Karin Kaufman is back in Juniper Grove with another cozy mystery in Book 3 At Death's Door.
The elderly longtime friend of mystery writer Rachel Stowe's neighbor Julia is having a Thanksgiving feast at her elegant home. Her guests are familiar with Nora's "Documents Room" which is filled with Colorado paraphernalia being authenticated by one of her guests (Kendra) hopeful to place them in a future museum, mostly insured by another guest (Dominic), used for a dissertation to become a professor by another guest (Kendra's husband Ben), with an attempt to protect certain pieces from theft by another (Anne), and cleverly concealed to extract by yet another. Rachel is invited upstairs to see the new discovery which Kendra has just declared as the real deal and per her recommendation has been insured by someone other than Dominic.
At the conclusion of their time upstairs, Rachel observes a guest discreetly taking the new discovery. As all of them gather for dinner, an argument breaks out between Dominic and Ben. Nora is upset by their spat and then there is a shrill scream. Rachel's quick to respond and finds one of the guests at the bottom of the steep stairs down the hall dead.
Chief Gilroy is called and the determination of whether or not the woman was murdered or merely fell down the stairs is on. Well, of course she was pushed – this is a mystery after all. The gang of Rachel, Julia, and Holly are all over this as the hostess of the event is heartbroken over her friend's death and wants Rachel to find out who did this.
Since Gilroy has been more attentive to Rachel, she doesn't want to overstep her investigating, but she knows she's got to question the guests who were in attendance and find out why certain evidence turned up where least expected. Creating a little friction in the process does seem to be her MO, but with that bold questioning she observes certain behaviors and indicators which lead her to specific conclusions. And this time she shares most of what she learns with Gilroy.
Another good "whodunit" by Karin Kaufman who allows Rachel and Chief Gilroy to take tiny steps forward with less conflict and real concern for Rachel's safety. You gotta love this series of cozy mysteries by Queen Karin.
Father, again I pray you meet all of Karin's needs, provide her with the inspiration to continue her work, watch over her, and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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