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A Mace Bauer Mystery #2
Mama Rides Shotgun
Before Mama ties the sacred knot of matrimony for the 5th time, she coerces daughter Mace to saddle up for some country-gal bonding on the Florida Cracker Trail. The six-day trek gets off to a good start. At least until the wealthy rancher hosting the riders keels over in his Cow Hunter Chili.
A one-time beau of Mama's (and, really, who isn't?) Lawton Bramble had a bad ticker and a ton of enemies who might have "spiced" the cattleman's chili. Was it son Trey, as flawed as he is handsome? The young widow, whose grief seems well-rehearsed? Or maybe the childhood friend, wronged by Lawton in love and business?
Mace's worried sisters join the ride, and sexy Detective Carlos Martinez returns to complicate matters. But Mace's miserable love life pales as a problem next to a planted rattlesnake, a tent sliced to shreds, and a spooked horse named Shotgun. When Mama gallops into danger, Mace is determined to corral the killer stalking the Florida trail.
A one-time beau of Mama's (and, really, who isn't?) Lawton Bramble had a bad ticker and a ton of enemies who might have "spiced" the cattleman's chili. Was it son Trey, as flawed as he is handsome? The young widow, whose grief seems well-rehearsed? Or maybe the childhood friend, wronged by Lawton in love and business?
Mace's worried sisters join the ride, and sexy Detective Carlos Martinez returns to complicate matters. But Mace's miserable love life pales as a problem next to a planted rattlesnake, a tent sliced to shreds, and a spooked horse named Shotgun. When Mama gallops into danger, Mace is determined to corral the killer stalking the Florida trail.
326 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
13 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Sharp
11 books115 followersLike the main character in her funny, Southern-flavored mysteries, Deborah's roots were set in Florida long before Disney and ''Miami Vice.'' A native and former reporter for USA Today, she knows spots not found on maps: Molasses Junction. Muse. And now, Himmarshee, her own slice of Authentic Florida.
It's the setting for her Mace Bauer Mysteries, featuring Mace's wacky ''Mama.'' To create it, Deborah borrowed from the present-day ranching town of Okeechobee, and from the south Florida of her family's past. Deborah left a Ph.D. program in psychology to become a reporter, and then left the news biz to write light-hearted fiction. She has no plans, though, to leave her husband of 20-plus years, NBC reporter Kerry Sanders. They live in south Florida. No kids; no pets. Had goldfish once. Turned out badly.
It's the setting for her Mace Bauer Mysteries, featuring Mace's wacky ''Mama.'' To create it, Deborah borrowed from the present-day ranching town of Okeechobee, and from the south Florida of her family's past. Deborah left a Ph.D. program in psychology to become a reporter, and then left the news biz to write light-hearted fiction. She has no plans, though, to leave her husband of 20-plus years, NBC reporter Kerry Sanders. They live in south Florida. No kids; no pets. Had goldfish once. Turned out badly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 4, 2013
This is the second Mace Bauer mystery. The setting is in central Florida and features a family of four women. Mama, the drama queen, is engaged to her fifth beau. Maddie, the oldest daughter, is married and works as a middle school principal. Mace, the middle daughter, is a single woman more comfortable with animals than people and works outdoors with animals . Marty, the youngest daughter, is married and works as a librarian.
Lawton Bramble, one of the ranchers who allowed the riders to camp on his land planned on providing vats of his famous Cow Hunter Chili before he died unexpectantly while preparing it. His much younger wife finds him just before the Mauer family arrived. Mace, considered a sleuth, since she helped investigate a murder the year before. Mace is certain it was murder even though the man's personal physician states it was natural causes. Mace sets out to find out the truth, which puts her immediate family in peril from someone who doesn't want her pursuing her line of questioning.
Mace and her family suffered near fatal accidents on the trail ride. But in the end Mace's determination leads her to discover the truth about Lawton Bramble's death after all! This was a good read.
Lawton Bramble, one of the ranchers who allowed the riders to camp on his land planned on providing vats of his famous Cow Hunter Chili before he died unexpectantly while preparing it. His much younger wife finds him just before the Mauer family arrived. Mace, considered a sleuth, since she helped investigate a murder the year before. Mace is certain it was murder even though the man's personal physician states it was natural causes. Mace sets out to find out the truth, which puts her immediate family in peril from someone who doesn't want her pursuing her line of questioning.
Mace and her family suffered near fatal accidents on the trail ride. But in the end Mace's determination leads her to discover the truth about Lawton Bramble's death after all! This was a good read.
