of the Advocate. Why did Dr. Nystrom’s new receptionist resign at the end of her first day? Why are the Nystroms’ neighbors so close-mouthed? Who mailed that prophetic obituary? With Sheriff Milo Dodge in the hospital, it’s up to Emma and Vida to get to the bottom of the tragedy. Alpiners love scandal, and with Elmer’s murder, they’ll get their fill.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Mary Rene Richardson Daheim was an American writer of romance and mystery novels.

Reviews

[Lsilberman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I object to Emma, the main character. She explained to another character in the book that she'd inherited her wealth because her ex-boyfriend had forgotten to change the beneficiary on his insurance. Sure, his wife and kids had been left with plenty of other money. But did that make it right for her to take the insurance money and run? Why should I trust a lead character who's unethical?

I object to the author's outdated attitude. "I don't know much about Freud," I admitted, "though I recall from Psych 101 in college that young boys who fixate on their mothers often show homosexual tendencies later in life. Or not," I added lamely. (Pages 268-269 in the paperback edition.) I'm sorry, but this book is copyrighted 2007, a bit late for the author to be perpetuating such stereotypes.

I won't be reading any more books in the Emma Lord Mystery series, or anything else by Mary Daheim.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fresh mystery from a favourite author. Who knew what scandals would be uncovered when a quiet, well-liked man is found dead in his hen house?
I love the characters, and it is good to see Emma’s brother, Fr Ben taking a bigger role.

[Rena Glubay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it enough to look for other books in the series.

[michelle mallonee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Mary DeHeims books! They are very entertaining and enjoyable reads.

[Gerda Leek · Rating 2 out of 5]

soap opera

[Linnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy the tension with the usual characters and I did not figure who the murderer was until the end.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 19th book in the Emma Lord series. A light, cozy mystery.

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series

[Paris White · Rating 2 out of 5]

i spent 14 hrs reading this book and after finishing it i still don’t understand who the killer is. it was confusing and the reason why the murder happened also didn’t make any sense.

[Bill Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

very weak ending.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read in this series, although I think it is something like the 19th in the series. Very enjoyable, light read. Fun characters and Emma is likeable. In both of the books in the series, the ultimate perpetrators tend to be minor characters with really no hint that they will ultimately be the guilty party. I think the only way you could guess who did it would be to randomly pick from the minor characters.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's a testament to Daheim's writing talent that the mystery in this mystery novel is practically a secondary consideration to finding out what's happening with all of the characters. At this point in the series, she's made you care so much about the people of Alpine that the fact that they mystery is practically irrelevant doesn't even matter.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

latest in the series - continues to be good. Enjoyable characters and setting

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

was good to last page.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, easy reading. Always enjoy the interaction of Emma Lord with her brother, and son, both of whom are priests. The towns people add a lot of wit and humor even when murder is involved.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

#19 in series and still going strong.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out good but got boring. Won't read another by her.

[Glenn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Editor and publisher of the Alpine Advocate Emma Lord solves yet another murder with the help of sidekick Vida Blatt.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I read of the series. Want to read more. Liked reading story set in Washington. Final denoument seemed a bit thin.