Paula Munier

Favorite Quote:

Fascinating how even the most undomesticated female turns into Martha Stewart once she has a baby.

All you need to start a religion in this country is three founding members, a mission statement, and a bank account. Can you believe that?

“I’d hate to have to take matters into my own hands.” Edith sounded like she would be thrilled to take matters into her own hands.

In Orlov’s experience, there were three kids of untrustworthy women: the pushy ones, the sneaky ones, and show more the pushy, sneaky ones. The pushy, sneaky ones were the worst.

“Love, lust, loathing, and loot,” said Tandie. “The Four Ls of Murder.”

My Review:

I’m a late bloomer with this series, and I may have been a bit daft to jump in at book seven, but the story had strong legs and was more than able to stand alone. This wily author provided brief glimpses of their backstories, which tantalized and piqued my interest to pick up the previous installments. The writing style held an interesting balance of the sleuthing required to solve an unusual murder, holiday preparations, colorful characters, amusing observations, and an eccentric fringe religious group tossed in for an extra twist. show less

Mercy Carr was an MP in Afghanistan until she was shot, her fiancé was killed and she inherited his depressed service dog Elvis. Mercy heads back home to Vermont where she and Elvis are trying to get over their various traumas by taking long walks in the woods. Mercy isn't interacting with anyone except her grandmother Patience who is a veterinarian.

When Mercy comes across an abandoned baby in the woods and an unmarked grave, her isolation needs to come to an end. She calls 911 and her show more call is answered by game warden Troy Warner and his Newfoundland Susie Bear. Mercy had had a crush on Troy when she was fourteen and he was one of the lifeguards where she swam. She hasn't seen him since but knows that he married the prettiest girl in town sometime after she left.

Troy's marriage is on the rocks and he's much happier out in the woods than dealing with people. But together the four of them - two two-legs and two four-legs - manage to work together to find and lose and find again the baby's mother, to solve the cold case murder, solve a couple of other murders, and discover what else is happening during a busy Fourth of July weekend.

I really loved Mercy's relationship with her dog Elvis and Troy's relationship with Susie Bear. I liked the growing relationship between Mercy and Troy too. It was great watching Mercy begin to interact with other people again without ever losing her memories of her deceased fiancé.

The mystery was intriguing. The setting was well-developed. And the characters were interesting and well-rounded people. I look forward to reading more in this series. I mainly listened to the audio version of this story narrated by Kathleen McInerney who did a fine job with the voices and pacing of this story. show less

With Mercy Carr's cabin stuffed to the gills with 5 people and 2 dogs, it's time to find a new place. When Mercy finds out that Grackle Tree Farm is for sale, a place she's loved since she was a child, it seems like the perfect opportunity!
Grackle Tree Farm is rumored to be haunted, but that's never bothered Mercy. The dead body in the library that her dog Elvis discovers might be a bigger obstacle. It seems that ghosts aren't the only thing Grackle Tree Farm is hiding. It's also full of show more secrets and maybe some treasure!

The Farm has a long history that includes both fame and tragedy. It was home to a famous author who may have left behind something valuable. After discovering the body, Mercy's uncle and her sometimes (very wealthy) employer show up at her doorstep. They ask her to try to find what they suspect the dead man was looking for: literary treasure.

Mercy goes back to the farm along with Elvis and Captain Thrasher. A masked man is there who shoots at them, hitting Mercy and seriously wounding Thrasher. Now it's up to Mercy, her husband Troy, and their two dogs, Elvis and Susie Bear to find the killer and discover the secret of Grackle Tree Farm.

Home At Night intertwines a very interesting mystery, some thrills, and plenty of suspense. Mercy Carr is competent and compelling. Munier surrounds her with other enjoyable characters who greatly add to the fun of the story. Elvis and Susie Bear are more than just window-dressing. They are each service animals so they have important roles to play in the story. The love they share with their human companions ingratiates them to us even more and helps tell us who Mercy and Troy are as well.

The Grackle Tree Farm setting is ideal for a mystery story. A very old house, rumors of ghosts, and a long rich history. The Halloween setting further adds to the atmosphere. The mystery is intricate and Mercy follows the clues methodically. The solutions feel earned. There are plenty of suspects and unraveling it all is very satisfying.

This is the fifth book in the series but my first time reading it. I had no trouble jumping into the story. These feel like characters and a location that have a lot more stories in them. I'm looking forward to future installments in this series and especially to spending more time with Elvis and Susie Bear.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. show less

Mercy Carr is eight months pregnant and both bored and restless. She has no desire to help decorate the nursery or plan the baby shower. She decides to hike into the woods with her dog Elvis to visit her friend and scrabble-playing partner Homer. When she arrives, she finds a dead man on Homer's bed and Homer missing.

She tracks down an injured Homer but then has to travois him to the place where he has built a cell tower to get help. With Homer the chief suspect, Mercy has a murder to show more investigate. She's also called in to help her Uncle Homer and friend billionaire Daniel track down another missing billionaire who disappeared from his exclusive hunting camp.

It's mud time in Vermont and the weather is stormy. But bad weather and feral pigs aren't going to keep Mercy from investigating the two deaths which, at first, don't look to be connected. Nor is attempted close supervision by her female relatives going to stop her.

This was an excellent story. Wrapped in the story of Odysseus, it talks about warriors coming home from war, PTSD, and throws in some game theory. I found the whole thing fascinating and engaging. I love Mercy and her close connections with her husband, family and friends. I also really enjoy the many canine companions that are part of the characters' lives. show less