Retro Reading: Pearls and Poison by Duffy Brown
Murder's on the Election Ballot This Year
It's been a wild year for Reagan Summerside. She's helped solve two murders in a few short months and now with an election coming up she hopes her mother will win, but at the same time she doesn't want to help with the campaigning.
But when Judge Gloria Summerside's opponent, Kip Seymour drops dead after a very public argument with Gloria, all eyes are on her as the prime suspect.
With the third installment of the Consignment Shop mysteries, Pearls and Poison author Duffy Brown hasn't lost any steam when it comes to murder in the South.
After solving two previous murders, Reagan jumps into the investigation in an effort to prove her mother's innocence. The usual suspects are rounded up (including Gloria's flamboyant sister KiKi) and while Gloria's away from the bench, Reagan and KiKi are hitting the streets for answers and suspects.
When things get really bad, Reagan turns to the Seventeeth Street Gang (who have done "business" with Gloria in her courtroom) against the advice of former member, now attorney Walker Boone. Boone wants Reagan to stay out of the investigation because this time it's more personal if she uncovers things in Boone's past between him and Gloria.
His advice doesn't fly with her and she continues her investigation anyway. She knows Boone has a history and whenever she's asked about his past he shrugs it off. Only this time she may have found his weakness along with things from her mother's past.
As in the past two installment, Brown has created some great characters and I'd have to say that Reagan and KiKi are the new Lucy and Ethel. The situation Brown has put them in has rivaled anything the television duo has ever done.
This series has been a delightful romp through the South and Brown should be a spokesperson for Savannah tourism. I felt as though I were walking the streets with the characters and if the little shops exist (as she's described them) I'd love to visit them myself.
Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long for the next installment. Until our next visit with these two characters let's hope Brown puts them into another incredible adventure!
