Dead Man Running

I have found this and the previous book disappointing primarily because of Torie's behavior. She seems much more immature. In this book I found that reflected in the nature of her relationship with Colin which then impacts how she approaches this entire mystery. I also had figured out very early the key missing issue that is revealed at the end. As Torie said, why didn't she? ( )

This is yet another addition to one of my favorite series of cozy mysteries. As with her previous novels, Ms. MacPherson has proven once again that she is a master story teller and is able to give her readers much reading pleasure. This work was just a bit different that some of her previous works though. I found that not to be a bad thing, but did have to adjust my mood just a bit.

Torie is her busy self in this story and continues to have her fingers in just about ever in her small home town on the river. To be quite frank, her business and busybody ways reach almost a manic state in this one; between family, town projects, building a new house, running the village museum, dealing with children and pets, and of course her genealogy projects. Torie is asked to research the family background of the two men running for mayor. The first is her old enemy and neighbor, the current mayor, who hates Torie and hates her chickens. The second is her father-in-law, Sheriff Brooke, whose relationship with Torie is shaky, at best, at times. Colin has decided to hang his badge up and become major.

While digging into the current mayor’s past, Bill Castlereagh, she finds some disturbing facts…or are they facts? The more Mrs. O’Shea digs, the more the mystery deepens.

Three areas that I found to be a bit different in this one are that there was a bit more violence than is the norm for MacPherson’s books. This is not extreme violence, to be sure, but violence never-the-less. I also detected a slight change in Torie’s behavior. She has always been rather aggressive, but now I see signs of her using her money and position in the town to sort of push her weight around. Thirdly, there is a bit of marital strife, to the extent we have not seen before. Again, nothing big, but it is still there, like it or not.

Overall the book is well written, is a good story and a joy to read. Most of the old characters are still there and there are a few new ones thrown in for good measure. If you want a nice and relaxing read, then this is one you certainly should consider. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks ( )

http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/2006/05/dead-man-running.html ( )

When a New Kassel (MO) Gazette reporter asks Victory “Torie” O’Shea to research the genealogy of the town’s two mayoral candidates, she’s a bit puzzled. Why, in a town of 895, where everyone knows everyone, is their genealogy all that important? But as the president of the historical society, an experienced genealogist AND notorious local snoop, Torie agrees to do it. It appears one of the candidates, incumbent mayor Bill Castlereagh, may have fudged some on his background and Torie is especially interested in learning why. Hizzoner is Torie’s neighbor and NOT one of her favorite people; Torie is pulling for the other candidate, Colin Brooke, her stepfather and the current sheriff.

Torie has plenty to concern herself with other than the family trees. She’s one of the organizers of New Kassel’s Oktoberfest – and for a town that relies on tourism for its economic health, that’s mighty important. When a body falls out of one of the Oktoberfest parade floats … and bounces right in front of Torie’s teenaged daughter Rachel, his murder hits very close to home. She’s also concerned that Rachel is dating and appears to be serious about one Riley Graham. Torie thinks she’s much too young to be serious over anyone and her protective-mother instinct kicks in. Torie and her husband Rudy are also building a house just outside of town, out of sight of her beloved Mississippi River.

Then Colin announces his choice to succeed himself as sheriff if he wins the mayoral job. Louise Counts is a formidable, by-the-book law enforcement professional, who lets Torie know, in no uncertain terms, that her amateur sleuthing days once she’s installed as sheriff.

I’ve been reading the Torie O’Shea mysteries since the first one – Dead Man Running is number nine. Rett MacPherson’s books are the only non-fiction books I’ve ever seen for sale at genealogy workshops. It’s fun for amateur genealogists to second guess Torie’s approach to her research – to figure out what they’d do differently. Although I don’t typically try to solve mysteries along with a sleuth, I was pleased to be just one or two steps ahead of Torie in Dead Man Running. Readers needn’t be genealogists, however, to enjoy reading about Torie O’Shea’s sleuthing. Rett MacPherson can be relied on for a well-plotted tale, full of wonderful small-town characters, and with all the plot threads tied up neatly at the end.

By Diana. First published in Mystery News, June-July 2006 edition. ( )