The Importance of Being Urnest by Sandra Balzo

The Importance of Being Urnest (A Maggy Thorsen Mystery, #10)

by Sandra Balzo

The choice of an antique silver coffee urn as the final resting place for elderly Celeste Bouchard's ashes might seem a cruel joke. After all, the wealthy boutique owner was taken ill and died while daughter Hannah was off having lattes at Uncommon Grounds. But Maggy Thorsen, the coffeehouse's owner, has more pressing things on her mind: a jail break and subsequent shoot-out has forced her main squeeze, Sheriff Jake Pavlik, to take refuge with her.

And Maggy has a serious decision to make: marriage or not? Before she can decide, there's another death. And with an escaped convict still on the loose, Maggy suddenly has a difficult and dangerous puzzle to solve.

Reviewed by MurderByDeath on

4 of 5 stars

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This series is one of my quiet champions; nothing flashy, nothing mind-blowing, but always solid writing, intelligent plotting and biting wit.  There's nothing cutesy or trendy about this series.  I am solidly in its demographic and just enjoy the dialogue, the plotting, the friendships, even the romance (what there is of it).   This book swirls around several different events: a shoot-out that leaves Maggy's boyfriend (also the Sheriff) injured; the unfortunate death of an elderly lady who had just been in Maggy's coffeeshop; the social drama surrounding the local assisted living; a friend's new job at the mortuary and crematorium.  There's a very obvious bad guy in the mix but how it all comes together in the end was cleverly done.   I'm not sure what else I can say except I'm looking forward to more. 

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  • Started reading
  • 5 April, 2018: Finished reading
  • 5 April, 2018: Reviewed