Murder Over Easy

Trailer Park Mystery #2

by Jimmie Ruth Evans

As if Wanda Nell Culpepper didn’t have her hands full juggling two jobs and herding her kids around, Melvin Arbuckle, her boss at the Kountry Kitchen, has been arrested for murder. The victim was Wanda’s fellow waitress, a woman with the personality of a snake and the reputation of a minx. She also had expensive taste in men—including some of Tullahoma, Mississippi’s big-shot businessmen. Convinced of Melvin’s innocence, Wanda Nell puts herself on the trail of a ruthless killer—and almost gets her goose cooked…

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Amateur Sleuth, Suspense, Cozy

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 5, 2006

About the author

also writes as Dean James, Honor Hartman and Miranda James

Reviews

[Sabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 2nd book in the series even more than the first one. Wanda Nell is an amazing lady and Mayrene got a good giggle out of me when she brought her shotgun to action.
The mystery is very good paced with a surprising ending. Can't wait to find out what Wanda Lee and her family and friends are getting into next.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ This was a good little mystery, with multiple feasible suspects and a solid wrap up! I didn't find myself too intrigued by the characters or the world to want to read more, but it was all together solid. Also, a surprisingly solid gay background plotline for when this book was originally written!

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this second novel in the 'Trailer Park Mystery' series so much more because of knowing the characters. Not to mention, the writing was excellent, the plot tighter, and the subject matter so relative to today's world.

Our Sleuth is a single mom with children going through their own personal growth and issues. Her name is Wanda Nell and they live in a small town in Mississippi. Wanda Nell's life is difficult but she is amazing in her acceptance of it, and yet, there is the feeling of hope that surrounds her, for a better life.

Wanda Nell holds a couple of jobs just to get by. One is a waitress of a diner. Her boss telephones her and tells her he has been arrested for the murder of a co-worker. To be honest I figured out the killer fairly quickly, however, this did not stop me from reading to see the motivation. I'm glad I did. The crime was suspenseful but finding out about the life of the murdered co-worker was intriguing.

Throughout the crime plot, the Author deftly wove personal stories about Wanda Nell, her son, her young teenaged daughter and her son, and her even younger high school daughter. This story really focused on T.J. (Son) and changes in his life. I do not want to say too much and give the plot away as this life story of T.J. and Mom was so beautifully written that I had tears several times. For me, the storyline was amazing and fulfilling even without a murder, which of course, is what I bought the book expecting to read.

I heartily recommend buying and reading this book. I know it is older and out of print in some markets but, it behooves you a true reading experience and you will feel the effort taken to find it worthy of your time, in my opinion.

[Teddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the average cozy in that it's quite fleshed out and the characters are well described.
Lots of grammatical and punctuation errors in my ebook edition.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think it was possible for typos to be this bad - exponentially worse than the first!

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first book the author introduced his readers to Wanda Nell and her family and friends, and an eclectic bunch they are. They run the gambit from Wanda Nell's youngest daughter Juliet who does everything she can to make Wanda Nell's life easier to some less than agreeable ex-in-laws and co-workers. One of the more disagreeable characters from the first book only makes an appearance in this book as a corpse and Wanda Nell's boss and friend Melvin Arbuckle is arrested for the crime. Melvin has come to Wanda Nell's aid on many occasions and in this, his time of need, Wanda Nell comes through for him and risks her very life to find the real killer.

The author has done a marvelous job of creating the town of Tullahoma, Mississippi and when Wanda Nell begins her search for the killer there are no shortage of suspects. Before long she finds herself knee deep in a sleazy enterprise that involved the murder victim and some of the most prominent men in town, including the president of the bank that holds her mortgage. Wanda Nell presses on though despite the fact that the police are very standoffish about digging in the dirt that she is finding. Her goal is to turn up more evidence than the police can possibly ignore and eventually she succeeds but the question is whether she is following the correct trail herself.

Just like in the last book, while searching for clues Wanda Nell also has to deal with family problems galore and all of the other trials that come with everyday life. Unlike most amateur sleuths in these cozy mysteries Wanda Nell has to worry about breakfast for her family and washing dirty diapers and such details lend a note of reality to the story. The only drawback to this book is that I was able to figure out who the killer was well before the end of the book despite plenty of red herrings thrown out by the author. Otherwise I found this to be a very believable, very well written and very enjoyable book. If you think that you have troubles, just wait until you get a load of Wanda Nell's life!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a digital copy of this book and not sure if it was due to the way it loaded or what but there were some many misspelled words and missed punctuation. It didn't take away from the book but did cause some confusion at times. "Katie Ann's became Katie Arm's" just as an example. Other than that it was an enjoyable read.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. The author really knows how to pace the material and finesse the plot. Too often these fluffy mysteries are tedious because the character is painted clueless in order to drag out the story or chain of evidence is unbelievably compromised in ways that are, well... unbelievable. But Jimmie Ruth Evans gets it just right.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you have a character that you want to die but when it actually happens it isn't as good as you thought it would be. 😐 I had A LOT of thoughts about who the killer was but I hoped I was wrong. (I wasn't) I also had A LOT of thoughts about T.J. and I was right 😊. Some of the story was predictable but it still kept me up late playing the one more chapter game.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way this one took a very unexpected turn in The Who done it category.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little cozy that’s worth reading.

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Likeable characters and a great murder plot made this an enjoyable read.

[Camilla Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series. It's by an author I like. Think this is an earlier series, but still good.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute book, just personally not my style. A good introductory mystery for people who don't like things too scary.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is called the Trailer Park Mysteries. It was written in the 1990's, I believe, but is just as fresh and relevant as it was then. Wanda Nell Culpepper is a waitress at Mel's Diner in Tullahoma, Mississippi. Wanda Nell struggles to make a living by working two jobs, while taking care of her family and dealing with the assorted characters who come in and out of her trailer park. Wanda Nell is very real and very sympathetic. You will get so frustrated with her older daughter you'll want to slap her. And you'll be proud of her younger daughter right along with Wanda Nell.

