Two Murders Too Many

by Bluette Matthey

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Two Murders Too Many in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bluette Matthey's latest novel, Two Murders Too Many is a thrilling mystery series, full of action and clever points and twists.

When Charlie Simmons became a police officer for a tiny town, he probably didn't expect to deal with a whole lot of crime. Yet suddenly he's dealing with barn burnings and worse. So much worse, as two bodies arrive on the scene.

To his credit, Simmons is willing to deal with all of the horror and trauma that comes with this sort of investigation. Especially if it means he can hunt down the killer in this otherwise quiet and happy community.

Two Murders Too Many is a dark yet fascinating novel, one explores a unique setting and time period. It was the title that pulled my attention to this book, yet the writing is what kept me captivated right through to the end.

Set in 1950s Ohio, Two Murders Too Many has a very different feel from many of the other mysteries I've been reading lately. Naturally, I adore that change of pace, and consider that almost reason enough for others to check it out as well.

There are several reasons why I enjoyed this setting. For one thing, it added a lot of charm, and was a pretty bold decision on Matthey's part, all things considered. The main reason, however, is the lack of forensic understanding and technology. Think about it – the crimes committed in this book were horrific, and yet this small town certainly didn't have much to help them solve it. They certainly didn't have access to any of the technology we take for granted these days.

All of which added a few extra twists and complications. It made for a more interesting read, as the new Police Chief was basically forced into learning by doing for this entire crime spree. Not an ideal situation to say the least.

Matthey's writing was compelling and bold, creating this descriptive world with such detail that it made it all feel so alive. The good and the bad, as the case may be. As such, this is one of those slow-burning mysteries. Where the stetting is just as (if not more) important than the murder/mystery introduced.

This was the first novel I've read by Matthey, and from the looks of it, she tends to spread her writing all over the globe. I'm looking forward to reading more of her other mysteries, especially those set in places I've only ever dreamed of visiting.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks