MYSTERY
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Friesian
horse
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A vis-à-vis is a horse drawn carriage in which the
passengers sit face to face.
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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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The Cart Before The Corpse
by Carolyn McSparren
Clever cozy mystery with wonderful setting
and rich emotional content
Horse
show manager Ms. Merry Abbot may not be having the best of days.
A runaway horse causes havoc to her well made plans and news of her
estranged father's death follows closely afterwards, necessitating a
trip to Mossy Creek. Although most people assume Hiram
Lackland's death was accidental, Peggy Caldwell disagrees. From
the position in which she discovered Hiram's body, Peggy Caldwell is
all too certain that Hiram's death was a case of murder. Geoff
Wheeler from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tends to agree with
her. As the only heir in her father's will, Merry realizes that
suspicions might be too easily directed at her. As she tries to
put her father's affairs in order, Merry Abbott also sets out to
discover the motive and culprit behind her father's murder. Will
she uncover the important clues in time before she becomes the next
victim?
Carolyn McSparren's THE CART BEFORE
THE HORSE is a cozy mystery with
all the excitement of a clever whodunit puzzle with the added bonus of
a rich emotional
content to draw one into the delightful cast of characters, setting and
the story itself. Told mostly through Merry's first person
point of view, some clearly marked chapters are told through Peggy
Caldwell and Geoff Wheeler's third person point of view. Rather
than disrupting the flow of the narrative, Carolyn McSparren uses these
moments well, allowing the reader to gain additional insight into the
character's personalities and at other times creating a smoother
narrative flow of events. Although Merry has been estranged from her
father, his death becomes a catalyst
for inner changes within her. As she prepares for his funeral,
she comes to know other sides of the man and indeed, discovers more
about herself in the process. Carolyn McSparren combines a
delightful sense of humor with emotion as Merry Abbott sorts through
the funeral preparations and the minute details involved in transfer of
his assets. Southerners (and misplaced Southerners
too!) will find a special
delight in Carolyn
McSparren's ability to capture those particular Southern customs,
especially funeral customs, engraved in our hearts. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE takes
the
reader right into the heart of the world of horse carriage-driving with
all sorts of fascinating details from horse breeds to carriage
types. Above all, each and every detail brings a depth to the
story. Merry Abbot is a woman devoted to horses, not only in her
profession but also in her heart. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a
mystery for all horse lovers, from those intimate with carriage-driving
to readers who just have a soft spot in their heart for these
magnificent creatures.
Carolyn McSparren just knows how to bring out pertinent, moving details
while also integrating them fully into her characters' personalities
and the events of her story. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE draws one
into the Mossy Creek world of the book, making one want to return to
the book each spare moment possible and revisit the characters.
What a delightful ending! This reader is anxiously awaiting the
next Merry Abbot mystery!
Carolyn McSparren's THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a
spin off of the popular Mossy Creek Hometown novels. If you are
new to this series, rest assured that THE
CART BEFORE THE HORSE works as a stand alone and an easy entry
into the world of Mossy Creek, all the more so since Merry Abbott is
herself a visitor when she arrives. However, once one gets to
know the characters and setting, one might very well find oneself eager
to revisit this world, either the main Mossy Creek series itself or
another Merry Abbot mystery.
Publisher: Belle Bridge Books (October
1,
2009)
A Merry Abbot Carriage-Driving Mystery
Author
website
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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