Enjoyed it overall, I really liked the humor and the characters, but the end was a little too Woe Is Me for my liking. The investigations into the 2 deaths were great, but the other plot points (the romance, the gambling, etc) were a little overdone. ( )

I love this series. It is funny and well-written. I enjoy the ride I get to go on following Mattie and the medical examiner. Can at times be a bit gory, a change from most cozy mysteries. And the story are very realistic. None of the cheesy romance that can often ruin a good cozy for me. ( )

3.5 stars. Ok, I really love this series and I enjoyed this book. But it's not a 4 star read for me for two main reasons: 1. Mattie is a smart, college educated, confident protagonist, so the whole issue with the Casino just did my head in. Really? The author expects us to buy that Mattie is THAT stupid?!?! Honestly, Mattie really believing she can double her divorce settlement through gambling is just a really bad move on the author's part - as a reader, it just pissed me off. 2. Poor Mattie just got screwed over so many times in this book it just became hard to read. Too much emotional jerking around for Mattie AND for me! I don't want to feel a wreck when I'm done reading what I consider a cozy mystery.

Having said all that - it's a really good story. I absolutely love Mattie and Steve together - or not, as the case may be. I like all the characters and I enjoyed her nemesis not being a big part of this story. The humour is a little wacky and fun, a little slapstick. It's because I adore these characters so much that I am so irritated by the events mentioned above. The author does a good job making readers care about these guys and resent when they are made to do stupid things.

There are two mysterious death plots in this story, independent of each other. Both were excellent and not obviously predictable. The resolution of one came as a complete surprise to me.

The book ends with a blatant tie-in to the next book and I hope this next one sees Mattie bouncing back and not getting quite so beaten down by life in general. I hope the author stops abusing the poor woman. :) But most of all I hope it's published soon! I can't wait to read it.

NB: This is the second brand-new Kensington Paperback I've read in the last week and the production values of the book itself are disappointingly cheap - even for a paperback. ( )