July 5, 2013
An excellent read - but I have a beef. The last book (Mama Does Time), ends with Mace saying she'd had gone on "a date" with Carlos, but that he had needed to move back to Miami to sort things out. A. Date. At the beginning of this book, it's all about how they'd had a full-on relationship and he'd broken it off to move back to Miami. I hate when author's re-invent their character's histories like that. Drives me nuts.
Not that that's off my chest - I'm loving this series so far. As a fourth generation Floridian myself, I thoroughly enjoy this visit to the Florida I grew up in and miss fervently. I get a huge kick out of Mace and her sisters - and I appreciate the reality of family life Ms. Sharp allows when one of the sisters (usually Mace) puts their Mama in her place, and she often needs it! It is a refreshing change of pace from those books where the Mother can act like she out to be riding a broomstick but no one would dare speak a disrespectful word to her. As much as I like Mace, I have to admit to liking Marty just that little bit better. And I love the pacing and dialogue when the three are playing off each other.
The plot was excellently done - a really well crafted mystery with an ending that I didn't see coming.
I've been suffering a string of books lately that have been flat, disappointing, lifeless. Mama Rides Shotgun was a delightful cure and a breath of fresh, slightly horsey-scented, air.
Not that that's off my chest - I'm loving this series so far. As a fourth generation Floridian myself, I thoroughly enjoy this visit to the Florida I grew up in and miss fervently. I get a huge kick out of Mace and her sisters - and I appreciate the reality of family life Ms. Sharp allows when one of the sisters (usually Mace) puts their Mama in her place, and she often needs it! It is a refreshing change of pace from those books where the Mother can act like she out to be riding a broomstick but no one would dare speak a disrespectful word to her. As much as I like Mace, I have to admit to liking Marty just that little bit better. And I love the pacing and dialogue when the three are playing off each other.
The plot was excellently done - a really well crafted mystery with an ending that I didn't see coming.
I've been suffering a string of books lately that have been flat, disappointing, lifeless. Mama Rides Shotgun was a delightful cure and a breath of fresh, slightly horsey-scented, air.
May 6, 2012
Enjoyed this story though it's more about relationships than mystery. In that respect, it reminded me of The No. #1 Ladies Detective Agency. Though seemingly dissimilar, they both vivdly convey their setting and focus on the characters' relationships.
A wealthy rancher dies at the beginning of the tale and Mace, the main character, suspects foul play, but there's no evidence to support her suspicion. I love Mace - she's strong, self-sufficient, more at home with animals and nature than with people. Her family is full of characters: her mama, the quintessential Southern belle, her two sisters, with personalities almost polar opposite and Sal, a NYC transplant and Mama's soon to be 5th husband. Then there's Carlos, a Cuban emigrant & Miami police detective who is trying to adjust to Southern culture and has an on-again, off-again romance with Mace. These books offer insight into native Florida and the cattle history celebrated with the Cracker Trail ride.
Disfunction abounds in the decedent's family and he betrayed his old friend, but was he murdered? The denouement was incidental to the story, the focus is on relationships between characters and Florida's cattle ranching history. A number of near-death mishaps afflicting Mace and Mama muddy the waters. Were these accidents or intentional? It's all tied up at the end of the Cracker Trail. An entertaining read.
A wealthy rancher dies at the beginning of the tale and Mace, the main character, suspects foul play, but there's no evidence to support her suspicion. I love Mace - she's strong, self-sufficient, more at home with animals and nature than with people. Her family is full of characters: her mama, the quintessential Southern belle, her two sisters, with personalities almost polar opposite and Sal, a NYC transplant and Mama's soon to be 5th husband. Then there's Carlos, a Cuban emigrant & Miami police detective who is trying to adjust to Southern culture and has an on-again, off-again romance with Mace. These books offer insight into native Florida and the cattle history celebrated with the Cracker Trail ride.
Disfunction abounds in the decedent's family and he betrayed his old friend, but was he murdered? The denouement was incidental to the story, the focus is on relationships between characters and Florida's cattle ranching history. A number of near-death mishaps afflicting Mace and Mama muddy the waters. Were these accidents or intentional? It's all tied up at the end of the Cracker Trail. An entertaining read.
