A review by katreader
Peach Clobbered by Anna Gerard

5.0

PEACH CLOBBERED by Anna Gerard
The First Georgia B&B Mystery

Nina Fleet lives in Georgia, not the Antarctic, yet penguins start to play a major part of her life. First a penguin appears at her front door trying to sue her. OK, it's actually a man dressed in a penguin suit, but he's the one trying to take the gorgeous old house she bought away from her, claiming his aunt actually left it to him. Then she's surrounded by a group of penguins. OK, they're actually nuns in traditional habits, but they're moving in with her. The town bad guy has kicked the sisters out of their home so the mayor sped through Nina's bed and breakfast paperwork and made her an offer she couldn't refuse. As Nina accompanies the nuns on their protest of the developer she's led by a screaming woman to a penguin who has been stabbed. OK, not a real penguin, it's the same costume as Harry wore, but it's not Harry inside...it's the dastardly developer. Almost everyone in the small town of Cymbeline wanted to kill him, but who actually did? Or was Harry the real target?

I really like this new series! Nina (pronounced like the number, not Nee-nah) is a smart capable woman thrust into a most unusual situation. In fact, the book is filled with smart capable women, from the sheriff to the mayor to the Sisters of Perpetual Poverty. I'm impressed with the manner in which the nuns are represented along with the hard truths they are forced to face from their own archbishop. I'm especially fond of Sr. Mary Thomas as her love of animals shines through the pages. Mattie is a sweet dog and the town of Cymbeline is utterly charming with its nod to all things Shakespeare. The relationship between Nina and Harry is quite unique. Harry vacillates from being a villain out to take away Nina's dream, a victim of pathos, and a possible romantic interest. Lots of interesting character inhabit the pages making for a compelling read.

PEACH CLOBBERED is a charming, witty, and engaging mystery that pulled me in from the start. I'll miss some of the characters I met here, but am looking forward to meeting Nina's next guests!

FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.