Review – A Suspicion of Strawberries

Andi Clark loves her soap shop, and her new facial scrubs are taking off. She hopes that business will be even better now that Charla Rae Thacker and her bridesmaids are coming for a morning of pre-wedding pampering. Andi lets Charla Rae pick out her own facial scrub and then waits on the wedding party hand and foot while they are in her store. The last thing she expected is for Charla to keel over dead from an allergic reaction to strawberries-when Andi personally made a cherry facial scrub.

Now everyone is blaming Andi for Charla’s death, and her business is in trouble. Andi suspects sabotage and murder when she finds strawberries mixed in to her facial scrub, and she sets out to find the murderer. Andi discovers that most people in town have a motive to kill Charla-but who actually did the deed?

If things are stressful enough, Andi’s long-time boyfriend, Ben Hartley, decides now is the time to settle down. Can Andi keep him at arm’s length, or is she prepared to go the distance?

A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES is the first published mystery of Ms. Sowell. I used to be her critique partner way back when we were both beginner writers and it is wonderful to see and hold her published books in my hands. I thoroughly enjoyed A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES and it ranks in my top few favorites from this new line.

Andi is an adorable heroine, struggling to make a business work, when she has a history of caving in under new business pressures. Her sister is realistic, and makes an excellent sidekick. All the secondary characters are well developed and real acting. The faith message is expertly woven in and isn’t preachy. Don’t miss A SUSPICION OF STRAWBERRIES. It is the perfect book for a lazy summer afternoon.