Carole J. (PianoLady357) reviewed on 7/23/2016 + 157 more book reviews

With The Cantaloupe Thief, debut author Deb Richardson-Moore has penned a fantastic mystery novel compelling, entertaining, and memorable in every way. Deb's writing is top notch, not a single word wasted. The mystery itself is well plotted with the gradual peeling back of layers and an ending that left me in shock. Two other strengths are the rich character depth and an unusual focus on the homeless. This is one of my all-time favorite mysteries, making Deb Richardson-Moore a "must read" for me.

The Cantaloupe Thief is published by Lion Hudson, a British publisher that I count on for excellent stories, many of which are set in Great Britain. While The Cantaloupe Thief takes place in the southeast US, it has the same feel as other Christian fiction by this publisher a little more liberal than American standards, but nothing that I found offensive.

The story is set in the mid-size northeast Georgia town of Grambling, described in such vivid detail that it felt like a major character. As a resident of Georgia, I loved the incorporation of familiar places like Lake Hartwell and Edisto, South Carolina. But as picturesque as Grambling might be, there is another side to it that of the city's homeless population, who actually play a big part in the story. I loved the realism of this theme and the fact that Deb conveyed their stories and thoughts in ways that caused me to think. Deb actually pastors the homeless at a church in South Carolina, and her caring passion is evident on every page.

In investigating the cold-case murder of the wealthy Alberta Grambling Resnick ten years earlier, Branigan seeks the help of Malachi Ezekiel Martin, a homeless war veteran who is also a possible suspect. The story focuses on the concept that homeless people get overlooked, and hence see things that are concealed from the rest of the population. Malachi had "lived in Grambling's shadows long enough to know about its underside; to know how the rich and poor, the sophisticated and the raw, the proper and the dangerous, merged after dark." Also adding much interest to the story is that Branigan's twin brother is a homeless addict.

I'm intrigued by Malachi and also enjoyed Branigan's friend Liam, who runs a shelter for the homeless. Branigan, Malachi and Liam are a complex trio and I'm very eager to see these characters developed further. The Cantaloupe Thief begins a promising new series. "Best of the best" for me.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Lion Hudson for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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