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SCENT TO HER GRAVE is the kick-off to a new-age flavored cozy series aimed at day spa and perfume aficionados. Persia, the first-person narrator of the series, returned to her tiny home town when running from an ex-con ex-boyfriend. Now she makes a living designing signature perfumes for her aunt's spa and shop, the cleverly named Venus Envy. (The hook for readers -- aside from the plot -- is the set of essential oil blend recipes peppered through the book). One morning Persia comes in to find the bludgeoned body of the town's catty beauty queen on the floor and her prized mirror -- the one that only shows your best aspects -- missing. Since Lydia had made a huge scene about trying to buy the mirror and being refused, just about everyone in Venus Envy is a suspect -- particularly the young gardener, who recently had a bad break-up with Lydia. Persia offers to help Trevor clear his name, but it only adds to her man troubles. Her ex has found her and is now drunkenly stalking her, the town's police chief alternates between flirting with and harassing her, and she's smitten with the handsome guy who cleans the spa's aura after the murder. India Ink is a pseudonym for Yasmine Galenorn of the china shop mysteries, and this series is very similar in tone. Unlike her other heroine, Persia doesn't have supernatural powers aside from her fantastic nose (which is, of course, instrumental in solving the case) but she is a strong believer in crystals and meditating. The puzzle underlying the plot is pretty standard -- bitchy alpha female done in by one of her many enemies -- but it is capably handled and has a goodly number of suspects, red herrings, and plot twists. My only qualm is the beauty contest set-up, which falls apart at the end due to illogical reasons. That doesn't impact the main plot, though. With SCENT TO HER GRAVE, what you see is what you get -- a competent niche mystery with added instructions. It's a decent foundation for a new series and a pleasant book for a rainy day.
Reviewed by Linnea Dodson, December 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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