The Alpine Decoy

Emma Lord #4

by Mary Daheim

When a beautiful young African-American nurse with a shady past takes a job in Alpine, some locals show their true bigoted natures, filling editor-publisher Emma Lord with disgust. But when a second newcomer -- a young black man -- is found shot through the head, Emma is stuck with a story she will never forget.
Though Sheriff Milo Dodge connects the victim to the nurse, Emma believes there's something more sinister afoot. So she and Vida Runkel, her formidable house-and-home editor, try writing their own scenario. But the case offers too many subplots, too many suspects, and one crafty killer who leaves no tracks. That is, until Emma hits the deadly trail . . .

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

235 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 31, 1994

About the author

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

Reviews

[Ailisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story, but not as good as the previous books. This was a poor way to push the race issue onto Alpine. By the end of the story, I was more than just tired of the constant racial theme. If Mary Daheim's goal with this book was to be an advocate for racial equality, and show how people are prejudiced, then I think she went over-board. The racial issue gets tired quickly when it is written in every chapter. It's a good thing the next book in this series is an "Escape" from the direction Daheim took with this one.

[Namra · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.75⭐)

The Alpine Decoy by Mary Daheim is the fourth book in Emma Lord Mystery series. It is a nice warm and cozy mystery book. The story unravels slowly and smoothly.

🏚️This book is engaging and enjoyable but not something that'll keep you at the edge of your seat.

🏚️I loved how the author didn't just focus on the "mystery" but also on the characters and their relations and their everyday lives. The writing is eloquent. The plot could've been better.
I liked the setting of the book. The place seems really nice and friendly like a village where everyone is there for everyone.

🏚️Emma Lord is an editor and publisher of The Alpine Advocate. She's the protoganist of the series and has a really warm personality. My favorite character was Vida's. She's pretty old and has a personality that's almost feisty. She's courageous, strong, speaks what's on her mind but is amiable and warm in her own way.

✨Plot: In this book of the series, an African American nurse comes to Alpine. She's the first black person there and thus becomes a victim of people's bigoted natures. The nurse has a shady past. Another black person is found dead after a few days of the nurse's arrival and so, people blame the nurse. Emma, however, thinks nurse isn't to blame.
.
🏚️The author decided to make "race" the topic of this book and it was repeated, again and again and again. It kinda became boring. The mystery could've been better. The book was a "comforting" read and I wanna try more books in this series.

[Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series quite a bit. I like the characters, the writing, and the way the mysteries unwind. I'm not sure why the author felt a need to tackle the issue of race; I'm sure there was a story behind that, but I certainly don't know it. it could have been done worse, but I don't know that it needed to be done at all. I hope that some of the new characters who were introduced will stick around.

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been going back and reading the early episodes in this series. It's interesting because so many of the characters are familiar and I know how they have evolved over the years. In this story two young black men are found murdered (in separate incidents) in in Alpine. Neither one is from the area - so why did they come there to die? Clues lead to many suspects. Is it because of drugs or stolen music CD's? Even Emma and Vida are surprised when they realize who the killer is.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have this entire series. The first 3 we’re pretty good. I almost didn’t bother finishing this one. It was boring, I thought. About all I can say without spoilers. Ihope the others pick up. I usually like a good cozy

[Suzymendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still like this series. It is older but is reminiscent of the cozy mysteries I love to read. Lead characters are the same through out in this little town. It's like catching up with old friends.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - Good

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This so far was my least favorite book. I do like the characters and they are developing but the story line wasn't all that great.

[Gale Penton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love both of Mary Daheim’s series. This was a very good mystery.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 4th book in the Emma Lord series. A light, cozy mystery.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of the series so far. The mystery wasn’t that interesting and I don’t think the topic of race was done well.

[Geneva Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery, but definitely old fashioned on some of the viewpoints.

[VJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know Catholics and Pentecostals don't necessarily see eye to eye, but it's as if every misbehaving Pentecostal came through Alpine. I promise, we are not all shifty-eyed, argumentative, stuck up mooners. Just like I know not all Catholics are drunks and not all priests are child molesters! Stereotypes are one thing, but continually harping by a character who claims to be so progressive is just a tad hypocritical.

I do like these mysteries that are not obvious. I don't like figuring out the who and why and how until I'm at least half way through the book.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE APLINE DECOY - Good
Daheim, Mary - 4th in Emma Lord series

When a young man is shot in the head and a Black nurse, who has been experiencing problems with Alpine prejudice, is pinned with the murder, editor-publisher Emma Lord teams up with Vida Runkel to sniff out the truth.

Very light. I really only liked the first book in this series.

[Janet Ankiel]

Not the best that Alpine offers to readers. Daheim's overly didactic comments on racism, bigotry, intolerance and stereotypes, lacked nuance and effectiveness. Having lived in a major urban area as well as in various small town settings, this reader feels irritation on several points. Fortunately, this is not the first Alpine title, so I shall simply move along.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sad to say this is the last Emma Lord for me. I've tried to find anything in the series to engage my interest enough to at least read the books I have on my bookshelves but I don't care about any of the regular characters or why anyone gets murdered, etc. At least I can say the books will go to someone who does like the series.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was Okay. A cozy mystery. I like the main character, which is why I must keep reading these. I just found out the local library doesn't have the next book in the series (but seems to have the rest). That's frustrating.

[Glenn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry in the alphabetical small-town mystery series featuring newspaper publisher/editor Emma Lord and her many friends in Alpine. I do have to wonder, given the number of murders in each book, whether any of the town's population will survive all the way to Z.

[Erin L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but the race issues get repetitive. I get it. People in small towns are small minded (not really), while the narrator goes on and on and on about religious differences between the Catholics and Protestants.

Otherwise, interesting and fun.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a competent if not exciting seres, and definitely one of my favorites by the author

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good cozy mystery series.

[Bobbi Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this one more than the first in the series, as the central issue of racial prejudice in a small town resonated with me.

[Fmorlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

good cozy mystery

[Francine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good series.

[Tish Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was in my grab bag of mystery books from the library's used book sale so I paid 25 cents for it. It was ok.