October 7, 2011
The setting is the historical Cracker Trail ride from east to west Florida. So I'm thinking a bunch of wasps on horses and she is calling it the Cracker Trail? Really? Well it is a real cattle trail ride and it is called the Cracker Trail because of the sound of the whips cracking over the cattle. So this is the #2 book in the Mace Bauer series. Mama is getting ready for marriage #5 and she and Mace are getting a little bonding time before the wedding. Mama discovers a dead body. Lawton Bramble, one of the ranchers who was allowing them to camp on his land and providing vats of his famous Cow Hunter Chili, dies. Cow Hunter Chili? Who hunts cows? Anyway,the real question is who did it? Was it a heart attack? The trophy wife? Did the kids do him in so they could get his money? Just when you think you know who did it, you get convincing evidence to look somewhere else. Mace wants to solve the mystery, Mama wants to find Mace a husband. Still not liking the vernacular,but I do like the well written mystery. Hmm,... do I read more in the series or stop?????
August 10, 2014
I thought this second in the series was much better than the first book. This book has the same set of characters and they stay true to their personas in the first book but more developed. Not sure if there really is a Cracker Trail but the thought is plausible. Seemed a bit far fetched for Mace's mother to be riding a horse for days on end, but I suppose it could happen.
I do like the amount of dialog and the fast pace of the book! A good quick read. Will read more of Deborah Sharp.
I do like the amount of dialog and the fast pace of the book! A good quick read. Will read more of Deborah Sharp.
May 26, 2019
This is the 2nd in the Mace Bauer Mystery series, which I stumbled upon by downloading the 1st in the series as a Nook Free Friday book, a long time ago.
For the 2nd in the series, it wasn't too bad. Mostly just a had far-fetched. I like the Southern charm elements. They have a lot of very interesting analogies, like "I'm as full as a gutter during rainy season" lol.. So there is quite a bit of good natured humor woven throughout the story, with everything else you'd expect with a cozy who-dun-it mystery. I'm sure the author thought it would be cute to continue the series with "Mama does this" and "Mama does that" titles, but I'm not sure it fit for this story. If anything, it should be "Mama Gossips and tries to play Matchmaker on Cracker Trail". Okay, so that would be a long title, but more fitting!
The story continues and we find out more details about Mace's relationship with Miami detective Carlos, from the previous novel. That is all well and fine. But literally, a major and weird subplot of this novel was for everyone to flirt and kiss everyone. And it all happened within a week's time. That seemed a bit more teenager-esque behavior, than that of 30-somethings. I don't know, it was weird.
Beyond that, just about every bad thing imaginable happened to Mace and her family during this trip. While it did keep things interesting (or annoying depending on your preference) with cliffhanger chapters, it overall felt like a bit too much. In the end, I had half of the mystery figured out on my own.. And the other half narrowed down to 3 people. All loose ends were quickly tied up, and Mace had helped solve another mystery. As an aside, I was able to differentiate the sisters this time (Maddie, and Marty). Although Sharp was extremely redundant in helping readers do that. Maddie was identified as a school principal probably 10 to 15 times in this novel (without exaggeration).
I think this series sits well if you're in the mood for a Southern cozy mystery, so I will eventually continue with the series.
For the 2nd in the series, it wasn't too bad. Mostly just a had far-fetched. I like the Southern charm elements. They have a lot of very interesting analogies, like "I'm as full as a gutter during rainy season" lol.. So there is quite a bit of good natured humor woven throughout the story, with everything else you'd expect with a cozy who-dun-it mystery. I'm sure the author thought it would be cute to continue the series with "Mama does this" and "Mama does that" titles, but I'm not sure it fit for this story. If anything, it should be "Mama Gossips and tries to play Matchmaker on Cracker Trail". Okay, so that would be a long title, but more fitting!
The story continues and we find out more details about Mace's relationship with Miami detective Carlos, from the previous novel. That is all well and fine. But literally, a major and weird subplot of this novel was for everyone to flirt and kiss everyone. And it all happened within a week's time. That seemed a bit more teenager-esque behavior, than that of 30-somethings. I don't know, it was weird.
Beyond that, just about every bad thing imaginable happened to Mace and her family during this trip. While it did keep things interesting (or annoying depending on your preference) with cliffhanger chapters, it overall felt like a bit too much. In the end, I had half of the mystery figured out on my own.. And the other half narrowed down to 3 people. All loose ends were quickly tied up, and Mace had helped solve another mystery. As an aside, I was able to differentiate the sisters this time (Maddie, and Marty). Although Sharp was extremely redundant in helping readers do that. Maddie was identified as a school principal probably 10 to 15 times in this novel (without exaggeration).
I think this series sits well if you're in the mood for a Southern cozy mystery, so I will eventually continue with the series.
