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Author Jeanne Cooney has cooked up another cozy mystery titled “It's Murder, Dontcha You Know.” Her pot simmers on the stove with crisp, sharp, witty sentences peppered with metaphors, similes, idioms and hyperboles that are gently stirred in. Each one added captures the distinctive flavors of Midwest humor. Once cooked, readers will find themselves being served a heaping bowl of satisfying and entertaining fun.
“It's Murder Dontcha You Know” is Cooney's first book on her new three book “It's Murder” series set in the small town of Hallock located in the Red River Valley. While the town's name is real as well as some roads and businesses, the characters are fictitious. Doris Connor, the protagonist, narrates the story. After a hard life on a farm in northwestern Minnesota's Red River Valley, she buries her philandering husband and moves to the small Scandinavian community of Hallock, located on the edge of nowhere. She's hoping her move will finally bring her peace and solitude. But her plans are waylaid when her sister Grace, owner of The More Hot Dish, Please Cafe, and their feisty ninety-year-old friend of the family, Rose moves in. Doris's life is never the same as they embark on many unexpected adventures.
To further complicate matters, the local pharmacy is robbed, the prime suspect is murdered, and the sheriff believes Doris's two adult children Will and Erin to be prime suspects. Grace takes it upon herself to do her own sleuthing, hoping to uncover the murderer and absolve her children of any crime.
Cooney creates quirky but relatable characters who find themselves in humorous situations while trying to discover who the murderer is. Since Hallock is a close knit community everyone knows everybody's business. Cooney is a master at creating engaging humorous dialogue as characters interact with one another. Clues, alibis, plot twists and turns, shifting relationships and alliances keep the reader guessing right down to the last page who the murderer really is.
Food plays a central theme to the story since Doris finds solace in eating while she contemplates her problems. Devouring M&M's is a frequent pastime. A favorite Doris passage of mine is “I couldn't imagine any better way to combat residual shame and despair than downing plain M&M's, followed by a peanut M&M chaser.”
A sense of nostalgia comes with the inclusion of some old fashioned food favorite recipes from the 50's, 60's and 70's such as Chicken Tetrazzini Baked Hot Dish, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars and State Fair M&M cookies found at the end of the book.
Cooney has mastered the elements of writing a cozy mystery enhanced with her Midwest humor and descriptive sentences. What joy to discover she is currently working on book two of the “It's Murder” series. A tentative book title is “It's Murder, You Betcha” for a 2023 Spring release date.
“It's Murder Dontcha You Know” is Cooney's first book on her new three book “It's Murder” series set in the small town of Hallock located in the Red River Valley. While the town's name is real as well as some roads and businesses, the characters are fictitious. Doris Connor, the protagonist, narrates the story. After a hard life on a farm in northwestern Minnesota's Red River Valley, she buries her philandering husband and moves to the small Scandinavian community of Hallock, located on the edge of nowhere. She's hoping her move will finally bring her peace and solitude. But her plans are waylaid when her sister Grace, owner of The More Hot Dish, Please Cafe, and their feisty ninety-year-old friend of the family, Rose moves in. Doris's life is never the same as they embark on many unexpected adventures.
To further complicate matters, the local pharmacy is robbed, the prime suspect is murdered, and the sheriff believes Doris's two adult children Will and Erin to be prime suspects. Grace takes it upon herself to do her own sleuthing, hoping to uncover the murderer and absolve her children of any crime.
Cooney creates quirky but relatable characters who find themselves in humorous situations while trying to discover who the murderer is. Since Hallock is a close knit community everyone knows everybody's business. Cooney is a master at creating engaging humorous dialogue as characters interact with one another. Clues, alibis, plot twists and turns, shifting relationships and alliances keep the reader guessing right down to the last page who the murderer really is.
Food plays a central theme to the story since Doris finds solace in eating while she contemplates her problems. Devouring M&M's is a frequent pastime. A favorite Doris passage of mine is “I couldn't imagine any better way to combat residual shame and despair than downing plain M&M's, followed by a peanut M&M chaser.”
A sense of nostalgia comes with the inclusion of some old fashioned food favorite recipes from the 50's, 60's and 70's such as Chicken Tetrazzini Baked Hot Dish, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars and State Fair M&M cookies found at the end of the book.
Cooney has mastered the elements of writing a cozy mystery enhanced with her Midwest humor and descriptive sentences. What joy to discover she is currently working on book two of the “It's Murder” series. A tentative book title is “It's Murder, You Betcha” for a 2023 Spring release date.
Her book would make a great gift for out of town friends to experience life Up North.
ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Cooney's books are set in the Red River Valley of northwestern Minnesota, home to an array of colorful, Scandinavian-Lutheran farmers. Along with an old-fashioned, make-believe, who-done-it, each story includes Midwest references, time-honored hot dishes, Jell-O salads, and bar recipes., as well as a few Ole and Lena jokes. And while the books are part of a series, they can be enjoyed as a stand-alone book.
Jeanne made an appearance in Hackensack at Northwoods Arts Council Hot Dish Luncheon last fall.
Check out Jeanne Cooney's website for more information about the author and her published books. jeannecooney.com
State Fair M&M Cookies
The recipe can be found on page 331 in "It's Murder, Dontcha Know?'
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I always appreciate learning about Minnesota books and authors. I will be reading this one.
ReplyDeleteLove this book! I'm making some of the recipes tomorrow and invited Jeanne to join our book club discussion of her book! Thanks for the fun review!
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