The False-Hearted Teddy

The first time I read this series I immediately began researching the world of teddy bear making. I went on to spend 280.00 on a handmade bear. I adore that bear but at the same time felt I needed my head read for spending that kind of money on an ornamental toy/dust collector at my age. Still, each time I read the series I want to go looking at the bears being made by artisans around the world. I got my bear from Pat Hughes of Blackberry Bears in France and she has a photo/slide collection of her bears on Youtube that is absolutely fascinating to watch. I wish there was an update on the life and bearing making of John J. Lamb.

A crafter of artisan teddy bears, former homicide detective Brad Lyon, along with his wife, takes his creations show more to a big-time bear show in Baltimore where tempers run high and chaos ensues when a fellow designer, accused of stealing ideas, drops dead after using her asthma inhaler. Original Bear Collector Mystery #2 show less

Lamb is an actual retired homicide detective, so his portrayal of the main character rings true. He and his wife are also collectors of teddy bears, so those details also are well developed. However, the couple in his series also make the teddy bears and participate in the shows. Brad Lyon has completed his first bear, Dirty Beary (a Dirty Harry bear complete with gun & holster) and displays it along with his wife's collection (themed around desserts). Before the show even begins Brad interrupts a near violent spousal abuse argument. When the wife suddenly dies, Brad is drawn into the investigation. Three people at the show are prime suspects. This was a fast paced cozy with some great puns thrown in. I will be looking for the rest of show more this series. show less

This is the second book in the Bear Collector's series. Bradley Lyons, retired SF Homicide detective, and his wife Ashleigh, are teddy bear artisans who drive to Baltimore to attend a teddy bear show. While there they are involved in the untimely death of one of their competitors. Even though Brad is warned by the Fame-hungry BPD detective, he is forced to start his own investigation to protect himself and Ash from being arrested for murder.

The story moves along speedily and the regular characters are very endearing. The story specific characters do have a tendency to be a bit 2-dimensional, but over all and really enjoyable read.

Bradley and Ashleigh Lyon are artisan teddy makers, taking part in a Baltimore teddy bear show. Bradley is a retired homicide cop from SFPD. While there, the creators of the Cheery Cherub teddy bear line dies in suspicious circumstances and Bradley's interest is piqued.

To be honest, the story is standard mystery with a liberal line in wisecracking and humour. Bradley is a bit moralistic but it's an easy read and if you are a true murder mystery fan, then this isn't bad at all.

The one thing that confuses me is that I can't figure out how the title links to the story.

I had one little quibble with a legal matter in this story (I'm a law librarian in real life), but I really like this series. There's something really endearing about a retired policeman making artistsan teddy bears. The stories are easy reads, and I really like the characters.

I had a hard time believing that the main character, a former police detective who was rather rough and hardened, was now pursing a career as a teddy bear maker along with his wife. The tough guy turned teddy bear lover image just didn't fly, the plot was lacking and the supporting characters were lackluster.