Far has her hands full just trying to get re-elected as mayor of Duck, she doesn’t need a visiting spirit sharing her body, a smuggler trying to be her friend, or a forty year old murder. Now all her gift has to lead her to is the truth . ( )

I actually really like this series. Or at least, I did. My enthusiasm has waned although I'd still call them well-written, well-plotted stories.

Dae is the mayor of Duck, North Carolina and has a gift for finding what is lost. The last two books, though, her talent has grown to stretch the boundaries of "lost". In this book, she's sharing her body with a spirit that needs her body found and reunited with her lover (also long dead). I like the paranormal aspect - it's usually right up my ally - but this felt like a stretch for the characters and the setting the authors originally developed. I feel like they decided to veer completely off in a new direction mid-series.

Another good mystery though - a long ago cold case surfaces after Dae accidentally finds the body of a man missing over 40 years. Lots of suspects and well-laid clues that allow the reader to figure it out without the authors having to telegraph it.

There's one more book in this series, but it looks like the authors self-published it, so I'm not going to feel like I'm missing out by not picking it up. Someday, perhaps, I'll be curious enough about the last story to read it, but for now, I'm happy stopping where I'm at. I'll keep these books on the shelves, though, as I can definitely see myself reading them again some day. ( )

A Finder's Fee is the fifth book in the A Missing Pieces Mystery series. Another delightful book from the Lavene's

The election is just around the corner and Mayor Dae O'Donnell is has been missing for three days. It seems that Dae's father had sent her an amber necklace and when she put it on, she met the original owner, Maggie, who lived during the late 1700's. But for Maggie to rest in peace, she wants to be buried next to her lover and asks Dae's helping in making this happen. The problem that Dae faces is not knowing exacting where Maggie's bones or those of her lover are.

Dae soon finds that Maggie house was located where the new Town Hall is being built. With the help of Kevin they begin excavating one evening and before they can find Maggie's bones, they find an old race car with a body in it. Unfortunately the car was her opponents, Mad-Dog, car. He hadn't seen it since the evening of the crash with Lightning Joe. As it turns out the body in the car is Lightning Joe. More disturbing to Dae is that there is the possibility that her grandfather or the current sheriff might have something to do with the burying of the car.

Time is definitely of the essence with election coming up soon. Red-Dog's supporters are saying that Dae made this discovery so that she could be assured of being reelected.

Most of the characters from previous books are back to help Dae sort through the case Lightning Joe's murder. And Maggie is an enjoyable addition, what with her speaking her mind through Dae's mouth.

Definitely looking forward to reading about the next adventure in Duck, NC. ( )

In Lavene’s mystery novel, just prior to the mayoral election, Dae O’Donnell gets sidetracked from her responsibilities by a spirit in need of her help. An antique amber necklace allows Dae to connect with the long dead spirit of Maggie Madison, an alleged witch who wants to be buried in a preferred resting place. Determined to assist this spirit, Dae begins digging for bones only to uncover someone else’s bones complete with an unsolved 40-year-old murder with ties to her political opponent, “Mad Dog” Wilson. Turning her back to allegations she unearthed this mystery as a way of discrediting Wilson and winning the vote for herself, Doe plunges herself into the clues that will lead her to justice.

An engaging mystery complete with believable characters. A wonderful addition to the A Missing Pieces Mystery series. ( )

The Missing Pieces cozy series is one of my favorites. I really enjoy the characters of Dae and the man in her life, former FBI agent Kevin Brickman. Dae's impetuousness often ties in with her gift-- being able to touch objects and "see" their history-- and if this gift ever puts her in hot water, she's quick to make amends because she's a genuinely caring and honest person.

The Lavenes have created a strong story line that moves from book to book. It's not absolutely necessary to read each book in the series in order, but it certainly does help. The paranormal element is seldom overdone, which is good news for those of you who don't particularly care for that sort of thing. However, I have to admit that having Maggie Madison's spirit inhabit Dae's body didn't entirely work for me. The only time it had any real success was as comic relief. You see, Maggie had been a comely barmaid who's been away from men for a couple of centuries, so whenever Dae gets too close to a good-looking man, Maggie has a tendency to take over and get Dae in hot water. As Kevin says to Dae, "Now I know how someone feels dating a person with a split personality."

Taking care of Maggie's request and the finding of a killer is dealt with well (if not smoothly for the characters), and A Finder's Fee ends with some real cliffhangers that make me want the next book in the series in my hands right now. The Lavenes are weaving an engrossing tale centered in a small community on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and populated with a strong cast of characters. I've come to care about Duck, North Carolina and its mayor, but now I have to play the waiting game. Again. ( )