May 16, 2022
Mama, preparing to marry for the fifth, wants to spend some time with her girls (Mace, Maddie and Marty) on the six-day Florida Cracker Trail (recreating cowboy treks in the good old days).
No sooner has the trek started than a body is found - eek!
There's a strong cast of secondary characters, any of whom could be responsible (if it was a murder at all!).
Luckily, former detective Carlos Martinez is on hand to infuriate, confuse and attract Mace.
It's all very jolly, even the occasional violent event doesn't detract from the light-heartedness.
In the end the mystery solves itself in the traditional manner - i.e. the murderer goes for broke one time to often.
3 Stars.
No sooner has the trek started than a body is found - eek!
There's a strong cast of secondary characters, any of whom could be responsible (if it was a murder at all!).
Luckily, former detective Carlos Martinez is on hand to infuriate, confuse and attract Mace.
It's all very jolly, even the occasional violent event doesn't detract from the light-heartedness.
In the end the mystery solves itself in the traditional manner - i.e. the murderer goes for broke one time to often.
3 Stars.
March 9, 2024
A delightful blend of a "locked room" mystery and homespun humor, Mama Rides Shotgun brings "Mama" as Rosalee Devereaux is known and her daughter Mace Bauer to the historical Florida Cracker Trail cattle ride. But at their first stop, Mama and Mace find the body of their host and long-time acquaintance. Lawton Bramble.
There is no shortage of suspects, from the young widow -- Lawton's new wife, his partially estranged son, the son's slightly psycho fiancée and the family doctor.
Mama and her own fiancé, rough and tumble New Yorker, bring comic relief to this light, cozy mystery. I recommend it for those not seeking a serious, hard-boiled mystery.
There is no shortage of suspects, from the young widow -- Lawton's new wife, his partially estranged son, the son's slightly psycho fiancée and the family doctor.
Mama and her own fiancé, rough and tumble New Yorker, bring comic relief to this light, cozy mystery. I recommend it for those not seeking a serious, hard-boiled mystery.
April 28, 2020
I’m continuing to enjoy the series quite a bit. Granted this time I think I had a better insight on who the killer was but not necessarily the reason behind it. Not that there weren’t plenty and I mean plenty of suspects. It really did keep you guessing. I’m really enjoying the quirky family dynamics and I’d really like to meet the husbands of Mace’s sisters. I’d love to see all of the interactions among the family. I can only imagine the funny shenanigans that they all get up to.
February 2, 2024
I just read Mama Rides Shotgun book #2 in the Mace Bauer Mysteries, and it was even better than Mama Does Time book #1 as Mama and Mace join the Cracker Wagon Trail Horse Ride. All seems to go fine ,but the head of this trail ride winds up, and he died after tasting his famous Chili. Now it's up to Mace and (HOT AND SEXY DETECTIVE) Carlos and the state police to look for the murderer before Mace gets to be the next victim.
August 13, 2019
All Mace wanted to do was take a trip to bond with "Queen can't shut her mouth" (aka Mama) and of course it was doomed from the start. Add in the cuckoo sisters and Sal and it gets even worse (if possible). Very funny and R rated with a happy ending.
September 24, 2018
Great series
Stumbled upon this series and find it refreshingly honest and fun to read. Author does a great job fleshing out the characters and making the reader want more!
Stumbled upon this series and find it refreshingly honest and fun to read. Author does a great job fleshing out the characters and making the reader want more!
April 8, 2019
En media de ése libro, hay un idea de porque el título está muy mal.
Though it was a light read, cuando me estudiar español, me no gusta estos caracteres, pero mucho lighthearted.
Though it was a light read, cuando me estudiar español, me no gusta estos caracteres, pero mucho lighthearted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2019
This book was good and I never would have guessed the ending. Cant wait to start reading the next book in the series.
February 3, 2024
My review is on Amazon.
June 17, 2025
I enjoyed this book, it wasn't quite as entertaining as the first but it did add more to the storyline of the characters and had quite a few mysteries along the way.
February 5, 2011
#2 Mace Bauer mystery, set in central Florida. Mace and her Mama are trying to do a little bonding by camping and riding the 120-mile Cracker Trail--the week-long ride and educational trek celebrating the ways of the old-time Florida cattlemen. On the first day of the ride, Lawton Bramble, one of the ranchers who was allowing them to camp on his land and providing vats of his famous Cow Hunter Chili, dies.