In addition to all she does, Wanda Nell winds up smack in the middle of another murder, this time to her fellow waitress, who is a real snake, and Wanda Nell's nemesis.

You'll love these characters, and you'll be caught up in their story just as much or more than the mystery itself. Highly recommended.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was quite good. Well paced, well plotted, realistic as far as everyday life without being too boring. Interesting details were thrown in without being clues or red herrings. Even the seemingly obligatory car chase scare, ended differently from the many I have read.

The down-home southern dialect required some adjustment even though I spent my first 10 years in Oklahoma. One can tell that it is a more recent book not only by the prevalence of cell phones, but because the feel-good ending included a authentic-seeming coming out scene.

The current style of mystery must include recipes, patterns, household tips, whatever fits the theme of the book. This had no waitressing "tips," but included a couple down-home recipes that seemed as authentic as the rest of the book.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanda Nell and Mayrene are at it again! When at waitress at the Kountry Kitchen is found brutally murdered, Melvin, the owner, is arrested. Wanda Nell believes in his innocence, and sets out to clear his name and find the real killer.

In this book, we find out a lot more about Wanda Nells son, T.J., what has driven him to bad choices all these years, and the reason for his sudden turn around. The subplot about T.J.'s life is almost immediately easy to decipher, you know just where the author is going with that one.

All in all, a great fun read. I just love the characters of the Trailer Park Mysteries.

[Holly Booms Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

the second in the series of Southern trailer park/diner/small town mysteries, this one was even better thant he first. The author knows how to write a good mystery, and obviously loves adding the atmospheric touches - the descriptions of the diner, the Southern slang, the good ol' boys and their trucks, and numberous mentions of fried chicken. The thing that set this book above the rest for me was the part of the story in which a character has to admit that they are gay, and how that is handled. These books look sillier on the covers than they really are.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the trailer park series. Wanda Nell's boss Melvin is arrested for the murder of her enemy/fellow waitress who he just happens to be involved with. Wanda Nell knows he is innocent and sets out to prove it, learning along the way that her son is gay and dating her lawyer. I like this series, I just wish they would lay off the excessive hicky names! Also, I have never read more characters drinking Coke...is this author saying that only trailer trash drinks Coke or did Coke pay for product placement? LOL.

[Peggy · Rating 1 out of 5]

if you want to know the "liberal talking points" she managed to cover quite a few of them. Bad Christians, good gays, stupid cops, good lawyers, evil rich people, good wrong side of the track. The book was so predictable that I knew who the killer was as soon as she presented. There wasn't anything about the book that would stretch your imagination or make you think all it did was pass the time. I would't recommend it for anything else. If I hadn't been camping and didn't have another book I never would have wasted my time reading the book.

[Natalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the Trailer Park Mystery. The main character, single hard working mommy of 3 grandma of 1, is trying to find out who murdered her co-worker. She tries to stay out of things but it so happens that everything keep falling in her lap. I was sad that you saw her hair dresser friend once or twice, because the funniest part of the book seems to be with the both of em. Fact: This is a quick Read. Fact: It's got white trash written all over it, but still is smart. Fact: Not a bad little book that could. Fact: I will read book number 3 in this series.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one I randomly picked up at the used book store. I haven't read the first one. I didn't realize this wasn't the first one when I got it. Overall, this was a decent read. I got tired of the fact that almost every character had two names they were called by and they were ALWAYS called that way. Also, the Southern way they talked, while accurate for certain people, is by no means common for EVERY person in small towns like that. It felt over-used. Still, if I come across more of these for cheap, I'd definitely get them. Entertaining enough.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanda Nell Culpepper works at two jobs to keep her family together. Her boss is arrested for murder and Wanda takes over the restaurant until her boss can get out of jail… meanwhile she must keep her family on an even keel – and perhaps help solve who really did viciously murder Fayetta Sutton, a fellow waitress at the Kountry Kitchen. – It turns out that Fayetta did more than be a waitress and things get complicated. – A good quick moving read with interesting characters.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the main characters. I like the strong females in this book. I like that this series is set in Mississippi.
I liked this mystery. I have loved to see more interaction with the sheriff and her best friend. I missed those two characters. I guessed her son's big secret before it came out in the book.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the Wanda Nell Culpepper "Trailer Park Mysteries." These are so good because the author (in reality Dean James) does not look down on or patronize the characters, but sees their worth even though they live in a trailer park. Some interesting social commentary as well as good plotting and Mississippi setting.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd installment of the Trailer Park Mystery series. Wanda Nell's coworker was brutally murdered and her boss Melvin was arrested. But Wanda does not think he is the guy. Looking for clues to help solve this case Wanda Nell gets herself in some predicaments. An easy cozy but not that great. On to the next one.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. This is the second one but you don't need to start at the beginning. I really liked Wanda Sue and I hope things look up for her. A fellow waitress is murdered and Wanda Sue's boss is arrested. It's up to her to keep the diner running and solve a crime at the same time.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series. I like Wanda Nell and the mysteries are interesting. I did not figure out who did it until the killer was revealed. I like getting to know Wanda Nell and her family and find the books quite readable.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanda Nell is back in the second of the Trailer Park series. In this installment, she has two mysteries--who killed her nemesis and what is going on between her son and his boss. Good plot and it's fun to follow these characters.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, fast, safe read in which a woman is determined to prove that her friend and boss did not murder one of his waitresses. I enjoyed the novel although I did think the author could have developed characters and plot more than she did.