A review by jenniferx
Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney

4.0

Book/Author: [b:Killer Jam|25169890|Killer Jam (A Dewberry Farm Mystery, #1)|Karen MacInerney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1427739863l/25169890._SX50_.jpg|44874894], [a:Karen MacInerney|94892|Karen MacInerney|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1339976019p2/94892.jpg]
Pages: 253
Rating: 4.0
Review: Former Houston investigative reporter Lucy Resnick uses her retirement to buy her grandmother’s farm in Buttercup, Texas from the town's, not so well-liked matriarch, Nettie Kocurek. Just as Lucy is settling in, an oil company arrives on her door to begin exploring for oil in her pasture. Apparently, Nettie still owns the land's mineral rights and there doesn't appear to be much Lucy can do to stop the company. After a couple of "conversations" between Nettie and Lucy, Nettie turns up dead at the town's Founder's Day event and Lucy becomes the prime suspect in the eyes of Nettie's nephew, the sheriff.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters and setting are engaging. Having recently moved to a small town, I definitely relate to Lucy's "outsider" status. One of my complaints with many cozy mysteries is that the main character often wanders around talking to people and then, BAM! mystery solved. Not in this book. Yes, Lucy spends time interviewing people, but she follows those interviews up with research and facts.

Another pleasurable aspect of the book is there are multiple mysteries to resolve along with a secondary plot that gives the characters and town a depth lacking in many other cozy mysteries. I enjoyed the twists and surprises in the story along with not being completely sure how the story was going to end or even what the motive might have been until almost the climax. I definitely recommend this book.