kimberlybea's review
4.0
I've had Peace, Love, and Murder for some time now, but was saving it for my trip home at Christmas, in hopes that I could make my family read it, too (they like mysteries---and pretty much hate every other genre I read!). Since that hasn't happened yet, maybe I can use my persuasive powers on you! Because Nancy Holzner has written a multi-layered mystery set in a small college town, with a sympathetic protagonist and many quirky characters, the first book in a series I think many readers will enjoy!
Bo Forrester grew up on a commune in upstate New York. At age 18, in a fit of rebellion, he joined the army, took part in the first Gulf War, but soon wearied of that lifestyle. Twenty years later, he returned home to Rhodes, only to find the commune he grew up in is gone, and his parents have departed for parts unknown. As he tries to piece together the mystery of where they might be, Bo takes a job driving a cab in Rhodes. And then the body shows up in his trunk. . .
When it comes to mysteries, I am definitely not one of those people who tries to piece the mystery together and guess "whodunnit" early on (In this case, I actually did, but had no evidence to support my suspicions). I don't like a gritty or grisly tale of murder, and I generally prefer stories where the "sleuth" is an amateur, with plenty of quirks and (often) no business investigating a murder. To be honest, I had a few reservations about Bo, the protagonist, when I first started reading this book. As the rebellious child of hippie parents AND as a former soldier, I was afraid he might prove to be all gung ho military and ultra-conservative. Luckily, Bo is far more complex than that , and I really appreciated that Holzner avoided painting her characters so black and white. Bo really seemed like someone who has seen both sides of the political spectrum and is too thoughtful to wholly embrace either extreme.
The body in Bo's trunk turns out to be that of Fred Davies, an art philanthropist of high standing in the town of Rhodes. In trying to clear his name, Davies comes in to contact with members of the academia and arts circles, an underground gambling ring , the deceased's sensuous widow and the infuriating but cute Trudy Hauser, deputy. I really enjoyed meeting the citizens of Rhodes, from the stoner Ronnie and born again Carl to the nymphomaniac professor Nora and her pugilistic ex-con of a husband. The college town setting rang true. with its party hearty students and secret-filled academic community. Rhodes is definitely a place I'd enjoy another visit to, but I'm willing to follow Bo wherever he goes in his quest to find his family.
Bo Forrester grew up on a commune in upstate New York. At age 18, in a fit of rebellion, he joined the army, took part in the first Gulf War, but soon wearied of that lifestyle. Twenty years later, he returned home to Rhodes, only to find the commune he grew up in is gone, and his parents have departed for parts unknown. As he tries to piece together the mystery of where they might be, Bo takes a job driving a cab in Rhodes. And then the body shows up in his trunk. . .
When it comes to mysteries, I am definitely not one of those people who tries to piece the mystery together and guess "whodunnit" early on (In this case, I actually did, but had no evidence to support my suspicions). I don't like a gritty or grisly tale of murder, and I generally prefer stories where the "sleuth" is an amateur, with plenty of quirks and (often) no business investigating a murder. To be honest, I had a few reservations about Bo, the protagonist, when I first started reading this book. As the rebellious child of hippie parents AND as a former soldier, I was afraid he might prove to be all gung ho military and ultra-conservative. Luckily, Bo is far more complex than that , and I really appreciated that Holzner avoided painting her characters so black and white. Bo really seemed like someone who has seen both sides of the political spectrum and is too thoughtful to wholly embrace either extreme.
The body in Bo's trunk turns out to be that of Fred Davies, an art philanthropist of high standing in the town of Rhodes. In trying to clear his name, Davies comes in to contact with members of the academia and arts circles, an underground gambling ring , the deceased's sensuous widow and the infuriating but cute Trudy Hauser, deputy. I really enjoyed meeting the citizens of Rhodes, from the stoner Ronnie and born again Carl to the nymphomaniac professor Nora and her pugilistic ex-con of a husband. The college town setting rang true. with its party hearty students and secret-filled academic community. Rhodes is definitely a place I'd enjoy another visit to, but I'm willing to follow Bo wherever he goes in his quest to find his family.
More...