"Fun cozy"
Bradley Lyon spent twenty-five years with the San
Francisco Police Department until a murder suspect shot a
bullet into his fibula and tibia in Ghirardelli Square,
which led to three things. His disability retirement; he
and his wife of over a quarter of a century Ashleigh
returning to her hometown in Remmelkemp Mill, Virginia;
and his aversion to hot chocolate. Ash collects and creates teddy bears. She enjoys
attending the conventions and has an entry, Miss Susannah
S. Seraphim in the nearby Shenandoah Valley Teddy bear
Extravaganza. The highlight of the gala is the auctioning
of the renowned Mourning Bear made in 1912 to commemorate
the sinking of the Titanic with a short run of 655; thus
its value is tagged at $150,000 or more. However, the
pleasant trip is interrupted when their canine Kitch finds
the corpse of a murder victim in the nearby river.
Without seeing the body, Sheriff Holcombe rules death by
accidental drowning or suicide, infuriating the cop
resting inside Bradley's brain s he knows a strangled
victim when he sees one. Unable to stay out in spite of
warnings to mind his business or else, Bradley begins
making inquiries that tie the victim to the Mourning Bear. This is a fun cozy as Bradley cannot help but investigate
the homicide that the Sheriff and other powerful local
figures want ignored though the former SFPD detective
cannot understand why as his first reaction incompetence
proves false. The entertaining story line contains the
obvious retired cop's inquires, but also a fascinating
look at teddy bears, so much so the stuffed animals make a
strong support cast. John L. Lamb provides readers with a
delightful whodunit that more than just Bear Collectors
will enjoy. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 25, 2006
SummaryRetired San Francisco cop Brad Lyon is settling into a
quieter life with his wife Ashleigh in Virginia's mountain
country, where they collect and create teddy bears. But even
here, stuff happens...
The day is here—and Brad Lyon is helping his wife put
the finishing touches on her best bears, just in time for
the Shenandoah Valley Teddy Bear Extravaganza. The event
will draw fur-ball fanatics from near and far to buy, sell,
or simply ogle the bears. But the main event will be the
showing of the Mourning Bear, made to commemorate the
sinking of the Titanic—and worth a hefty $150,000.
Then a local also meets a watery grave—and Brad Lyon
spots the body floating in the Shenandoah. Old habits die
hard, so Brad starts investigating like a homicide cop and
finds that the deceased might have had a connection to the
Mourning Bear. But the local law would prefer that Brad keep
his mouth sewn shut...
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