His much-younger wife comes upon him as he was presumably stirring up his chili and had a heart attack. (He was well-known to have a bad heart.) But Mace is suspicious--especially when she notices Lawton's gun which appeared to have dropped out of his hand when he died. Why would he have it so close to hand? But old Doc, who treated Lawton, declares it a heart attack and that's that--until Lawton's kids start pointing fingers at their new stepmother and making noises that his death wasn't natural.
Lawton, being a rich cattleman, has plenty of enemies. Mace's questioning Doc's diagnosis gets around of course and causes the expected attacks and attempted attacks on her person, but she's persistent (like many amateur sleuths, almost stupidly so) and eventually she solves the (very predictable) case. In between, there was a lot of romancey hogwash--Mace's love interest from the last book who had moved back to Miami some time ago "just happens" to be on trail as well, and of course there's Lawton's son Trey, who was a big high school football star at Mace's high school, whom she ends up smooching with as well.
It was just...silly. Lots of eye rolling on my part. Mace is supposedly thirty-something years old, but she sure didn't act like she was much out of her teens. The first book was kind of cute despite all the Southern talk and Mace's annoying, nosy, preachy, interfering Mama. This time it was just over the top. I actually liked Mace in the first book, but she seemed almost like a different person in this book. I skimmed the last hundred pages or so, but I won't be continuing on with the series. The dialogue, as with the first in series, doesn't sound very natural and the plot was scattered all over the place with just too many unbelievable coincidences needed to make it come together.
His much-younger wife comes upon him as he was presumably stirring up his chili and had a heart attack. (He was well-known to have a bad heart.) But Mace is suspicious--especially when she notices Lawton's gun which appeared to have dropped out of his hand when he died. Why would he have it so close to hand? But old Doc, who treated Lawton, declares it a heart attack and that's that--until Lawton's kids start pointing fingers at their new stepmother and making noises that his death wasn't natural.
Lawton, being a rich cattleman, has plenty of enemies. Mace's questioning Doc's diagnosis gets around of course and causes the expected attacks and attempted attacks on her person, but she's persistent (like many amateur sleuths, almost stupidly so) and eventually she solves the (very predictable) case. In between, there was a lot of romancey hogwash--Mace's love interest from the last book who had moved back to Miami some time ago "just happens" to be on trail as well, and of course there's Lawton's son Trey, who was a big high school football star at Mace's high school, whom she ends up smooching with as well.
It was just...silly. Lots of eye rolling on my part. Mace is supposedly thirty-something years old, but she sure didn't act like she was much out of her teens. The first book was kind of cute despite all the Southern talk and Mace's annoying, nosy, preachy, interfering Mama. This time it was just over the top. I actually liked Mace in the first book, but she seemed almost like a different person in this book. I skimmed the last hundred pages or so, but I won't be continuing on with the series. The dialogue, as with the first in series, doesn't sound very natural and the plot was scattered all over the place with just too many unbelievable coincidences needed to make it come together.
May 22, 2011
What a GORGEOUS cover!! I want a fast convertible Thunderbird in this shade of turquoise! Or a silk blouse....which is probably more what I can actually afford...or cowboy boots....oooooh.....
Love love love this series!! Mama just cracks me up and Mace does the best she can with what's given her, especially where Mama is concerned. Mama means well and only wants Mace to be happy...but what she thinks will make Mace happy is pretty much different from what Mace thinks.
Mama and Mace go on the annual Florida Cracker Trail for some bonding time before Mama marries hubby #5 and stumble onto what looks like the murder of a prominent landowner.
Plenty of suspects to be had and Mace's not quite boyfriend, Carlos the yumma-rooney Miami detective, is along for the ride to help stir Mace's emotions and assist in the detecting.
Along the way the reader learns some neat Florida history, why a Cracker is called a Cracker, and get to see the Florida that doesn't get as much attention as it should.
Five turquoise sparkly diamonds!!!
Love love love this series!! Mama just cracks me up and Mace does the best she can with what's given her, especially where Mama is concerned. Mama means well and only wants Mace to be happy...but what she thinks will make Mace happy is pretty much different from what Mace thinks.
Mama and Mace go on the annual Florida Cracker Trail for some bonding time before Mama marries hubby #5 and stumble onto what looks like the murder of a prominent landowner.
Plenty of suspects to be had and Mace's not quite boyfriend, Carlos the yumma-rooney Miami detective, is along for the ride to help stir Mace's emotions and assist in the detecting.
Along the way the reader learns some neat Florida history, why a Cracker is called a Cracker, and get to see the Florida that doesn't get as much attention as it should.
Five turquoise sparkly diamonds!!!
