An Appalachian Adventure Mystery
Our State Magazine, reviewed by Elizabeth Langfahl Boone author Maggie Bishop brings back carpenter, photographer, and unabashed “SCI” wannabe Jemma Chase in the second of her Appalachian Adventure Mystery series. In “Perfect for Framing,” Jemma finds herself entangled in a web of neighborhood intrigue after she accepts a custom cabinet-making job in an up-and-coming mountain development, Hickory Hills. At the same time, energetic Jemma is in pursuit of a job with the sheriff’s department, where the man she is “keeping company” with, Detective Tucker, is employed. While installing cabinetry in the home of a local resident, Jemma learns that power-hungry, rich, and attractive Property Owners Association President Petula Windsor has made many enemies in Hickory Hills and beyond. Petula hires Jemma to build cabinetry for her guesthouse. Neighborhood intrigue escalates when Jemma discovers Petula’s body in the burning guesthouse. Although Detective Tucker is understandably reluctant to include Jemma in the murder investigation, Jemma’s natural instincts and knowledge of Petula’s foes and friends prove to be invaluable, even as Tucker finds his own life threatened. Together, Tucker and Jemma begin to discern the true nature of Petula’s many relationships and discover the identity of her killer. In a surprising twist, Jemma also discovers what is really worth pursuing in her own life. “Perfect for Framing” is a fun, fast-paced read with lots of local flavor. Although the mystery surrounding Petula’s demise will keep you quickly turning pages, what’s ultimately most satisfying is keeping company with the characters of Jemma and Tucker in this mountain adventure. Returning for a second suspense-filled mystery, Jemma Chase and Detective Tucker find themselves embroiled in a Property Owners Association power struggle. When a simple break-in escalates to murder Detective Tucker finds suspects aplenty from POA president Petula Windsor’s files, leading him to suspect the victim of blackmail. Tucker tries his best to keep Jemma’s interest at bay, but when the president’s husband is found dead and Tucker’s life is jeopardized, Jemma won’t be stopped until she finds the murderer. “Maggie Bishop delivers a thrilling whodunit, peppered with lovable characters and set against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains of North Carolina. With breath-taking action and nail-biting suspense, twisting plot that guarantees constant speculation, this is one book that will have readers quickly turning pages, eager to find out what happens next. Highly recommended.” –Christy Tillery French, Midwest Book Review “Find yourself a cat or two, a comfy couch, and some time alone, then settle in for a story that is as deftly crafted as Jemma’s cabinetry, and entertaining as Tucker’s bemusement when Jemma gets it right — again!” schuyler kaufman, Carolina Mountain Living Amazon book http://dld.bz/TvJC Kindle http://dld.bz/TvKE.
