Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed on 8/10/2024 + 704 more book reviews

Dollycas's Thoughts

Charlie and Helen Louise's wedding day is getting close. As they work on all the final details Charlie receives a large collection of books to catalog at the archive. He is happy to have an assistant to help him but Tara Martin is an odd duck, shy, quiet, and standoffish. She also has taken a part-time job working at Helen Louise's restaurant. Then one day Charlie sees a whole new side of the young woman when she steps out of the office to take a phone call. She yells at whoever she is talking to and throws and breaks her phone. Helen Louise's restaurant was catering Charlie's son Sean's new home and Tara was working the party, but she suddenly left looking scared of something or someone. Charlie finds her and she feigns a panic attack.

Later Tara is the victim of a hit and run or was it a deliberate attack? Charlie knows now someone was after her. Someone at Sean's party? Soon he and his handsome feline, Diesel are finding clues that make him delve deeper into Tara's past with surprising results. Working closely with the police he strives to get justice for his former assistant.

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Some of my favorite cozy mystery characters are Charlie, Diesel, and all the folks in their world. I love catching up on what is going on with all of them and am delighted that we are getting close to Charlie and Helen Louise's wedding. After 16 stories these characters are like old friends and I get a comfortable feeling from the moment I start to read.

In Requiem for a Mouse, Charlie wants to stay out of the investigation but he keeps finding clues in his office and suspects keep stopping by. Melba Gilley, his longtime friend and co-worker does her best to run interference or alert the authorities as needed. Helen Louise also had an interesting visitor at her restaurant. Sheriff's deputy and Charlie's friend and boarder Haskell makes several trips to the archive to pick up Charlie's finds and getting statements regarding those finds. They also have some kitchen table discussions with Haskell's life partner Stewart and their housekeeper Azalea, who happens to be Sheriff Kanesha Berry's mother. I love how everyone gets in on the investigation including Diesel with his well-placed chirps and reactions to the strangers he meets. Everyone connected to the case seemed to have an alias and secrets. I always have a great time following all the clues and interactions. This time I had part of the puzzle figured out and loved the surprise ending when most of the clues fell into place.

I enjoy that the author blends normal everyday happenings in the characters' lives seamlessly with the things to move the mystery along. The story has a nice flow but there are some repetitions to get all the information to the key players.

Requiem for a Mouse is a captivating addition to this long-running series. I look forward to the big event in Book 17 and Charlie and Helen Louise's exciting adventure. They have to take Diesel with them, right? It should be a blast.

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