July 4, 2009
Preparing for her fifth marriage, Mama decides she and middle daughter Mace should bond by riding the Cracker trail, a multi-day trip across width of Florida that celebrates historic cattlemen. When the two women find the dead body of a prominent rancher, Mace is suspicious, but the general verdict is that the man had a much-anticipated heart attack. The trail riders are joined by Mace's two protective sisters, the dead man's much younger widow, her two unloving stepchildren Trey and Belle, Trey's insanely jealous ex-fiancee and Mace's very attractive policeman ex-boyfriend, among other suspects and red herrings. Mace's family seems to be attracting a lot of attention, most of it negative. If the rancher died of natural causes, who's trying to kill Mace?
October 1, 2013
Mace and Mama are taking a trip on the historic Florida Cracker Trail, living (almost) as the cowboys did centuries ago. But when one of Mama's high school boyfriends is murdered when the group stops at his ranch, danger seems to be stalking Mace and her family.
I enjoyed this light mystery and am wondering why I didn't get back to this series sooner. The characters are charming and Mace shows some real growth here. The plot could have been a bit better developed, but the book was always entertaining.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I enjoyed this light mystery and am wondering why I didn't get back to this series sooner. The characters are charming and Mace shows some real growth here. The plot could have been a bit better developed, but the book was always entertaining.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 3, 2011
Don't tell Carl Hiaasen, but Mama has quickly become my favorite Florida character. Deborah Sharp's second book places Mama on a six-day cattle ride with her daughters. When an ex-beau suddenly dies the mis-adventure of being around Mama ensues. I LOVE that this is set far away from the beaches and neon of Miami, in rural Florida. The fictional town of Himmarshee is a side of Florida that people should read about.
This is a great read that will have you picking up the next book in the series, Mama Gets Hitched.
This is a great read that will have you picking up the next book in the series, Mama Gets Hitched.
May 18, 2010
This book is very hard to exclaim over without creating any spoilers. So, I was thrilled and held my breath on pages 107-109, then I was shocked on pages 130-131. Surprised by pages 150-155 and on and on it went. This was an amazing book.
I read it in one sitting and was sad when I came to the ending. I felt fulfilled by the ending though.
Laughs, tears, suspense it was all present.
This is what a book should be about.
I read it in one sitting and was sad when I came to the ending. I felt fulfilled by the ending though.
Laughs, tears, suspense it was all present.
This is what a book should be about.
February 11, 2011
"Momma Rides Shotgun" is the second in Deborah Sharp's humorous series that began with "Momma Does Time". Many of the same characters return again including Mace's sisters, Momma,Sal (now engaged to Momma). The setting is the historical Cracker Trail ride from east to west Florida. This time Momma is determined to help poor single Mace acquire a beau, no matter how many dead bodies they find. Mace is a very determined sleuth. Ms. Sharp keeps you laughing and guessing.
February 15, 2014
Book 2 in the Mace Bauer mystery series is just as much fun as the first. This time, we join Mama on her ride across Florida's old Cracker Trail. This book is a fast read that will keep you laughing all the way through. I can't wait to finish the series. I especially enjoy reading them in between my more serious books. I'd say these are great for fans of Janet Evanovich.
September 30, 2009
Great summer read! Chick lit/accidental private eye tale about a nostalgic trip across Florida on horseback. A landowner ends up dead and Mace thinks it might be murder. Is it his ex-best friend? His young wife after his money? Or one of his kids wanting their inheritance?
November 9, 2009
Mace and her mama join a week-long camping and riding trip along Florida's Cracker Trail, only to solve the murder of a wealthy rancher along the way. Loved the LOL interaction between Mace, her mama, and her sisters as well as the insight into Florida's cattle drive history.
May 3, 2011
I enjoyed this and yet it raised some questions. It felt like it contradicted some things we found out in the first novel "Mama Does Time"
I grew up in Florida but never heard of the Cracker ride. I learned what a "cracker" is. I never knew this either.
Fun read.
I grew up in Florida but never heard of the Cracker ride. I learned what a "cracker" is. I never knew this either.
Fun read.
May 21, 2012
I just love Mace and her family! They sure do know how to get into some messes! I love the southern slang, the great humor, and the mystery these books bring to the table. Make me want to go on the next cracker trail. Minus the snakes in the jacket/ and guns :)
November 17, 2015
I am in love with this series! Funny characters, hilarious situations. Mama is cool and sweet but can be kick-ass if the situation calls for it. It's great when you find a series that you really like. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews