But Why Shoot the Magistrate?

Thoroughly Southern #2

by Patricia Sprinkle

When a popular youth pastor is accused of a grisly crime, MacLaren Yarbrough won't rest until she finds the truth. Her gut instinct tells her Luke Blessed is innocent. Still, how could the dream he had on the night a young woman was murdered depict the crime with such chilling accuracy? As MacLaren tracks down clues from all corners of Hopewell, GA, four like suspects emerge. But the police aren't buying her theories. Even her husband, local magistrate Joe Riddley, resists her amateur sleuthing. This case, he feels, is too dangerous. Just how dangerous, both of them are about to discover. The assailant strikes again, leaving Joe comatose from a gunshot wound to the head. And suddenly, a new question stares MacLaren in the face. It's the most perplexing question of all -- and the most personal: Why shoot the magistrate?

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

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 1998

About the author

Aka Patricia Houck Sprinkle.

When I met and married Bob, he looked over our budget and demanded, "Why don’t you write a mystery to pay for all the ones you buy?" I immediately knew I wanted to put a body in a building where I’d once worked. However, being over-endowed with the Protestant ethic, I wrote "important" things first and only wrote the mystery in my spare time, so my first mystery, Murder at Markham (reissued by Silver Dagger in 2001), took thirteen years to complete. It took even longer for me to learn that any writing which gives me pleasure is important, whether fiction or non-fiction.

Since 1988 I have written twenty mysteries, four novels, and five non-fiction books. I am grateful to my readers and editors for letting me do what I enjoy most in the world. Bob has concluded that writing is not a profession, it's an obsession--my favorite vacation is to go to a place where somebody else fixes my meals and where I can write more than I do at home, without interruptions. Thanks, if you are one of the readers who keeps my fingers on the keys. I enjoy spending time with you at conferences, book clubs, and signing events.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in this series, although I am reading them totally out of order. Although the main character is Christian, I would not call this a Christian mystery. Still, a good series to suggest to people who do not like gory mysteries.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really appreciated the cozy mystery with scripture verse starting each chapter. While I figured out who done it, I still wanted to keep reading to see when they realized who it was. Good story. I will be reading more of this series & ordered some of this authors other series as well!

[Maam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a big fan of Christian fiction but i did enjoy this book quite a bit. I loved the characters and even though it was a murder mystery, I did laugh several times throughout the book.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a very nice 'Christian' mystery series. I should probably give it a 3.5 in a rating, I'll definitely continue to read this series.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series of mysteries set in a small Georgia town. Try them...you will like them.

[Sarah Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun southern mystery series

[Jan Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this series that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the twists and turns in the book. Looking forward to the next in the series.

[Christine Lucia Asha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quote 1 " I OFTEN TALK TO MYSELF. A PERSON NEEDS INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION someTIMES."

Not as enthralled with this cast of characters as I was with the ones in the previous book. There was also a marked increase in god references which got on my nerves a little. But mostly: it was the fact that a seemingly sane upstanding citizen turns out to be a crazy mad-scientist hell bent on proving his (already) debunked theory.

Fun quote 2 " I WALKED HIM OUT. I ALWAYS LIKE TO BE POLITE -- EVEN IF I'VE GOT A MURDERER TIED TO MY KITCHEN TABLE."

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed But Why Shoot the Magistrate? It is a cozy about murders occurring in a small Southern town, and the suspect being our heroine's pastor. Maclaren Yarbrough is a sixtish magistrate's wife, so this is not your typical suspense. The Yarbrough's have a good marriage, so romance is not a large part of the story. With a variety of interesting characters and murders, the story holds the interest. I look forward to reading more of Sprinkle's works.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valerie, Page patron, June 2017, 5 stars:

This is a southern mystery with a strong emphasis on faith. It was an enjoyable read with a surprise ending.

[Jennifer Kovaleski · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad to have discovered this series. Mac is a strong woman who doesn’t take a backseat when it comes to finding justice. The story was interesting with many possible suspects. Kept me guessing. I like that we got to know her family a little more in this one.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Patricia Sprinkle.

The murder plot was intriguing and believable but I am still confused about the robbery sub-plot and how they were connected.

[Meredith Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful cozy! Keeps you guessing til the end! :) :)

[Milt · Rating 4 out of 5]

body busyness abounds. characteristically

[Martha Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book

[Michael Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot to like in this book, and I am now a fan of Patricia Sprinkle.
She writes about a part of the country I know fairly well. Even though her focal town is fictional, its neighboring cities and towns, such as Dublin and Augusta, are very real.
Author Sprinkle has created some interesting characters, and that her protagonist is first-named "MacLaren" is fairly typically Southern: Daughters are often given a family name -- and so are sons. (For example, one of the best of the modern Georgia authors is named "Walker" for his mother's family: Walker Chandler wrote, among others, "Murder in Peachtree City." He bought and restored an old school building in Zebulon, naming it after his father, "The Chandler Building." One day a teenager came by to have her picture taken next to the sign out front. Her name was Chandler Walker!)
Author Sprinkle shares one glaring fault: She can't spell "barbecue"!
Why so many Southern authors can't correctly spell the region's favorite meal is beyond me.
I'd expect Yankees to get it wrong, but the people who most eat it should spell it correctly: B-A-R-B-E-C-U-E! (Not, if you're wondering, "barbeque"!)
But I intend to read all her books. I recommend this one.

[Deb_bluerose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighthearted Mystery Series about a sweet-ol', little southern Lady...

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mac takes over being the judge as Joe Riddley her husbands gets shot. Here is where we see it all begins.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quiet cozy. Be aware author is pushing Christianity. Prejudiced portrayal of "new age" spirituality.

[Donna Hulsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fast read of life in a small Georgia town, with all its' quirky characters and a whole bunch of murders. I had the killer picked out fairly early, but still liked the book.

[Patsy Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like mysteries and this was interesting.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good mystery with lots of twists and turns. It made me want to read more of the MacLaren Yarbrough mysteries.

[Marty Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy mystery is quintessentially Southern. I enjoyed the phrases and mannerisms which I recognize so well from growing up in the South.