A TALENT FOR MURDER

When her aunt comes under suspicion in a murder case, a devoted niece turns sleuth.

Kate Spencer runs a garden center with her mother, Happy Spencer, who’s taken on the burden of handling her widowed sister Lula Mae’s affairs since her doting husband passed away. Now Lula Mae’s fallen for Percy Moss, a smooth, unprepossessing character recently moved to the area. In fact, he’s just given her a ring. But Lula Mae’s not the only local lady he’s been romancing. Although Percy claims he’s only trying to get his female companions to invest in his plan to open a bakery, Kate quickly learns that Lula Mae isn't the only one with a ring. Things turn nasty at the garden center when Lula Mae’s enemy, wealthy Camilla Davenport, shows up, still another object of Percy’s interest. Once she’s found dead, Lula Mae becomes a prime suspect. The only thing keeping her out of jail is the fact that the investigating officer, Steven Griggs, is Kate’s former boyfriend. Kate got cold feet at the last moment before their wedding, but now that Steven’s broken up with his fiancee, the spark between them flares anew. Kate and Happy, determined to clear Lula Mae, note that there are plenty of other people who could have killed Camilla. Despite Steven’s strong warnings, they snoop around looking for the real killer, who may be marking them next on the list.

This easy-reading first in a planned series is full of Southern charm, a touch of romance, and the usual suspects.