Final Resting Vase by Sophie Harper is a typical fun cozy with an archaeology museum curator as the amateur sleuth. Surrounded by a lively cast of assistants, Scarlett McCormick uncovers the culprit in this murder and abduction mystery.
Scarlett’s retired, academic father is missing, so she races home from the west coast to Ithaca, New York, to help her mother cope. Her mother bakes when she’s upset. I wish the novel included some to the recipes from the story.
Harper lays out all the clues in a logical way. She intensifies the story by having it set in wintertime, with snow and ice, and having the police after Scarlett’s father for the murder of his friend. A mysterious society, an erratic millionaire, and a crazy book series add to the suspense. A splash of romance is tucked in, between Scarlett and her FBI friend Luke Anderson. The characters are sensible and real.
The best thing about cozies is that they are tied up neatly at the end. Life isn’t always explained so simply. If you’re looking for a fun read in a nice neat package, then Final Resting Vase by Sophie Harper is the novel for you. Enjoy!