Curtains for Miss Plym: A canine mystery

By Kathleen Delaney

This lively cozy, set in smalltown California, is the second in the Mary McGill dog mystery series

Preparations for Santa Louisa’s annual spring rummage sale are thrown into chaos when organizer Mary McGill and her devoted cocker spaniel Millie come across a dead body on the premises. Still wearing her pink nightdress and slippers, what on earth was Miss Emilie Plym doing in a locked church hall in the dead of night? And who on earth would want to harm a sweet-natured but confused elderly lady who wouldn’t hurt a fly?

As Mary questions the victim’s nearest and dearest, she discovers that not everyone had Miss Plym’s best interests at heart, and that at least one of those who should have been caring for her is hiding a shocking secret.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Severn House Digital
• Release date: Apr 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781780107387

Kathleen Delaney

Kathleen Delaney, a retired real estate broker, has authored three other Ellen McKenzie mystery novels, using her real estate experience to guide Ellen through the complexities of her transactions. The scenes in the bakery kitchen required extra research. (Bakery people, as it turns out, are not only willing to share their knowledge but also their Cherry Danish.) Besides her novels, Kathleen has contributed to several anthologies, won a national award for short fiction, and published several articles. The mystery novels are set on the Central Coast of California, where Kathleen lived and worked for over twenty years and where she raised her five children, along with Arabian and Half Arabian horses, assorted dogs, cats and, reluctantly, a goat. During that period Kathleen also learned about the Central California wine business—knowledge put to good use in other books. She now lives in a century-old house in South Carolina, enjoying her two dogs, eight grandchildren, writing, experimenting with southern cooking, and, of course, reading.

Reviews for Curtains for Miss Plym

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Curtains for Miss Plym by Kathleen Delaney is the second book in A Mary McGill Canine Mystery series. Mary McGill is busy organizing Santa Louisa’s annual spring rummage sale that will be held at St. Mark’s Church community hall. There will also be a pet adoption event held outside the hall. Mary arrives early at the event with Millie, her black cocker spaniel at discovers the body of Emilie Plym (a sweet elderly woman). It looks like she was strangled with the belt from her robe (how horrible). How did Miss Plym get into the locked hall during the night (because Mary locked it the night before herself)? Who would kill this sweet woman? Mary wants to find out and starts asking questions. Mary works with the Chief of Police (who happens to be married to Mary’s niece, Ellen) to find the culprit. Will Mary be able to find the killer before the killer tries to silence her?Curtains for Miss Plym was enjoyable, but I thought the killer was extremely obvious. Also, the murder happened right at the beginning of the novel (a pet peeve of mine). We need more of a lead in into the crime and then start the solving of the said crime (otherwise it is one long book). Curtains for Miss Plym has nice, likeable (and relatable) characters and a charming small town setting. The author did provide good details and clues (thank goodness). With a little work this could be an enjoyable cozy mystery series (needs a more complex crime). I give Curtains for Miss Plym 3.5 out of 5 stars. Will I read the next book in the series? I will give it a try. I received a complimentary copy of Curtains for Miss Plym in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.