Attorney Avery Andrews left her BMW behind in Columbia, South Carolina, along with her job at a high-powered law firm. She's come back home to Dacus where the vehicle of choice is a pickup truck with a dog chained in the back. Avery wants time to rethink her career and her life. What she gets is a bossy great aunt drumming up clients and dragging her to social teas. That's how Avery ends up hired by a local factory to help with a messy environmental problem. But she's at Luna Lake because an old high-school classmate is trying to get her attention with a half-baked stunt, when divers find a car containing a corpse. Now, the discovery of the dead body sweeps Avery into a red-hot case...and into the sizzling secrets of small-town life, where some people get away with murder.

This was ok as a cozy mystery. At first I had some trouble to get into the story, but it got (or I got) better later. It is nice though, that the protagonist is a lawyer, not cook, not tea shop/sweet shop/donut shop/ coffee shop/bakery keeper - as they often are!

Merry Christmas, Kirjakko!

Christmas goodies! The cover of the book looks like something out of Kentucky Fried Chicken, which I've only seen from the outside. Spending a Christmas on my own is very relaxing, I just came home from an empty supermarket and got everything I want to eat for the next three days for 12,45€ (-60% as they were freshly made Christmas foods). Dog's Christmas goodies actually cost more!
Now opening a pile of parcels with Vain elämää 2019 Christmas CD playing on the background. Thank you, Chania!

Pic: A note card which also came from Chania, this one is my favourite - I wonder why...?

Began reading this and the southern dialect was a bit disturbing first. Had to check when this was first published (2004) as the information about an environmental inspection could probably be found from the net nowadays (not all the law details, but probably what an inspection includes), whereas in 2004 they still had to drive circa three hours to a town with a law library! Although I miss much from the good old days when life was simpler and not so hectic, the internet does have its pros sometimes!

Edit: Oops, the old telephone went sideways.

It was good timing starting to read this X-mas present as I just now received an SMS from the post office to come and collect my birthday present from Chania...🙂
I'll be driving in Sipoo tomorrow, on my way to a BBQ-party in Porvoo, organized by our clients. They have a lovely BBQ-hut in their garden, so it doesn't matter if it rains or shines. And there is a lovely tea-shop in Porvoo as well, have to visit that as well. Although I have enough tea to last mi lifetime...

Currently wondering how an attorney talks to left, right and centre about who she has for clients. And why does the family go to Lutheran, First Baptist and Presbyterian churches? Can't they make up their mind? Do they want change? Do they think they have better chances slipping through the pearly gates?

L.J. thought the autopsy report of the fire victim was written by a med student. I think even a med student would know that you have to indicate upper or lower jaw when describing dentition. A criminal lawyer should know that, too, but not perhaps a writer-lawyer...😉
Edit: And normally when speaking of fangs, you mean caninus teeth, not incisivas...

Finished. I would not mind reading more of this series.

More mysteries! Something to take you away from watching that wretched football.

Thank you very much for this book! Half-time is reading time! :D