Stephanie
Written on Apr 28, 2010
"Cemetery tour guide and reluctant medium Pepper Martin is always up for some fun that doesn't involve seeing and talking to dead people. So a gig commemorating a dead president can only mean good times are not ahead..."
How do I start to describe Pepper Martin? She's spunky, fun, confident, smart and always fashionably up to date. Just ask her, she'll tell you. Not only is Pepper all of these things, but she is also a private investigator for the dead. Pepper can see those who have not passed over to the Other Side. On most occasions these ghosts have unfinished business here on Earth and they cannot depart until it is taken care of. This is where Pepper steps in.
Pepper works at the Garden View Cemetery. A few years ago, Pepper hit her head on the mausoleum of a gangster named Gus Scarpetti. On that fateful day, Pepper gained her Gift to see the dead. Pepper has helped several spirits pass over since that day. Usually this ends up getting her in some sticky situations and some near misses. Although Pepper is reluctant at first to help, she usually ends up becoming attached to the ghost she is trying to help.
This time around Pepper finds herself working on the commemoration of President James A. Garfield. President Garfield is buried in his memorial at Garden View Cemetery. Not only does Pepper not want to be working on the commemoration but she definitely does not want to be doing so with Garden View's most annoying volunteer, Marjorie Klinker.
Marjorie claims that she is the descendant of President Garfield. She alleges that President Garfield had an affair and that she is the descendant of the son that came of that affair. These claims have been rejected by the President's family, Marjorie's family and those who know her. There was never any proof of an affair. Marjorie has spent her entire life collecting all things President Garfield in hopes of proving her connection to the family. Marjorie and Pepper have to go through the archives at the cemetery and Marjorie's personal collection to decide what should be on display for the commemoration. It is during one of these sessions that Marjorie reveals to Pepper that she will have some new and especially wonderful information regarding the President. Pepper doesn't take the bait and that's really too bad. The next day Pepper finds Marjorie Klinker dead in the Garfield memorial.
What information did Marjorie have that was worth committing murder? There are a lot of questions and it seems few answers. Pepper finds herself in a world of deceit, fraud, murder and scams. She also can't figure out how she's supposed to help President Garfield cross over when it is abundantly clear that he is enjoying himself here in his memorial.
Once again Casey Daniels has taken us on a crazy adventure-filled ride. Pepper is funny, clever and loyal to those she helps. She also demands that same kind of loyalty. Tomb with a View had me laughing out loud and tension filled. I couldn't wait to figure out who-dun-it and per usual, I didn't figure it out until it was revealed to me. Casey Daniels is a mystery mastermind. There was also a secondary mystery that related to the primary mystery so there were several possibilities going through my mind. Never mind that not one of them was right.
Tomb With a View is a great addition to this series. The mysteries are great and Pepper is a refreshing and funny heroine. If you haven't read any other book in the series, I honestly don't think that you would have to before you read Tomb With a View. I like having the entire back story so I've read them all and have added each one to my keeper shelf.