When I was looking for a quick and easy read I ran across Cold Turkey by Janice Bennett. After reading the blurb I thought, “this is going to be a fun book”. Not having read any of Ms. Bennett’s previous books, I didn’t know what to expect, but what I found was a delight.

Annike McKinley knows that the door to her Aunt Gerda’s house will always be open to her. So when she quits her job, she decides that it’s time to return home to Upper River Gulch. What she doesn’t expect to find is the body of Clifford Brody, C.P.A., bleeding all over her aunt's tax receipts.

When her Aunt Gerda sticks Annike with organizing the town’s annual Thanksgiving weekend activities run by the Service Club of Upper River Gulch Environs (the SCOURGEs) she decides that it is her chance to clear the chief suspect—her beloved aunt. But local Sheriff Owen Sarkisian isn’t happy about one of the local busybodies sticking their nose in his investigation.

She's soon up to her neck in pancake breakfasts, pie-eating contests, community dinners, and a raffle prize that threatens to take over her life.

After telling Annike to stay out of his case, Sarkisian is forced to use her accounting skills to help unravel the mystery. As the widow of a former sheriff of the county, she knows the downside in getting involved with another law officer. So she is determined to keep a tight rein on her emotions, not wanting to run that risk even though she enjoys Sarkisian’s company. Then one of the suspects is found dead, floating in a vat of apricot brandy. Before the murderer is captured, both Annike and Sarkisian narrowly avoid being added to the body count.

If you are looking for a rousing good mystery with more than its fair share of zany comedy then Cold Turkey is the book for you. You will enjoy following Annike and all the wacky characters that inhabit Upper River Gulch in the hunt for the murderer. Cold Turkey will have you chuckling more than once. I can’t wait for the next visit to Upper River Gulch.

 
Reviewed By Theresa
© July 2007