Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Death by Intermission is the fourth installment in the An Abby McCree Mystery series set in Snowberry Creek, Washington and featuring Abby McCree and her pet mastiff, Zeke. Abby has once again found herself forced on to another local committee by the town mayor, this time overseeing the last "Movies in the Park" of the season. Abby is anxious that the movie night goes without a hitch but, she's really looking forward to spending the night under the stars with her tenant, Tripp Blackston, whom she seems to be growing closer to each day.
Abby's enjoying the movie despite the fact that her mother, Phoebe is in town for a visit and within days of arrival has started up a relationship with Owen Quinn and is now busy canoodling with him on a nearby blanket. Abby knows nothing about Owen other than he owns a BBQ restaurant and operates a food truck but something about the man is rubbing her the wrong way. Conducting a final "trash sweep" after the movie, Abby and her mother stumble upon the dead body of Mitchell Anders, the local insurance agent, who it appears has been stabbed by a chef knife taken from Owen's food truck.
Phoebe begs Abby to help clear Owen's name. Abby really doesn't want to get involved because she feels that Owen's hiding something from his past, but Phoebe is so obnoxious to local police chief, Gage Logan and the rest of the town officers, Abby steps in just to try and save her friendships with the local law enforcement before Phoebe alienates everyone from Abby's life.
The mystery is good however, the plot is overshadowed by the constant snipping and arguing between Abby and her mother. Phoebe is a new character to the series so we really don't know much about the mother/daughter relationship but the contentious dialogue between the two (especially in front of other people) is cringe worthy. At times, I just wanted to close the book and walk away - feeling little connection to either of the women.
I'll continue to read the series because I do enjoy the relationship between Abby, Tripp and Zeke. I do hope that future installments will introduce Abby to a few friends, as she seems to have nobody in her life to spend time with other than Tripp and Gage.
Abby's enjoying the movie despite the fact that her mother, Phoebe is in town for a visit and within days of arrival has started up a relationship with Owen Quinn and is now busy canoodling with him on a nearby blanket. Abby knows nothing about Owen other than he owns a BBQ restaurant and operates a food truck but something about the man is rubbing her the wrong way. Conducting a final "trash sweep" after the movie, Abby and her mother stumble upon the dead body of Mitchell Anders, the local insurance agent, who it appears has been stabbed by a chef knife taken from Owen's food truck.
Phoebe begs Abby to help clear Owen's name. Abby really doesn't want to get involved because she feels that Owen's hiding something from his past, but Phoebe is so obnoxious to local police chief, Gage Logan and the rest of the town officers, Abby steps in just to try and save her friendships with the local law enforcement before Phoebe alienates everyone from Abby's life.
The mystery is good however, the plot is overshadowed by the constant snipping and arguing between Abby and her mother. Phoebe is a new character to the series so we really don't know much about the mother/daughter relationship but the contentious dialogue between the two (especially in front of other people) is cringe worthy. At times, I just wanted to close the book and walk away - feeling little connection to either of the women.
I'll continue to read the series because I do enjoy the relationship between Abby, Tripp and Zeke. I do hope that future installments will introduce Abby to a few friends, as she seems to have nobody in her life to spend time with other than Tripp and Gage.
