Thursday, November 12, 2015

Blog Tour/Review: Puzzle Pieces by Betsy Brannon Green



Puzzle Pieces, by Betsy Brannon Green
2015, 230p, Clean Cozy Mystery
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review



Presley DeGraff is a young woman on the run. With nothing but the clothes on her back, her escape from the ruthless manipulations of her former fiancé leaves her with little time to hide. There is only one person to whom she can turn, only one place she may be safe . . . Haggerty, Georgia, is known for its Southern hospitality and quirky inhabitants. For Presley, her Aunt Violet’s home in the tiny town is a lifesaving haven. Her aunt, along with a cast of delightful friends and neighbors, warmly welcomes her. For the first time in so long, she feels hope—a hope that hinges on hiding her past. But the dreams of solitude that she had envisioned quickly fade when a disturbing discovery is made in her aunt’s backyard: a human skeleton. At the first hint of crime, Haggerty’s own amateur sleuth, Miss Eugenia, is on the case. Along with handsome Haggerty resident Mac and sprightly ninety-nine-year-old Loralee, Presley is quickly drawn into a mystery spanning generations of Haggerty’s history. But when news coverage of the investigation digs up Presley’s own secrets, it’s up to her new friends to come to her aid, by whatever means necessary.

This book has a very cryptic beginning. We know that Presley is scared and running from someone, but we have no idea who. She makes her way to her Aunt Violet's home in Haggerty, Georgia, where she is welcomed with open arms. Her Aunt Violet is the town's attorney and Presley is also an attorney. When her parents died a year ago, Violet invited her to come live and work with her. We slowly learn Presley's story of why she didn't come and what she's been dealing with during that time. 

 Presley makes some new friends, including the older women that make Haggerty a fun place to visit, Mac, the local tow truck driver, and Cecilia, the gorgeous beautician who is an outcast. As they become friends, Presley is able to open up about her life and enlists their help when the time comes. There's a secondary storyline which has to do with a human skeleton found in Violet's backyard. Presley feels compelled to find out what happened so she starts her own investigation.

It's been a while since I've visited Haggerty, Georgia, and it was fun to go back! Miss Eugenia is an amateur sleuth and has solved quite a few mysteries in her town. The characters are endearing and they don't always get along. Ms. Green has done a great job of creating a fictional town that feels authentic. I hope there will be more mysteries in Haggerty in the future!



Betsy Brannon Green currently lives in Bessemer, Alabama (a suburb of Birmingham). She has been married to her husband, Butch, for thirty-six wonderful years. They have eight children, two daughters-in-law, three sons-in-law, and sixteen grandchildren. She is currently the Gospel Doctrine teacher in the Ensley Branch. She loves to read, when she can find the time, and enjoys sporting events--especially if they involve her children or grandchildren. Although born in Salt Lake City, Betsy has spent most of her life in the South. Her life and her writing have been strongly influenced by the town of Headland, Alabama, and the many generous, gracious people who live there, especially her ninety-six-year-old grandmother, Grace Vann Brannon. Her first book, Hearts in Hiding, was published in 2001. Puzzle Pieces is her twentieth LDS fiction novel.


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Posted by Melanie at 4:00 AM

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