It was just okay. The mystery was easy to guess, and thanks to a prologue, readers know why Anne thinks her cousin looks familiar. Liked the buzzard info. I have to say that I found Sigrid more interesting than Deborah in this one. While I have enjoyed the familiar characters and I like the family life, it felt too much this time. I probably need more time between each book in order to forget the formula, but I'm so close to finishing off the series I'm impatient to cross it off my list.
Maron's two series' collide again just like they did in Three-Day Town, the last book in this series. This time New York police detective Sigrid Harald travels to Cotton Grove with her award-winning photographer mother, Anne Lattimore Harald, to visit Sigrids ailing grandmother. They get together with Judge Deborah Knot and her husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant for dinner at Mrs. Lattimore's Victorian home. This is where they meet Mrs. Lattimore's long lost nephew, Martin Crawford, an ornithologist researching a book on Southern vultures. Anne is charmed by her newly found cousin but something makes her believe they have met before.
When a string of suspicious murders hit the county Deborah, Dwight, and Sigrid once again work together to catch a killer, uncovering long-buried family secrets along the way.
Dollycas's Thoughts
I am a long time fan of Margaret Maron. She plots a mystery masterfully. She keeps the reader engaged from the first word until the last. I love the way she has blended both of her protagonists in these last two stories.
These characters are still fresh and evolving even as we finish this 18th book. Dwight has some things in his past that he has not shared with Deborah that will see the light of day in future editions and in this story had him facing some tough decisions. Deborah's relationship with Cal took a turn that made this reader actually shed a tear. Sigrid's connection to Colleton County gives her reason to visit and help Dwight and Deborah in the future now that her series has ended. Cameo or surprised appearances are always nice.
The buzzard theme was a little strange at first and I probably learned much more about turkey vultures than I ever wanted to, but true to Maron's style she brings it all together in a way her readers will love.
This book could be read as a stand alone but this series is best when you start at the beginning. Deborah has a huge family and without the background from previous novels it can be hard to keep them all straight. You will also see the way family is really the tie that binds all of these wonderful books together.
When a string of suspicious murders hit the county Deborah, Dwight, and Sigrid once again work together to catch a killer, uncovering long-buried family secrets along the way.
Dollycas's Thoughts
I am a long time fan of Margaret Maron. She plots a mystery masterfully. She keeps the reader engaged from the first word until the last. I love the way she has blended both of her protagonists in these last two stories.
These characters are still fresh and evolving even as we finish this 18th book. Dwight has some things in his past that he has not shared with Deborah that will see the light of day in future editions and in this story had him facing some tough decisions. Deborah's relationship with Cal took a turn that made this reader actually shed a tear. Sigrid's connection to Colleton County gives her reason to visit and help Dwight and Deborah in the future now that her series has ended. Cameo or surprised appearances are always nice.
The buzzard theme was a little strange at first and I probably learned much more about turkey vultures than I ever wanted to, but true to Maron's style she brings it all together in a way her readers will love.
This book could be read as a stand alone but this series is best when you start at the beginning. Deborah has a huge family and without the background from previous novels it can be hard to keep them all straight. You will also see the way family is really the tie that binds all of these wonderful books together.
Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series is one of my favorites. I've read them all to date. The Buzzard Table will not disappoint readers who have enjoyed Maron's other Judge Knott books. I look forward to reading the next one in the series when it's available.
