Lynne J. (Doughgirl) reviewed Murder Passes the Buck (Gertie Johnson, Bk 1) on + 138 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is the first book in the Yooper (so called because it is set in the U.P. or Upper Penisula of Michigan) Mysteries. Life in the U.P. is quite unlike life in the rest of the country, and it's the kind of remote and challenging environment that both invites and creates unique characters. And the main character of the story really IS a character. Gertie is a 66-year old widow who is both extremely practical (she dresses for warmth and not beauty) and can be extremely foolish (she tried to paint her son's entire car using a can of yellow spray paint). Sometmes the foolish things she does provide a lot of laughs and sometimes they just get her into trouble.
The story begins when Chester, a local, is shot and killed while sitting in his deer hunting blind. The sherriff (who is Gertie's son), writes the death off to a hunting accident. But Gertie is sure it was murder. So she recruits her man-hungry friend Cora Mae and other friend Kitty to help her figure out what really happened. And as she gets closer and closer to the truth, she puts herself more and more in danger.
Since I live in Minnesota and grew up with a father and brother that both hunt deer, I could relate easily to this story. But even if you didn't, I don't think you'll have any problems understanding anything. Although sometimes Gertie did things so foolish I wanted to strangle her, I thought it was a fun mystery.
The story begins when Chester, a local, is shot and killed while sitting in his deer hunting blind. The sherriff (who is Gertie's son), writes the death off to a hunting accident. But Gertie is sure it was murder. So she recruits her man-hungry friend Cora Mae and other friend Kitty to help her figure out what really happened. And as she gets closer and closer to the truth, she puts herself more and more in danger.
Since I live in Minnesota and grew up with a father and brother that both hunt deer, I could relate easily to this story. But even if you didn't, I don't think you'll have any problems understanding anything. Although sometimes Gertie did things so foolish I wanted to strangle her, I thought it was a fun mystery.
Helpful Score: 2
Very funny book! Reminded me of Donald Westlake's Dortmunder series - not about a gang of thieves, but lots of eccentric characters. Gertie definitely does her own thing. Highly recommended.
A fun read, especially if you are familiar with Yooper territory.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book --- it even made me laugh out loud! Gertie and her friends of the UP are GREAT entertainment! In fact, as soon as I finished this one I went and bought all the Deb Baker Gertie books for my Kindle --- so, off to read!
