Review: Mimosas, Mischief, And Murder by Sara Rossett

• Author:  Sara Rosett
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; 1 edition (March 29, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758226853
• ISBN-13: 978-0758226853

FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

Rosett's winning sixth Ellie Avery mystery (after 2010's Mint Juleps, Mayhem, and Murder) takes amateur sleuth Ellie, husband Mitch, and their two kids to Smarr, Ala., Mitch's hometown, where they're first slammed with the news of the sudden death of Mitch's elderly grandfather, Grandpa Franklin. When someone breaks into the late gentleman's home, the police are reluctant to confirm a burglary. Even after Grandpa and casket go missing, the authorities insist there's nothing further to investigate. Complications arise after the stranger who attended Grandpa's funeral turns out to be the corpse Ellie finds in Grandpa's guest room. The strange behavior of Uncle Bud and Felicity, the wife of Mitch's favorite cousin, has Ellie considering adding relatives to her list of suspicious characters. A rumor of hidden money, secret letters from a famous recluse, a fire, a threatening message, and a crazed gunman add to the cozy mischief. (Apr.)
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Super-organized Ellie Avery thinks she's prepared for everything when she and her family set off for an extended visit with her in-laws - clothes, books, and enough games and toys to entertain two stir-crazy kids on a six-hour drive. But the one thing she hasn't planned for is cold-blooded murder...As soon as Ellie and her husband, Mitch, arrive at his parents' gracious home in Smarr, Alabama, they are shocked to learn that Mitch's Grandpa Fanklin has passed away. More shockingly, a too-quickly-closed police investigation raises more questions about Franklin's death than it answers. As the quirky, extended Avery family clan closes ranks around their own, she realizes that quite a few relatives stood to profit from Franklin's passing, and she can't help looking for motives among the mourners. When a little more sleuthing reveals Franklin's mysterious ties to a famous, reclusive local author whose writings are worth megabucks, something doesn't sit right with Ellie...and it's not just the homemade grits. As genteel Southern tradition collides with greedy and possibly murderous passions, another disturbing death confirms Ellie's suspicions. With Alabama's biggest book festival fast approaching, she sees danger brewing faster than sweet tea. Who can she trust? Looking over her shoulder for a killer who's definitely onto her, Ellie needs to act fast if she wants to save her family...and herself! 

About The Author:

Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, Sara Rosett has always loved to curl up with a good book. The recipient of several scholarships, Sara attended Amarillo College. In 1989, she was named the Outstanding English Major. Sara completed her English degree at Texas Tech University, graduating summa cum laude .

Her marriage to an Air Force pilot has taken her to central and southern California, Texas, Washington state, Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, Maryland, and Virginia. Sara has worked as a credit processor, a staff reporter for two Air Force base newspapers, and a researcher and writer for the Citizen Ambassador Program of People to People International. 

After surviving ten moves as a military spouse, Sara Rosett decided to put those experiences to good use as background for her mystery series featuring military spouse Ellie Avery. The first book in the series, Moving is Murder, was a Reader's Choice Award Nominee in 2007 at the Salt Lake County Library and received a Distinguished Honor Award from the Military Writers Society of America. Sara's essays have also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul. Until her next move, Sara resides in Florida with her family.

My Review:

What a delight to settle into book six in the Ellie Avery Mystery series.  In this outing, the Avery family is off to Mitch Avery's home town for a family visit.  The quiet visit quickly diminishes when Mitch's grandfather is found dead just before their arrival.  While the family is reeling from his death, Ellie suspects that there is more than meets the eye going on.  And what is cousin-in-law Felicity up to what with sneaking into Grandpa Franklin's house and pilfering his belongings?  Ellie's desire to investigate Grandpa Franklin's death is causing friction between her and Mitch.  Mitch would rather keep family business in the family.  Of course, with murders, fires and breaks-in you cannot keep it from the police so they do become involved.  The story revolves around greed but not in the way you would think! Great writing, characters, story-telling and an interesting plot.

I just love Ellie Avery's organizing tips that are included in the book.  In this outing the tips were Ellie Avery's Tips for Preserving Family Treasures.  There are lots of helpful tips and they are located at the end of many of the chapters.  There are excellent tips on unusual ways to preserve and organize artwork such as what to do with oversize items, changing the format and creating new art from old.  There were also tips to help with genealogy which are of particular interest to me.

I absolutely recommend this wonderful cozy mystery.  Pick it up next week when it goes on sale!